Courting Alex: Season 1
  • Network: CBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 23, 2006
  • Season #: 1
Metascore
39 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 19 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 19
  3. Negative: 9 out of 19
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  1. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    70
    Elfman establishes herself as one of the major female comic presences on television.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Barry Garron
    60
    Simultaneously sexy and relatable, Elfman wins us over with a convincing performance that shows vulnerability just beneath a placid surface.
  3. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    60
    The acting talent here is marginal compared to the sitcom it replaces, "Out of Practice" (returning later in the season), but I found "Courting Alex" more enjoyable.
  4. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Doug Elfman
    50
    The cast is a fine one. The chemistry works between Elfman and Randall. The weakness of "Alex's" premiere -- and not future episodes, I hope -- is the overwrought script.
  5. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    50
    "Courting Alex" is courting disaster by the way it plays against Elfman's, and Coleman's, strengths.
  6. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    50
    Neither a disaster nor a triumph.
  7. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    50
    An inoffensive but not particularly distinguished half-hour.
  8. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Nicholas Fonseca
    42
    [A] limp sitcom. [27 Jan 2006, p.77]
    All this critic's reviews
  9. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: John Leonard
    40
    Jenna Elfman really has to put a bag over it--her notorious “cute,” I mean.
  10. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Tom Shales
    40
    She's not bad, just flat; not annoying, just weak.
  11. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    38
    Courting Alex is nothing if not dull.
  12. Detroit Free Press
    Reviewed by: Mike Duffy
    38
    A tepid traditional sitcom.
  13. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    30
    A charmless sitcom with absolutely nothing original in it.
  14. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Adam Buckman
    25
    I doubt I will ever watch a single episode of "Courting Alex" beyond this first one.
  15. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    25
    "Courting Alex" is sadly predictable and unfunny at pretty much every turn.
  16. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Sid Smith
    20
    Unimpressive and bland.
  17. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Alessandra Stanley
    20
    [A] tepid, paint-by-numbers series.
  18. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Storm
    20
    Elfman and Coleman do their best to inject some fun into the same old stuff.
  19. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    20
    Worth watching? First you’d have to stay awake.
    All this critic's reviews

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
3.7 out of 10

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 18
  3. Negative: 10 out of 18
  1. PuppiM.
    2
    Jenna good, Englishman good, Scott terrible, rest ok. story catastrophic, jokes old.
  2. KeaneG
    1
    Very disappointing, the show seems to be struggling to come up with its own original new jokes. For example the fever Alex's father had was similar to the one off of Friends when Monica was ill. They both try to pretend that they are not ill but unfortunately it was only funny the first time. This time is just a drag! Sorry but this show seems as though it is going to flop like the Joey spin off.… Full Review »
  3. OrionFan
    2
    A 2 only because can watch Jenna. Othewise dull, and awful. I enjoyed Dharma much more. Finally turned the second episode off halfway thru. Very disappointing.… Full Review »
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