Watch Watching Ellie

2002
2 Seasons
6.2 (357)

Watching Ellie is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from 2002 to 2003. The show starred Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the lead role of Ellie Riggs, a quirky jazz singer who navigates through the ups and downs of life in Los Angeles. The cast included actors such as Steve Carell, Don Lake, Lauren Bowles, Peter Stormare, and Darren Boyd.

The show revolved around the life of Ellie, a woman in her 30s who juggles between her love life, musical career, and personal relationships. Ellie's character is shown to be a perfectionist who tries to plan everything in her life and is constantly worried about the future. Despite her meticulous planning, things often go awry, and Ellie has to deal with the consequences.

The opening scene of every episode depicts Ellie standing on the stage, counting down the seconds until her show starts. Her life and the people in it are introduced in a series of fast-paced scenes that give viewers an idea of what's to come in the episode.

Steve Carell plays the role of Edgar, Ellie's older brother, who is not very successful in life and relies heavily on his sister for support. Don Lake plays Dr. Zimmerman, Ellie's landlord, and friend. The two characters have a unique relationship, with Dr. Zimmerman often meddling in Ellie's personal life. Lauren Bowles plays Susan, Ellie's best friend, and band manager. Peter Stormare plays Ben, Ellie's new boyfriend with a dark sense of humor. Darren Boyd plays Edgar's British roommate, Ingvar, who becomes Ellie's romantic interest in later episodes.

Watching Ellie is a unique sitcom that shares little resemblance to traditional sitcoms. The show features the use of a ticking clock, which creates an urgency in the storyline and keeps the viewer engaged. Each episode unfolds in real-time, with the ticking clock emphasizing the pacing and timing of the show. The show is also known for its unconventional portrayal of dialogue, with characters often talking over each other, making it realistic and relatable.

Watching Ellie showcases Julia Louis-Dreyfus's talent as an actor and singer. The show features live musical performances from Ellie, showcasing Louis-Dreyfus's singing abilities, which were previously not known to many. Each episode ends with Ellie performing a song, which is a highlight of the show. The show's musical score blends seamlessly with the dialogue and is an integral part of the show's storytelling.

The show received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Some appreciated the show's unique structure and quirky characters, while others found the real-time structure of the show to be limiting. The show only lasted for two seasons, with NBC canceling it in 2003.

In conclusion, Watching Ellie is a unique sitcom that showcases Julia Louis-Dreyfus's talents as an actor and singer. The show features a quirky cast of characters, an unconventional storyline structure, and live musical performances. It is a refreshing break from traditional sitcoms and a must-watch for fans of Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

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Seasons

2 1

6. Feud

May 20, 2003

Ellie meets ""Family Feud"" host, Richard Karn at one of her club performances and Ellie gets the idea of being a contestant on the show in the hopes of winning a free vacation. Ellie gets a ""family"" of her own together with her sister Susan and a few adoptees. Ben, Don, and Edgar when the Riggs family gets ready to play the feud.

5. Fruit Shots

May 13, 2003

Ellie reluctantly takes a gig doing a commercial for a fruit juice containing alcohol that seems to be targeting teenagers. Meanwhile, Don Zimmerman and Ingvar get Ellie and Ben in on a sure bet - a race horse who is certain to win at the track thanks to a special veterinarian ""elixir"" that causes the horse to bolt.

4. Buskers

May 6, 2003

Ellie runs into an old singing rival of hers who appears to be at the top of her career. In Ellie's zeal to be one step ahead of her rival, she lies about a future gig for Steven Spielberg, yet in reality her next gig turns out to be ""underground"" at the subway in Los Angeles.

3. Date

April 29, 2003

Ellie and Don are filled with anticipation when they each return to the dating world with hopeful aspirations. On the heels of her break up with Ben, Ellie is bubbling with excitement over her date with a man she met six months earlier, who turns out to be full of surprises. While Don believes he's met his soulmate, Ben tries to get Edgar to reveal where Ellie's date is so he can try to stop it.

2. TV

April 22, 2003

Ellie gets carried away with dreams of celebrity when a hard nosed ad exec seems to reward her commercial work with a lavish gift -- but must put up with Edgar's jealously. Meanwhile, Ben and Dr. Zimmerman get hooked on a game of Nerf basketball when they notice that every time they make a basket a wish appears to come true.

1. Shrink

April 15, 2003

Ellie encourages her boyfriend Ben to rent an apartment in her building?EUR"before she learns that the neighbor's visiting niece, Klinka, a stunning, blonde Icelandic beauty, is right next door. Ellie's lack of self-esteem drives her to her shrink, and soon she becomes consumed with Ben's whereabouts and determined to catch him cheating.

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