8. Happyish
Happyish is a prime example of a show that's success was clearly wrapped up in its lead actor. The show is a dark, satirical comedy-drama that centres on a depressed middle-aged man named Thom Payne, who finds it increasingly difficult to deal with having to work under his new, much younger bosses. Over the course of the show, Payne begins to believe that he needs to find contentment in merely feeling happyish. The show's writer and creator Shalom Auslander was desperate for Philip Seymour Hoffman to play the main character. After several years of courting Hoffman and navigating various legal obstacles, a pilot was shot starring the legendary actor. Unfortunately, after Hoffman sadly passed away in 2014, it seemed like the project would be cancelled but the network decided to try and find a new star, and they cast Steve Coogan in the lead role. When the show finally aired, then, there was a tremendous amount of expectation. The Hoffman version of the show was reportedly brilliant, and many hoped Coogan could carry the show to greatness. Unfortunately for audiences, the result was one-note and at times condescending, relying heavily on profanity and coming across as terribly superficial. What was meant to satire the search for happiness became a sure-fire way not to find it.
Brian Wilson
Contributor
Commonly found reading, sitting firmly in a seat at the cinema (bottle of water and a Freddo bar, please) or listening to the Mountain Goats.
See more from
Brian