The world of cable television saw a new development Monday when TBS debuted its first original comedy series, 10 Items or Less, a completely unscripted sitcom that kicked off the network’s new program lineup. Unfortunately, the fast pace of network sitcoms does not combine well with fresh-from-the-stage Improv actors, making for an awkward first episode.
10 Items takes improvisation and thriftiness to a whole new level by filming in a real-life grocery store — while it’s still open. As a result, the background action is made up entirely of real customers doing their shopping. At times, customers inadvertently enter scenes and are incorporated into the episodes, for which no dialogue is written. Writers carefully outline each episode with detailed descriptions of each scene, but they write dialogue only when absolutely necessary, leaving the actors to completely improvise every line.
The show, created by improv comedy actor John Lehr, follows Lehr’s Leslie Pool, a man who takes over as manager of the Green ‘ Grains grocery store after the death of his father. He presides over a host of quirky but lovable low-life employees: Yolanda (Roberta Valderrama), the sassy Latina; Carl (Robert Clendenin), the unintelligent, over-age stockboy; Buck (Greg Davis Jr.), the bagger with aspirations; Ingrid (Kirsten Gronfield), the eccentric and subdued customer service agent; Richard (Christopher Liam Moore), the effeminate cashier; and Todd (Chris Payne Gilbert), the good-looking redneck butcher.
10 Items is different from other shows on TV. While Curb Your Enthusiasm employs a similar style, its pace is much slower, with long scenes allowing for improvisation to develop. 10 Items instead maintains the traditional fast pace of network sitcoms, allowing only a few seconds for jokes to materialize. Unfortunately, it’s hard to act natural when each scene lasts only 30 seconds. This pacing problem, compounded by the fact that the actors still act like they’re onstage at the Improv, makes the show feel unnatural and awkward. Hopefully, as the show develops, the actors will find their stride and the show will grow into itself.
10 Items or Less airs Mondays at 11 p.m. on TBS.