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I'm going to put this at the top because it deserves it: you can play Penny Can over at the TBS website. If you accidentally clicked onto this thread and have no interest in watching a dumb show about Courteney Cox trying to bed guys in their 20s...you've come to the right place. Please scroll down.  Cougar Town is a sitcom co-created by Bill Lawrence (Spin City, Scrubs) and Kevin Biegel (Scrubs seasons 5-8) and currently overseen by new showrunner Ric Swartzlander, that originally started as somewhat of a joke pitch (depending on what you read) about newly-single Courteney Cox going out looking for younger guys. Somehow the show was picked up, and took about 7-8 episodes to completely throw out the cougar aspect and become more about Cox's character serving as a mother hen to the friends and neighbours that live in or around her Florida cul-de-sac. And drinking lots of wine and writing silly songs and making up silly games. The series started off a hit but ratings continued to dip, and after the third season performed poorly as a midseason replacement it was decided that moving season 4 to TBS would result in better ratings and more publicity overall. It premieres tonight, Tuesday 8th January at 10/9c. This show doesn't have a huge audience even here, but the ones who do love it are very dedicated, and there's a simple reason why: if you can get swept up in its breezy rhythms, it becomes possibly the best hangout show on the air. It's a very low-stakes show where the characters just spend a lot of time hanging about and bullshitting around, but the cast are so much fun and have such a great dynamic that it's always a blast to watch, and the upbeat nature and relative lack of cynicism puts it second to Parks as the show most likely to leave me with a massive dumb smile. Now here's the bit where I talk about the characters and where they were at when we last saw them: Jules Cobb (Courteney Cox) - The leader of what is known as the "cul-de-sac crew", Jules spent most of her 20s and 30s married and raising a child after falling pregnant at a young age, and is also a successful real estate agent. She loves drinking wine out of big named glasses, hanging out with her friends usually in her kitchen, and obsessing over her son. At the beginning of the series she is newly divorced, and after a brief flirtation with the cougar thing ends up in a relationship with and eventually married to... Grayson Ellis (Josh Hopkins) - Began the show as Jules' new neighbour and one of those very "too cool for you" type characters but quickly became the biggest nerd of the group and one of the biggest cheerleaders for their ridiculous nonsense. Owns a bar that serves as a regular hangout spot for the cast. Marries Jules at the end of season 3 and moves into her place. Ellie Torres (Christa Miller) - You've seen Scrubs, right? Jules' best friend, Ellie is personality-wise very similar to Jordan, Miller's character from her husband's previous series. That is, sarcastic and acidic. She is a stay-at-home mother to a young son named Stan who is a total sociopath. Despite her demeanour she really does give a poo poo about and love people etc you know the type. Has an antagonistic relationship with... Laurie Keller (Busy Philipps) - Previously served as Jules' assistant and now runs a cake store out of the same area, Laurie is the most typically bubbly one of the group as well as very sweet and it's pretty hard to write this without sounding lame but Busy Philipps rules and she's great. The end of season 3 seems to indicate that season 4 will spend more time tackling the attraction between her and... Travis Cobb (Dan Byrd) - Jules' son, currently probably about 20 or so. Has a very dry, sarcastic sense of humour. Currently studying in college not far from everyone, after a brief foray into hanging out with former Sacred Heart Hospital lawyer Ted Buckland in Hawaii. Him and Laurie like each other. The weird order I'm choosing to put these characters in means I haven't even mentioned that his father, and Jules' ex-wife, is a character too! Bobby Cobb (Brian Van Holt) - The goofiest, most fun character on the show, Bobby is a dumb guy with a huge heart who regrets how he treated Jules during their marriage and serves as a very close friend to both her and Grayson. Lives on a boat and invented Penny Can, the single best game in the world. In season 3 he dated Sarah Chalke and then didn't anymore. Best friends with our final main character... Andy Torres (Ian Gomez) - Ellie's husband and Bobby's best friend. Despite being a corporate bigwig of some sort and even running for mayor (quick question: is this storyline still ongoing?) he's very childlike, easily bossed around by his wife, and loyal to Bobby in a puppy-esque manner. Loving husband and father. So, reasons to watch this show: it's really funny, it's sweet and heartwarming, they had a Scrubs reunion once, it's still not about cougars, and if it does well on TBS then ABC might be tempted to have some of their other struggling comedies make the move - come on, Happy Endings and Don't Trust the Bitch! I'm bad with gifs etc so if anyone can think of any fun images of anything to add in here just post em! Extra links etc: Season 4 promo song The AV Club's '10 episodes that show how Cougar Town evolved from smarm to heart' - A great article for anyone who wants to get into the show quickly. Play Penny Can on the TBS website Bown fucked around with this message at Jan 8, 2013 around 11:20 |
| # ? Jan 8, 2013 11:16 |
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| # ? May 23, 2013 16:40 |
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Fantastic OP, Bown!  So loving excited for the return of Cougar Town tonight. I love everything about this show. And I honestly don't remember the outcome of Andy's run for mayor. Now I wish I'd watched some old episodes before this. I still haven't seen the first half of the first season and I think someday I want to correct that, if just to see the actual cougar part of the show to tell how far its come.
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| # ? Jan 8, 2013 15:43 |
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I thought this show was Desperate Housewives with Courtney Cox. Then I saw some of the ads on TBS that seem to imply it's a comedy, and now I'm just sort of confused.
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| # ? Jan 8, 2013 16:56 |
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Adam Bowen posted:I thought this show was Desperate Housewives with Courtney Cox. Then I saw some of the ads on TBS that seem to imply it's a comedy, and now I'm just sort of confused. Ha ha it is just a bunch of friends hanging around doing stupid stuff and pounding grape.
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| # ? Jan 8, 2013 16:57 |
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bobkatt013 posted:Ha ha it is just a bunch of friends hanging around doing stupid stuff and pounding grape.
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| # ? Jan 8, 2013 17:11 |
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If only that wasn't (probably) too long for a thread title. and thanks very much, Annakie
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| # ? Jan 8, 2013 17:25 |
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Holy crap, no idea it started tonight. I don't know how I originally found this show but luckily it was season 2 at the time after they ditched the original cougar plot.
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| # ? Jan 8, 2013 17:38 |
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Annakie posted:And I honestly don't remember the outcome of Andy's run for mayor. Now I wish I'd watched some old episodes before this. I still haven't seen the first half of the first season and I think someday I want to correct that, if just to see the actual cougar part of the show to tell how far its come. There wasn't any. TBS had a marathon on Sunday and it's just never brought up other than 2 episodes. Glad I finally gave the show a try because of the marathon/shout outs from Community.
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| # ? Jan 9, 2013 01:19 |
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East coast got your wine poured yet?
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| # ? Jan 9, 2013 02:58 |
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Rabbi Raccoon posted:East coast got your wine poured yet? My Tuesday nights suck. I have to chose between Justified or Cougar Town. Thank god they replay Cougar Town at 12.
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| # ? Jan 9, 2013 03:08 |
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So far so good. Congrats on not ruining a great show, TBS
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| # ? Jan 9, 2013 03:08 |
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Nicole Sulivan is back as the shrink!
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| # ? Jan 9, 2013 03:14 |
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That was great, it didn't feel like they missed a beat after all that time. Same funny, same heart. Yay welcome back Cougar Town! *edit* oh God the thing playing over the credits was amazing. Annakie fucked around with this message at Jan 9, 2013 around 03:31 |
| # ? Jan 9, 2013 03:28 |
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I missed it and can't stay up for a replay. I wonder if it will be on HULU.
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| # ? Jan 9, 2013 05:13 |
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Tom, NOW! Nice return to form, felt a little slow but I'm still happy.
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| # ? Jan 9, 2013 05:34 |
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That was a really solid episode - not one of the best but an excellent way to bring back the show, as well as reaffirm the premise for any new viewers. Glad the Travis/Laurie stuff is already at the forefront, although I wish this episode had had at least one final scene with them talking. Loved the Arrested Development-esque fake "Next Time..." too. Ahh, it's good to have this show back.
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| # ? Jan 9, 2013 16:13 |
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Yeah, it wasn't a top episode, but I'm absolutely certain they haven't lost a step. It's got all the markings of good old Cougar Town.
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| # ? Jan 10, 2013 03:04 |
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Yoshifan823 posted:Yeah, it wasn't a top episode, but I'm absolutely certain they haven't lost a step. It's got all the markings of good old Cougar Town. Yeah, my favourite alcoholics on TV are definitely back. Good starting point, even if it wasn't a spectacular episode.
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| # ? Jan 10, 2013 06:07 |
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I didn't realize how much I missed the cul-de-sac crew until I watched the episode. Glad they're back. 
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| # ? Jan 12, 2013 02:28 |
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I may have this wrong, but I thought it was mentioned that Andy did lose the election for Mayor. He decided to run because Jules wanted her wedding on the beach, but it was against the law at the time so Andy wanted to run in order to change the law and let Jules get her dream beach wedding. He lost, so they concocted the moving beach wedding in the S3 finale. And Travis turned 21 at the end of S3
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| # ? Jan 15, 2013 16:22 |
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It's all there. Now pay up.
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 03:01 |
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I don't live in the area.
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 03:01 |
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How can you forget the Gute?
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 03:06 |
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This is how guys with mustaches think.
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 03:07 |
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My whole body is red from that drat thing.
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 03:10 |
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Ha ha, it took me a few levels to notice the game plays them shouting PENNY CAN for you. I couldn't hear it over myself.
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 04:51 |
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That was a very touching episode, I really liked the last two chats between Jules and her son, and Ellie and Andy. I really wish they'd kept the mustaches though Also, watching GoT would be weird as gently caress to watch with your mom "this show has so much buttsex!" 
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 22:11 |
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Twee as gently caress posted:That was a very touching episode, I really liked the last two chats between Jules and her son, and Ellie and Andy. I am sort of happy they did not steal the joke from 30 Rock and talk about Sean Bean. I also like things that annoy elle. Also it is always good to see Dog Travis.
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 22:14 |
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So.. Anyone else weirded out by whatever the hell Courtney Cox did to her lips.. and or face? Going from watching re-runs of Friends to this is a bit jarring.
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| # ? Jan 18, 2013 08:40 |
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FetusSlapper posted:So.. Anyone else weirded out by whatever the hell Courtney Cox did to her lips.. and or face? Going from watching re-runs of Friends to this is a bit jarring. Watch Drew Carey show and see how much Christa Miller has changed. You can also see it if you watch the first season of Scrubs.
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| # ? Jan 18, 2013 13:42 |
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It's not even those two, look at Cox, she is slowly turning into perma duck face. Still love the show though!
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| # ? Jan 18, 2013 13:44 |
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bobkatt013 posted:Watch Drew Carey show and see how much Christa Miller has changed. You can also see it if you watch the first season of Scrubs. Her face has kind of calmed down, for a while it was really bad
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| # ? Jan 18, 2013 14:45 |
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sbaldrick posted:Her face has kind of calmed down, for a while it was really bad Ya I was thinking more later season Scrubs in which her face was a mess, while in Cougar Town she looks human.
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| # ? Jan 18, 2013 14:50 |
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Adam Bowen posted:I thought this show was Desperate Housewives with Courtney Cox. Then I saw some of the ads on TBS that seem to imply it's a comedy, and now I'm just sort of confused. I was of the exact same mindset, and I just watched the first episode of the season on TBS On Demand, and now I feel like I need to go back and watch from the beginning, because I feel like it was funny, but will be a new favorite if I know the characters a bit better. Where should I start, since it sounds like it was pretty bad for a while? EDIT: Why isn't the bald guy (not the married one) allowed inside the house? He's always outside the window.
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| # ? Jan 18, 2013 15:39 |
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criscodisco posted:I was of the exact same mindset, and I just watched the first episode of the season on TBS On Demand, and now I feel like I need to go back and watch from the beginning, because I feel like it was funny, but will be a new favorite if I know the characters a bit better. Where should I start, since it sounds like it was pretty bad for a while? He is their creppy neighbor that wants to be part of the group but they really do not let him in. I would say it really clicks with Here Comes My Girl, The Thanksgiving episode. Here is the moment that I knew I truly loved the show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHQVedOBnbw#t=32s
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| # ? Jan 18, 2013 15:45 |
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bobkatt013 posted:Ya I was thinking more later season Scrubs in which her face was a mess, while in Cougar Town she looks human. Ya I was thinking the same thing during the first episode of this season. She doesnt look like she went on a rampage through a plastic surgeons office this season.
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| # ? Jan 18, 2013 19:13 |
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The montage at the end of the episode was amazing. Jules is still by far the weakest link, but it's good to have the programme back.
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| # ? Jan 21, 2013 00:39 |
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Hi Danny!
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| # ? Jan 23, 2013 03:01 |
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I finally made peace with toast.
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| # ? Jan 23, 2013 03:02 |
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| # ? May 23, 2013 16:40 |
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Bown posted:I'm going to put this at the top because it deserves it: you can play Penny Can over at the TBS website. Beat it with 16 pennies to spare. The pool levels are a bitch, if you just miss it the can floats and you have to factor that into your adjustment.
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| # ? Jan 23, 2013 03:47 |
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