Some 10 months ago, just before Fox announced its autumn schedule, word was ”Greg the Bunny” was a shoo-in to replace “Malcolm and the Middle” in the Sunday-night post-“Simpsons” timeslot. We subsequently learned “Malcolm” wasn’t going anywhere. And “Greg” finally makes his big debut tonight at 9:30 p.m., opposite “West Wing” and the premiere of John Cleese’s first American sitcom on ABC.
TV Guide says:
Debut: A catchy theme song declaring that puppets (a.k.a. “fabricated Americans”) are “just like you” opens this rollicking sitcom, a blend of puppetry and live action, about a children's TV show. In the opener, puppet Greg the Bunny is unemployed until his human roommate, Jimmy (Seth Green), gets him an interview with his father, Gil (Eugene Levy), who's the producer-director of the kids' series Sweetknuckle Junction. After impressing Gil and network exec Alison Kaiser (Sarah Silverman) with his comedic skills and natural charisma, Greg gets the gig. Then Gil discovers that the furry find, who believed he was interviewing for an office job, has no acting experience. Jack: Bob Gunton.
USA Today gives the show one and a half stars (our of four) and says:
... childishly tasteless ... The idea of puppets as sexual beings with uncontrollable urges may briefly amuse you, but after a while, even the best-written puppet jokes wear thin. And when they do tonight, Greg has nothing else to offer.
Variety says:
Silly, dopey and demented, net's midseason entry is an odd spectacle that certainly will become a cult fave in dorms around the country and on latenight TV down the road. For now, however, this Muppet mockery will take some getting used to. … While the premise works, the dialogue is a bit clunky. Strangely enough, Mike Mitchell's direction and the spotty screenplay are at their best when they involve the beasts, but they stall when just humans are present; jokes fall flat, conversations are basic and forced and everybody is wound up much too tightly for something that's supposed to be as much commentary as it is populist entertainment.
Coax’s “Billy Boston” says:
… the pilot was a major let down. The biggest flaw is that Greg isn't the funniest character. That honor goes to Warren, a well educated thespian playing a retarded ape on "Sweet Knuckle Junction"... But fear not, the pilot lacked much, but the 2nd epi entitled "The Jewel Heist" was much funnier.
Coax’s own “Viacom Girl” says:
… I kept thinking as I watched "Greg The Bunny" was why would any network president get behind this thing with any measure of enthusiasm? … As I was watching all the humans and puppets interact in what is supposed to be "edgy" comedy, I was struck by the fact how much funnier the old "Muppet Show" was. "Greg The Bunny" will flop whenever it debuts, and not even be honored with the reputation of a "cult" show. Part of the problem is there are far too many characters for a half hour. Listing them in the credits almost took up the whole first act.
