jellyneckr Review of Breaking In

Breaking In (2011–2012)

Solid series that wasn't given the chance it deserved

[22 April 2012]

Out of all the major networks, Fox is perhaps the most notorious for canceling shows as quickly as possible. To make a list of all the shows that Fox has swiftly and ultimately prematurely yanked from the air in just the past five years would take forever, but television fans surely already know what some of them are. "Breaking In" is the latest show that can be added to that list as despite being picked up for a second season, Fox has decided to cancel the show after airing only five episodes from Season Two. I'm not going to argue that "Breaking In" was an absolutely perfect show---there were a few times when it was definitely inconsistent---but it was always at least distinctively different from any other network comedy. The premise itself always seemed like a comedic version of "Leverage" but never felt like a rip-off of that show. Christian Slater (who was also a producer on the series) was great in a role that perfectly suited his sense of humor and charisma. Though Slater was the most recognizable name in the cast, "Breaking In" was truly an ensemble where each cast member got to shine and had individual episodes that allowed them to add some depth to their admittedly wacky characters. Doing away with the standard annoying sitcom laugh track and clichés, most of the humor from "Breaking In" came from the characters' antics and unique (but never super forced) pop culture references. However, these two sources of humor may also have been stumbling blocks for certain viewers. As both characters and the pop culture jokes were a bit on the geeky side, the show was never going to be the single most accessible sitcom on the air. Yet the show was far more accessible than a sitcom like "Community" and could have easily found more viewers had it been given more of a push. Attempts to gain a wider audience in the second season by adding Megan Mullally to the cast and changing the show from more of a workplace sitcom than a series about pulling off heists may have turned some fans off, though I still found plenty to laugh at in what was aired of Season Two. "Breaking In" always seemed like it would have been a better fit for a cable channel like Comedy Central or USA. As it stands, "Breaking In" may develop a cult following if it is able to get a DVD release. It's obvious that everyone involved were really trying to make a good-natured show that people would enjoy and it would be a shame if people weren't allowed to see the finished unaired episodes. 8/10