From Deseret News archives:

'Miss' hits the mark

Published: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 12:41 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
"Miss Guided" had me from the start. ABC's new comedy (9:32 p.m., Ch. 4) begins with an exterior shot of an idyllic high school that looks like something right out of "Grease" — and then the camera pulls back to reveal the bunny mascot brawling with another student by the flagpole.

C'mon, that's great stuff.

"This is no way for a mascot to behave," says high school guidance counselor Becky Freeley (Judy Greer). "It's homecoming week. Have some dignity."

This is a very funny show.

Becky is a perky, sweet and often unintentionally hilarious young woman who works at the high school she once attended — a place where she "wasn't exactly what you'd call popular." She's an adult, but she's still desperate to be liked by the kids.

She thinks she's still one of them; the kids have no such misapprehensions.

Becky also wants to fit in with the faculty, who are as much like high-school kids as the high-school kids. Except for Principal Huffy (Earl Billings) who's like the been-there, done-that father who can't be fazed no matter what's happening around him.

Becky has a big crush on Tim (Kristoffer Polaha), the auto-shop teacher-turned-unqualified Spanish teacher. He barely speaks the language — he's got to study for a parent-teacher conference with "actual Mexicans."

Story continues below
Becky isn't the only one with her eye on Tim. So does Lisa Germain (Brooke Burns), the newly hired English teacher who was homecoming queen back when Becky was in high school and has always gotten what she wants.

Becky's back to square one.

But even in the face of adversity, she's always upbeat.

"I love my job," she says.

"Really? Why?" says vice principal Bruce Terry (Chris Parnell).

We don't have to imagine what Becky and some of the other characters are thinking because they turn to the camera and tell us. If it reminds you a bit of "The Office" or "Malcolm in the Middle," that's natural — creator/writer/executive producer Caroline Williams worked on the former; director/executive producer Todd Holland on the latter.

And another of the executive producers, Ashton Kutcher, shows up in the second episode as a hot substitute teacher.

(After tonight's premiere, back-to-back episodes of "Miss Guided" air Thursdays at 7 and 7:30 p.m. through April 17.)

"Miss Guided" is laugh-out-loud funny in spots, but it's not just about the jokes. Becky is a genuinely good person, and her emotions are heartfelt.

And there's enough heart in this show to make it not only funny but likable.

Altogether, "Miss Guided" looks like one of the least misguided half-hour comedies we've seen in quite some time.


E-mail: pierce@desnews.com

Recent comments

From all the hype this show has gotten, I expected it to actually,...

The Authority | March 19, 2008 at 8:15 a.m.

Image
Bob Damico, ABC

Chris Parnell, left, Earl Billings, Judy Greer, Kristoffer Polaha and Brooke Burns star in "Miss Guided."

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

Hatch, Bennett oppose health bill

Thank you both for standing up against this horrendous scheme which will...

I, representative of many, would like to purchase less government service....

Where is the Party tonight! we should pack it in and have a blast! Name the...

Armed man robs restaurant

this place is good for the area and the people work hard for what they...

job from the sisterhood. Sarah in her interviews, most of them on Fox, where...

My 1st grade teacher was reading to us from the Bible when the principal came...

Twilight could be so much better

Hopefully this is not the intellectual pursuit mothers are teaching their...

Let's show a little class and sportsmanship this rivalry week. I know it's...

BYU records with win

Even this BYU fan admits that was funny! Now, GO AWAY.

Students protest animal testing

How about showing the things that the research does for mankind??? How about...

Advertisements