From Deseret News archives:
'Life' is just OK
"I don't know why it's taken so long to set up a show in a food court, but it's about time," joked creator/executive producer/writer Victor Fresco.
Well, at least he gets some humor out of the familiar-looking (but different enough to avoid lawsuits) uniforms the corn-dog-stand employees have to wear.
If only the rest of the show, which debuts tonight at 8:30 on Ch. 13, was that original. "Life on a Stick" feels an awful lot like it could have been titled "That '00s Show," or whatever we're going to end up calling the first decade of this century.
"Life" revolves around Laz (Zachary Knighton) and his dim-witted best friend, Fred (Charlie Finn), who have recently graduated from high school and don't have a clue what to do next. (Think Eric and Kelso on "That '70s Show.")
They take dead-end jobs at Yippee Hot Dogs, where Laz falls in love with the lovely Lily (Rachelle Lefevre) — think Donna on "That '70s Show."
Back at home, Laz's self-involved father, Rick (Matthew Glave) and superficial stepmother, Michelle (Amy Yasbeck) have decided that it's time for Laz to move out. Until, that is, they realize that Laz is the only one in the house who can communicate with his angry stepsister, Molly (Saige Thompson). Rick and Michelle would just as soon have somebody else deal with Molly so they can devote all their attention to their favorite child — the only product of their marriage — too-smart-for-his-8-years Jasper (Ryan Belleville).
"Life" is not without laughs. Like when Molly decides to back Laz's pitch to remain at home because if he moves out, "That means all their deranged parenting is focused on me, and I can't have that."
And there are some funny moments with Mr. Hut (Maz Jabrani), the authoritarian boss at Yippee Hot Dogs who seems an amalgam of a lot of bosses — and a lot of bosses at fast-food joints that seem to take too much pleasure in ordering teenagers around.
Of course, the teens here rebel by doing things like wasting soda and deep-frying Hut's office supplies.
This being Fox — OK, this being prime-time network TV — "Life on a Stick" has more than its share of sexual humor. If you don't want your kids to see 18-year-olds disrobing each other or glow-in-the-dark handprints in private areas of the body, you'll want to make sure they change the channel after "American Idol."
The funniest thing about "Life on a Stick" is that Fox is promoting it as "from the producer of 'Andy Richter Controls the Universe,' " a much better (and much more original) sitcom Fresco created and Fox quickly canceled.
Originality doesn't often sell on network TV. Something more standard — like "Life on a Stick" — probably stands a better chance of success.
Sigh.
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com
