Free Agents (2011–2012) User Reviews (13)

Big surprise

[jdoneagain · 5/10 · 14 September 2011]

I had not seen a single bit of advertising for this show. I saw that it was starting tonight when I was browsing DirecTV, so I set it to record, strictly because Hank Azaria is always funny in anything I've seen him in.

He did not disappoint! From the premise, I didn't want to like the show and it totally won me over. Hank delivers great lines, and naturally has fantastic comic delivery, and manages to make even a slightly weepy sap come off as both sympathetic and charismatic - oh, and extremely funny.

Great job! If you get a chance to see this, and if it continues to hold up to the level of humor of the first show, you will be glad you did.

Lacks the depth of the original

[applesarahgate · 7/10 · 29 June 2015]

The cast is pretty good and it is funny, but it lacks the depth of the British version. Nbc took a rather dark comedy focused on two broken people trying to put there life together and turned it in to a cheer work place comedy focused more on an ensemble of wacky characters than the hardships of the two original characters. The original puts a greater emphasis on Helen dealing with the lose of her fiancé and Alex is in a lot more turmoil over his divorce. The restrictions on swearing and other crudeness may have contributed to its lack of substance but it seams to me the lack of character development is more to blame. If they had focused more on the relationship between Helen and Alex and less on the other characters it might have gone a lot further.

Yes, it's a remake, but goddamn, it's refreshing.

[ForCenturies · 22 September 2011]

Having recently seen The Smurfs, seeing "normal" Hank Azaria was a bit of a shock, and I'll explain - I'm used to hearing his voice on The Simpsons and commentaries on The Simpsons, and while I know what he looks like, the stuff I've watched never really has him in live-action, the only one from memory I can recall being The Birdcage.

He plays a newly-divorced guy who's just had sex with a widow (the underrated Kathryn Hahn). The show is about these two trying to deal with this development without their colleagues/friends finding out. Or at least, that was the plot of the first episode.

Hahn shines, especially in the second half of the episode counting the pictures of her dead husband. It's being labelled as a "black comedy" and I disagree. Black comedy to me something like Death at a Funeral or Eulogy. Finding comedy from death, or morbid subjects. This is much more like Eastbound and Down, although less funny.

The comedy is slightly sporadic, but the characters are charming, vulnerable and warm, and most of all - likable. I'll certainly buy the Blu-Ray, I'm mightily impressed with what i've seen and will purchase the original British series to tide me over till then.

screened this at universal studios couple months back

[the-psk · 1/10 · 13 September 2011]

probably the worst show I've seen that has been green lit after horrible feedback.

i was amazed to see promos and billboards of this out.

show's premise is very weak. hank is not a bankable lead actor for this show. i like him but not in this role. he honestly reminded me of a live action moe the bartender.

i had a buzzer while watching this pilot to signify at what point would i tune away to another program...i held it down for the entire time.

i sincerely hope that the show has been re-shot with the feedback that we all gave back.

a group of 30 of us spent a good 10 minutes bashing the show after the screening.

good luck hank.

Amazing Cast plus Horrible Writing = Failed Sitcom

[kathyb2 · 1/10 · 18 September 2011]

Firstly, the casting in this show is brilliant! These are truly talented actors who could pull off any show thrown their way given a good script. Unfortunately, the writers are sleeping on the job. Either they have no writing talent or no true inspiration. Given the number of amazingly talented comedy writers available to breathe much needed oxygen into this show, I would think that Enbom would want to change out writers STAT. A personal Plea to Mr. Enbom: Dear John, please hire Rick Overton, John Fugelsang or Andy Borowitz and give this show the emergency CPR it requires to stay alive! If there is no immediate drastic change, I predict this show will be off the air by it's 4th episode.

Great cast, acting and writing!

[Michaelschnurr5 · 10/10 · 8 October 2011]

Hahn is great in this along with the rest of the cast. I can't believe the neg ratings. They must be the dumbed down sheep that like Whitney and up all night, which are forced, unfunny and surprisingly horribly acted. So much so that they have a laugh track so you'll know what was supposed to be funny. Those shows were painful to watch so I was not expecting much from this one. Give it a look and you'll get hooked.

I hope they give this show a chance as it looks like it could be one of those special shows. The back up characters are set to bring out other funny story lines in the future. Hank is good in this as well, but this Hahn lady is set to breakout...i don't remember seeing her before, but think we will see a lot more of her. And these people that keep on talking about the English version...give me a brake! If you want to talk about it then go on it's page.

Terrible remake

[FSR_Mulahey · 1/10 · 15 September 2011]

The show is terrifyingly awful... It is not even a shadow of its former self the Free Agents UK series. I would rate Free Agents UK a 6-7. It had a lot of potential and was going places despite some events in the first few episodes that were unbearably awful.

They also removed a key character from the UK version that added a lot of flavor. I enjoyed the creepy quiet guy that made no sense. Screw the writers of the remake that axed him. He might have saved the show but instead they will tank this sinking ship before leaving the bay at the end of their half-season trial run.

This US remake pretty much took what was bad about the UK version and made it worse. The acting is far worse, watch one episode of the UK version and you can see that clearly. Beyond the acting the plot has been dumbed down and the actual point of the show has been taken away. The point was to be more realistic and more raunchy with a sitcom. The idea was to get to the meat of how we really act in real life, the UK version did a very good job of having realistic scenarios with believable characters. The problem with the US version is you can slap on a laugh track and throw in some more one liners and its a straight up traditional crap sitcom.

Don't Believe The BS 1 Star Reviews

[nwpaddler · 10/10 · 19 October 2011]

Someone wrote a bunch of fake 1 star reviews...this show is one of the funnier sitcoms in a long time. Way better than the show before it Up All Night...that NBS promoted the hell out of. Up All Night is the dumbest show in a long time...this show is really funny! Honestly, probably a 8-9 star show...but all the jack-holes that gave it 1 star...it needed AND deserved the boost!

Hank Azaria is real and funny...his co-star is hysterical as well as she it a complete nut job and plays it well! Enjoy the show and write a review to offset the reviews by those who wouldn't know a decent show if it kicked them in the head!!

I wish i could rate it less.

[emxadonya · 1/10 · 16 March 2021]

I poured my heart and soul into finding a way to watch this show and then spent a good god knows how many hours watching it in one go only for you to disappoint me like no one has ever disappointed me before. I came here for Kathryn Hahn and while I want to forgive you for the ending you chose to write so badly based on the incredible fashion choices you picked for Helen I am heartbroken i wasted 20 dollars on this. Seriously I couldve just watched Stepbrothers. Thats it Im glad you got canceled Kathryn rights forever

Nice to see something that's not about teenagers and twentysomethings

[CharWoman · 8/10 · 5 October 2011]

and doesn't treat the thirty-and-fortysomethings like they're elderly. We find it funny and enjoyable and don't understand the highly negative ratings this is getting. I could do with less of Emma personally, but there's a lot of funny stuff and as has been mentioned, the cast are great.

As for the people who say it's worthless because it "doesn't compare" the UK version, well... haven't seen the original, might or might not ever see it, but definitely don't care how this compares to what inspired it. Same with The Office. Each succeeds or fails on its own merits.

Sad to hear Free Agents on the bubble, especially since the deplorable Whitney seems to have been picked up.

I give this a 7, which means we'll keep watching every week, and expect it to improve with time, if it's allowed to prosper.

A dazzling polished gem of a pilot!

[LeonardOsborneKael · 10/10 · 15 September 2011]

Wow; wow; wow; wow; WOW! It is well-known in the TV world that a new sitcom now has to open running on all cylinders or it is over. The two seasons SEINFELD had to get it together is a thing of the past - now you're lucky if you get two episodes! Amazingly, now and then, a sitcom manages to present a pilot that is at mid-third-season form out of the gate, like MODERN FAMILY did - and now FREE AGENTS has done. The writing is quirky and original and yet 100% genuine-to-character - delicious dialog! Everyone knows what a great talent Hank Azaria is - and I have known of Kathryn Hahn's stunning performing skills since they gave her the "A" storyline in an episode of that coroner's office series in which she played a supporting character. I have always imagined they may have regretted that since she completely eclipsed everything else that ever came out of that fairly excellent program! This is television comedy AT ITS BEST. So far, I wouldn't hesitate to put this up against the best sitcoms of today or of any day. I can't imagine anyone giving this anything less than ten stars - unless they work for another network! It's truly top-of-the-line.

Nice refreshing change

[nwantee · 8/10 · 5 October 2011]

I think it is a refreshing new twist on the sitcoms that are usually on. It is two adults, they don't partake in excessive drinking, nor excessive illegal drugs, they have jobs to go to. They both have lost a love in their life and it shows the true "fog" they are in as they stumble thru their recovery. To me is seems honest, good natured and I think the characters do a great job. The comedy is crisp and real. I do love the Portland scenes, although I don't think they are filming up here. It's too bad it is against such other heavy hitter shows in the current time slot. If this show was on Friday night or Sunday night it would be around longer. I will watch it until they take it off...but it is better than all the reality TV that hogs all the time slots.

My Thoughts on the Pilot

[mattias_89 · 8/10 · 19 September 2011]

I kind of liked the premise of this show and even if it wasn't a 20 minutes 'laugh out load' episode, it was nice and had me at least laughing a couple of times. Good enough to keep me wanna come back for next week.

This series is probably not gonna be one of those series that wins any awards but will stick around for a while, keeping us entertained. But what do I know, it could very well be one of those shows that grows on you and becomes better with time. The jokes were solid, the cast were solid and the plot were solid, enough to make it on my watch list for a laugh or two on Wednesday evenings.

Check it out and have it on your regular weekly schedule at least, even though it won't be the best new show this fall, I'm looking forward to Terra Nova and Person of Interest, I will write my view on there pilots as well.