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- Breaking Free From Usual Characters with ‘The Random Years’
- ‘The Random Years’ Was Sabotaged
- Critics Loved the Cast But Hated the Show
As a child of the ’90s who grew up with a TV remote constantly within reach, I’ve always had a soft spot for shows that never quite made it big but still managed to captivate our hearts. And oh boy, did The Random Years do just that!
In the year 2002, right before the debut of Timothy McGee on NCIS, actor Sean Murray decided to take on a more relaxed character. Rather than being based at Washington DC’s Navy Yard alongside Gibbs, DiNozzo, and Ziva, investigating naval crimes, the TV character would instead reside in Chinatown, Manhattan, living a casual life with three old friends in a spacious loft.
Prior to transitioning into the part of a field agent in one of the longest-running U.S. prime-time TV series (with an unusually lengthy title), Murray would have been Todd Mitchell, a jobless con artist with an unusual affection for Star Wars. Despite UPN canceling this unconventional sitcom after just four episodes due to poor ratings during that season, the limited reviews it received had some intriguing comments, particularly about Murray’s character in the show titled The Random Years.
Before diving into the critics’ opinions, let’s examine some of the other actors in the cast – you might be surprised by one or two! Accompanying Murray’s character is Josh Ackerman, who has since become a successful TV producer and portrayed Wiseman, a dental tech yearning for independence (although he often stumbles in his quest). Additionally, there’s Winston J. Rocha, a renowned Broadway actor, playing super Steve, and Natalia Cigliuti, an alum of “Saved By The Bell: The New Class,” who starred as Casey Parker, a character reminiscent of Penny from “The Big Bang Theory” in the girl next door role.
Breaking Free From Usual Characters with ‘The Random Years’
Remarkably, Will Friedle (formerly Eric Matthews in “Boy Meets World”) was selected as Alex Barnes, a key character, in this underestimated series. The trio of Friedle, Murray, and Ackerman forms the core of the show, with Cigliuti and Rocha providing amusing counterparts. Interestingly, even though it was Ackerman’s debut role (earning comparisons to “Seinfeld’s” Kramer), it was striking to see both Murray and Friedle in roles that diverged from their typical character types. However, the enduring popularity of “The Random Years” can be attributed to the fact that these three actors not only excelled individually on screen but also surprisingly complemented each other exceptionally well.
As a devoted movie enthusiast, I must say that “The Random Years” felt like a much-needed comeback for the talented Daniel J. Murray. After making appearances in various animated features and TV shows following the end of “Boy Meets World,” this project served as a refreshing, somewhat subdued continuation of his beloved character. For Murray, this role was a career lifeline, considering his last film was a MTV comedy that aired only once and was heavily panned by critics.
‘The Random Years’ Was Sabotaged
Friedle’s Alex was an average guy, juggling a low-key job and dealing with the highs and lows of everyday life. Meanwhile, Ackerman’s Wiseman was the oddball in the gang. He was comfortable with his close friends, but around Casey or any other woman, he became awkward to the point of stumbling over words and actions. This group of friends on screen made the show “The Random Years” stand out from obscurity, joining the ranks of canceled shows that have become cherished nostalgic programs.
In October, the podcast “Pod Meets World” discussed a summary of the short-lived series, “The Random Years.” Remarkably, Dan Friedle revealed that this show faced sabotage since its debut due to a network rivalry between WB and UPN. Additionally, it’s worth noting that “The Random Years” replaced “Roswell,” which was experiencing a decline in popularity on UPN at the time. Regrettably, despite current audiences finding charm in Friedle’s show, numerous unfavorable circumstances conspired against it, preventing it from achieving stardom. Jensen Karp, the guest host, further commented that with just one commercial, “The Random Years” could have found success, a luxury it unfortunately lacked (although they did have bumpers).
Critics Loved the Cast But Hated the Show
In his critical turnaround, it was evident that this moment was make-or-break for Murray (having achieved success in shows like Harts of the West and JAG, but these were projects from several years ago). Critics began to take notice as they evaluated his performance, with People Magazine’s Terry Kelleher praising Cigliuti for being a refreshing female presence in an otherwise male-dominated cast. Murray’s comedic delivery was described as having a soothing and collected quality. Noel Holston from Newsday went as far as to say that the 25-year-old actor, with his “slacker charm,” was the sole source of excitement in the premiere episode of The Random Year, particularly during his interactions with Parker, while other characters fell short.
Although the other actors occasionally received fair remarks, newspapers from Seattle, Baltimore, and Houston seemed to focus more on negative comments than positive ones regarding the show. It’s clear that “The Random Years,” starring Friedle and Murray, may have been a clone of the popular sitcom “Friends” – every network was eager to capitalize on its success at the time. Regrettably, this series never had an opportunity to establish its flow. Sadly, The Random Years is not currently available for streaming on any official sites, but episodes can be found on YouTube.
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2024-12-02 07:01