Man Up!

Last updated
Man Up!
Man Up promo.jpg
Genre Sitcom
Created by Christopher Moynihan
Written byChristopher Moynihan
Starring
ComposerJohn Kimbrough
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producersChristopher Moynihan
Beth McCarthy-Miller
Kelly Kulchak
Ron West
Victor Fresco
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesGarfield Grove
Bicycle Path Productions
Tagline Television
ABC Studios
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseOctober 18 (2011-10-18) –
December 6, 2011 (2011-12-06)

Man Up! is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from October 18 to December 6, 2011. On December 8, ABC announced the series had been cancelled due to low ratings. [1] [2] Only 8 episodes were aired on television, though all 13 episodes were available online. [3] The episodes remained online through the end of January 2012, when they were removed from ABC's website. All 13 episodes are available to stream on Hulu as of February 2018. [4]

Contents

Plot

The series revolves around the lives of three modern men who try to get in touch with their inner "tough guys" and redefine what it means to be a "real man". According to an on-screen graphic at the start of the pilot, the show is set in Gahanna, Ohio.

Cast

Production

The series was poised to be one of the four breakout hits for the 2011-12 television season (along with CBS's 2 Broke Girls , A Gifted Man , and How to Be a Gentleman ) according to advertisers who had seen the pilot. [5] Of the four shows, only 2 Broke Girls was renewed for a second season. [6]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot" Beth McCarthy-Miller Christopher MoynihanOctober 18, 2011 (2011-10-18)1017.78 [7]
Will tries to find the perfect gift, that expresses manliness, for his son's 13th birthday. Meanwhile, Kenny becomes jealous of his ex-wife's new boyfriend, Grant, who attends the party. Elsewhere, Craig pines for an ex-girlfriend, who is getting married the same day.
2"Finessing the Bromance"Beth McCarthy-MillerChristopher MoynihanOctober 25, 2011 (2011-10-25)1026.74
Kenny gets jealous when Will and Grant strike up an unlikely "bromance". Things go from bad to worse when he finds out Grant is coming to the weekly Keen Sunday dinner. In an attempt to strike some common ground, the guys try a Star Wars screening.
3"Digging Deeper"Alex HardcastleVictor FrescoNovember 1, 2011 (2011-11-01)1036.36
When roommates Kenny and Craig clash, Will suggests they try doing a project together, but that simple suggestion turns into the pair trying to dig their own swimming pool.
4"Wingmen"Bryan GordonRic SwartzlanderNovember 8, 2011 (2011-11-08)1046.22
When Kenny admits he hasn't had a date since his divorce from Brenda and that she is the only woman he has ever slept with, the guys, including Grant, take him clubbing to jumpstart his love life.
5"Acceptance"Eyal GordinFranklin Hardy & Shane KosakowskiNovember 15, 2011 (2011-11-15)1056.27
As a rite of passage, Will decides to buy his son, Nathan, a cell phone, which in turn gives Brenda the idea to also purchase one for Grant to replace his old brick phone. Kenny is nervous about meeting his new girlfriend Jane's parents.
6"High Road Is the Guy Road"Michael TrimKat Likkel & John HobergNovember 22, 2011 (2011-11-22)1066.29
Theresa wants to save the Science Club at Nathan's school, which forces Will, Kenny and Craig to face a high school bully, Dennis.
7"Disciplining the Keens"John ScottBarbie AdlerNovember 29, 2011 (2011-11-29)1076.59
After they find out that Nathan's allergic, the whole family goes on a gluten-free diet, which leads to a weird competition between Will and Theresa to see who can keep the diet up longer, and for Brenda, who's trying to convince health-conscious Grant that she can live without it. The problem is that they are all cheating. Meanwhile, it's all fast food, all the time for Craig and Kenny as they romance two ladies who work at Big Burger.
8"Men and Their Chickens" John Fortenberry Shawn SimmonsDecember 6, 2011 (2011-12-06)1084.82
Will hopes that adopting a baby chick for little Lucy will be a "teachable moment" about where food comes from, but things get out of hand when all of the guys decide they want to adopt chicks too; Craig dates an attractive doctor, but finds himself intimidated by her bully of a son.
9"Camping"Beth McCarthy-MillerMichael ShipleyDecember 13, 2011 (2011-12-13)(online)109N/A
The guys camp out at a department store to buy a video game. Will finds out his son is also camping out with his friends and decides to scare him so he won't lie to him again.
10"Fear"Eyal GordinMichael ShipleyDecember 13, 2011 (2011-12-13)(online)110N/A
Will installs a new home security system, but instead of making everyone feel safer, the system keeps tripping and wreaks havoc in all of their lives. Meanwhile, Craig reconnects with Lisa, the girl whose wedding he broke up, and Grant convinces Kenny to play a "trust the universe" game with him with his new GPS, letting the GPS randomly select their destination. Kenny is convinced it will eventually lead to disaster, but instead he and Grant end up on a series of wild adventures, which eventually finds Kenny meeting his Star Wars hero, Billy Dee Williams.
11"Up All Night"Alex HardcastleRic SwartzlanderDecember 13, 2011 (2011-12-13)(online)111N/A
Because Will's late night video game sessions with the guys have been keeping Theresa up at night, Kenny gives Will a pill that will help her sleep, but the medication has odd side effects and the guys have to keep the house in order.
12"Letting Go" Lee Shallat-Chemel Kat Likkel & John HobergDecember 13, 2011 (2011-12-13)(online)112N/A
Theresa tries to force her brother to throw away a car that their father gave him. Meanwhile, because Will can't see anything through to the end, he chooses the feud between him and Kenny to be the first thing he does see through to the end.
13"Be Who You're Not"Beth McCarthy-MillerBarbie AdlerDecember 13, 2011 (2011-12-13)(online)113N/A
Will's promotion causes his wife and brother to lie in an executive club. Meanwhile, Craig needs to act gay in front of his boss or risk being fired, and he does so by using Grant without him knowing. Will struggles with his promotion after he is asked to fire a fellow co-worker.

Critical reception

The series received mixed to average reviews from viewers and mixed to negative reviews from critics.

Ratings

The debut episode had a modest start averaging a 2.4/6 among 18-49s, with 7.80 million viewers tuning in. [14] However, it took a hit in its second week, averaging a 2.0/5 among 18-49 with 6.78 million viewers tuning in, a drop of 21% from the first episode. [15] It also found itself among the shows that could become candidates for cancellation according to the TV by the Numbers Renew/Cancel Index based on the show's ratings. [16]

On November 18, 2011, ABC pulled Man Up! from its midseason lineup, despite a statement that it was considered a candidate for a second season pickup. [17] However, TV by the Numbers had the series listed as "de facto canceled" as ABC had not ordered any more episodes, and eleven of the thirteen had already been produced at the time the announcement was made. [3]

On December 8, 2011, ABC pulled Man Up! from the schedule and replaced it with Work It on January 3, 2012, leaving five episodes unaired and effectively cancelling the series altogether. [18] (Work It would fare even worse in the Man Up! time slot, being cancelled after airing just two episodes.) [19] ABC posted the five unaired episodes of Man Up! on the show's website as online exclusive episodes on December 13, 2011; they were removed from the website a month later.

No.EpisodeAir date18-49 RatingViewers
(Millions)
1"Pilot"October 18, 20112.57.80
2"Finessing the Bromance"October 25, 20112.06.78
3"Digging Deeper"November 1, 20111.86.36
4"Wingmen"November 8, 20111.76.22
5"Acceptance"November 15, 20111.76.27
6"High Road Is the Guy Road"November 22, 20111.96.29
7"Disciplining the Keens"November 29, 20111.76.59
8"Men and Their Chickens"December 6, 20111.64.82
9"Camping"(online-only)N/AN/A
10"Fear"
11"Up All Night"
12"Letting Go"
13"Be Who You're Not"

International broadcast

The series was picked up in the following countries:

Related Research Articles

Better Off Ted is an American satirical sitcom series, created by Victor Fresco, who also served as the show's executive producer. The series ran on the ABC network from March 18, 2009, to January 26, 2010.

<i>Hank</i> (2009 TV series) American sitcom

Hank is an American sitcom that ran on ABC from September 30, 2009, to November 4, 2009. The series was created by Tucker Cawley and is about a Wall Street executive who loses his job and reconnects with his small-town family. Hank originally aired on Wednesday nights in the fall season and starred Frasier actor Kelsey Grammer. The series was produced by McMonkey Productions and Werner Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television.

<i>Modern Family</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the television comedy series Modern Family aired on ABC from September 23, 2009, to May 19, 2010. The season was produced by Lloyd-Levitan Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television, with series creators Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan serving as executive producers. The series was picked up on April 29, 2009, and finished production in August 2009.

<i>Body of Proof</i> 2011 American medical drama television series

Body of Proof is an American medical/crime comedy-drama television series that ran on ABC from March 29, 2011, to May 28, 2013, and starred Dana Delany as medical examiner Dr. Megan Hunt. The series was created by Christopher Murphey and produced by ABC Studios. On May 10, 2013, ABC canceled the series after three seasons.

<i>Raising Hope</i> American television sitcom (2010–2014)

Raising Hope is an American television sitcom that aired on Fox from September 21, 2010, to April 5, 2014. Following its first season, the show received two nominations at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Martha Plimpton was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, and Cloris Leachman was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Plimpton also won the 2011 Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.

The 2011–12 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers prime time hours from September 2011 through August 2012. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2010–11 season.

<i>Charlies Angels</i> (2011 TV series) 2011 American action crime drama television series

Charlie's Angels is an American action crime drama television series developed by Smallvile co-creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Produced by Millar/Gough Ink, Panda Productions, Flower Films and Sony Pictures Television, the series is a remake based on the original series of the same name created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts and the second series in the Charlie's Angels franchise.

<i>I Hate My Teenage Daughter</i> American sitcom

I Hate My Teenage Daughter is an American sitcom that ran on Fox from November 30, 2011 to March 20, 2012. It aired at the 9:30 pm (E/P)/8:30 pm (C) timeslot after The X Factor. The series stars Jaime Pressly and Katie Finneran. On May 10, 2012, Fox canceled the series. The six remaining episodes subsequently aired in Australia and New Zealand.

<i>Whitney</i> (TV series) American sitcom

Whitney is an American television sitcom that ran on NBC from September 22, 2011, to March 27, 2013. The series originally aired in the 9:30 pm (E/P)/8:30 pm (C) Thursday night timeslot. The show stars Whitney Cummings and is based on her real-life experience and her comedy routines. On September 25, 2011, the pilot of Whitney was multipurposed on various Universal Television networks, including Oxygen, E!, Style, and Bravo.

Grimm is an American fantasy police procedural drama television series created by Stephen Carpenter, Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt, and produced by Universal Television for NBC. The series aired from October 28, 2011, to March 31, 2017, for 123 episodes, over six seasons. The series' narrative follows Portland homicide detective Nicholas Burkhardt, who discovers he is a Grimm, the latest in a line of guardians who is sworn to keep the balance between humanity and mythological creatures, known as Wesen. The series features a supporting cast with Russell Hornsby, Bitsie Tulloch, Silas Weir Mitchell, Sasha Roiz, Reggie Lee, Bree Turner, and Claire Coffee.

<i>Last Man Standing</i> (American TV series) American television sitcom (2011–2017, 2018–2021)

Last Man Standing is an American sitcom created by Jack Burditt for ABC and Fox. It aired from October 11, 2011, to March 31, 2017, on ABC, and then again from September 28, 2018, to May 20, 2021, on Fox. The show starred Tim Allen as an executive at a sporting goods store chain headquartered in Denver, Colorado, who is a married father of three daughters and a grandfather to his eldest daughter's son. Last Man Standing was a joint production by 21 Laps-Adelstein Productions, NestEgg Productions, and 20th Television.

<i>Dont Trust the B---- in Apartment 23</i> American sitcom

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 is an American television sitcom created by Nahnatchka Khan. It was broadcast on ABC between April 11, 2012, and September 6, 2014, comprising two seasons and 26 episodes. Originally a mid-season replacement, the network renewed the series for a second season in May 2012; six episodes from the first season were aired as part of the second, without regard for continuity.

<i>Work It</i> (TV series) American television sitcom

Work It is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from January 3 to January 10, 2012. Set in St. Louis, the series is about two men who must dress as women in order to keep a job in a bad economy.

"Dead Man Walking" is the fifth episode of the first season of the American medical drama Body of Proof. It was originally broadcast in the United States on ABC on April 19, 2011. The episode was directed by Matthew Gross and written by series creator Christopher Murphey.

The third and final season of Body of Proof, an American television series created by Christopher Murphey, aired in the United States from February 19, 2013 to May 28, 2013 and consisted of 13 episodes. It follows the life and career of Dr. Megan Hunt, a medical examiner, once a neurosurgeon, who now works in Philadelphia's Medical Examiner's office after a car accident ended her neurosurgery career.

<i>For the People</i> (2018 TV series) 2018 American legal drama television series

For the People is an American legal drama television series that aired on ABC from March 13, 2018, to May 16, 2019. On May 11, 2018, ABC renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on March 7, 2019.

<i>Roseanne</i> season 10 Season of television series

The tenth and final season of the American television sitcom Roseanne follows the Conners, a working-class family, struggling to get by on a limited household income in their home at 714 Delaware Street in the drab fictional mid-state exurb of Lanford, Illinois. The season was produced by Carsey-Werner Television, with Roseanne Barr, Bruce Helford, Whitney Cummings, Sara Gilbert, Tom Werner, and Tony Hernandez serving as executive producers.

<i>NCIS</i> season 16 Season of television series

The sixteenth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS originally aired from September 25, 2018, through May 21, 2019, at the same time slot as in the previous seasons, Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. and contained 24 episodes.

References

  1. ↑ "ABC's 2011-2012 Schedule: Tim Allen Is Back" from TV.com (May 17, 2011)
  2. ↑ Seidman, Robert. "ABC Announces Fall Series Premiere Dates: Late Starts for "Once Upon a Time", "Man Up"". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "ABC: Even With 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Man Up!,' & 'Pan Am' Canceled, 'Body Of Proof' Is Unlikely To Survive Another Season" from TV By The Numbers (November 22, 2011)
  4. ↑ "Man Up!". Hulu.
  5. ↑ Upfronts: Advertisers Like 'Man Up' And '2 Broke Girls' But Slam ABC's Presentation from Deadline.com (May 19, 2011)
  6. ↑ List of Canceled and Renewed Scripted Shows for the 2011-12 Season from TV By The Numbers (May 14, 2012)
  7. ↑ Gorman, Bill (October 19, 2011). "TV Ratings Tuesday: 'Unforgettable' Rises; 'NCIS,' 'X Factor' Lead Night; 'Man Up' Premieres Modestly". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 21, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Man Up!: TV Review" by Tim Goodman, The Hollywood Reporter (October 11, 2011)
  9. ↑ "'Man Up!' gets thumbs down" [usurped] from JAM! TV (October 14, 2011)
  10. ↑ "Man Up!" by Brian Lowry, Variety (October 16, 2011)
  11. ↑ "TV This Week: 'The Walking Dead' returns, 'Man Up!' and 'Boss' debut" by Kristi Turnquist, The Oregonian (October 15, 2011)
  12. ↑ "Fantriad Television Viewer Poll 2011 Edition" by The Peterson Group, Fantriad (November 7, 2011)
  13. ↑ TV Guide September 12-18, 2011. pg. 30.
  14. ↑ "TV Ratings Tuesday: 'Unforgettable' Rises; 'NCIS,' 'X Factor' Lead Night; 'Man Up' Premieres Modestly" from TV By The Numbers (October 19, 2011)
  15. ↑ "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'X Factor,' 'NCIS,' 'Biggest Loser,' 'Dancing,' 'Man Up!' Adjusted Up; 'Body Of Proof' Adjusted Down" from TV By The Numbers (October 26, 2011)
  16. ↑ "ABC: 'Man Up!' Needs To Move Its Ratings Up, Or Be Canceled" from TV By The Numbers (November 1, 2011)
  17. ↑ "ABC Unveils Midseason Sked" from Variety (November 18, 2011)
  18. ↑ Gorman, Bill (December 8, 2011). "'Man Up!' Pulled From ABC's Schedule, Replaced By 'Last Man Standing' Repeats". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 25, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  19. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (January 14, 2012). "ABC yanks 'Work It' after two airings". HitFix.com. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  20. ↑ "from Channel Canada".
  21. ↑ "Your first glimpse at what is new to Australian TV in 2012" from The Courier-Mail (September 3, 2011)
  22. ↑ "Man Up".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.