Welcome to a new Sitcom Tuesday! This week, I’m concluding my look at The New Adventures Of Old Christine (2006-2010, CBS), which is available on DVD and Amazon Prime.

The New Adventures Of Old Christine stars JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS as Old Christine, CLARK GREGG as Richard, HAMISH LINKLATER as Matthew, EMILY RUTHERFURD as New Christine, TREVOR GAGNON as Ritchie, and WANDA SYKES as Barb. With TRICIA O’KELLEY and ALEX KAPP HORNER as the Meanie Moms.

Old Christine’s final season is its worst in terms of sitcommery, for while it’s funnier than Four and takes more pains to showcase Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the centralized Christine character has lost her shape. Sometimes she’s aggressive and hot-tempered like, namely, Seinfeld’s vindictive and selfish Elaine, but mostly she’s just overly broad: a catch-all for any exaggerated comic trait — a lazy, uneducated, self-serving, vapid, clumsy, chaotic, hot mess. Last week, I compared her to Grace Adler, but I’d say this year also sees traces of the bumbling and randomly quirky Liz Lemon. Indeed, with 30 Rock scribe Jack Burditt taking a key role on staff, this comparison reveals the overall arc of this character, as she’s become bigger and less precise en masse — taking on attributes of Elaine, Grace, and Liz (three very different types) because she’s basically any ol’ sitcom goof now, existing within sillier and less individualized stories. It’s a dilation designed to expand Louis-Dreyfus’ opportunities to clown, but it makes Christine less situation-rooted, for now she’s not uniquely depicted as a divorced mom with a callous ex, enduring the indignant scorn of the judgmental world around her for the sake of her son… now she’s just a wacky single lady who’s most frequently a fool, getting into trouble due to her own idiocy and emotional volatility. And while her broadly ill-defined presentation is paired in Five with some jokily trivial ideas in the Seinfeld-ian, or more exactly, 30 Rock-ian vein, little can be tailored to her specifically because she lacks specificity. Similarly, there’s more uninspired rom-com tripe here, as Christine can only behave like a vague, run-of-the-mill neurotic in her arc with a therapist played by Eric McCormack, for despite being funnier than some of her usual partners, his attempts to enable introspection for her can only go so far given her current form; all of this is, again, not well attached to the central character through which the series’ whole raison d’être — its star — is supposed to channel her series-defining value. Although I’m still able to find laughs from the acting and even the writing, Five cements Old Christine’s legacy as a complicated, hit-and-miss vehicle for a sitcom queen who simply has two better sitcoms in her canon.

 

01) Episode 69: “Burning Love” (Aired: 09/30/09)

Christine and Richard meet up with some old college friends.

Written by Sherry Bilsing-Graham & Ellen Kreamer | Directed by Andy Ackerman

Although the depiction of Christine in this episode displays the year’s general problems with her unspecific broadening, I appreciate that this story expands on her shared history with Richard and has a conflict predicated on the fact that she’s getting older. It’s not terribly original, but it’s one of the ways this show can play to an aspect of its premise (heck, it’s a literal part of the title) that’s actually been seldom used outside of the brief third season, where it got to be more of a focus as a substitute for the high-concept triangle — which is also less felt here in Five relative to other years (aside from a hacky almost-tryst between Richard and Christine at the end of this half hour that nearly disqualified it from my list). So, despite not being great for character, “Burning Love” acknowledges the situation more uniquely than most of Five can boast.

02) Episode 73: “The Curious Case Of Britney B.” (Aired: 11/04/09)

Christine is excited when a popular girl agrees to go with Ritchie to a dance.

Written by Matt Goldman | Directed by Andy Ackerman

With a story set in the school where Christine is once again a mama bear nobly wanting the best for her son, this is one of the few entries in Season Five that has the right idea, in accordance with the series’ best practices and what it was premised to offer from her character via its very construction. Of course, she’s more self-serving than ever — eager to be embraced by the Uber Meanie Moms above the regular Meanie Moms, with a little more righteous vengeance than she would have exhibited had this been the first season — but because it resides in the place where Christine is setting herself up for repeated humiliation based on her situation only for the sake of Ritchie, someone whom we know she loves, the narrative itself overrides her imperfect depiction. (Incidentally, Marion Ross appears in the subplot.)

03) Episode 75: “Love Means Never Having To Say You’re Crazy” (Aired: 11/18/09)

Christine and Richard fix each other up on a double date.

Written by Jeff Astrof | Directed by Andy Ackerman

Admittedly, there are a lot of rom-com clichés in this story that don’t acquit the series favorably — starting with a generic setup where Richard and Christine fix each other up on dates; she picks a hot but crazy woman for him (portrayed by Jennifer Grey), while he pairs her up again with his friend Tom, played by Dave Foley, a gimmick in himself that’s nevertheless attached to some continuity and always enables scenarios where Christine is made uncomfortable. Now, there’s nothing great here, and the depiction of Christine, as usual in Five, veers towards extreme dysfunction, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus shines in her scenes with Foley, and with a crusade for big laughs, I’d simply miss this outing if it wasn’t here. On a list like this, that’s seminal.

04) Episode 77: “Old Christine Meets Young Frankenstein” (Aired: 12/09/09)

Christine tries to apologize to a girl she bullied in school.

Written by Frank Pines | Directed by Andy Ackerman

My choice for this season’s Most Valuable Episode (MVE), this entry is an accurate reflection of this year’s sensibilities because it’s loaded with laughs that allow the leading lady to be funny in accordance with the series’ macro objective but is hard to praise in the context of this blog because it presents a heightened, extreme depiction of Christine — one that’s certainly bigger than what she was premised to be, with a lot of elemental things that flat out contradict how she was portrayed in Season One, over-emphasizing the more Elaine-like attributes that have seeped in over time, rendering her an indistinct mess of a character. Specifically, the more we learn about Christine being a bully to a girl in school — and menacing the poor woman yet again during this installment — the more the show is deploying a version of its lead that’s not merely broader than before, but also evidently mean and vindictively self-obsessed… almost at direct odds to the plucky and well-intentioned loser of yore who would humiliate herself before attempting to humiliate another, let alone someone she’s already wronged. And yet, if all of those incorrect traits are displayed in this offering, as they are throughout the year as a whole, its conflict is nevertheless hinged on the fact that Christine feels bad about her past actions and is trying to apologize to the woman she bullied  (a former classmate played well by Amy Sedaris, who ratchets up the tension because of her own neuroses) — meaning, she has a conscience and is wanting to do good, which is more than we’d see from Elaine at the end of Seinfeld. To that point, I believe Christine is more like Liz Lemon here — the bully who delusionally behaves like the victim — and I look to this half hour as Exhibit A for my argument that 30 Rock, in particular, has infiltrated the style of this season… At any rate, Christine is ultimately well-meaning here in spite of those negative qualities and a story that demands we see how she can be a goofy antagonist. And with a centerpiece that, though ridiculous, is ultimately honest about the central character, I can appreciate these big hahas (enhanced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) without fearing that they’re too much at the expense of the situation. Rather, they’re endeavoring to work within it — or, at least, within the way it exists in Five. That’s all I can ask for now.

05) Episode 78: “It’s Beginning To Stink A Lot Like Christmas” (Aired: 12/16/09)

Christine tries to make friends with her neighbors at Christmas.

Written by Sherry Bilsing-Graham & Ellen Kreamer | Directed by Andy Ackerman

This series’ only Christmas outing is an obvious display of the year’s 30 Rock-ian bent, boasting several big-laugh idea-driven loglines that are also reminiscent of Seinfeld. For instance, New Christine having a weird and off-beat holiday of her own is obviously in the tradition of Festivus, while Matthew’s returning girlfriend Lucy believing in Santa Claus sounds like a piece of minutia that would yield layers of throwaway gags on 30 Rock. It’s all very funny… even though it has little to do with the situation for Old Christine specifically, serving as an indication of the year’s overall shift away from its unique particulars to something that merely wants to be outrageously comedic, even at the expense of what’s exactly premised… Oh, okay, I suppose the uncomfortable scenario that develops — when Christine tells her new neighbor friend (played by the always delightful Molly Shannon) that she caught said friend’s husband with another woman — is tangentially appropriate for the type of storytelling Old Christine should use to explore its lead as she’s designed, but who am I kidding? The series situation really doesn’t matter much at all anymore, and I’m simply highlighting this one because it has enjoyable yuks.

06) Episode 79: “A Whale Of A Tale” (Aired: 01/13/10)

Christine confesses her feelings to her therapist, whom she sees wearing a male thong.

Written by Sherry Bilsing-Graham & Ellen Kreamer | Directed by Andy Ackerman

Even though this is seemingly another example of a jokey idea-driven offering predicating laughs in the absence of anything well-attached to the main character or her situation, I think this underrated half hour deserves more credit for attempting to provide us more information about Christine’s latest rom-com scene partner, Max, a therapist played by Will & Grace’s Eric McCormack, who has good chemistry with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and actually manages to help develop more of a comic personality than most of this series’ generic love interests. It’s noble sitcommery — perhaps obscured by the base, almost comedically easy appeal of the “male thong,” or “mong,” gag, which runs through both the A-story and subplot — a piece of trivia that it’d be more likely for Elaine Benes or Liz Lemon to encounter in their dating travails than Christine Campbell. But, hey, I’m not complaining — it’s amusing and makes Christine uncomfortable. (Of note: Adrienne Barbeau has a small cameo.)

07) Episode 82: “Sweet Charity” (Aired: 03/03/10)

Christine struggles with whether to enjoy an extra pop of money or give it to charity.

Written by Frank Pines | Directed by Andy Ackerman

As with most selections on this list, the depiction of Christine here is fundamentally unideal — she’s ridiculous and exaggerated and so far removed from the premised implications that once gave her shape and emotional nuance. But with a story that literally involves her being torn between self-interest and altruism, this entry explicitly acknowledges how this character intends to exist, as a well-meaning do-gooder who meets a lot of opposition in practice. And it therefore feels like Old Christine is aware of how much she’s drifted from her own ideals — a tension inside the series that is now getting used for a comedic conflict inside the character. So, with an interesting thought for Christine, it earns a spot among Five’s best. (Ed Begley Jr. guests.)

08) Episode 85: “Revenge Makeover” (Aired: 04/14/10)

Christine’s hair gets ruined when she takes New Christine to the salon.

Written by Tricia O’Kelley & Alex Kapp Horner | Directed by Andy Ackerman

The actresses who play the two Meanie Moms are credited with writing the script for this excursion, which actually has a couple of good ideas — like Christine wanting to help a pregnant New Christine by taking her to a fancy salon, and then facing a public embarrassment (in front of New Christine and the Meanie Moms) when her hair gets comedically ruined and is turned pink. Because of both those notions, which speak to the character’s intended and ideal usage, this is a winner… even as it then devolves into the hacky comic log line that transforming into a blonde changes her entire personality; a Three’s Company-esque gag that requires a terrible and terribly broad understanding of Christine… But, ah, nothing’s perfect here in Season Five. (In addition to the returning Scott Bakula, Joel McKinnon Miller also appears.)

09) Episode 87: “Scream” (Aired: 05/05/10)

Christine tries to get Matthew to move back, while New Christine tries to stall her labor.

Written by Jeff Astrof & Matt Goldman | Directed by Andy Ackerman

Once again, I can’t praise the depiction of Christine in this installment, as she’s an imbecilic, incompetent nuisance whose initially relatable codependency with her younger brother is aggrandized to the point of situation-disconnected and emotionally unrealistic lunacy — much more of Liz Lemon at her worst than Christine as uniquely premised. However, this teleplay is laugh-filled, and frankly, its understanding of the Christine character is congruous inside the bounds of this season specifically, utilizing one of the situation’s core relationships. And with the comical subplot of New Christine trying to prolong her labor so that the kid doesn’t end up sharing the same birthday as Old Christine, this feels like something only this show can do as an example of premise-fulfillment, basing its humor on the fact that Old Christine, as we know, already shares her name, meaning this would be another indignity that everyone wants to avoid.

10) Episode 88: “Get Smarter” (Aired: 05/12/10)

Christine feels intellectually inferior when she meets Max’s ex-wife.

Written by Kari Lizer | Directed by Andy Ackerman

Old Christine’s series finale is actually more thoughtful about its central character than most of the year’s other notable showings, largely because it finds Christine wanting to improve herself for the sake of herself and those she loves, setting up a potential sixth season arc that never came to be but could have been a decent path for her going forward. Returning to school could have opened up another venue for Christine, the divorced middle-aged mom, to endure regular embarrassment, and maybe I’m just foolishly optimistic, but I think it might have refocused her characterization as well. Oh, she’s not bad here — well, not as bad as she is elsewhere in Five — for although her stupidity and vapidity is still exaggerated beyond the baseline previously established, it’s true that she’s never been an intellectual, and so when Christine feels inferior to Max’s smart ex-wife (Beth Littleford) on the IQ front, this story is indeed playing on a built-in, continuity-backed detail about its title character to earn a believable conflict about social humiliation that also reinforces a premise-validating depiction of its lead, who’s eager to become a better person. Again, it’s not great, but it’s a higher note on which to end the series than pretty much everything else I have featured from this ultimately mediocre show’s subpar final season.

 

Other notable episodes that merit mention include: “Nuts,” which attempts to start Christine on the path of introspection by reintroducing the notion that she’s a quitter who doesn’t follow through on her commitments, “I Love Woo, I Hate You,” where Christine is uncomfortable when caught between Barb and Barb’s boyfriend, who both have different ideas of their relationship, and “Truth Or Dare,” which has some genuinely amusing moments in spite of its rom-com clichés and an uninspired story. I’ll also take this space to cite three memorable but challenging samples: “The Mole,” a funny Liz Lemon-like idea that nevertheless requires a version of Christine that’s most idiotic and self-obsessed, “Up In The Airport,” where Christine is trying to keep up with the Joneses at school and then is an exaggerated mess (too exaggerated) at the airport, “Subway, Somehow,” where Christine is embarrassed in front of Ritchie’s class and their parents (which we want)… but mostly because she’s being outrageously incompetent and unbelievably unintuitive, too much so to highlight above. 

 

*** The MVE Award for the Best Episode from Season Five of The New Adventures Of Old Christine goes to…

“Old Christine Meets Young Frankenstein”

 

 

Come back next week for more sitcom fun! And stay tuned tomorrow for a new Wildcard!