Worst Week is an American sitcom television series that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2008. The series was based on the British sitcom The Worst Week of My Life. It was adapted for American audiences by Fox under the title Worst Week of My Life, but a series didn't materialize after the pilot was filmed.[1]
The series aired on CBS Mondays at 9:30pm ET/PT, following Two and a Half Men. The premiere attracted 11 million viewers but lost a third of its lead-in audience.[2] Ratings dropped to a low of 8.4 million viewers with the sixth episode, but then began to climb steadily, reaching a high of 12.12 million viewers with the eleventh episode before declining again.
On May 20, 2009, CBS cancelled the series after one season and the series finale aired on June 6, 2009.[2]
In the series premiere, Sam and Mel intend to reveal her pregnancy to her parents after a quiet dinner. However, when Sam misses the train after having a drunk girl throw up on him, the dinner starts becoming increasingly unlikely.
2
"The Bird"
Adam Bernstein
Matt Tarses
September 29, 2008 (2008-09-29)
102
9.31
Sam tries a different method of winning Dick's approval: impressing his wife, Angela. However, Sam's well thought out plan backfires, when Dick's prize birds get involved.
When Angela decides she wants to rent the apartment upstairs from Sam and Mel to be closer once the baby comes, Mel tries to prove that she doesn't need her help.
11
"The Gift"
Adam Bernstein
Allison Brown
December 15, 2008 (2008-12-15)
112
12.12
When Sam learns that Dick gives Angela the same Christmas gift every year, he decides to help Dick find the perfect present.
When Sam tries to clear his mind from the experience of accidentally walking in on Angela at the gynecologist's office, he writes down his private thoughts - which accidentally wind up in the wrong hands.
13
"The Puppy"
Michael Spiller
Gail Lerner
January 19, 2009 (2009-01-19)
114
9.58
When Sam sees a litter of puppies being born, he worries he might not be able to handle the birth of his own child.
14
"The Sex"
Michael Lehmann
Gregg Mettler
February 2, 2009 (2009-02-02)
115
10.04
When Sam and Mel babysit their nephew, he captures a photograph of them in a compromising position that he plans to bring to school for a family photo exhibition.
15
"The Epidural"
Michael Spiller
Luvh Rakhe
February 16, 2009 (2009-02-16)
116
8.70
When Mel calls Sam to let him know she is in labor, he misunderstands the name of the hospital and winds up at the wrong one.
16
"The Party"
John Fortenberry
Sam Laybourne
June 6, 2009 (2009-06-06)
105
1.91
When Sam gives it his all to help the Claytons prepare for Dick's birthday party, he loses his pants and some dignity in his effort to make everything perfect. (This episode was aired out of order; its events pick up directly from the end of episode 4, "The Truck.")[3]
Critical reception
Verne Gay of Newsday graded it A and said it "may be the best new comedy on network TV this season."[4]
Less enthusiastic was Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle, who said, "Though there are plenty of hard-earned (some might say forced) laughs here and Bornheimer is a real find, you can't help but wonder how they'll keep up the pace. After all, the British series ran for only two seasons and had a mere seven episodes each season...So how is CBS going to stretch this into 22 episodes without stretching it too thin?...In many ways, Worst Week seems incapable of being made into an American version (there were previous attempts that failed), because not only does the title not make sense, but not having a payoff for all the freaky, not-so-karmic woes Sam endures will be frustrating to the viewing audience . . . [It] is a series that may end up being on a short leash."[5]
Linda Stasi of the New York Post called it "one of the worst new shows of the week" and added, "Only a man (or a couple of them) could get paid big bucks in Hollywood to come up with such a lame-o rip-off and perpetuate the fantasy that gorgeous women can't help but to love out-of-shape guys who do everything wrong."[6]
Home media
Universal Studios Home Entertainment has released a DVD of the complete series.
