Same Name

:

Season 1
  • Network: CBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 24, 2011
Metascore
48

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10

Critic Reviews

  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: David Knowles
    Jul 22, 2011
    70
    The latest iteration of the genre of celebrity re-introduction--and one of its more amusing--is CBS' new show Same Name.
  2. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Jul 21, 2011
    67
    It all comes out pretty well in the wash. Same Name gets fairly close to sealing the deal on the idea that celebs can learn something from just plain folks.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Clark Collis
    Jul 18, 2011
    67
    The "real" Hasselhoff tries to fit in with his namesake's family without alluding to his TV shows or his big-in-Germany-ness every two minutes. (Spoiler: He fails.) Even cynically minded wisenheimers such as myself can recognize the show's heart when both Hasselhoffs learn lessons about what's really important in life (and the winner is..."family").
  5. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Jul 25, 2011
    50
    In the long run, our interest in the show will directly correspond to our interest in whatever celebrity is featured from week to week.
  6. Slate
    Reviewed by: Troy Patterson
    Jul 28, 2011
    40
    It should be evident that Same Name is as warm and mindless as an idyllic Sunday in idlest July.
  7. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Jul 25, 2011
    40
    In short, Same Name is too respectful to both halves of its equation to be fully engaging by reality-TV standards.
  8. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Michael Landweber
    Jul 25, 2011
    40
    Some celebrities will surely offer better material to edit than Hasselhoff, famous and not. Future episodes promise encounters with Reggie Bush, Kathy Griffin, and Mike Tyson. Tyson in particular may bring just enough crazy to the table to tip the genre scales back to train wreck.
  9. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Hank Stuever
    Jul 22, 2011
    40
    Same Name prefers the usual bunk of the genre, smoothing over significant matters of a class chasm that is an everyday reality for all Americans with dreamy ideas of how we're all not really so different from one another.
  10. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Jul 21, 2011
    40
    Same Name is a show made for people who live and breathe E! and TMZ.com. Cynics need not tune in.
  11. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    Jul 21, 2011
    25
    When you start doodling on the Internet instead of watching the show you are supposed to review, then either you, or the show, has a problem. I'm going with the latter.