9JKL (2017–2018) User Reviews (71)

Pretty bad

[Suradit · 4/10 · 7 November 2017]

The overly intrusive mother and interfering, judgmental family thing has been done to death and by actors who made it both funny and believable. Linda Lavin and Elliott Gould may be very nice people, but whoever cast them as the parents may not have actually read the script or attended the auditions.

From the effort being put in by the rest of the cast, I get the impression they've already concluded this thing is going nowhere.

i thought cbs was the home of good comedy

[chrisdye-76282 · 5/10 · 5 October 2017]

OK I watched the first episode of this and I felt very let down after doing so I get that comedies now days are not what they used to be and all but this was just a mess I wax waiting to watch the gifted and this looked cute so I tried it remember when cbs had family comedies ' the millers the mccarthys ' OK well this is the same story as those two shows just a sucky job of humor its really not even worth writing a review except to warn folks not to watch sorry cbs you completely screwed up this time

oh my god this was terrible

[bigfatman-05884 · 4/10 · 8 October 2017]

OK after seeing the trailer for this show I will be honest I didn't expect much but I did however expect to be entertained and I most certainly wasn't I laughed maybe twice and that wasn't even a full laugh just a chuckle I thought cbs was the home of good multi camera comedies but I guess even they can make a stinker every once in awhile its kind of sad too had really hoped I had the wrong idea about this show and it was going to surprise me however that wasn't the case oh well at least I don't have to waist my time again this was definitely a one time thing if you want a good comedy from cbs try me myself and I now that's a great show

Why?

[RuiChiu · 1/10 · 5 October 2017]

I really wish Linda Lavin had a better project to be involved with. This is so beneath her, it's depressing.

The show itself comes across as if it was some high school student's creative writing project; every stupid, obvious, and tired joke possible gets deployed with painful results.

There are some series where you think, 'With a better cast/better writers, this could work." Not the case here. Skip it; probably won't be around much longer.

As bad as television can get.

[robby77777 · 1/10 · 3 October 2017]

OK, I thought that due to a very talented cast lead by Mark F. that this would be a really funny show. The premise was cute and I thought it wouldn't take a lot to make it funny. I was as wrong as I could be as it may be the worst show I have ever watched. It was a waste of 30 minutes that I will never get back. The canned laughter made it even worse. It was just a continual laugh track. I mean, the laughing never stopped. I can't believe a test audience thought this was good. The simplest line, gets huge laughs. "Do we have ketchup?" was followed by ten seconds of laughter. Don't waste your time. Just awful TV. This sure ain't Modern Family.

Certainly NOT the worst canned laugh SitCom out there. It is OK for easy watching...

[Dr_Sagan · 26 November 2017]

I'm writing this review after I watched 8 episodes.

This is a SitCom with a fake laugh track, basically about an oppressively loving mother who lives (with her husband) next door of her two 40-ish sons (9J 9K and 9L is the adjacent apartments) and who suffocates with her love the one (and single) son played by Mark Feuerstein.

OK. So it is what it is. That's the TV genre. IMDb is filled with one star reviews because of this. If you hate it (especially the canned laugh), don't watch it. It isn't for you and go watch something else.

BUT for its genre and its format and its typicality... isn't that bad. Isn't great, and by the definition of canned-laugh-sitcoms groundbreaking, but it is an OK show to spend 21 minutes without really caring about deep meanings. The jokes are mild and the situations typical and you can see them coming from a mile away but ...again... that's the genre.

Overall: A mother who suffocates with caring her adult "child" is the epitome of ALL SitComs. So, this is one of those. Not great, not bad either.

yikes another sad comedy

[bigbrochris · 6/10 · 3 October 2017]

OK I watched the first episode of this and I will say I was far from pleased with my outcome yea I giggled a few times and it has that classic sitcom feel it just misses every mark when it comes to being a good show 'remember the millers and the mccarthies' OK this is like those two shows only less enjoyable I cant with a good heart recommend this to anyone I am so sad it was as bad as I thought it would be and more

the worse of the 90'

[droltyp · 1/10 · 5 October 2017]

1990 asked for their scripts back. Seriously all the bad and ugly cliché from 90' are in it. That was so bad I had to stop midway before my brain melt.And I watched some serious craps before but this one took it too far for me. Poor acting , cast terrible, unoriginal story, don't waste your time.

Love this show!

[debbienine · 10/10 · 16 March 2018]

First show in a while that made me laugh out loud every episode

Gets better as you learn the characters.

[tsimms-64083 · 7/10 · 7 November 2017]

This show was slow at first, but it grew on me as I started to understand the characters of the show.I like where it has the potential to go. It is not a never before seen the type of show, but it is one that you could really like and look forward to on a boring Monday of watching.

Worst thing i have seen in 10 years

[sorendk-915-173105 · 1/10 · 2 October 2017]

Wow.....

The acting is horrible, the story is..... appalling.... I feel like i wasted time in my life i will never get back. Don't waste your time, seriously, you will regret it. Im really at a loss of words.. There are some great names in this show but.. It just lets you down. After 5 minutes i wanted to turn it off but gave it a chance, i wish i had not done that...

A Great Comedy to Watch!

[DimitriAM · 10/10 · 26 February 2018]

First off a lot of reviews are saying show has taped laughter... NOT TRUE! I attended a taping of this show. It is filmed in front of a live audience on CBS lot in the studio where Rosanne and Mary Taylor Moore used to film. It takes a lot of guts to share your story. I enjoyed being at the taping and watching the filming of the episode I saw. Having watched other episodes I found it to be rather delightful. May not be for everyone's cup of tea but watch it rather than reading reviews. See for yourself. After all this is entertainment!

why does everybody hate this show?

[ben-cats · 7/10 · 15 October 2017]

9jkl is a bit of a throwback to the 90's, sure, but it's hilarious, elliott gould is particularly great, and there are many funny jokes. i think it's much better than the majority of CBS sitcoms, and i simply don't understand the hatred of this show from both critics and audience reviewers alike. while not as good as everybody loves raymond, as this show is often compared to, it's still a good urban twist on the classic overbearing parents trope. the main character is quite charming as well, and albert tsai is better in this than dr. ken or his recurring role as phillip goldstein in fresh off the boat. give this show a shot, you might find that you actually like it!

What studio exec greenlit this abomination?

[ks8971 · 1/10 · 3 October 2017]

I appreciate that the big three networks (NBC, CBS & ABC) are in an increasingly difficult position to produce unique and entertaining content. That said there are some shows, like 9JKL that are just bad. No sorry, its awful. Its plays on tired clichés, simply isn't remotely funny and is at times offensive. Sure there can be surprise hits but who watched the pilot of 9JKL and thought "wow, this is amazing, people will love it"?

No it won't get better with time because the basic premise of the show isn't original or funny. Its tired and hack.

Think his career is over.

[ZinQ · 1/10 · 17 September 2018]

After this turkey, and other shows that have failed, I think Mr Feuerstein's career might well be over.

No no no no no

[cherylyn-13791 · 1/10 · 28 March 2018]

I thought it would get better ... but it didn't. Watched 8 episodes and I was done!! If I had parents like that I would move to another country!!!!

Two thumbs down

[lsatterth · 30 October 2017]

The previews showed a spineless man who is crushed by his over-bearing mother. Yes, there are other characters but really, what is the point of all the clichés? Canned laughter, poor acting, predictable plot lines, and bad writing. It's a wonder that this show has made it this long. The only reason it's on my TV is that it's on CBS and I don't feel like flipping channels until Scorpion comes on. This show is a complete waste of time.

Fire the writers

[drama59 · 7/10 · 17 October 2017]

Take a great cast and give it terrible writing and bam...cancelled. The cast is worth giving the show a chance but the writing is beyond bad..sophomoric shall we say. A Jewish family that live in 3 apartments right next to each other and are always getting in each others way. The stars of "Royal Pains", "About A Boy" and "Alice"...who could ask for anything more? I will continue to watch until its ultimate end which won't be long. "About a Boy" was wonderful and what cancelled...so I can't imagine this will take long to dump. None of the networks have any idea on what to keep and what should go. "Mike and Molly"...genius and they dumped it because she lost to much weight...oh please...that was the point of the show for them to lose weight and still be happy together...oh well.............guess we have to suffer with replacement shows over and over and over............

Wretched....

[jackknife-63072 · 1/10 · 20 November 2017]

Poor acting, tired plot lines, terrible writing, and canned laughter. Such a shame with a good cast like this. Spoiler alert. Guy moves back to hometown after his acting career in LA implodes and moves into the apartment in between his brother and parents. Parents and brother meddle in his private life. Hilarity ensues. Note sarcasm. If this is your deal this is for you. If not avoid like the plague.

Love this show!

[kristenspilman · 10/10 · 2 December 2017]

My husband and I just don't get why people need to be so very negative! This show is hilarious and is taped in front of a LIVE audience. It's clean, imagine that! We think it's great that Mark F. created a sitcom where, according to him, the stories are based on his real life. All the actors/characters have chemistry and are funny! Nick the concierge fella is a hoot! Come on people...give it a chance. It is not supposed to be an Academy Award show...just a fun sitcom to watch and laugh with.

Don't be fooled by fake reviews

[gpride2009 · 7/10 · 17 October 2017]

One thing IMDb users should realize that writing bad reviews is a "strategy" that competitors are using nowadays to get shows off the air and to harm the broadcasting channel. And the best way to do it, in their simple minds, is to shoot the bird before it even takes off. Therefore, employees of competitor channels log in to IMDb and post as many negative reviews as they can. Unfortunately, this is how today's generation operates: sitting behind keyboards and trying to ruin something that others worked hard to bring together.

Most of the reviews here are based on teasers or trailers or half of the pilot episode. One individual even wrote a bad review because they were angry at CBS for broadcasting too many teasers?!!! Really?!!! Now about the show, I love the cast, and I think the pilot episode was hilarious. I will definitely keep on watching and hoping that it will survive.

Finally, a word for IMDb users who decide to watch or not to watch a show, based on reviews here. Don't fall into the trap of fake and targeted reviews. Give new shows a chance and be your own judge.

Sickcom diarrhea

[matthijsalexander · 2/10 · 6 October 2017]

This show is what my toilet bowl looks like after I ate bad Babaganoush and fatoush.

Another poorly written sitcom that combines all the possible clichés you can think of with extremely bad acting, not one actor excluded.

Who is at fault? I would guess everybody. The writers for thinking they are funny, the actors for thinking they are funny and the producers for being funny. They appear to have so much money they don't care down which toilet bowl it goes.

We like it

[jbrownandsons · 10/10 · 4 November 2017]

It's funny of course most of the laughs come from Linda Lavin and Elliott Gould. But it's different. Not like other shows that are on now and yes it may have some of the same traits as Everybody Loves Raymond but it's different in many ways and I think it will last. If it does not it's only because today's TV is reality and cooking shows.

to many fake reviews.

[tomsters · 7/10 · 15 April 2019]

I liked this show. it was not great it was good. it was not bad. there are so many fake bad reviews as if it was targeted with a vengeance to get it off the air. it was inconsistent and often stereo typical crap that almost all sit coms but the best are. but only the best is only the few as well. so then why this show was cancelled was probably a lack of gangster style ass kissing. that is all.

don't waste time

[heatherbaer · 1/10 · 3 October 2017]

The only reason I watched this is because I loved Mark Feuerstein in Royal Pains. I saw a preview for this and I thought it looked kind of funny, but after watching 10 mins of it I had to turn it off. The writers of the script are trying too hard to be funny. The only thing I liked in this show was Elliott Gould's character, but I think that's mainly because I like him as an actor. Don't waste your time watching this. They should've torn this script up and did another season of Royal Pains, now that's something I would watch in a heartbeat.