Bob Patterson (TV series)

Last updated
Bob Patterson
Genre Sitcom
Created by
Directed by Robby Benson
Barnet Kellman
Starring
Composers
  • Michael Skloff
  • Giorgio Bertuccelli
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (5 unaired)
Production
Executive producers
  • Peter Tilden
  • Ira Steven Behr
  • Jason Alexander
  • Tim Doyle (Pilot)
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseOctober 2 (2001-10-02) 
October 31, 2001 (2001-10-31)

Bob Patterson is an American television sitcom starring Jason Alexander, produced by Ira Steven Behr. It was directed by Robby Benson and Barnet Kellman. The series premiered on ABC on October 2, 2001, and the final episode aired on October 31 of that year. It was canceled in November 2001 after five of the ten scheduled episodes aired. [1]

Contents

Overview

The show revolves around fictitious motivational speaker Bob Patterson, "America's #3 Self Help Guru", who is popular with millions of people across America, thanks to his books I Know More Than You, I Still Know More Than You and the To the Top! franchise. Friction between his job and family occurs partly due to Bob's self-absorbed but insecure nature and complete lack of self-awareness, ironic qualities for someone whose job is supposed to be selflessly motivating others to improve their lives.

Use of character outside of show

After the show's cancellation, Alexander used the concept behind Patterson to create a similar fictional character named Donny Clay, "America's #4 Self-Help Guru." Alexander has toured the United States in character as Clay. [2]

Catchphrases

The character of Bob Patterson had a series of catchphrases:

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected by [3] Written by [3] Original air dateProd.
code [3]
1"Pilot" Barnet Kellman Story by: Jason Alexander & Michael Markowitz & Peter Tilden
Teleplay by: Jason Alexander & Ira Steven Behr & Tim Doyle & Peter Tilden
October 2, 2001 (2001-10-02)1AFY79
2"Honest Bob"Barnet KellmanIra Steven Behr & Peter TildenOctober 9, 2001 (2001-10-09)1AFY03
3"Naked Bob"Barnet KellmanBarbie FeldmanOctober 16, 2001 (2001-10-16)1AFY02
4"Awards Bob"Barnet KellmanHayes JacksonOctober 24, 2001 (2001-10-24)1AFY05
5"Bathroom Bob" Robby Benson Brian ScullyOctober 31, 2001 (2001-10-31)1AFY07
6"Family Bob"Barnet KellmanBrian ScullyUnaired1AFY01
7"Paranoid Bob"Barnet KellmanJustin AdlerUnaired1AFY04
8"Clown Bob"Barnet KellmanBarbie FeldmanUnaired1AFY06
9"Matchmaker Bob"
"Mentor Bob"
Barnet KellmanJustin AdlerUnaired1AFY08
10"Wheelchair Bob"Barnet KellmanHayes JacksonUnaired1AFY09

Reception

Critical

The series received poor reviews. The New York Times critic Caryn James wrote that "the series may be the season's biggest disappointment... Robert Klein yells while Mr. Alexander screeches." [4] In a one-and-a-half-star review for USA Today , Robert Bianco called Chandra Wilson "the only person in the show you can imagine wanting to see again." [5] Los Angeles Times reviewer Howard Rosenberg wrote: "The only character here that's amusingly written is Bob's new assistant, Claudia (Chandra Wilson)." [6]

Ratings

Ratings for Bob Patterson were considered disappointing. [1] The series' premiere drew 9.8 million viewers, while its final episode recorded 7.8 million viewers. [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 Lowry, Brian (2001-11-03). "ABC Takes 'Patterson' Off Lineup". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  2. Rich Place (July 30, 2009). "Donny Clay coming to Chautauqua". The Post-Journal. Jamestown, New York. Archived from the original on 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  3. 1 2 3 From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Bob Patterson"]". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  4. James, Caryn (2001-10-02). "TELEVISION REVIEWS; A Hopeless And Helpless Self-Help Specialist". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  5. Bianco, Robert (2001-10-02). "Alexander's sitcom lacks character". USA Today.
  6. Rosenberg, Howard (October 2, 2001). "Comic Timing Can't Save 'Bob Patterson'". Los Angeles Times.
  7. Haber, Matt (2006-03-26). "Sorry, Newman: There May Not Be a Seinfeld Curse". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-04-19.