Arliss
From Free net encyclopedia
Arliss (rendered in its logo as Arli$$) was an American situation comedy on HBO about a sports agent and his group of associates. The series premiered in 1996 and ended in 2003. Reruns of the show now air on ESPN Classic in their comedy block where it's partnered with Cheap Seats.
Arliss stars Robert Wuhl, who also produced the show, as Arliss Michaels, the president of a sports agency who tries to cater to his clients' every need as best as he can. His clients' requests often provide the show's punchlines. Sandra Oh plays Rita Wu, an Asian American woman who sometimes serves as Arliss' best friend and counselor, and who is always very well-dressed. Wu's attraction to Hispanic men is notable. Jim Turner plays Kirby Carlisle, a middle-aged, ex-football star whose excessive enjoyment of women, alcohol and gambling cause him much suffering. Afraid of needles, he later discovers that he is, in fact, a diabetic who requires insulin shots. Michael Boatman plays Stanley Babson, a conservative African American financial advisor who sometimes threatens Arliss's agency's financial health by making mistakes on clients' portfolios.
Real athletes also appear on the show from time to time. Among the famous athletes who have appeared on the show are Oscar De La Hoya, Dan Marino, and Emmitt Smith.
Criticism
Despite its lengthy run on HBO, Arliss never caught on with viewers and was bashed by many critics; Entertainment Weekly consistently referred to it as one of the worst shows on television. Many felt that the show was subpar and that the show's frequent use of obscure sports references made the humor something only die-hard sports fans would get. Perhaps the most notable episode of criticism of Arliss was during the October 12 2002 episode of Saturday Night Live, during which guest host Sarah Michelle Gellar delivered the following monologue:
You know the feeling. Someone's about to tell a joke, and you panic. What if you start laughing? Lots of us experience slight loss of bladder control. An embarrassing accident can happen any time. Sometimes, just when laughing. That's why I watch "Arliss" on HBO Comedy. It's nice to know that, every weekday at midnight, I can sit down with Robert Wuhl and the gang at Arliss Michaels Sports Management, and, a half-hour later, my drawers will be as dry as a bone. And now I know I'll be able to get 100% bladder control whenever I'm feeling insecure. Because all seven seasons of "Arliss" are now available on DVD. That's over forty hours of keep-your-pants-dry entertainment! So, don't let slight loss of bladder control cramp your style. Watch "Arliss", and take back your life. Ask your doctor if "Arliss" is right for you. Side effects may include nausea, depression, and slight sexual dysfunction.
In addition, rumors swirled that Arliss was kept on the air, despite its poor ratings and scathing reviews, mainly because of Robert Wuhl's friendship with top HBO executives.