Watching Ellie: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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Season Details & Credits

NBC | Season Premiere Date: February 26, 2002

Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lauren Bowles, Steve Carell

Summary: Watching Ellie is a vehicle (created by her husband, Brad Hall) for star Julia Louis-Dreyfus in her first post-Seinfeld role, who here plays a cabaret singer. (Steve Carell, then still a Daily Show correspondent, had a co-starring role.) In season one, when it was a single-camera comedy, Watching Ellie featured a real-time gimmick (similarWatching Ellie is a vehicle (created by her husband, Brad Hall) for star Julia Louis-Dreyfus in her first post-Seinfeld role, who here plays a cabaret singer. (Steve Carell, then still a Daily Show correspondent, had a co-starring role.) In season one, when it was a single-camera comedy, Watching Ellie featured a real-time gimmick (similar to 24), complete with an on-screen countdown clock. But despite initially debuting to strong ratings, viewership rapidly declined, and the show was put on hiatus after 10 of its 13 episodes aired. When it returned a year later, it was a drastically changed show.… Expand

Genre(s): Comedy

Season 1 Episodes

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S1:E13. Drive
Air Date: unknown
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S1:E12. Junk
Air Date: unknown
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S1:E11. Dream
Air Date: unknown

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Critic Reviews

Ken Tucker

Jun 14, 2013

Watching Ellie is smart and likable -- it earns its gimmicky premise. Read full review

Mike Duffy

Jun 20, 2014

There's an engaging free spirit at the heart of "Watching Ellie." [26 Feb 2002]

Howard Rosenberg

Jun 20, 2014

Each episode is supposed to represent 22 minutes in Ellie's life. That's nice, but an ever-present clock on the side of the screen is a gimmick that should be dropped. Otherwise, this show has a very nice comfort level. Best of all, it feels fresh. Read full review

Phil Gallo

Jun 20, 2014

There’s a good possibility the first two “Watching Ellie’s” won’t generate more than four out-loud chuckles, but that’s no reason for audiences or networks to give up on this series’ prospects. Read full review

Hal Boedeker

Jun 20, 2014

Watching Ellie is hardly another Seinfeld, a comedy that became a cultural landmark. Rather it's a quirky little series that leans too heavily on a gimmick. Read full review

Robert Bianco

Jun 20, 2014

The key flaw in Ellie from which all other problems flow is that the show is built around a gimmick instead of a character. ... Unfortunately, if they dropped the stunt, they'd have nothing much left. [26 Feb 2002]

Robert P. Laurence

Jun 20, 2014

Shooting a comedy in real time may be an interesting exercise for the producer, but it doesn't make the story more interesting, or add to the laugh ratio. In fact, that little timer is downright distracting. [26 Feb 2002]

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Seasons & Episodes

49

Series Overview
Season 2

36
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: April 15, 2003
Season 1

59
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: February 26, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E13. Drive
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E12. Junk
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E11. Dream
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E10. Zimmerman
  Air Date: April 23, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E9. Weekend
  Air Date: April 16, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E8. Medicated
  Air Date: April 9, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E7. Gift
  Air Date: April 2, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E6. Tango
  Air Date: April 2, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E5. Cheetos
  Air Date: March 26, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E4. Aftershocks
  Air Date: March 19, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E3. Dinner Party
  Air Date: March 12, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E2. Wedding
  Air Date: March 5, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: February 26, 2002