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BY LAUREN DELANEY

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A new NBC show taken from a British series has critics torn. One of the show’s characters, Hank Azaria, explains the premise.


“Free agents is a really smart, really funny romantic comedy that takes place in the workplace. It poses the question, ‘How do you find love, the second time around?’”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uRZWafylI4&feature=related


‘Free Agents’ follows Azaria’s character, Hank, through life after his divorce.  It also focuses on the interactions he has with co-workers, including his love interest.


New York Daily News says this show might have what it takes to succeed.


“’Free Agents’ has a strong premise, solid characters, good chemistry and some great one-liners.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2011/09/14/2011-09-14_free_agents_review_hank_azaria_and_kathryn_hahn_play_wouldbe_lovers_in_semireali.html

But a Chicago Sun Times critic doesn’t see the show becoming popular in the US.


“Thank you, Britain, for giving us ‘The Office,’ but you can keep ‘Free Agents’ on your side of the pond."
http://www.suntimes.com/7636070-417/fall-tv-hits-misses-stay-up-for-up-all-night-but-not-for-free-agents.html
 

But one agent of concern is the show’s humor. Actor Anthony Head starred in the British series.


He thinks a U.S. audience will have to adjust to the humor. Digital Spy has that video.


“There’s nothing right about it.  It is extremely rude and extremely inappropriate in all ways. And it was channel 4 on English TV, it is going to be NBC, mainstream TV, so it’s sort of the degree we can play that card, it’ll be interesting.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3T2lGQM27w

According to a TIME blog, the show has the right cast and the right producer-director team, but the US version isn’t of the same caliber as the British version.
http://www.nbc.com/free-agents/video/sneak-peek-free-agents/1347918/


“What we lose in the US Free Agents pilot is the sense of emotional commitment to the situations of the characters. … The US pilot, on the other hand, isn’t willing to be as dark-the real difference, beyond swear words, between NBC and BBC- and as a result, it seems flippant toward his characters.”
http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2011/09/14/tv-tonight-up-all-night-free-agents/


For the show to be successful, a USA Today critic believes the series needs to strengthen the development of each character.


“There’s not a character you’re likely to believe, which is a problem, or one you want to see again, which for a series is a bigger problem.”
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/story/2011-09-13/free-agents-nbc/50394780/1


Transcript by Newsy.