Coming Soon: Rob

When Does It Start: Thursday 12^th Jan at 8.30pm EST on CBS

In A Nutshell: ‘Comedian’ Rob Schneider scores his own sitcom. But can he be funny without Adam Sandler by his side?

What’s It About: Rob Schneider is Rob, a lifelong bachelor who just married into a tight knit Mexican-American family. His wife is Maggie, a beautiful and smart book translator who’s also way out of his league. Together the two elope to Vegas. But how will they break the news to Maggie’s overprotective, judgmental parents? And will Rob ever be a true part of the family? Get ready for stereotypes aplenty and endless culture clash jokes…

Plus Points: This is CBS. They don’t really do failure – and with so many big hits on the network Rob stands a better than average chance of taking off – certainly better than if the show aired on Fox or, gulp, NBC!

The CBS Thursday early evening night comedy block is a solid foundation for a new comedy launch – and Rob will benefit from a 14 million Big Bang Theory lead in – and the recently resurgent Person Of Interest at 9pm. The addition of Cheech Marin to the cast also gives the show a solid supporting player who knows his way around the comedy world.

Rob does feel like a comedy throwback but that’s fine on CBS, which is hardly a cutting edge network. The show looks and feels very broad and ultimately that’s what makes CBS a success.

On The Downside: How many chances does Rob Schneider get I wonder? It feels as though Schneider has been bouncing around within pop culture forever, from Judge Dredd through to Grown Ups, desperate to become a star but never quite managing it. Sure he’s had success in films like Deuce Bigalow (13 years ago now!) but basically his real claim to fame is as a bit player in Adam Sandler comedies. For some reason audiences never seem to warm to Rob as a leading man. And I have a feeling they may feel the same way about Rob as a sitcom star.

Let’s be honest Rob the show is a pretty one note comedy idea. The idea of a guy marrying into a large over-bearing family is well mined comedy territory, reaching its peak with My Big Fat Greek Wedding – the smash hit movie which spawned a low rated and short lived TV spin off.

By the way am I the only person who’d fed up with the TV trend for pairing average looking comedians with hot babe wives? According To Jim, King of Queens and now Rob… talk about a double standard!

Rob is taking the slot previously occupied by How To Be A Gentleman, CBS’s Fall comedy misfire which was yanked after just three low rated episodes. Rob should technically perform better but I wonder if Rob Schneider himself is appealing enough to the broad, Middle America CBS demo. One thing Rob also shares in common with Gentleman? Scathing reviews! Jace Lacob on The Daily Beast is calling Rob the worst sitcom of the year. Ouch!

Prediction: Rob Scheider + unfunny and unoriginal concept = quick cancellation!