Man Up!

Plot

The series revolves around the lives of three modern men in Columbus, Ohio who try to get in touch with their inner "tough guys" and redefine what it means to be a "real man". According to an on-screen graphic at the start of the pilot, the show is set in suburban Gahanna.

Cast

Main cast

• Amanda Detmer as Brenda Hayden
• Christopher Moynihan as Craig Griffith
• Dan Fogler as Kenny Hayden
• Charlotte Labadie as Lucy Keen
• Henry Simmons as Grant Sweet
• Mather Zickel as Will Keen
• Teri Polo as Theresa Hayden Keen

Recurring cast

• Jason Rogel as Henry Trunka
• Jake Johnson as Nathan Keen

Production

The series was poised to be one of the four breakout hits for the 2011-12 television season (along with CBS's 2 Broke Girls, A Gifted Man, and How to Be a Gentleman) according to advertisers who had seen the pilot. Of the four shows, only 2 Broke Girls, which specifically had no male leads unlike the other three shows, was renewed for a second season.

Episodes

Critical reception

The series received mixed to average reviews from viewers and mixed to negative reviews from critics.

• The Hollywood Reporters Tim Goodman noted that the actors were saddled in a sitcom world of limited potential, asking "How long can they play this joke?" He concluded that "Isn't it really time to let go of stereotypes and clichés and maybe write a sitcom that has more to joke about than one thing over and over again?"
• JAM! gave the series a "Thumbs Down", noting that "...if you're pining for the next great male sitcom, this isn't it."
• Varietys Brian Lowry noted that "...it'll take more than sociology to pump up this stale sitcom."
• The Oregonians Kristi Turnquist called the show "Unfunny" in her short review.
• Fantriads Matt Peterson found that among a mixed gender group of 25- to 34-year-olds, Man Up! ranked among the top 5 of weekly watched television series. The group described the show as, "a fresh take on comedy" and "laugh out loud funny," during online polls and questionnaires. Among other shows listed highly by this group were Last Man Standing and Grimm. "Fantriad Television Viewer Poll 2011 Edition" by The Peterson Group, Fantriad (November 7, 2011)
• TV Guides Matt Roush called the series, "An insult to all genders".

Ratings

The debut episode had a modest start averaging a 2.4/6 among 18-49s, with 7.80 million viewers tuning in. However, it took a hit in its second week, averaging a 2.0/5 among 18-49 with 6.78 million viewers tuning in, a drop of 21% from the first episode. It also found itself among the shows that could become candidates for cancellation according to the TV by the Numbers Renew/Cancel Index based on the show's ratings.

On November 18, 2011, ABC pulled Man Up! from its midseason lineup, despite a statement that it was considered a candidate for a second season pickup. However, TV by the Numbers had the series listed as "de facto canceled" as ABC had not ordered any more episodes, and eleven of the thirteen had already been produced at the time the announcement was made.

On December 8, 2011, ABC pulled Man Up! from the schedule and replaced it with Work It on January 3, 2012, leaving five episodes unaired and effectively cancelling the series altogether. (Work It would fare even worse in the Man Up! time slot, being cancelled after airing just two episodes.) ABC posted the five unaired episodes of Man Up! on the show's website as online exclusive episodes on December 13, 2011; they were removed from the website a month later.

International broadcast

The series was picked up in the following countries:

• In Canada by CTV Two, where it debuted at the same time as the ABC telecast.
• In Australia by Seven Network, starting in 2012.
• In Portugal by FX, starting on February 1, 2012.
• In Norway by TVNorge.
• In Italy by Fox as Cose da uomini (Men's Stuff), starting on April 6 until June 29, 2012.
• In South Korea by FOXlife, starting in May 2012.
• In Thailand by Fox Asia.
• In Israel by HOT3.
• In Turkey by ComedyMax HD.
• In Finland by HeroTV, starting on May 6, 2015.

References

References

1. [http://www.tv.com/abcs-2011-2012-schedule-tim-allen-is-back-/story/25863.html?tag=news_list;title;15 "ABC's 2011-2012 Schedule: Tim Allen Is Back"] from TV.com (May 17, 2011)
2. Seidman, Robert. "ABC Announces Fall Series Premiere Dates: Late Starts for "Once Upon a Time", "Man Up"". TV by the Numbers.
3. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111124121738/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/11/22/abc-even-with-charlies-angels-man-up-pan-am-canceled-body-of-proof-is-unlikely-to-survive-another-season/111420/ "ABC: Even With 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Man Up!,' & 'Pan Am' Canceled, 'Body Of Proof' Is Unlikely To Survive Another Season"] from TV By The Numbers (November 22, 2011)
4. "Man Up!".
5. [https://deadline.com/2011/05/upfronts-advertisers-like-man-up-and-2-broke-girls-but-slam-abcs-presentation-133751/ Upfronts: Advertisers Like 'Man Up' And '2 Broke Girls' But Slam ABC's Presentation] from Deadline.com (May 19, 2011)
6. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120514150951/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/12/list-of-canceled-and-renewed-scripted-shows-for-the-2011-12-season/133799/ List of Canceled and Renewed Scripted Shows for the 2011-12 Season] from TV By The Numbers (May 14, 2012)
7. Gorman, Bill. (October 19, 2011). "TV Ratings Tuesday: 'Unforgettable' Rises; 'NCIS,' 'X Factor' Lead Night; 'Man Up' Premieres Modestly". TV by the Numbers.
8. [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/man-up-tv-review-246672 "Man Up!: TV Review"] by Tim Goodman, The Hollywood Reporter (October 11, 2011)
9. {{usurped
10. [https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117946368 "Man Up!"] by Brian Lowry, Variety (October 16, 2011)
11. [http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/10/tv_this_week_the_walking_dead.html "TV This Week: 'The Walking Dead' returns, 'Man Up!' and 'Boss' debut"] by Kristi Turnquist, The Oregonian (October 15, 2011)
12. "''TV Guide'' September 12-18, 2011. pg. 30".
13. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111021185723/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/10/19/tv-ratings-tuesday-unforgettable-rises-ncis-x-factor-lead-night-man-up-premieres-modestly/107786/ "TV Ratings Tuesday: 'Unforgettable' Rises; 'NCIS,' 'X Factor' Lead Night; 'Man Up' Premieres Modestly"] from TV By The Numbers (October 19, 2011)
14. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111028172016/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/10/26/tuesday-final-ratings-x-factor-ncis-biggest-loser-dancing-man-up-adjusted-up-body-of-proof-adjusted-down/108549/ "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'X Factor,' 'NCIS,' 'Biggest Loser,' 'Dancing,' 'Man Up!' Adjusted Up; 'Body Of Proof' Adjusted Down"] from TV By The Numbers (October 26, 2011)
15. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111103195419/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/11/01/abc-man-up-needs-to-move-its-ratings-up-or-be-canceled/109197/ "ABC: 'Man Up!' Needs To Move Its Ratings Up, Or Be Canceled"] from TV By The Numbers (November 1, 2011)
16. [https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118046364 "ABC Unveils Midseason Sked"] from ''Variety'' (November 18, 2011)
17. Gorman, Bill. (December 8, 2011). "'Man Up!' Pulled From ABC's Schedule, Replaced By 'Last Man Standing' Repeats". TV by the Numbers.
18. Fienberg, Daniel. (January 14, 2012). "ABC yanks 'Work It' after two airings". HitFix.com.
19. "from Channel Canada".
20. [http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/tv/your-first-glimpse-at-what-is-new-to-australian-tv-in-2012/story-e6freqj6-1226128203435 "Your first glimpse at what is new to Australian TV in 2012"] from The Courier-Mail (September 3, 2011)
21. "Man Up".