For a really temporary interval in 2002, and simply earlier than the character of Timothy McGee was launched to the world in NCIS, actor Sean Murray opted for a extra laid-back position. As a substitute of being stationed in Washington DC’s Navy Yard with Gibbs, DiNozzo, and Ziva, the place they’d examine crimes contained in the Navy, the TV actor could be positioned in Chinatown, Manhattan – dwelling a day-to-day life with three childhood mates in a pleasant, massive loft.
Simply earlier than getting into the position of a area agent within the fourth-longest-running scripted live-action U.S. prime-time TV collection (sure, a really lengthy moniker however true however), Murray would as a substitute be slacker Todd Mitchell, an unemployed schemer who appears to have an odd fascination with Star Wars. Though UPN unceremoniously pulled the plug on this oddball household sitcom solely after 4 episodes (citing it because the lowest-rated program on the channel throughout that season), the few critiques that did come out for The Random Years had some stunning remarks to make, particularly about Murray’s character.
Earlier than we get into what the critics needed to say, let’s take a look at the opposite forged members — one or two could shock you! Becoming a member of Murray’s character was Josh Ackerman (now a really profitable TV producer) as Wiseman, a dental tech who strives to be extra unbiased (though he fumbles at this objective more often than not), constructing tremendous Steve (performed by famed Broadway actor Winston J. Rocha) in addition to Saved By The Bell: The New Class alum Natalia Cigliuti who starred as Casey Parker (the woman subsequent door — just like Penny in The Large Bang Idea).
Breaking Free From Common Characters with ‘The Random Years’
Most fascinating, although, was the casting of Will Friedle (Eric Matthews in Boy Meets World) as Alex Barnes, arguably the principle character, on this sorely underrated present. Friedle, Murray, and Ackerman make up the troupe of the present, whereas Cigliuti and Rocha are two very entertaining foils for the three. Whereas this was Ackerman’s first featured position (wherein he was in comparison with Seinfeld’s Kramer, consider it or not), it was weird to see each Murray and Friedle in roles that contrasted their typical archetype. However there’s a cause The Random Years remains to be talked about in the present day — and that’s as a result of the three of them not solely had particular person on-screen strengths but in addition as a result of they surprisingly labored so effectively collectively.
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Though he lent his voice to animated options right here and there and had one-off roles in quite a few tv collection after Boy Meets World had concluded, this was a pleasant, non secular continuation of the character (a bit subdued, albeit). For Murray, The Random Years was a little bit of a profession saver as his final movie was a made-for-TV comedy that aired on MTV as soon as and was obliterated by critics. As aforementioned, Ackerman could have been the novice of the three, however his expertise on The All New Mickey Mouse Membership (all seven seasons) proved helpful right here, as his character work immensely helped the dynamic of the group. Though his character by no means will get as much as something extraordinarily helpful, Murray’s Todd appears to have one of the best of luck. ‘
‘The Random Years’ Was Sabotaged
Friedle’s Alex was your everyman — working a nonchalant job and going by the social ups and downs of life. Lastly, Ackerman’s Wiseman was the all-around bizarre one of many group. He was tremendous round his small group of mates, however when it got here to Casey or every other lady, he froze up and acted clumsy past perception by his phrases and actions. This on-screen good friend group actually does escalate The Random Years out of obscurity like many different canceled exhibits and into the class of nostalgic applications.
A recap of the temporary present even discovered its means onto the Pod Meets World podcast again in October. Curiously sufficient, Friedle discloses that The Random Years was sabotaged from the beginning as a result of community feud between WB and UPN. On prime of that, this present was truly a mid-season substitute for UPN’s Roswell, which was on the verge of declining recognition on the time. As you possibly can see, trendy audiences is likely to be falling in love with Friedle’s present as we converse, however again then, too many destructive components simply struck the collection down from ever having an opportunity at stardom. Visitor host Jensen Karp even provides {that a} present like this one may have simply benefitted from a single industrial, which The Random Years sadly by no means acquired (they did get bumpers, although).
Critics Beloved the Solid However Hated the Present
Nearly figuring out that this was his sink-or-swim second (Murray did have success with Harts of the West and JAG, however that was two to 4 years in the past earlier than this), critics appeared to open their eyes when it got here to his efficiency. Individuals Journal’s Terry Kelleher acknowledged that Cigliuti was a welcome feminine addition to the in any other case dominant male forged and that Murray’s comedic supply had a relaxed and funky tone. Noel Holston from Newsday even mentioned that the then 25-year-old actor (who had a “slacker allure”) solely introduced the one and solely spotlight to The Random Yr’s first episode whereas interacting with Parker when the opposite characters have been amiss.
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Whereas the opposite forged members have been considered decently sufficient occasionally, newspapers from Seattle, Baltimore, and Houston appeared to have extra destructive remarks to say than optimistic ones. It can’t be denied that the Friedle and Murray starring program may need simply been a Pals knockoff — each community was attempting to leap off that present’s success again then. Sadly, this model simply by no means had an opportunity to seek out its rhythm. Sadly, The Random Years just isn’t formally out there on any streaming websites, although episodes can be found on YouTube.