Going into 2010, the traditional sitcom was all but dead. CBS was still having success with Two and a Half Men, How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory, but otherwise, the most successful new TV comedies were filmed documentary-style like Modern Family and The Office. When TV Land announced that it was bringing back the old-fashioned sitcom “filmed in front of a live studio audience,” people were more than a bit surprised until they heard the two magic words that bring life to any comedic project these days: Betty White. TV Land's Hot in Cleveland is a sweet and entertaining look at life for L.A. women after they hit 40, and thanks to Betty White and the show's writing, it has a snarky streak that's easy to love.
Hot in Cleveland is about three best friends Melanie (Valerie Bertinelli), Joy (Jane Leeves), and Victoria (Wendie Malick) who are taking a break from their busy lives in L.A. to take a weekend vacation in Paris. Unfortunately, their flight runs into problems, and they are forced to land in Cleveland. These West Coast women are initially a bit snobbish about Cleveland, but they fall in love with the city after a trip to the local bar. They realize that Cleveland men find them sexy whereas in L.A., they are all considered way past their prime. Melanie finds out that a weekend in Paris would cost as much as several months in Cleveland, so they decide to rent a house which comes with Elka (Betty White), a caretaker with a razor sharp wit. They date, try to fit in with the neighbors, and engage in the usual sitcom shenanigans.
All four lead actresses have spent a lot of time acting for TV. Bertinelli got her start on One Day at a Time; Leeves is best known as Daphne from Frasier; Malick was Nina Van Horn from Just Shoot Me!; and White is the only remaining living Golden Girls alum. These are well-known and well-loved television personalities, and their charm and chemistry make up for some of the show's shortcomings. I also think the fact that it airs on a channel like TV Land as opposed to ABC works in its favor. TV Land is a channel that is all about nostalgia, and because of that, it is the perfect network for Hot in Cleveland. People first tuned in to Hot in Cleveland because they thought, “Oh, I liked her on that other show,” or “I've missed seeing her on TV,” and they like the comfort of a formulaic sitcom.
If people first tuned in out of nostalgia, however, they stuck around for Betty White. Some people have complained that they are burnt out on Betty White madness, but I am not one of them. I'm glad she got the chance to host Saturday Night Live, but I would be even happier if they just made her a cast member. The writing and plot lines in are the weakest part of the show, but I forgive it because the writers have enough sense to give Betty the best lines. Also, I have to admit that I loved the finale where (SPOILER ALERT) everyone finds out that Elka's husband worked for disreputable people and has a storm cellar full of stolen jewels and artifacts. Now I finally know what the “Free Elka” Facebook campaign was about.
Hot in Cleveland is not the most original or even the funniest comedy on TV, but it knows its audience and proves that outside of CBS, the traditional sitcom still has some life left in it. It will probably become one of my shows that I put on when I'm working on something else and don't want to focus too much on what is going on. To sum up, if it is late at night and you have a choice between Hot in Cleveland reruns and How Do You Know on TBS, do yourself a favor and pick Hot in Cleveland. You'll get more laughs (and Betty White!).
DVD Bonus Features
Special features include the original pilot episode, the pilot episode of TV Land's new sitcom Retired at 35, a tour of the set, a bloopers reel, Victoria's hilarious “Lady Pants” commercial, and featurettes on the wardrobe and the actresses embracing their age.
"Hot in Cleveland: Season One" is on sale January 11, 2011 and is not rated. Comedy, Romance, Television. Directed by Andy Cadiff, David Trainer, Gil Junger. Written by Suzanne Martin, Anne Flett-Giordano, Sam Johnson, Chris Marcil, Vanessa McCarthy, Chuck Ranberg. Starring Betty White, Jane Leeves, Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick.
