written by Juan Ayala
Writer and Producer Dan Koppelman is known for his family friendly coming-of-age tales such as Malcolm in the Middle and Nickelodeon’s True Jackson, VP. His latest series Me, Myself and I on CBS premiered on Monday, September 25th, starring Jack Dylan Grazer (IT), Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) and John Larroquette (Night Court, Boston Legal).
The series follows Alex Riley during three stages of his life, at ages 14, 40 and 65. At 14, Alex is a young inventor and massive fan of his hometown Chicago Red Bulls. Seemingly out of the blue, Alex’s mother tells him she’s getting remarried and they’re moving to Los Angeles. Alex gets a new stepdad, an older stepbrother Justin and starts life at a new school in ‘Laker Territory’ as he puts it. Justin tries to help Alex come up with an identity at school but after a mishap at the school dance, Alex is nicknamed ‘chokey’ and loses his shot with the girl of his dreams, Nori. His stepfather Ron gives him touching advice, “we all miss shots, Alex. The great ones keep shooting.”
At age 40, Alex is married with a daughter and comes home one morning to catch his wife cheating on him. The two divorce and Alex his a rough patch, unable to come up with an invention at his company which is now in danger of going under. Alex then finds out that his wife is getting remarried and is taking their daughter with him. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, he goes to visit Ron for advice where he’s reminded of his table wedge invention and remembers to ‘keep shooting’. Alex successfully sells his invention and turns his life around, getting his daughter to stay with him in the process.
Me, Myself and I successfully tackles three timelines in less than thirty minutes with outstanding performances from the three actors portraying Alex. Jack Dylan Grazer plays a young, love-struck Alex at 14 years old, the ‘new kid’ trying to fit in, something that most people are all too familiar with. It’s refreshing to see that the writers had the Alex and Justin, played by Christopher Paul Richards, actually get along. The ‘new siblings hate each other’ is a trope that’s been done to death and I’m glad they went a different route. Justin genuinely wants to help Alex fit in, helping him pick out his school outfits, establish a persona in school and figure out how to be popular.
Bobby Moynihan plays ‘mid-life crisis’ Alex whose life is on a downward spiral following a divorce from his wife. Moynihan brings a very funny but grounded performance to the 40-year-old, now single father. His best friend is played by Jaleel White, whose comedic timing with Moynihan brings a lot to their friendship and the ‘tough love’ he gives Alex.
Stage and screen veteran John Larroquette plays the 65-year-old retiree Alex. This part of Alex’s life seems to have the least to do but Larroquette takes what little he’s given and does so expertly. As the last part of Alex’s life, this is where the writers have the most flexibility as the decisions won’t affect any outcomes like the previous ones would. His run in with Nori was a great surprise and was really sweet, a storyline I look forward to seeing where the writers take it.
The writing and director are superb in that the one event from Alex’s teenage years is laced throughout the other two parts of his life and connects them all rather perfectly. It is advertised as a comedy and it could be a bit funnier but it's just the Pilot episode and of course that's meant to set up the characters and the story. Me, Myself and I is funny, uplifting and has a ton of heart. If there's anything you will take away from this show, it's to just keep shooting. I’m very much looking forward to where the series goes.
Me, Myself and I airs on CBS, Mondays at 9:30pm
Did you watch the premiere of Me, Myself and I? What did you think? Let’s talk! Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Writer and Producer Dan Koppelman is known for his family friendly coming-of-age tales such as Malcolm in the Middle and Nickelodeon’s True Jackson, VP. His latest series Me, Myself and I on CBS premiered on Monday, September 25th, starring Jack Dylan Grazer (IT), Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) and John Larroquette (Night Court, Boston Legal).
The series follows Alex Riley during three stages of his life, at ages 14, 40 and 65. At 14, Alex is a young inventor and massive fan of his hometown Chicago Red Bulls. Seemingly out of the blue, Alex’s mother tells him she’s getting remarried and they’re moving to Los Angeles. Alex gets a new stepdad, an older stepbrother Justin and starts life at a new school in ‘Laker Territory’ as he puts it. Justin tries to help Alex come up with an identity at school but after a mishap at the school dance, Alex is nicknamed ‘chokey’ and loses his shot with the girl of his dreams, Nori. His stepfather Ron gives him touching advice, “we all miss shots, Alex. The great ones keep shooting.”
At age 40, Alex is married with a daughter and comes home one morning to catch his wife cheating on him. The two divorce and Alex his a rough patch, unable to come up with an invention at his company which is now in danger of going under. Alex then finds out that his wife is getting remarried and is taking their daughter with him. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, he goes to visit Ron for advice where he’s reminded of his table wedge invention and remembers to ‘keep shooting’. Alex successfully sells his invention and turns his life around, getting his daughter to stay with him in the process.
Grazer, Moynihan and Larroquette
Image Source
Image Source
At age 65, Alex suffers from a heart attack and after his recovery, he announces to his successful company that he will be retiring. When wondering if he made the right decision, Alex runs into a grown up Nori and the two catch up. As he leaves the diner Nori owns, Alex tells himself ‘keep shooting’ and goes back in and kisses her, taking his shot with Nori that he missed as a young teenager.
Me, Myself and I successfully tackles three timelines in less than thirty minutes with outstanding performances from the three actors portraying Alex. Jack Dylan Grazer plays a young, love-struck Alex at 14 years old, the ‘new kid’ trying to fit in, something that most people are all too familiar with. It’s refreshing to see that the writers had the Alex and Justin, played by Christopher Paul Richards, actually get along. The ‘new siblings hate each other’ is a trope that’s been done to death and I’m glad they went a different route. Justin genuinely wants to help Alex fit in, helping him pick out his school outfits, establish a persona in school and figure out how to be popular.
Bobby Moynihan plays ‘mid-life crisis’ Alex whose life is on a downward spiral following a divorce from his wife. Moynihan brings a very funny but grounded performance to the 40-year-old, now single father. His best friend is played by Jaleel White, whose comedic timing with Moynihan brings a lot to their friendship and the ‘tough love’ he gives Alex.
Stage and screen veteran John Larroquette plays the 65-year-old retiree Alex. This part of Alex’s life seems to have the least to do but Larroquette takes what little he’s given and does so expertly. As the last part of Alex’s life, this is where the writers have the most flexibility as the decisions won’t affect any outcomes like the previous ones would. His run in with Nori was a great surprise and was really sweet, a storyline I look forward to seeing where the writers take it.
The writing and director are superb in that the one event from Alex’s teenage years is laced throughout the other two parts of his life and connects them all rather perfectly. It is advertised as a comedy and it could be a bit funnier but it's just the Pilot episode and of course that's meant to set up the characters and the story. Me, Myself and I is funny, uplifting and has a ton of heart. If there's anything you will take away from this show, it's to just keep shooting. I’m very much looking forward to where the series goes.
Me, Myself and I airs on CBS, Mondays at 9:30pm
Did you watch the premiere of Me, Myself and I? What did you think? Let’s talk! Leave your thoughts in the comments below!