Worst Week

Worst Week
Genre	Situation comedy
Created by	Mark Bussell Justin Sbresni
Developed by	Matt Tarses
Starring	Kyle Bornheimer Erinn Hayes Nancy Lenehan Kurtwood Smith
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	16
Production
Executive producers	Matt Tarses Jimmy Mulville Adam Bernstein
Producer	Matthew Nodella
Running time	30 minutes
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	September 22, 2008 – June 6, 2009
Related
The Worst Week of My Life

Worst Week is a 2008 American TV series based on the British sitcom The Worst Week of My Life. The show initially was adapted for American audiences by Fox under the title Worst Week of My Life, but a series failed to materialize after the pilot was filmed.

The series premiered on CBS at 9:30pm ET/PT on September 22, 2008, following Two and a Half Men. The debut attracted 11 million viewers but lost a third of its lead-in audience. Ratings dropped to a low of 8.4 million viewers with the sixth episode, then began to climb steadily. They reached a high of 12.12 million viewers with the eleventh episode but declined afterwards. The last episode of the season airs on June 6, 2009.

On May 20, 2009, CBS announced its new season schedule and canceled Worst Week. Universal Studios Home Entertainment is producing a DVD of the complete series.

Premise

The show focuses on Sam Briggs (Kyle Bornheimer), who tends to attract trouble. His luck is worse than that of anyone else, and bad things happen to him in rapid succession. He's in love with, but not yet married to, Melanie Clayton (Erinn Hayes), and the two are expecting a child. Breaking the news to her parents Angela (Nancy Lenehan) and Dick (Kurtwood Smith) is only one dilemma they face in early episodes.

Critical reception

Verne Gay of Newsday graded it A and said it "may be the best new comedy on network TV this season."
Less enthusiastic was Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle, who said, "Though there are plenty of hard-earned (some might say forced) laughs here and Bornheimer is a real find, you can't help but wonder how they'll keep up the pace. After all, the British series ran for only two seasons and had a mere seven episodes each season . . . So how is CBS going to stretch this into 22 episodes without stretching it too thin? . . . In many ways, Worst Week seems incapable of being made into an American version (there were previous attempts that failed), because not only does the title not make sense, but not having a payoff for all the freaky, not-so-karmic woes Sam endures will be frustrating to the viewing audience . . . [It] is a series that may end up being on a short leash."
Linda Stasi of the New York Post called it "one of the worst new shows of the week" and added, "Only a man (or a couple of them) could get paid big bucks in Hollywood to come up with such a lame-o rip-off and perpetuate the fantasy that gorgeous women can't help but to love out-of-shape guys who do everything wrong."

Episodes

#	Title	Viewers	Original Airdate	Code
1	"Pilot"	11.04 million viewers	September 22, 2008	101
In the series premiere, Sam and Mel intend to reveal her pregnancy to her parents after a quiet dinner. However, when Sam misses the train after having a drunk girl throw up on him, the dinner starts becoming increasingly unlikely.
2	"The Bird"	9.31 million viewers	September 29, 2008	102
Sam tries a different method of winning Dick's approval: impressing his wife, Angela. However, Sam's well thought out plan backfires, when Dick's prize birds get involved.
3	"The Monitor"	8.79 million viewers	October 6, 2008	103
Sam's friend Adam visits the Claytons's house, and immediately falls for Mel's sister.
4	"The Truck"	9.78 million viewers	October 13, 2008	104
Sam and Mel continue to keep their upcoming nuptials secret, however it explodes and more in front of the entire Clayton family.
5	"The Club"	9.90 million viewers	October 20, 2008	105
After inviting too many co-workers to the wedding, Sam tells a risky lie that takes on a life of its own.
6	"The Ring"	8.40 million viewers	November 3, 2008	106
Melanie and Sam are handed down the family wedding ring for use in their marriage, however disaster strikes when Sam loses it.
7	"The Vows"	9.62 million viewers	November 10, 2008	107
Sam winds up in hot water, literally, trying to impress the Clayton family minister.
8	"The Cake"	10.37 million viewers	November 17, 2008	108
The in-laws finally meet up, as Sam's parents meet Mel's folks for the first time.
9	"The Wedding"	10.35 million viewers	November 24, 2008	109
Sam has to resolve an argument between Mel and Angela.
10	"The Apartment"	10.60 million viewers	December 8, 2008	111
When Angela decides she wants to rent the apartment upstairs from Sam and Mel to be closer once the baby comes, Mel tries to prove that she doesn't need her help.
11	"The Gift"	12.12 million viewers	December 15, 2008	110
When Sam learns that Dick gives Angela the same Christmas gift every year, he decides to help Dick find the perfect present.
12	"The Article"	10.45 million viewers	January 12, 2009	112
When Sam tries to clear his mind from the experience of accidentally walking in on Angela at the gynecologist's office, he writes down his private thoughts - which accidentally wind up in the wrong hands.
13	"The Puppy"	9.58 million viewers	January 19, 2009	113
When Sam sees a litter of puppies being born, he worries he might not be able to handle the birth of his own child.
14	"The Sex"	10.04 million viewers	February 2, 2009	114
When Sam and Mel babysit their nephew, he captures a photograph of them in a compromising position that he plans to bring to school for a family photo exhibition.
15	"The Epidural"	8.70 million viewers	February 16, 2009	115
When Mel calls Sam to let him know she is in labor, he misunderstands the name of the hospital and winds up at the wrong one.
16	"The Party"	TBA	June 6, 2009	116
"When Sam gives it his all to help the Claytons prepare for Dick's birthday party, he loses his pants and some dignity in his effort to make everything perfect" (episode clearly aired out of order since its events pick up directly from the end of episode 4 "The Truck")

External links

• Worst Week at the Internet Movie Database
• CBS Adds To ‘Worst Week’ Order

Comments about a possible cancellation: There is a Poll and a link (In Yellow) to sign a save the show petition.

• http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/worst-week-cbs-pulls-low-rated-sitcom-good-news-for-gary-unmarried/
• http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/worst-week-petition-to-save-cbs-bad-luck-tv-show/
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