Lee Evans – So What Now Series 1 – DVD

After a string of successes on the big screen, So What Now marks the return of comedian Lee Evans to television and his first sitcom. Scripted by Evans himself, the show has an old-fashioned feel to it, recalling at times various comedy series of the 1970s. Evans' character, Lee, is a mere extension of his live performance persona--a rambling, accident-prone loser whose split from his wife forces him into a domestic situation with the slovenly Stuart (O'Donnell) and man-eating yuppie, Heather (Thomson). There is much of Michael Crawford's hapless Frank Spencer in Lee, especially in the visual set pieces that form the cornerstone of the show. Given his strong acting and writing pedigree, this has to be seen as a disappointment for Evans; the combination of weak script and less than inspiring performances mean that So What Now is only a sporadic success. --Phil Udell