Happy Together Season 1 Premiere: 4 Ups & 1 Down From 'Pilot'

Ups...

4. The Premise

As great as the genre can be, there's no denying that pretty much every sitcom centres around the same formula: a group of people that ultimately find themselves living together - whether it be voluntary or otherwise. Hence the situational comedy title. As a result of this familiar set-up, it's very hard for new sitcoms to get off the ground, because we can't help but draw comparisons to previous - and, quite frankly, better - comedies. However, Happy Together is quite different.

The CBS series makes an original contribution. The premise is interestingly different in comparison to any previous sitcom that might come to mind, but it still manages to maintain the charm of its predecessors. The story of the young musician wanting to move in with his accountant sounds like a recipe for disaster, which is exactly the type of conflict one requires for a show of this nature.

Due to Cooper's predicament, Jake and Claire have no other choice but to allow the young pop star to move in. This creates a great source of conflict for the pair, as they want their space back, but they also want to do right by the boy. Moreover, Cooper wants to make music, but he doesn't want the fame that comes with it. Again, another conflicted character. A really intriguing premise.