The main wrinkle of the presentation – and the lord knows it’s not a new one – involves Kat regularly breaking down the fourth wall and speaking directly to the audience, expressing her insecurities and clumsiness. Bialik was very good at this in the “Big Bang”, but thanks to the predictable writing here, it’s mostly a big boredom.
As for the story, the new development in Kat’s life focuses on the return of Max (Cheyenne Jackson), a guy she fell in love with back in college. He is kind and alone, but her discomfort around him – and the collisions that literally give way – begins to become tiring just before the end of the pilot episode.
Fox provided four episodes and there is a modest serialized progression in Kat’s story, but not enough to plant a big hook. There are moments of sweetness and vulnerability, but the nicest thing we can say is that everyone throws everything in the dumbest aspects, complete with closing credits in which the cast says goodbye, taking a call for the show that just they set it up for you.
Hold the bouquets, but like “Friends”, the “Big Bang” stars who will return to TV will be an opportunity, and the network offers “Kat” (among its producers Bialik and former co-star Jim Parsons) a launch enthusiastic. The series will premiere after NFL football, along with a preview of an animated show from the producers of “Bob’s Burgers”, “The Great North”, about an Alaska family. The latter is almost exactly what you would expect, down to the moose jokes, with Nick Offerman giving the voice of his crusty, single father who grows an eccentric brood.
As for “Call Me Kat”, even the concept of “cat cafe” feels underused, given the TV theory that you can never go wrong with cute pets. Of course, the image of “cat grazing” exists for a reason, but I’m a suitable mascot for a sitcom that is barely earning a living, let alone a new one.
“Call Me Kat” and “The Great North” premiered on January 3 at 8:30 pm ET on Fox.