99 Words About … The hilarious growing pains of ABC’s ‘Happy Endings’

By CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCELAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

August 4, 2011 - 1:01 am

5893949-1-4

A funny thing happened after the debut of "Happy Endings" (9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, KTNV-TV, Channel 13).

Comedy.

After a staggeringly uncomfortable what-happens-to-their-friends-when-girl-leaves-boy-at-the-altar pilot, the series settled into something resembling an actual sitcom.

Think a postmodern "Friends," if Chandler were black and Joey were gay. And Jewish. And chubby.

"Happy Endings" ricochets between ordinary and genius as though it were being repeatedly hit in the head with coconuts.

But that just makes the best bits — YouTube its evisceration of hipsterdom — seem stronger.

Awkward, unpredictable, with a unique way of viewing the world, it’s the two-headed-baby-giraffe-on-roller-skates of comedy.

Drew Barrymore and Nate Burleson joke with Las Vegas headlining comic Luenell on the set of "Th ...

Las Vegas headliner to join ‘The Hollywood Squares’ reboot

By John Katsilometes / RJ

January 10, 2025 - 12:48 pm

Luenell joins Nate Burleson as host, with Drew Barrymore taking the featured center square slot.

Peter Sarsgaard has attracted awards-season buzz for his role in "September 5." The n ...

Actor Peter Sarsgaard drawn to thunderbolt moments

By C.L. Gaber Special / RJ

January 10, 2025 - 7:54 am

“I don’t want to gear up,” says the 53-year-old star of the new historical drama “September 5.” “I like to be surprised by life.”

Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) scrambles on a play during the first half of an NFL ga ...

How to watch Raiders vs. Chargers in Week 18

By David Schoen / RJ

January 5, 2025 - 10:29 am

The Raiders close out the season Sunday when they host the Chargers at Allegiant Stadium. Here’s how to watch the game.

Jonathan Koppenhaver, aka War Machine, addreses the court before being sentenced to 36 years to ...

Downfall of MMA fighter ‘War Machine’ coming to TV

By Christopher Lawrence / RJ

January 2, 2025 - 2:19 pm

Jon Koppenhaver will be one of the featured stories on the new series “Dark Side of the Cage.”

Nicole Kidman arrive at the premiere of "Babygirl" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at th ...

Nicole Kidman treasures piece of life-changing advice

By C.L. Gaber Special / RJ

January 2, 2025 - 9:12 am

“For me in my life, it’s still about discovering,” the 57-year-old actor says. “At every age, you don’t know what you don’t know.”

No lie: ‘SNL’ sketch gives career boost to Strip headliner

By John Katsilometes / RJ

January 3, 2025 - 7:41 pm

Stand-up Nate Bargatze scored unexpectedly with an immediately iconic portrayal of George Washington in a skit dubbed “Washington’s Dream.”

Larry Hicks listens during a news conference at the Lloyd D. George Courthouse in June 2008 in ...

O.J. Simpson, Lois Tarkanian among notable Nevadans who died in 2024

By Marian Green / RJ

December 31, 2024 - 10:06 am

Notable Nevadans who died include a woman with a legacy of community service, several sports figures, a reality TV star and a former Ronald Reagan aide.

FILE - Linda Lavin arrives at the 33rd annual Producers Guild Awards on March 19, 2022, at the ...

Linda Lavin, star of the sitcom ‘Alice,’ dies at 87

By Mark Kennedy The Associated Press

December 30, 2024 - 6:37 am

She died in Los Angeles on Sunday of complications from recently discovered lung cancer, her representative, Bill Veloric, told The Associated Press in an email.