Watching Ellie

Premise and formats

There were two incarnations of Watching Ellie. Both focused on the character of cabaret singer Ellie Riggs (Louis-Dreyfus), with markedly different approaches.

The first was directed by Ken Kwapis, known for his innovative work in single-camera sitcoms such as The Larry Sanders Show, Malcolm in the Middle and The Bernie Mac Show. Each 22-minute episode was meant to portray a 22-minute slice of Ellie's life, in real time. In the earliest episodes, a clock was even shown in the corner of the screen. Louis-Dreyfus stated in 2003 that the clock was Jeff Zucker's idea. Thirteen episodes were filmed, but only ten aired before the series was put on indefinite hiatus (the remaining first-season episodes have never aired).

Nearly a full year later, the show reappeared as a more traditional sitcom, with multiple cameras and a live studio audience plus an added laugh track. This version fared even worse than its predecessor and was canceled after six episodes.

Cast

• Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Ellie Riggs
• Lauren Bowles – Susan
• Steve Carell – Edgar
• Darren Boyd – Ben
• Peter Stormare – Ingvar
• Don Lake – Dr. Zimmerman

Production

Louis-Dreyfus and Hall earned salaries of $350,000 each per episode and their contracts stipulated 15 episodes per season, rather than the usual 22. Carsey-Werner-Mandabach Productions, the original production company, dropped out because of the high costs and was replaced by NBC Studios.

The show was pitched to ABC, CBS, Fox and HBO, who all turned down the series.

Louis-Dreyfus and Bowles played sisters and they are also half-sisters in real life.

Episodes

(in millions)

Season 1 (2002)

Season 2 (2003)

References

References

1. Weinraub, Bernard. (January 14, 2002). "You Loved Elaine, Now Meet Ellie; A High-Stakes Gamble Brings Another 'Seinfeld' Star Back to TV". The New York Times.
2. Rice, Lynette. (May 1, 2002). "Testing: One, Two, Three...".
3. (March 6, 2002). "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 25–March 3, 2002)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
4. (March 13, 2002). "National Nielsen Viewership (March 4–10, 2002)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
5. (March 20, 2002). "National Nielsen Viewership (March 11–17, 2002)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
6. (March 27, 2002). "National Nielsen Viewership (March 18–24, 2002)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
7. (April 3, 2002). "National Nielsen Viewership (March 25–31, 2002)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
8. (April 10, 2002). "National Nielsen Viewership (April 1–7, 2002)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
9. (April 17, 2002). "National Nielsen Viewership (April 8–14, 2002)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
10. (April 24, 2002). "National Nielsen Viewership (April 15–21, 2002)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
11. (May 1, 2002). "National Nielsen Viewership (April 22–28, 2002)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
12. (April 23, 2003). "National Nielsen Viewership (April 14–20, 2003)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
13. (April 30, 2003). "National Nielsen Viewership (April 21–27, 2003)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
14. (May 7, 2003). "National Nielsen Viewership (April 28–May 4, 2003)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
15. (May 14, 2003). "National Nielsen Viewership (May 5–11, 2003)". [[Los Angeles Times]].
16. (May 21, 2003). "National Nielsen Viewership (May 12–18, 2003)". [[Los Angeles Times]].
17. (May 29, 2003). "National Nielsen Viewership (May 19–25, 2003)". [[The Los Angeles Times]].