If I lived my twenties like the characters in twentysoemthing lived theirs, it’s very likely I’d not be alive today to talk about it.
While I appreciate that I’m far from the target demographic for this show, very little of it resonated as real to me. Do all Gen Y people really drink that much and avoid so much responsibility in their life? Isn’t that what your teenage years are for? To the same end, if it’s meant to be a comedy that pokes fun at a twenty-something lifestyle then jokes are missing the mark.
The show follows friends Jess (Jess Harris) and Josh (Josh Schmidt) as they search for a real job in the midst of their party-filled twenties. With little commitment or stamina to see anything through, they jump on their next crazy idea as their financial saviour after being evicted from their house in episode one. Which they treated appallingly. So with only their alcohol-dulled wits to arm them, it’s rough times ahead.
The problem isn’t the situation – it’s the characters. Jess is over-bearing and selfish, and almost entirely unlikable. Josh seems to be an innocent lacking all self-confidence who depends entirely on Jess for everything, and she takes complete advantage of it. Jess is an alpha character in search of a tribe, and the only one she can muster is Josh. And, to a lesser degree, Abby.
The highlight is Hamish Blake. He’s the only one who knows how to deliver comic lines with any certainty and proves he can actually really act. The downside is as Jess’s on again/off again love interest, he’s in it so little you’re almost begging to see where he appears next.
It’s a lifestyle entirely foreign to me, and likely why I didn’t get it. Whilst I didn’t understand it OR like it much, I do recommend you tune in to twentysomething yourself (or iView it) and make your own mind up and in the process support independent Aussie drama (God knows it needs the support). It’s six 30 minute episodes – what have you got to lose?
twentysomething – Tue 9pm, ABC2.
Yeah, wasn’t that into it. I’m 20-something and all of my 20-something friends are super motivated people, not like the characters in the show at all. And yes, the acting was really poor except for Hamish Blake.
I honestly can’t say anything positive about this show.
The female lead character was extremely unlikeable and obnoxious; the dialogue and plotlines were too ludicrous to be believed and there’s nothing comedic or endearing about ill-witted degenerates mouthing off and not offering any sort of contribution to society. Most shows, when portraying an anti-hero type character offer some redeeming qualities to counteract their negative elements however this concept is non-existent.
If this is the standard for young and dynamic Australian comedy then no wonder American sitcoms are so prevalent.
I enjoyed it. American sitcoms? This journey was way better than anything Two and a Half Men or Hot in Cleveland could offer. Living in inner city Sydney I know plenty of struggling actors/comedians that live like this (me included). Perhaps the premise is a little narrow but I don’t think you need to live this sort of lifestyle to enjoy the program. The Aussie Gen Y theme of mucking around in your 20s to find out what ‘its all about’ deserves to be explored. I liked Jess slightly more than the Josh character. I’m glad the ABC gave them a go. I understand they tried this concept first on Community TV and worked their way up.
I definitely enjoyed it. Jess Harris really stands out in this show and she deserves to be nominated for New Talent at next year’s Logies.
love this show so much, total crackup.. how fun lol.. me & my boyfriend are twenty something and we both enjoyed the show, have not laughed so much and been so engaged in a show for ages, usually i get bored during shows and walk off till something interesting happens, but not this.. really been hanging out to see the 2nd episode, cant wait!!! don’t know what im going to do if there’s really only 6 episodes..
Have just watched the first two eps. My god this is an unfunny show. How anyone thought that such an unlikeable and appalling main character as Jess would work for a “comedy” show is beyond me. If Josh pulled his comedic weight he would at least balance Jess, but he’s such a big wet nothing that all you’re left with is Jess’s abrasive smoker’s voice deliver clunkers of self-centredness. I only hope there’s some sort of massive comeuppance awaiting Jess to make it all worthwhile.
hoping4more – after you’ve seen the second ep could you please post three funny things that happened in the show? I struggled to find more than one.