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.)
Dec 11
2006
05:02 PM ET
Catch 'Illeanarama' at YouTube
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i love ileana douglas!
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?
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…
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…
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 . . .
you mean self-deprecating, right?
what kind of idiot would pass on this show ??????? It is great !!!!!!!!!!!!!