Accidentally On Purpose has ended its first season rather quietly on CBS, with much less hype as there was when the sitcom was first included in the primetime block in September last year. Mind you, it didn’t get a lot of attention until the after the pilot episode was aired. And even then, when the media was giving Accidentally On Purpose less-than-enough attention, the feedbacks were not so good. I find it quite impressive that the sitcom actually made it through to its 18th episode, its last and final episode for season one. Having said all that, I couldn’t help but wonder whether the episode I’ve just seen was a season finale or a series finale.
Accidentally On Purpose is a sitcom about the life and relationships of a chic and sassy 37-year-old film critic (Jenna Elfman as Billie Chase) who got pregnant after a one night stand with a 22-year-old chef wannabe manchild (Jon Foster as Zack). Accidentally On Purpose starts off weird, because not everyone in the cast is gifted with amazing comedic skills. But Jenna Elfman obviously still got it.
However, CBS must note that in the last two episodes, and in a couple more episodes where the writers and the creative team of Accidentally On Purpose made good use of Nicolas Wright as Davis, Zack’s best friend, the story gets an added funny texture that is missing in a lot of Accidentally On Purpose episodes.
I’ve made up a list of reasons why CBS should renew Accidentally On Purpose for one more season. First, there’s that obvious unexplored character (Davis) that could bring in more idiosyncrasies into the show. Second, there should be more screen time for another character, Billie’s sister. Since Ashley Jensen as Olivia is not working out as Billie’s best friend, and even Olivia’s pseudo romance with Davis is not looking good, she could just lay low on the show, and the writers would just give more screen time to Lennon Parham as Abby Chase, Billie’s quirky sister who married a soft straight with an obsessive compulsive disorder. Lennon and Jenna are good to watch as sisters and this was obvious from the pilot of Accidentally On Purpose.
Third, Billie is turning 38, and she will have an infant in her arms when she does. There can be a lot of funny touching moments there, giving more meaning and sense to Accidentally On Purpose. Fourth, Zack growing up with his baby will be fun to watch. Accidentally On Purpose is actually making Jon Foster look better and cuter by each episode, so it certainly would not hurt me to know a little bit more about Zack, his character, his nuances, his family (perhaps). I want more comedy from Zack as opposed to Zack merely reacting to Billie’s comedy. Finally, Billie should review more films! She’s a film critic but she hardly makes any reference to pop culture. She is not coming off so real.
If the creative team of Accidentally On Purpose still fails to draw more audience, then give the show the axe. But not just yet. I would really like to see Billie raise a baby with Zack, her manchild future hubby. Besides, the writers should trust Jenna Elfman’s co-stars and give their characters a little more layer, so Billie won’t have to carry on her shoulders the entire life of the sitcom.
Claudia Lonow, creator and writer of Accidentally On Purpose, should make use of the talented cast of the sitcom in thinking of the next storylines. I’m convinced her stories and the cast can take Accidentally On Purpose further into the sitcoms game despite its low budget.
Sources:
Accidentally on Purpose: Season or Series Finale? Will it be Cancelled or Renewed?
Official Website of Accidentally On Purpose on CBS
