by Abel Horwitz
Daily Lobo
The mystery that is the FOX TV development studios is something that has baffled television fans for years.
This is the department that has cancelled such beloved shows as "Firefly," "Undeclared," "Arrested Development" and "Futurama" despite desperate pleas by fans and critics that if they only gave these shows a chance they'd find their audience. FOX seems to have an extraordinary talent for developing funny, offbeat, and interesting shows and then abandoning them if their ratings aren't stellar in their first few weeks. This is why I can do nothing but begrudgingly nod my head at FOX's new comedy, "Free Ride" - a show that's funny, quirky, and interesting enough that FOX should have no problem canceling it within a few weeks.
"Free Ride" is about young, awkward and just out of college Nate Stahlings, played by Josh Dean. Nate doesn't really have much of a plan for his future and decides to move back in with his parents for a little while. You know, just until he figures out what he wants to do with his life. His parents aren't too happy with this. They've already turned his bedroom into a gym, and they've got their own problems - they're in marriage counseling and argue constantly.
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These conflicts are what make up the core of the show's humor. One of the perks of marriage counseling, according to Nate's dad Bob, played by Allan Havey, is that every Wednesday is sex night. "So tonight," Bob says to his son proudly, "I'm having sex with your mom."
This forces Nate to get out of the house quickly, where he reconnects with people he knew back in high school. He develops a crush on Amber Danwood, played by Erin Cahill, a local bank teller.
Amber likes Nate too, but she's got a fiancÇ who's more concerned with beating up anyone who looks at Amber than he is with making her happy. To add to Nate's problems, he can't seem to shake Mark Dove, played by Dave Sheridan, a high school burnout who decides to take Nate under his wing, causing additional mayhem and madness in Nate's crazy life.
The most entertaining character, by far, is Mark Dove. Sheridan has had film-stealing performances in movies like "Ghost World," where he played Doug, the shirtless guy with the nunchucks, and "Scary Movie" where he played Officer Doofy. In "Free Ride" his mulleted, monster truck-driving assistant manager of the auto section of the local Kash Kutters is hilarious to watch.
"Free Ride" is a funny show. The dialogue is partially improvised, allowing the actors to stumble into situations that are awkward for the characters and funny for the audience. Not only that, but the show deals with something that is identifiable. Nate is a college graduate with no idea about what to do for the rest of his life. Because of this, I am curious to see how the show will progress.
Here's hoping, that in this one instance, FOX lets the show air more than one or two times and actually lets it develop the audience it deserves.
