They say that any publicity is good publicity, but in the case of the new ABC sitcom "Over the Top," that may not be true.
The show has been dogged by rumor and innuendo about how it came to be a part of the ABC lineup since the network announced its fall schedule in May. And what has happened since then has only exacerbated the situation.One of the executive producers of "Over the Top" is Robert Morton, the former executive producer of the "Late Show with David Letterman." At the time that "Over" was ordered by ABC, Morton was involved in a personal relationship with ABC Entertainment President Jamie Tarses.
Tongues began to wag immediately, speculating that that personal relationship was - if not the only reason - certainly a big reason Tarses bought the show.
Morton went so far as to duck TV critics over the summer, unwilling to talk about those reports.
Things went from bad to worse when the original "Over the Top" pilot was kept away from both critics and advertisers. Speculation - fueled by ABC insiders - was that the show was so bad that it needed major retooling before anyone could see it.
Which sort of begs the question as to why Tarses would have bought a show she then refused to let advertisers and critics see.
Then, just days before "Over the Top" was scheduled to debut last month, it was suddenly yanked off of ABC's schedule, its premiere postponed until tomorrow night (7:30 p.m., Ch. 4).
Tarses' explanation made some degree of sense - she wanted to give "Soul Man" a more protected time slot (following a "Home Improvement" rerun) on Tuesdays for a few weeks before pitting that show against "Mad About You." And she said she was looking to give "Over the Top" the best chance possible.
But, by this point, there were already legions of skeptics.
All of which left stars Annie Potts and Tim Curry holding the bag. They star as a long-divorced couple who are suddenly reunited. Curry plays Simon, an over-bearing, obnoxious actor who is fired from his soap-opera job and moves into the small Manhattan hotel run by the first of his many ex-wives, Hadley (Potts).
As difficult as it has been, both Potts and Curry insist they've ignored the controversy.
"I think the work will speak for itself," Potts told TV critics.
Unfortunately for Potts, the work does indeed speak for itself. And very loudly.
What it's saying is - "What a piece of junk!"
There are a few mildly funny moments in the first two episodes, but no real laughs. And there are plenty of moments that elicit groans.
It's not for nothing that this show is titled "Over the Top."
Curry, in particular, spends most of his on-camera time mugging and chewing the scenery. And Potts is put in a number of embarrassing positions - from singing a ridiculous duet with Curry to going on a drunken rampage that leaves her dressed like a bag lady and handcuffed to a blender.
Amazingly enough, they are not the most over-the-top characters. That dishonor falls to Yorgo (Steve Carell), the hotel's chef. A refugee from Eastern Europe and a huge fan of Simon's, he comes on the scene by screaming, "I HAVE DREAMT OF THIS MOMENT!" and throwing himself at Simon's feet.
That's his most subtle moment. Every line he speaks is overwrought and every fifth or sixth word is screeched at the top of his lungs.
The writing on "Over the Top" is just dreadful. When her hotel is overheated, Hadley tells fleeing patrons, "Why this is nothing. You know what we call this in the South? Winter!"
At least the laugh track finds it funny.
Hadley, of course, has a pair of standard-issue sitcom kids - a precocious pre-adolescent boy, Daniel (Luke Tarsitano) and a rebellious teenage girl, Gwen (Marla Sokoloff).
Real original, huh?
There's an attempt here to forge a relationship between Simon and Daniel, but it doesn't work well.
"You sound like one of the Beatles," Daniel says, commenting on Simon's British accent.
"That's because I'm the fifth Beatle - Satan," Simon replies.
"Over the Top" isn't necessarily a bad idea, nor is the casting of Potts and Curry. But as it is executed, it's an embarrassing half hour.
And it will do nothing to quiet the gossip about how the show got on the air in the first place.