• Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 26, 2002
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 29
  2. Negative: 2 out of 29

Critic Reviews

  1. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Jun 20, 2014
    60
    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]
  2. Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    Jun 20, 2014
    60
    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.
  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Tom Shales
    Jun 20, 2014
    60
    Basically a smart and sophisticated situation comedy -- and yet it is still not as good or endearing as its star. [26 Feb 2003]
  4. Arizona Republic
    Reviewed by: Bill Goodykoontz
    Jun 20, 2014
    60
    Decent effort, but you can't help wondering whether we'll be Watching Ellie for long. [26 Feb 2002]
  5. Reviewed by: Phil Gallo
    Jun 20, 2014
    60
    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.
  6. Reviewed by: Terry Kelleher
    Jun 27, 2013
    58
    Louis-Dreyfus is going for breathless charm here, but this vehicle's in too much of a rush.
  7. Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Jun 20, 2014
    50
    You can't shake the feeling that "Watching Ellie" is the most vain vanity project to hit TV in recent years.
  8. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    Jun 20, 2014
    50
    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]
  9. San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
    Reviewed by: Charlie McCollum
    Jun 20, 2014
    50
    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]
  10. Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Jul 25, 2013
    50
    "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?
  11. Reviewed by: James Poniewozik
    Jul 1, 2013
    50
    Louis-Dreyfus... has a bittersweet charm (and, yes, she can sing), but it's lost amid wacky-neighbor jokes and slapstick.
  12. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Noel Holston
    Jun 20, 2014
    40
    It's not particularly funny, but it does have style and energy. [26 Feb 2002]
  13. Cleveland Plain Dealer
    Reviewed by: Mark Dawidziak
    Jun 20, 2014
    40
    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]
  14. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: David Zurawik
    Jun 20, 2014
    40
    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]