Happy Endings

"Happy Endings" is a show on ABC that I suspect is underappreciated.  It seems like it should have been on NBC.  Six people, three men, three women, so I guess it probably reminds of Friends.  I can't believe they went on the air with the name and I wonder if they are hurting themselves with the name.

Even more odd, they seem to be playing the episodes out of order.  But even that seems right -- I think if they had played in order, I might not have liked some of the characters as much.

The characters:
Brad (Damon Wayans, Jr.) - married to Jane.  We've also already met his dad, played by Damon Wayans.
Jane (Eliza Coupe) - hilariously competitive.
Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) - left Dave at the altar as the origin/starting point of the show.
Dave (Zachary Knighton) - moves in with Max (sneaks back to the old apartment he shared with Alex because the shower is clean but Alex thinks it's because he still has feelings for her)
Penny (Casey Wilson) - "her own gay husband" - very neurotic
Max (Adam Pally) - a non-sterotypical gay guy, very messy apartment ("That's bird poop.  There's a bird in here.  Alive.") finds out that some guy is living in his attic.

The show is blisteringly funny.  Like funnier than 30 Rock (shut up, Kevin).  I hope ABC gives it a chance.  The show takes place in Chicago.  Or a generic studio lot city scene.

Some selected quotes...

“Meet my friends, Ione and Atticus. She has a blog about zines and he won the mustache contest three years in a row.” — Toby, introducing fake hipster Penny to his friends
“I don’t care.” — Atticus
“See that guy? [Gestures to guitar player] He’s right-handed; he refuses to play with his dominant hand. It’s too commercial.” — Toby
“He’s huge in the abandoned gas station circuit.” — Ione
“What do you think?” — Atticus, to Penny
“Oh, uh … over it.” — Penny
“Totally, super over it.” — the hipsters

“Hey everybody! Look over there! Sofia Coppola‘s playing badminton with Jason Schwartzman!” — Max, distracting the hipsters from the fact that Dave’s food truck has no food

“I’m sick of being your beard. I mean, for someone who behaves nothing like a gay guy, you have even less of an idea how to act like a straight guy.” — Penny, in response to playing Max’s girlfriend of three years in front of his parents

“Operation Beard was a huge success. I owe you big time. If you ever want to get into a country club and you’re looking for a fake white husband, I’m your guy.” — Max, to Jane after she pretends to be his girlfriend at dinner

The good news it's already been picked up for a second season.