'Super Fun Night' = Misleading show title

I don't know what to tell you, ladies. It sort of sucked. I KNOW I KNOW. Like you, I've got more than my share of residual affection for Rebel Wilson. She stole scenes in Bridesmaids; she stole our hearts in Pitch Perfect. Super Fun Night was poised to be her final ascent into the American entertainment stratosphere, the moment at which Wilson truly became the household name "Rebel Wilson" is meant to be. But Super Fun Night is going to last about five episodes. Now's JUST NOT THE RIGHT TIME

Rebel Wilson plays a successful lawyer named Kimmie who, along with her nerdy roommates, enjoys a weekly "Super Fun Night" in which they... go out? UNCLEAR -- probably something to shore up in the second episode next week, which will also be called Super Fun Night. ("Why is it called Terriers again?") Anyway, she's a plus-size girl in a minus-size world and hey, a little confidence goes a long way and that Asian girl's drinking a lot while the other roommate tries hard for Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids and Kimmie quietly woos an inexplicably British officemate who's not really a love interest, I don't think, but totally respects Kimmie for just going for it. I'm not sure this is a show just yet, but maybe if they shook the pieces and tried again it would better resemble one?

To be fair, the sitcom isn't out-and-out bad. Last night's premiere (which you may be interested to learn was not the pilot) saw Rebel and Co. "face their fears" (face Kimmie's fear, while the other two watched) of singing in public. There were some laughs to be had, and you can never go wrong belting Meatloaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love," especially as a song battle. It's just that I'm not sure where this series goes, what it wants to do, and that's sort of the fundamental requirement of a pilot. As scripted and shot, the SFN pilot gives us little indication of a premise, or for that matter what we might expect next week. Episode two could be a supernatural medical drama and I'd probably say, "Oh, okay, it's this now."

The show's ad campaign suggests they're really, really banking on people's affinity for Rebel Wilson to make this thing the hit they want it to be, but she's used so weirdly -- differently than people would want or expect -- that it's like they've forgotten what makes their one unique element unique. Rebel's RAUCOUS, right?! She lives life OUT LOUD. To shove her into a meek, woman-child character (aided nothing by an American accent, which was an unnecessary addition) is willfully ignoring those things that help set her apart.

Bottom line: If you're a huge Rebel fan, you'll be disappointed. But the disappointment will likely not last past Sweeps, so nbd. GO WATCH BROOKLYN NINE-NINE.