Watching Ellie

"Ellie" is a smart, daring show, full of memorable characters capable of humorous banter in one moment and physical comedy the next. [25 Feb 2002]

Sharp, funny and demanding of its lead actor, 'Watching Ellie' is NBC's best sitcom attempt in years. [26 Feb 2002]

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

Whether viewers will feel too challenged by Ellie to smile along remains to be seen. Hopefully they won't; TV needs crazy-vain-brave risk-takers badly. [26 Feb 2002]

It's not as novel or successful a concept as "Curb Your Enthusiasm," the HBO series from "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David. But based on the first two episodes, "Watching Ellie" is exponentially better, and more daring, than the derivative vehicles churned out by [Michael] Richards and [Jason] Alexander. [25 Feb 2002]

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.

It comes as close to resurrecting the old show as you can without hauling Jerry Seinfeld himself back on television.

Louis-Dreyfus fits easily and naturally into the leading role of a vehicle built for one. She makes it a pleasure to watch Ellie - and to listen to her, too, when she sings in each episode. [26 Feb 2002]

Watching Ellie is better than bad, but it could be - no, should be - a lot more fun than it is. [26 Feb 2002]

"Watching Ellie" rises and falls on the ability of Louis-Dreyfus to pull laughs out of familiar story lines. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. [25 Feb 2002]

Watching "Ellie" becomes an ordeal in watching the clock. You see your life ticking away, wasting time watching "Ellie." [26 Feb 2002]

It could have been worse. It could have been "The Michael Richards Show" or Jason Alexander's "Bob Patterson." [25 Feb 2002]

Part of the excitement of "Watching Ellie" comes from wondering whether the people who made it can get around the creative obstacles they created. [26 Feb 2002]

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.

Basically a smart and sophisticated situation comedy -- and yet it is still not as good or endearing as its star. [26 Feb 2003]

Decent effort, but you can't help wondering whether we'll be Watching Ellie for long. [26 Feb 2002]

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.

Louis-Dreyfus is going for breathless charm here, but this vehicle's in too much of a rush.

You can't shake the feeling that "Watching Ellie" is the most vain vanity project to hit TV in recent years.

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]

At least "Watching Ellie" takes some risks and tries something different -- even if the risks don't translate to laughs and the concept doesn't really work. [26 Feb 2002]

"Watching Ellie" is like trying to solve a puzzle: What, besides a megalomaniacal mess, is this thing all about? ... Whatever happened to just being funny?

Louis-Dreyfus... has a bittersweet charm (and, yes, she can sing), but it's lost amid wacky-neighbor jokes and slapstick.

It's not particularly funny, but it does have style and energy. [26 Feb 2002]

While the two episodes that the network sent to critics stumble baldly into the humor-impaired category, each manages to sparkle for a moment or two. And Emmy winner Louis-Dreyfus provides most of the sparkle. [26 Feb 2002]

I watched the pilot three times, thinking I'd get used to the timer. But each time, I found myself looking at the timer more than I did at Ellie. And, I'll tell you something: for the first half of the pilot, I liked the timer a lot more than her. And I'll tell you something else: the timer is only one of several things I hate about the pilot. [26 Feb 2002]

Watching "Ellie"? Not if I can help it. ... Hacking through the contrivances, you find some strong supporting players ... But Louis-Dreyfus herself seems off. [26 Feb 2002]