Watching Ellie
Encyclopedia
Watching Ellie is an American
sitcom that starred Julia Louis-Dreyfus
and was created by her husband, Brad Hall
. It aired on NBC from February 2002 to May 2003, though only sixteen episodes were broadcast before it was canceled due to low ratings.
The first was directed by Ken Kwapis
, known for his innovative work in single-camera
sitcoms such as The Larry Sanders Show
, Malcolm in the Middle
and The Bernie Mac Show
. Each 22-minute episode was meant to portray a 22-minute slice of Ellie's life, in real time. In the earliest episodes, a clock was even shown in the corner of the screen. Thirteen episodes were filmed but only ten aired before the series was put on indefinite hiatus (the remaining first-season episodes have never aired). During its use, the clock had the unfortunate effect of reminding the audience that a half-hour situation comedy only contained twenty-two minutes of content.
Nearly a full year later, the show reappeared as a more traditional sitcom, with multiple cameras and a live studio audience (plus an added laugh track
). This version fared even worse than its predecessor and was canceled after six episodes.
The show also cast Lauren Bowles
as Ellie's sister Susan. In real life, Bowles is Louis-Dreyfus' half-sister (they have the same mother).
Season 1
Season 2
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sitcom that starred Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress and comedienne, widely known for her sitcom roles in Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine....
and was created by her husband, Brad Hall
Brad Hall
William Brad Hall is an American writer and actor, best known as a Saturday Night Live news anchor on Saturday Night News. He was also the creator of the TV series The Single Guy and Watching Ellie...
. It aired on NBC from February 2002 to May 2003, though only sixteen episodes were broadcast before it was canceled due to low ratings.
Premise and formats
There were two incarnations of Watching Ellie, neither of which met with any success. Both focused on the character of cabaret singer Ellie Riggs (Louis-Dreyfus), with markedly different approaches.The first was directed by Ken Kwapis
Ken Kwapis
Ken Kwapis is an American film and television director and screenwriter. He specialized in the single-camera sitcom in the 1990s and 2000s and has directed feature films such as Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and He's Just Not That Into...
, known for his innovative work in single-camera
Single-camera setup
The single-camera setup, or single-camera mode of production, is a method of filmmaking and video production. A single camera—either motion picture camera or professional video camera—is employed on the set and each shot to make up a scene is taken individually...
sitcoms such as The Larry Sanders Show
The Larry Sanders Show
The Larry Sanders Show is a satirical television sitcom that aired from August 1992 to May 1998 on the HBO cable television network in the United States. It starred stand-up comedian Garry Shandling as vain, neurotic talk show host Larry Sanders, and centered on the running of his TV show, and the...
, Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes...
and The Bernie Mac Show
The Bernie Mac Show
The Bernie Mac Show is an American sitcom featuring comic actor Bernie Mac and his wife Wanda raising his sister's three kids: Jordan, Bryana and Vanessa. The show aired for five seasons , concluding with a half-hour series finale on Fox....
. Each 22-minute episode was meant to portray a 22-minute slice of Ellie's life, in real time. In the earliest episodes, a clock was even shown in the corner of the screen. Thirteen episodes were filmed but only ten aired before the series was put on indefinite hiatus (the remaining first-season episodes have never aired). During its use, the clock had the unfortunate effect of reminding the audience that a half-hour situation comedy only contained twenty-two minutes of content.
Nearly a full year later, the show reappeared as a more traditional sitcom, with multiple cameras and a live studio audience (plus an added laugh track
Laugh track
A laugh track is a separate soundtrack invented by Charles "Charley" Douglass, with the artificial sound of audience laughter, made to be inserted into television programming of comedy shows and sitcoms.The term "laugh track" does not apply to the genuine audience laughter on shows that shoot in...
). This version fared even worse than its predecessor and was canceled after six episodes.
The show also cast Lauren Bowles
Lauren Bowles
Lauren Hannah Bowles is an American actress and a half-sister of Julia Louis-Dreyfus.She has appeared in numerous TV shows including Seinfeld, Arrested Development, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Judging Amy, The New Adventures of Old Christine , Private Practice and many more...
as Ellie's sister Susan. In real life, Bowles is Louis-Dreyfus' half-sister (they have the same mother).
Cast
- Julia Louis-DreyfusJulia Louis-DreyfusJulia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress and comedienne, widely known for her sitcom roles in Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine....
– Ellie Riggs - Lauren BowlesLauren BowlesLauren Hannah Bowles is an American actress and a half-sister of Julia Louis-Dreyfus.She has appeared in numerous TV shows including Seinfeld, Arrested Development, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Judging Amy, The New Adventures of Old Christine , Private Practice and many more...
– Susan - Steve CarellSteve CarellSteven John "Steve" Carell is an American comedian, actor, voice artist, producer, writer, and director. Although Carell is notable for his role on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, he found greater fame in the late 2000s for playing Michael Scott on The Office...
– Edgar - Darren BoydDarren BoydDarren Boyd is an English actor well known for his roles in Smack the Pony, Green Wing, Whites and most recently for playing the role of John Cleese in Holy Flying Circus. He is a classically trained singer, and played a jazz musician in NBC’s Watching Ellie...
– Ben - Peter StormarePeter Stormareis a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director, playwright and musician.- Early life :...
– Ingvar - Don LakeDon LakeDon Lake is a Canadian actor, film and television writer, and television producer. He is frequently cast by director Christopher Guest, and is also a close friend and the collaborative partner of Bonnie Hunt....
– Dr. Zimmerman
Ratings
| Season | Timeslot (EST) | Premiere | Finale | TV season | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuesday 9:30 P.M. (February 26, 2002 – April 23, 2002) | February 26, 2002 | April 23, 2002 | 2002 | #55 | 10.0 |
| 2 | Tuesday 9:30 P.M. (April 15, 2003 – May 20, 2003) | April 15, 2003 | May 20, 2003 | 2003 2002-03 United States network television schedule This was the United States broadcast television schedule on all six commercial television networks for the fall season beginning in September 2002. All times are Eastern and Pacific.New series are highlighted in bold.... |
#79 | 8.6 |
Season 1
- Episode 1: Pilot (2/26/02) – Viewers: 16.7 million
- Episode 2: Wedding (3/05/02) – Viewers: 12.5 million
- Episode 3: Dinner Party (3/12/02) – Viewers: 11.1 million
- Episode 4: Aftershockes (3/19/02) – Viewers: 9.5 million
- Episode 5: Cheetos (3/26/02) – Viewers: 9.7 million
- Episode 6: Tango (4/02/02) – Viewers: 9.6 million
- Episode 7: Gift (4/02/02) – Viewers: 10.4 million
- Episode 8: Medicated (4/09/02) – Viewers: 7.6 million
- Episode 9: Weekend (4/16/02) – Viewers: 8.0 million
- Episode 10: Zimmerman (4/23/02) – Viewers: 6.9 million
Season 2
- Episode 1: Shrink (4/15/03) – Viewers: 9.8 million
- Episode 2: TV (4/22/03) – Viewers: 7.4 million
- Episode 3: Date (4/29/03) – Viewers: 8.7 million
- Episode 4: Buskers (5/06/03) – Viewers: 8.3 million
- Episode 5: Fruit Shots (5/13/03) – Viewers: 7.5 million
- Episode 6: Feud (5/20/03) – Viewers: 8.4 million