Call Me Kat review: Is Fox’s new comedy a hit or miss?

Call Me Kat is a tepid new sitcom that would be better without its fourth wall gimmick.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, avid TV-watchers have lacked new television content for the past several months. While streaming services like Netflix came through with several buzz-worthy shows, network and cable mostly fell flat. Shows are slowly returning to air (although more production pauses are on the horizon), and Fox decided to kick off the New Year with the premiere of Call Me Kat.

This new sitcom is based on the award-winning BBC series Miranda and stars The Big Bang Theory actress Mayim Bialik as Kat, a quirky, socially anxious, extrovert who lives alone in an apartment above the cat café she runs. She’s joined by comedic gem and sitcom veteran Leslie Jordan, Primetime Emmy Award-winning actress Swoosie Kurtz and Proud Family actress Kyla Pratt.

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The first episode revolves around Kat’s dilemma when she gets invited to her childhood best friend Tara’s (Vanessa Lachey) vow renewal, but can only bring a plus-one if it’s someone she’s seriously dating.

Perennially single Kat had already promised her co-worker and friend Phil (Jordan) that he could be her date since he’s always wanted to attend the iconic Brown Hotel in Louisville. Not wanting to disinvite Phil, Kat pretends that he’s her boyfriend — no one buys it.

Also of note in this episode is the return of Kat’s old college crush, Max (Cheyenne Jackson). He’s the new bartender at the bar next to Kat’s café, run by her other friend, Carter (Julian Gant).

There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about the first episode of Call Me Kat. But you can tell the actors are doing their best to infuse the stale writing with charisma, and it mostly works. I found it more charming than some of the other sitcom pilots I’ve seen as of late, at least.

The worst part of the show by far is the reliance on its fourth-wall gimmick. Bialik frequently breaks the fourth wall to chat with the audience and add in a one-liner, quip or narrative exposition. Frankly, it just doesn’t work very well. I wouldn’t mind it so much if it weren’t used so often throughout the episode.

According to some of the other critic reviews I’ve read of the show, the fourth wall gets a little better over the next few episodes, but not enough to elevate the show.

Overall, the show is just a little too silly for my taste, including a somewhat awkward ending in which the cast breaks character to wave at the audience and take their final bow, so to speak, after putting on the show. I plan to keep watching it, mostly for the performances, but I hope to see some storylines and writing that doesn’t feel so stale in the season to come.

What did you think of the Call Me Kat premiere? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!

Call Me Kat makes its timeslot premiere this Thursday, Jan. 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.