TV Show Review | Can Charlie keep his calm; Rated 2.5 Stars

Anger Management a show which is known to have broken a ratings record with 5.74 million viewers on its series debut night and ranked as the most-watched sitcom premiere in cable history premiered on Indian television on Monday, February 18th 2013  at 10 pm and  showcased back-to-back episodes for an hour long India TV premiere.  The highest-rated sitcom in American Cable TV history and its international success paved the way for one of the biggest acquisitions in recent times in the English entertainment space in India, where fans were eagerly awaiting its debut.

Comedian Charlie Sheen making his appearance on Comedy Central has arrived on Indian television screens and he is here to manage his anger. He is very angry! In fact he’s so angry that he’s the rage and his attempts to suppress it is what makes the show funny and hilarious! Comedy Central, the channel with their  tagline ‘Laugh It Off !’ known to cool down fiery tempers brings the iconic show to Indian television.

The series stars award-winning actor Charlie Sheen who with his inimitable style and comic timing has arrived and intends to have audiences hooked!

Anger Management is an American comedy series that premiered on FX on June 28, 2012. The series is based on the 2003 film of the same name and stars Charlie Sheen in a role similar to the one immortalised by Jack Nicholson from the film.

Commenting on acquiring the rights of the new show, Ferzad Palia, SVP and GM - English Entertainment, Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd., said, "On our first anniversary of Comedy Central in India we’re delighted to be bringing one of the most watched and talked about shows in the world, Anger Management, to our Indian audiences. In true Comedy Central style, expect unprecedented promotion, activation and fun around the show. We’re excited to play home to the next big thing in sitcom history.”

In this new series, Charlie Sheen stars as ex-baseball player turned therapist specializing in anger management. The plot talks of how Charlie breaks his leg in anger, putting an end to his baseball career. He then becomes an anger management therapist who runs a successful private practice.

A bunch of crazy patients, a hot female doctor who is his competition, a very confused daughter, a rebel ex-wife and his own pangs of anger, constantly bug Charlie making it even more difficult for him to keep his sanity.
The opening episode sees Charlie Goodson – a baseball player with anger issues returning to anger management therapy after an unpleasant encounter with his ex-wife’s new boyfriend. The only problem is that he happens to be sleeping with the one therapist he trusts: his best friend, Kate.  The next episode sees the new ‘evolved’ Charlie in trouble as his past returns to take revenge! An unattractive woman he slept with during his baseball days to break a batting slump shows up as a new patient in his group therapy.

Charlie Sheen is at his very best as usual in the role of Charlie Goodson the therapist though he seems lost at times dealing with the different relationships in his life. In an effort to bring about serenity and  peace in other people’s lives he himself tends to give way to his frustrations and bottled up emotions which he tries to control. He  runs a private practice helping a group of regular patients including Nolan, Patrick , Ed and Lacey and also takes on some pro bono counselling for an inmate group at a state prison.

The show being in the comedy genre reminds one of Charlie’s role in the popular sitcom ‘Two and a Half Men’ which too was a hit with audiences. The similarity of his character  is blatantly visible in this show too. But there are some subtle differences and there are fewer laughs this time.

Performances seemed mediocre by most of the cast in the show with the exception of Mel, an old friend of Charlie who brings back unpleasant memories for Charlie and makes a comeback into his life through his therapy sessions.

Expectations did run high but the long awaited premiere did not seem to match up to it. The back to back episodes seemed repetitive and slightly dragged at times. But all the same it did at times manage to entertain and leave audiences in splits.  In terms of ‘anger management’ there was not much focus on issues dealing with anger  in the first two episodes of the show except for his interaction with his ex-wife’s boyfriend Sean when Charlie is seen suppressing his anger. More on the lines of a regular comedy show like most other shows of its genre on the channel but it lacked the uniqueness that viewers eagerly anticipated in the show.

It is to be seen if Charlie will be able to keep his calm or will his feelings give way to an outburst of emotions and will he be able to manage people’s anger and give solutions or will he in the process lose his own sanity?

Adgully gives ‘Anger Management’ 2.5 out 5 stars.