Here's a picture of Anvil, the David Boreanaz lookalike..

Succatash | August 23, 23:46 CET

Hey, thanks for checking out our video player. We're sorry, but our full-length videos aren't available outside the U.S. Kind of a bummer, we know. It's a legal issue, however, we appreciate you following our shows and our site. You can download episodes currently on iTunes.

Salocin | August 23, 23:59 CET

Okay, I know people are raving about this show, but I couldn't get past the completely awful first several minutes of this episode.

The One True b!X | August 24, 00:17 CET

I really want to like this series-- and watched nearly every episode-- but I find myself frequently annoyed with its repetitive patter and skip ahead through scenes. IMHO, it tries too hard to be campy, cute and clever-- 'cause yes, I get what they're going for, but don't need every joke telegraphed for me. A little cleverness goes a long way.

Whedonage | August 24, 00:38 CET

Heh, I was just reading reviews for this today, when figuring out what to watch once I've watched through my 'commander in chief' DVD's (which is really only a poor-man's 'The West Wing', but I need my political drama ;)). It looked like fun, but it also looked like it could be another 'Reaper' which had a great first episode, but then became repetative and boring-ish pretty fast.

And yeah, that guy does look like David.

GVH | August 24, 00:50 CET

"Middleman" is turning out to be much better than "Reaper." There is a lot more clever in each episode than you would think.

Nebula1400 | August 24, 01:30 CET

Is the "abc media player" completely failing for anyone else?

RaisedByMongrels | August 24, 01:34 CET

GVH, if you stopped watching Reaper before it came back last spring, give it another chance. Once they finished (more or less) the devil's daughter arc, the show really took off with demonic conspiracies and workplace romances and gourmet muffins. :D

cabri | August 24, 01:40 CET

Ouh, gourmet muffins. Damnit, cabri, now I'm thinking of giving it another chance ;).

But I also might just try Middleman. Clever sounds good, Nebula1400 :).

GVH | August 24, 02:01 CET

Yeah, same here.

Invisible Green | August 24, 02:06 CET

Is the "abc media player" completely failing for anyone else?

I couldn't get it to work in Safari or Firefox on Mac OS, or in Firefox on Windows. It does, however, work in IE 7... I feel like it's 1998 all over again!

[ edited by Caleb on 2008-08-24 02:18 ]

Caleb | August 24, 02:17 CET

I thoroughly enjoy Middleman but I let it sit on my DVR until I am in the right frame of mind for its brand of silliness. It is witty and fun and always makes me laugh out loud. Of course, I'll watch anything that is even vaguely connected to Javi.

TamaraC | August 24, 02:26 CET

I'm really enjoying the Middleman, it takes me to a happy place. Though some of the eps have been a bit weak and there's plenty of painful sap - it's usually wonderfully over the top and funny. This episode was definitely one of my favorites, despite the rather lame first few minutes.

Succatash | August 24, 02:47 CET

Clearly I'm not as connected with TV as I used to be, as I didn't even realize that The Middleman had debuted yet....

LKW | August 24, 04:20 CET

What I love most about it is that my kids and I appreciate it on different levels, and it really provides some fun opportunities to share our various tidbits of both cultural and literary knowledge. Plus, you know, ART CRAWL (another ep...)!!!

OzLady | August 24, 12:20 CET

Very easy show to watch though i'm not sure any since have quite reached the glorious silliness of the pilot for me. But yep, quirkily funny in a knowing way (but not knowingly knowing, if that makes any sense - they don't really wink at the camera or anything, in that way it's played quite straight, it's just totally conscious of the clichés it's playing with).

Even taking out the obvious nod in the credits sequence, it actually kind of reminds me of a 21st century Avengers (meets 'Sledgehammer' ;).

Saje | August 24, 13:20 CET

In the beginning, I really wanted to like this show, and for the first few episodes, I just couldn't get into it and felt pretty bored. But recently the character development is not as flat as I was afraid they'd keep it (to match the campiness?) and I am starting to like it more and more. The depth of characters really make a difference in the long run and even tho it's toxically clever- the characters really are starting to feel like they are rooted in reality. And that makes me care and want to come back, not just be amused every once in a while. If they can just get to the point where the writers don't seem to be trying so hard-

marymary | August 24, 17:11 CET

IMHO, it tries too hard to be campy, cute and clever-- 'cause yes, I get what they're going for, but don't need every joke telegraphed for me. A little cleverness goes a long way.

Exactly. It's /too/ breezy. I had a friend swear I'd love it, but I finally gave up during the episode with a talking ape who's a mafia fanboy. When they catch him, he says, "Just when you think you're out... they pull you back in!" And it's so stereotypical and lame that I just switched the channel right there and never looked back.

swanjun | August 24, 23:16 CET

I have watched most of the episodes as someone in my household is a huge fan. I have to say that I actually love the concept and the writing is excellent. For me, it's the main characters that fall flat. I don't know if they are directed to act so cartoony but it irritates. So much so that when the character Pip first was on the show I thought his acting was so much more natural that it was like he didn't belong on the show. Made everyone else seem so much worse.

Xane | August 25, 14:50 CET

I've tried watching a few and I always start out thinking 'this is fun, I'll watch this' and then all too soon I start multitasking and forget about the video. The female lead doesn't hold my interest. There's a real lack of energy in her performance. Perhaps that suits the character (other characters do assume she's smoking weed, I think), but it's not compelling viewing. I'm going to give it a few more tries, though.

Caroline | August 25, 18:37 CET