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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed shows.
What About Brian
EMAILPRINTSERIES: ABC, Monday 10:00p (60 minutes)

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 21 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 137 votes
Read user comments
Rate this show >
Show Info
Genre(s): Comedy, Drama
Created By: Dana Stevens
First Air Date: April 16, 2006
Summary
Starring Barry Watson, Matthew Davis, Sarah Lancaster, Rosanna Arquette, Rick Gomez, Amanda Detmer, Raoul Bova, and Amy Jo Johnson
This mix of comedy and drama follows the lives of a group of seven friends, including its only unmarried member, Brian (7th Heaven's Barry Watson), who works at a videogame company in Los Angeles. J.J. Abrams (Lost) is among the executive producers.
Episode Guide & More Info: More about this show at TV.com
Also On The Web: Official Show Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Chicago Sun-TimesDoug Elfman
There's peril in traveling the well-worn path of unrequited love and adulterous wives. But what makes this beginning of "Brian" work is that the characters are nicely drawn archetypes, not stereotypes.
Read Full Review >Detroit Free PressMike Duffy
It's styled as a sort of laid-back Gen X updating of "thirtysomething," replacing that show's neuroses-fueled, East Coast edge with a more casual, lighthearted California vibe.
Read Full Review >Entertainment WeeklyGillian Flynn
Brian's writing, while witty, tends to be oversize. [21 Apr 2006, p.64]
Washington PostTom Shales
Most of the actors make their characters zesty and likable, if on occasion too glib for their -- and our -- own good.
Read Full Review >VarietyBrian Lowry
While "What About Brian" strikes some of the familiar chords about love, angst and the terror of young adulthood that have viewers swooning over "Grey's Anatomy," the show does so in a more laid-back tone, which should make its leap from a post-"Desperate Housewives" launch to its regular Monday moorings a commercial challenge.
Read Full Review >Chicago TribuneSid Smith
"Brian" is easy, harmless viewing, sliding down the gullet as smoothly and reassuring as a glass of California merlot.
Read Full Review >Hollywood ReporterBarry Garron
Ironically, the differences among the characters that make the show interesting and even, at times, compelling, also test its credibility.
Read Full Review >San Jose Mercury NewsCharlie McCollum
There's not a lot wrong about "Brian.'' But there's not a lot right about it, either.
Read Full Review >People WeeklyTom Gliatto
This is all nicely produced with mild offbeat tweaks along the way... But none of this is original either. [24 Apr 2006, p.39]
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen
"What About Brian" isn't a terrible show, it just doesn't offer enough unique reasons to make a weekly appointment with this gang of friends.
Read Full Review >New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley
It's not only unimpressive. Parts of it are uncomfortable.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles TimesPaul Brownfield
"What About Brian" is "Prison Break," except the prison is a man's feelings and escape involves eluding the warden of his doubts, and we're talking maximum-security misgivings.
Read Full Review >TV GuideMatt Roush
Like a sunnier version of thirtysomething, lacking only the inspired casting, the insightful writing and the wrenching realism.
Read Full Review >The New York TimesAlessandra Stanley
The series is sentimental in a sleek way, and there are surface glints of humor in the script, but mostly, "Brian" is a blander, less distinctive version of "Thirtysomething."
Read Full Review >Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert
[It] looks like a TV commercial with plots. The people are pretty, their homes are pretty, their problems are pretty, and it's all pretty shallow.
Read Full Review >Orlando SentinelHal Boedeker
What About Brian traffics in flimsy liaisons, soapy squabbles and sophomoric sexuality.
Read Full Review >Seattle Post-IntelligencerMelanie McFarland
Beautiful people, perky and unrealistic dialogue and male characters who have all dropped their huevos in jars of vinegar.
Read Full Review >NewsdayVerne Gay
"What About Brian"... wants to be "thirtysomething" for twentysomethings, but it is clichesomething.
Read Full Review >Arizona RepublicBill Goodykoontz
It [is] such a cloying, annoying mess you can barely expend the effort to hate it.
Read Full Review >New York PostAdam Buckman
[The] characters are so charmless, it's as if they were created on purpose to actually repel viewership - a TV first.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this show is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 137 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Sonja N gave it a10:
Perfect show.... That's the only thing that can get me out of bed in the mornings.
David W. gave it a10:
Great characters; great feel. It's about friendshp ... and even if it gets a bit too contrivefd in going for the feel-good ... who cares! What about caring? What about considering?. What about loyalty?
Jeroo D. gave it a10:
Over-all, the show is really great, that s why im giving it a 10! i hope the show makes a comeback!
K H. gave it a9:
I really enjoyed this program, it seemed to move very quickly and I wanted the story line to slow down a little. Yet I found most of the characters genuinely likeable with their flaws and all. Too bad it's been gone so long, guess for good. But I enjoyed it and was really looking forward to another season.
Rhonda B gave it a10:
I hope this show it not cancelled. I loved it!!!!!!
Mandy R. gave it a9:
I love the show. I'm 32 married with kids
Felan P. gave it a10:
This show is awesome, the cast act so natural. Storyline is great. Brian O'hara has sex appeal and great chemistry with co-star Brigitte. WoW, we love this show and watch it even when I have exams around the corner. Its better than reality shows and is at the top with desperate housewives/ greys.
