Catch 'Illeanarama' at YouTube

103912__illeana_l I remember flipping out with excitement a while back when I read a story that E! was considering picking up a series called Illeanarama, a sort of The Comeback-meets-So NoTORIous mockumentary about the magnificent Illeana Douglas trading in her film career to work in a California supermarket. Let’s face it, the woman was so twistedly funny in the short-lived Fox sitcom Action and her all-too-brief guest appearances on Six Feet Under, she really deserves her own small-screen vehicle — pronto! But after viewing a five-minute clip of Illeanarama at YouTube (thanks to TV Tattle for the link!), I’ve got to say it looks like Douglas is lucky this project never took flight. You’d think anything with Douglas, a self-depreciating Justine Bateman, and the wonderfully loopy Jane Lynch would be chock full o’ laughs, but you would be wrong. Maybe they should’ve cut back on the tired ethnic stereotypes — the Indian grocer! the fiery Latina checkout girl! — and let Lynch mispronounce "Eee-lie-on-ya" a few more times. Which isn’t to say I don’t want to see, say, Illeanamania! on NBC’s fall 2007 lineup. Especially if they pair her with Starting Over’s Iyanla Vanzant. (Oh, how I miss the Starting Over house. Don’t laugh.)

Previous Post 'Tasia vs. Taylor: Who will win the 'Idol' sales battle?

Next Post Tobey who? Snoopy is the new Spidey!

Comments (1-7) of 7 Add your comment

will
Mon 12/11/06 4:45 PM

i love ileana douglas!

Reply
Ep Sato
Mon 12/11/06 5:14 PM

Agrreed with Will. She was fantastic in Goodfellas and in “to die for”. If Popwatch had a “Hey, it’s that GIRL” Segment, I am sure she would have topped many of the favorite “Hey, it’s that girl” lists.
Re: the mini-sitcom, I’m thinking it would have gotten better with subsequent episodes. Most shows have half assed pilots, don’t they?

Reply
shana
Mon 12/11/06 5:39 PM

Did you see her on the reality show #1 Single on E! starring Lisa Loeb? She was pretty amusing as herself, maybe it should be a reality show instead of a mock reality show…

Reply
Telly B
Mon 12/11/06 6:08 PM

Man, I didn’t think it was bad.
In fact, it was better than 60 % of the crap that networks are currently peddling as “comedies”
I would love to see this in a one hour block with Ugly Betty…If only ABC picked it up…

Reply
Annie
Mon 12/11/06 6:09 PM

And to add a comment with no substance: Slezak, I’m with you. Starting Over my ultimate show this summer. Oh, how I miss it . . .

Reply
lj
Tue 12/12/06 3:04 PM

you mean self-deprecating, right?

Reply
Jeff
Tue 12/12/06 7:50 PM

what kind of idiot would pass on this show ??????? It is great !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject - or we may delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk (*) indicates a required field.