Whether attempting to mimic the success of shows like HBO’s In Treatment or that of its highly regarded online predecessor Web Therapy, or it’s just a coincidence, Couch Cases has joined the fray by diving into the realm of shrinks on screen.
The shrink in question is Dr. Amy, played by Kathi Funston, who co-created the series along with director Patrick Ortman. Dr. Amy is a half-adolescent, half-therapist type of gal whose socially deficient and, thanks to her slightly immodest cleavage and snarky bitching about patients to best friend Heather (Sabrina Bolin), shatters any confidences we would’ve had in her professional abilities.
While Dr. Katz and Web Therapy take suble approaches to psych-themed comedy, Couch Cases goes the way of cliched sitcoms. Dr. Amy plays a silly, bumbling, single professional just makin’ her way in the world, trying to find a mate. Yadda yadda.
All may not be lost, though, as Dr. Amy becomes a bit more aware, and begins to acknowledge her own issues and weaknesses.
As we move past the first episode, when Dr. Amy’s not betraying the confidence of her patients, Heather is giving her a hand in pointing out the hot, available guys.
There’s ‘Hot Waiter Guy’ (Simon Hamlin), who serves them at their local EAT eatery. There’s Dr. Steve, the chiropractor (or ‘witch doctor,’ as Dr. Amy dubs him) who works nearby. And then there’s hot gym guy, who doesn’t get quotes for his name but does get a nice physical appraisal, and an ensuing skin-touching ‘spot’ on the Universal weights.
In episode 4, Heather takes Dr. Amy to a psychic, where she’s proffered the possibility of exchanging future spinsterhood for a knight in shining armor. Hot Waiter Guy, who she finally learns is named Nathan, looks to be in the lead for that dubious honor thus far, as the therapist with neuroses and no man leaves him her Tarot card along with the tip.
If Ortman and Funston can focus on this earnest angle moving forward, and maneuver the plot away from the cloying, they just might be onto a sitcom that’s well worth getting up off the couch and onto your computer to watch.
Check it out at CouchCases.com.
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Thanks, Michael. We have a huge audience among women online, and as the show’s progressed we’re finding that they are relating more to Dr. Amy as the show progresses and we learn more about her, too. It’s been really cool to watch, for me.
I’m not a fan of Web Therapy, although I love Lisa Kudrow. It felt more improv to me, and our show is a scripted comedy. It was interesting seeing that come out while we were in production, though :-).
Wow, Michael, way to negate everything you have to say with the boob comment! I can’t take YOU seriously!
Color me old fashioned, but you don’t think that Dr. Amy’s attire is just a touch unprofessional?
there is absolutley nothing wrong with what Dr Amy is wearing,i think she looks rather professional. i definatley do not think she is showing too much cleavage, that is what most professional women of todays society wear to work. i think you need to get off your couch and stop it with the sexism remarks and take a good look at the world outside.
Good article, but I think it’s a bit unnecessarily negative.
What show is not somewhat like a predecessor? As far as I’ve seen online or on television, there’s really nothing new – it’s just the spin.
I love this show, because I know a therapist just like that! In fact, many!!
They say the truth is stranger than fiction… I figure anyone who doesn’t ‘get it’ might not realize this.
I believe a show needs to be judged on it’s own, before comparisons are made. If you start comparing, before giving it a chance, you miss the subtleties that correlate to your own life.
Maybe it just resonated with me through therapists I barely know and have met up to 20 years ago that correlate and are funny, but I had to say something.
Couch Cases all the way!!
(Make friends with at least 5 therapists, and I’ll pretty much guarantee you’ll laugh you ass off!)
Here are two images of female therapists in popular culture that, based on appearance, I would say take their job seriously and look professional:
– http://www.lbracco.com/images1.....204p01.jpg
– http://mnfilmtv.org/mndialog/w.....herapy.jpg
You don’t see a difference between their wardrobes and Dr. Amy’s?
She has boobs, deal with it….this show is NOT about boos, so this article is a bit pervy and ridiculous and totally doesn’t focus in on what really matters, that this is a great show.
Nice article and good recap of the show, although I would question the comment about “slightly immodest cleavage”. Where did that come from? I found nothing immodest about Dr. Amy’s outfits and wonder why, with the myriad of worthy things you could focus on in the show – humor, interesting plot line, well-shot, etc. – you would waste a breathe commenting on cleavage.
In what therapist’s handbook does it say you have to dress in an ill-fitting pant suit from the 90s to be considered professional? Lisa’s character is wearing a deep v-neck shirt just like Amy’s wrap dress. The point, which I think you are missing, is that if Dr. Amy were a man, these types of snarky comments would never make it into a review in the first place! She is dressed in work-appropriate, figure-flattering clothes. Please do us a favor and watch some “What Not to Wear” on TLC to get a fashion lesson.
There is no therapist’s handbook that says you have to dress a certain way to be considered professional. But there are societal expectations of how one should dress in order to be perceived as professional.
The collective consciousness has an ideal of how things should look. Whether its policeman, doctors, construction workers, or therapists, we collectively perceive them to dress a certain way. Does that mean if someone is a doctor and wears a T-shirt to the office that he/she isn’t a doctor and can’t be professional? Of course not. But it goes against our expectations.
(And yes, it sucks that we have these expectations. People should be able to dress however they want to dress and be taken as seriously/ridiculously as they see fit. But that doesn’t mean these expectations don’t exist. And can’t be VERY CONFUSING – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpPWYHzd7kY)
When the creators of the show made Dr. Amy’s character they had decisions to make about the clothes she wears. They could’ve gone with the stereotypical Hilary Clinton / Dr. Melfi pantsuit. They didn’t. That says something about the character.
This has very little to do with Dr. Amy being a female with breasts and more to do with a difference of opinion in what’s workplace appropriate for a therapist’s office. Maybe it’s something I should discuss with my shrink next time I’m on her couch and admiring her conservative cardigan. :)
I am so confused how things escalated in a wrong way. It’s a good review with witty word play. But instead of leaving it at that you’re forcing someone’s foot into their mouth. I’ve had elementary school teachers dress more provocative i.e. their top button was unbutton.
As for the series it’s great. Hopefully it will help some people with their inhibitions.
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