"NYPD Blue" fans recognize Lawrence from her understated, eloquent turn as the wife of Det. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz), district attorney Sylvia Costas. As Costas, Lawrence has to portray a character that, out of her resilliant love for her husband, must constantly douse the personal fires that arise time and again in his life. To hold your own with Dennis Franz is a tough task, but Sharon Lawrence completes it whenever she's called upon. At the end of last season, however, it was announced that Lawrence would limit her work on "Blue" to star in "Fired Up". Could Lawrence handle the move from drama to comedy? The only comedic TV work she had to her credit was a humorous guest shot on "Caroline in the City." This did not assure many critics of her ability, since, and I'm sorry "Caroline" fans, it's not hard to upstage Lea Thompson these days. I always had a gut feeling, though, that she would win through. When "Fired Up" promos began running last week, not only did Lawrence's character seem promising, but the dialogue seemed spunky, punchy, funny. I was fired up about "Fired Up".
Once the show started, it didn't take long to realize this wasn't a five-alarm comedy. The premise is the old fish out of water story. Prominent advertising executive Gwen Leonard (Lawrence) is woken momentarily out of her Leona Helmsley-sized power trip by the news that her personal assistant/personal slave Terry (Leah Remini) has been fired. Determined to get her rehired, Gwen unloads on the bosses for firing her assistant. Before she knows it, she, too, is fired. Gwen is desperate, penniless, and still egotistical. Terry is determined to put her boss behind her, but Gwen reappears, looking, first off, for a place to live, and secondly, to start her own agency. Terry, of course, lets Gwen stay with her as she tries hopelessly to adjust to the real world.
"Can you at least file for unemployment?", Terry asks.
"There's that difference between 'can' and 'will' again", Gwen answers stubbornly.
Gwen finally agrees to go to the unemployment office, with disastrous but funny results.
"I used to make $2,500 a week, but I suppose $1,500 a week will do," Gwen says matter-of-factly to the agent.
"Will your giving ever cease?", the agent retorts. Gwen is obviously giving her a healthy dose of laughs, and with material like this, Lawrence is managing to make me laugh out loud as well.
Therein, however, lies the problem with "Fired Up". It's not Lawrence. Not by a longshot. She delivers her zingers with a sense of timing very reminiscent of "Cybill"'s Christine Baranski. It's not even Remini, who, in a character somewhat similar to the role of Carla's daughter she played on "Cheers", is effective as the brains behind her new partnership with Gwen. It's the uneven dialogue. However, uneven is better than painful to watch (ex: "Suddenly Susan"). The moments of hilarity are there, and Lawrence can carry the show over the rough spots - for now. The premise may become tired after a few too many episodes (ex: "The Nanny"). Kelsey Grammer is an executive producer on this rookie program. He, of course, has much experience with keeping the "fish out of water" plot from growing stale. His input and a slight shakeup on the writing staff may be exactly what's needed to keep this fire burning for seasons to come.
Comments? I'd love to hear them. art@benzene.net
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