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Worst Week

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Worst Week
GenreSitcom
Based onThe Worst Week of My Life by Mark Bussell & Justin Sbresni
Developed byMatt Tarses
Starring
ComposerDavid Schwartz
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producers
  • Matt Tarses
  • Jimmy Mulville
  • Adam Bernstein
ProducerMatthew Nodella
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 22, 2008 (2008-09-22) –
June 6, 2009 (2009-06-06)
Related
The Worst Week of My Life

Worst Week is an American sitcom television series that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2008. The series was based on the British sitcom The Worst Week of My Life. It was adapted for American audiences by Fox under the title Worst Week of My Life, but a series didn't materialize after the pilot was filmed.[1]

The series aired on CBS Mondays at 9:30pm ET/PT, following Two and a Half Men. The premiere attracted 11 million viewers but lost a third of its lead-in audience.[2] Ratings dropped to a low of 8.4 million viewers with the sixth episode, but then began to climb steadily, reaching a high of 12.12 million viewers with the eleventh episode before declining again.

On May 20, 2009, CBS cancelled the series after one season and the series finale aired on June 6, 2009.[2]

Cast

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Main characters

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Recurring characters

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Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Adam BernsteinTeleplay by : Matt TarsesSeptember 22, 2008 (2008-09-22)10111.04
In the series premiere, Sam and Mel intend to reveal her pregnancy to her parents after a quiet dinner. However, when Sam misses the train after having a drunk girl throw up on him, the dinner starts becoming increasingly unlikely.
2"The Bird"Adam BernsteinMatt TarsesSeptember 29, 2008 (2008-09-29)1029.31
Sam tries a different method of winning Dick's approval: impressing his wife, Angela. However, Sam's well thought out plan backfires, when Dick's prize birds get involved.
3"The Monitor"Chris KochGail LernerOctober 6, 2008 (2008-10-06)1038.79
Sam's friend Adam visits the Claytons's house, and immediately falls for Mel's sister.
4"The Truck"Adam BernsteinGregg MettlerOctober 13, 2008 (2008-10-13)1049.78
Sam and Mel continue to keep their upcoming nuptials secret, however it explodes and more in front of the entire Clayton family.
5"The Club"Michael FrescoLuvh RakheOctober 20, 2008 (2008-10-20)1069.90
After inviting too many co-workers to the wedding, Sam tells a risky lie that takes on a life of its own.
6"The Ring"Michael SpillerGregg MettlerNovember 3, 2008 (2008-11-03)1078.40
Melanie and Sam are handed down the family wedding ring for use in their marriage, however disaster strikes when Sam loses it.
7"The Vows"Rob GreenbergLon Zimmet & Dan RubinNovember 10, 2008 (2008-11-10)1089.62
Sam winds up in hot water, literally, trying to impress the Clayton family minister.
8"The Cake"Eyal GordinSam LaybourneNovember 17, 2008 (2008-11-17)10910.37
The in-laws finally meet up, as Sam's parents meet Mel's folks for the first time.
9"The Wedding"Michael LehmannGail LernerNovember 24, 2008 (2008-11-24)11010.35
Sam has to resolve an argument between Mel and Angela.
10"The Apartment"Fred SavageLon Zimmet & Dan RubinDecember 8, 2008 (2008-12-08)11110.60
When Angela decides she wants to rent the apartment upstairs from Sam and Mel to be closer once the baby comes, Mel tries to prove that she doesn't need her help.
11"The Gift"Adam BernsteinAllison BrownDecember 15, 2008 (2008-12-15)11212.12
When Sam learns that Dick gives Angela the same Christmas gift every year, he decides to help Dick find the perfect present.
12"The Article"Phil TraillNeil Goldman & Garrett DonovanJanuary 12, 2009 (2009-01-12)11310.45
When Sam tries to clear his mind from the experience of accidentally walking in on Angela at the gynecologist's office, he writes down his private thoughts - which accidentally wind up in the wrong hands.
13"The Puppy"Michael SpillerGail LernerJanuary 19, 2009 (2009-01-19)1149.58
When Sam sees a litter of puppies being born, he worries he might not be able to handle the birth of his own child.
14"The Sex"Michael LehmannGregg MettlerFebruary 2, 2009 (2009-02-02)11510.04
When Sam and Mel babysit their nephew, he captures a photograph of them in a compromising position that he plans to bring to school for a family photo exhibition.
15"The Epidural"Michael SpillerLuvh RakheFebruary 16, 2009 (2009-02-16)1168.70
When Mel calls Sam to let him know she is in labor, he misunderstands the name of the hospital and winds up at the wrong one.
16"The Party"John FortenberrySam LaybourneJune 6, 2009 (2009-06-06)1051.91
When Sam gives it his all to help the Claytons prepare for Dick's birthday party, he loses his pants and some dignity in his effort to make everything perfect. (This episode was aired out of order; its events pick up directly from the end of episode 4, "The Truck.")[3]

Critical reception

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Verne Gay of Newsday graded it A and said it "may be the best new comedy on network TV this season."[4] Less enthusiastic was Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle, who said, "Though there are plenty of hard-earned (some might say forced) laughs here and Bornheimer is a real find, you can't help but wonder how they'll keep up the pace. After all, the British series ran for only two seasons and had a mere seven episodes each season...So how is CBS going to stretch this into 22 episodes without stretching it too thin?...In many ways, Worst Week seems incapable of being made into an American version (there were previous attempts that failed), because not only does the title not make sense, but not having a payoff for all the freaky, not-so-karmic woes Sam endures will be frustrating to the viewing audience . . . [It] is a series that may end up being on a short leash."[5]

Linda Stasi of the New York Post called it "one of the worst new shows of the week" and added, "Only a man (or a couple of them) could get paid big bucks in Hollywood to come up with such a lame-o rip-off and perpetuate the fantasy that gorgeous women can't help but to love out-of-shape guys who do everything wrong."[6]

Home media

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Universal Studios Home Entertainment has released a DVD of the complete series.

References

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  1. ^ Bennett, Steve (August 7, 2007). "America imports the Worst". Chortle. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "2008 - 2009 Cancelled TV Shows: Eight CBS Series That Won't Be Back for 2009 - 2010". TV Series Finale. May 23, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "Viacom CBS Press Express".
  4. ^ Newsday review
  5. ^ Goodman, Tim (September 22, 2008). "TV reviews: 'Worst Week,' 'The Mentalist'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  6. ^ Stasi, Linda (September 22, 2008). "FIST HEADED". New York Post. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
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