Brad Garrett Is a Very Tall, Very Funny Man

I only wish that Brad Garrett's new Fox sitcom "'Til Death" were as hilarious as he is. He's a great stand-up comic. I saw him in Las Vegas last year and he killed. He also killed -- evidently in a different way -- in May at the Fox upfronts in New York City, offending a whole bunch of people with what was seen as inappropriate humor for the venue. (Thin skin, I believe they call it.) But Garrett had no such problem with the TV critics Monday at the Television Critics Assn. gathering in Pasadena, where he charmed the uncharmable with some dead-on improv wit.

After having gotten into trouble for joking at the upfronts that he and Ryan Seacrest were lovers, the 6-foot-8 1/2 Garrett noted, "Well, we've been together four years, Ryan and I, and...no, that's really just comedy...It was just good fun. You probably shouldn't do comedy during the day is what I learned."

Yet here was Garrett once again doing comedy with the sun still shining brightly. Some of his greatest hits:

--About a new film he recently shot entitled "Music and Lyrics By": "I play Hugh (Grant's) manager. See, I have a weird film career. I'm very picky and not in demand."

--On filming at the same lot where some great old sitcoms were shot: "I used Webster's old car."

--After being asked to give a one-word answer for his opinion of the key ingredient in a happy marriage: "Attorney."

--After "'Til Death" co-star Joely Fisher noted that her five-month-old daughter is "perfect": "Well...let's not get crazy. She's cute."

Again, Garrett deserves better than the material he gets in his new series, which doesn't come close in the pilot to matching the greatness of his "Everybody Loves Raymond" role. Maybe he'll, uh, grow into it.

Comments

[Chelsea]

He was soo funny and quick! Not sure how often the whole TCA room erupts into laughter... but there were several points when he had everyone going!
Once again... love your re-caps :)