Listen Up (TV series)

Listen Up is an American sitcom television series created by Jeff Martin, that aired on CBS from September 20, 2004, until April 25, 2005. The series was produced by Regency Television, CBS Productions and Fox Television Studios. The sitcom was based loosely on the life and exploits of the popular sportswriter and sports-media personality Tony Kornheiser. Its principal executive producer was Jason Alexander, who was also the lead actor. Despite decent-to-good ratings, the show was canceled by CBS on May 18, 2005; "rising production costs" was the major reason officially given for the cancellation.

Premise

Tony Kleinman is a Philadelphia based sports show host whose sidekick is Bernie Widmer, a former NFL player; together they host the TV show Listen Up. While Tony does talk about sports on the show and in his newspaper column, he strays away occasionally to talk about the daily exploits of his family: his wife, Dana, a fund-raiser coordinator; his son, Mickey, a 15-year-old golf prodigy, and Megan, his 14-year-old, know-it-all, smart-mouthed, soccer-playing daughter.

Cast and characters

Jason Alexander as Tony Kleinman, a co-host of Listen Up, a sports talk show
Wendy Makkena as Dana Kleinman, an administrator at Philadelphia Zoo
Daniella Monet as Megan Kleinman, the teenage daughter of Tony
Will Rothhaar as Mickey Kleinman, the teenage son of Tony
Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Bernie Widmer, a retired NFL player and a co-host of ''Listen Up''

Reception

Critical response

Critical reaction was largely negative. USA Today's Robert Bianco wrote that the show makes the "mistake of trying to build a star vehicle around a second banana". A New York Times review called it "a rickety vehicle for Jason Alexander". Critics disagreed on the supporting cast – while USA Today noted, "When 'Listen Up' focuses on its supporting cast, the show works", The New York Times referred to a "stiff supporting cast". Matt Rouse of TV Guide wrote, "Forget about the 'Seinfeld' curse, this is just mediocre material and bad casting."

Ratings

The premiere episode drew 11.8 million viewers, while the final episode drew 8.9 million viewers.