"Good Morning, Miami" (2002) TV series 2002-2004

Creators:

David Kohan
Max Mutchnick

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

26 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

He had every reason to go... until came the one reason to stay...

Plot:

A talented young TV producer arrives in Miami to revamp the lowest-rated morning show in the country.

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom | Miami Florida

Awards:

1 win

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 4 of 17)

Constance Zimmer	...	Penelope 'Penny' Barnes Barrington (39 episodes, 2002-2004)
Mark Feuerstein	...	Jake Silver (39 episodes, 2002-2004)
Ashley Williams	...	Dylan Messinger (39 episodes, 2002-2004)
Matt Letscher	...	Gavin Stone (26 episodes, 2002-2004)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

KoMut Entertainment

Trivia:

After 9 episodes were aired in the 2nd season this show was canceled and didn't get to finish airing the rest of the 18 episodes that were ordered for the 2nd season.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first season finale, the yellow clipboard Dylan holds in the first few minutes jumps from her hands to her bag during her talk with Jake.

Quotes:

Claire: Jake, I need you to sign my paycheck.
Jake Silver: Claire, this is my paycheck.
Claire: You sound just like that bitchy teller.

Soundtrack:

Once in a Lifetime

Likable at first blush, but has structural weaknesses

The opening episode of this sitcom shows promise: the setting is interesting (if a bit overused lately--see "Life With Bonnie") and the characters seem appropriately "zany" for a successful ensemble show. I like the team of Kohan and Mutchnick who also brought us "Will and Grace" and the underrated "Boston Common." The cast is also good, even if Suzanne Pleshette seems unlikely as Feuerstein's *grandmother.* The laugh quotient wasn't as high as one would like, but the romantic chemistry is fine--which brings me to the first structural problem the show has. It's been packaged and promoted as a romantic comedy. If they intend to keep the focus on this one romantic pairing (Jake and Dylan), they're doomed to failure. Shows centered primarily around the development of one romance ALWAYS fail; once the characters are in a stable relationship the show is dead, yet if you keep them apart too long, the show is likewise dead. The romance must coexist with other appealing elements and compelling characters.

"Good Morning Miami" doesn't look promising on either front. Jake himself is a nice enough fellow, intelligent and attractive, but perhaps a bit dull. This has been a problem with Feuerstein's previous series. I don't know if he has the charisma to be the lead, though he's been fine as a supporting player.

The other characters and the milieu of an ineptly produced morning television show reveals another problem. What is funny about it is also why it can't sustain a long-running sitcom. If Jake does his job well, he will either fire the other characters or eliminate the quirks that make them funny characters. If he fails at his job, he will be fired. Either way, "Good Morning Miami" is on borrowed time.