CBS } Gay/Straight 'Partners'

 

David Krumholtz and Michael Urie in "Partners" (Matt Kennedy/CBS)

CBS‘ new sitcom “Partners,” which premieres Sept. 24, has a great pedigree in creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan  (“Will & Grace”)and in fellow executive producer James Burrows (“Cheers,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and almost any sitcom you think is great, except “Bleep My Dad Says.”), not to mention Michael Urie and David Krumholtz in the lead roles.

Now let’s work on creating better chemistry between the leads, which is to say, sharper writing, guys.

I love both of these actors and it’s especially nice that Urie has landed another series after his great turn in “Ugly Betty.” But as I listened to Mutchnick and Kohan talk about their own work partnership at this morning’s CBS session at the Television Critics Association, I couldn’t help thinking that the partnership between Urie and Krumholtz’s characters on the show doesn’t quite have that same chemistry.

Of course, Kohan and Mutchnick have had years to develop real-life chemistry — they met as high school students. When Mutchnick came out, the first person he told was his straight best friend Kohan. As Mutchnick just put it, “Every gay man should have a straight man in his life.”

Urie and Krumholtz play “Odd Couple” partners in an architecture firm. Urie is kind of a gay Oscar Madison, in terms of impulsiveness, while Krumholtz plays the Felix role.

The two actors were asked this morning if they’re ever tempted to just play the showrunners in “Partners,” and that’s not a terrible idea. More to the point, it wouldn’t hurt the show at all if more of the relationship between Kohan and Mutchnick, gentle sparring and all, was reflected in the lead characters of “Partners.”

I’ll give the show a chance. I want it to succeed. The concept is promising.

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