CNET Networks Entertainment GameSpot | GameFAQs | Metacritic | MP3.com | TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games Books TV
Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums

Television

2007-08 Midseason
2007 Fall Season
2007 Summer Season
2006-07 Midseason
2006 Fall Season
2006 Summer Season
2005-06 Midseason
2005 Fall Season
Best Of 2007
Best Of 2006
Best Of 2005
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss TV In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Movies & Specials

A Raisin in the Sun 81
ABC, 2/25

 

Upcoming & Recent Series Premieres

Jericho Season Two 71
CBS, Tuesday

Lipstick Jungle 40
NBC, Thursday

 



Carpoolers
SERIES: ABC, Tuesday 8:30p (30 minutes)

Carpoolers
Critic Score
Metascore: 37 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.7 out of 10
based on 23 reviews
read critic reviews
how did we calculate this?
based on 38 votes
read user comments
rate this tv show

Starring Jerry O'Connell, Fred Goss, Faith Ford, Jerry Minor, Tim Peper, Allison Munn, and T.J. Miller

Are Jerry O'Connell and Co. stuck in traffic?

GENRE(S): Comedy
CREATED BY: Bruce McCulloch
FIRST AIR DATE: October 2, 2007

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

60
Kansas City Star Aaron Barnhart
From what I can tell, it’s going to be the same show every show.
Read Full Review
50
Chicago Tribune Maureen Ryan
Carpoolers isn’t terrible; it’s tolerable and even mildly funny at times.
Read Full Review
50
Washington Post Tom Shales
Carpoolers has a certain loopy cuteness to it, but the show lacks a beating heart, some strong central figure to care about and root for.
Read Full Review
50
Boston Globe Matthew Gilbert
The show doesn't aim very high. It's only a little bit more than just another network sitcom about marital conflict and about how men will be men.
Read Full Review
50
Chicago Sun-Times Doug Elfman
At first, this new comedy about four mostly wimpy dudes seems just stupid, but some of it is decent.
Read Full Review
50
Detroit Free Press Mike Duffy
A decent, potentially appealing cast -- one that includes Fred Goss ("Sons and Daughters"), Faith Ford and Jerry O'Connell--has to make do with ho-hum storylines and writing that lacks anything resembling real snap and imagination.
Read Full Review
50
San Jose Mercury News Charlie McCollum
It could develop (its creator is Bruce McCulloch from "Kids in the Hall"), but right now, it's only so-so.
Read Full Review
40
Newark Star-Ledger Alan Sepinwall
There's some amusing material on the margins of the show--the guys use OnStar to settle a debate about the lyrics to a song on the radio, Dougie admits his marriage isn't perfect and his wife "sometimes she gets up in the middle of the night and bakes in her sleep"--but outside of Jerry Minor's winning performance as the overextended but always cheerful Aubrey, it's completely forgettable.
Read Full Review
40
Philadelphia Daily News Ellen Gray
Unless the writers figure out a way to step away from the car without stepping away from the funny, I'm not sure how long the show can stay there before it's pulled over.
Read Full Review
40
Miami Herald Glenn Garvin
Carpoolers, are at least amusing even if equally socially maladroit. Carpoolers is a genially oddball comedy.
Read Full Review
40
Orlando Sentinel Hal Boedeker
The carpoolers are funniest when they just sing along with the radio--not a good sign.
Read Full Review
40
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen
There's little that's surprising let alone interesting about Carpoolers despite the best efforts of an enthusiastic cast, most notably O'Connell.
Read Full Review
40
Hollywood Reporter Barry Garron
The best thing in the show's favor is its single-camera style and a cast that knows its way around a punchline, though these are few and far between. In general, stories are contrived and exaggerated, and they fail to deliver even a mild comedy payoff.
Read Full Review
38
New York Daily News David Bianculli
Carpoolers, despite a few likable cast members and passable jokes, is in so much trouble, it's pulled over, on the shoulder.
Read Full Review
30
PopMatters Daynah Burnett
Carpoolers opted to careen straight into a gender war minefield, with stock male characters looking hapless amid a seeming pack of controlling, lazy, and deceitful women.
Read Full Review
30
The New York Times Ginia Bellafante
The women here aren’t foils for male inferiority; they’re just dragging the boys down further with their alternately lazy, nutty or emasculating ways.
Read Full Review
30
Newsday Diane Werts
Carpoolers is like a flimsy "Saturday Night Live" skit pounded home and running on beyond endurance. Actors sputter their lines, dither and whimper like some 1950s sitcom.
Read Full Review
30
Los Angeles Times Mary McNamara
It just isn't funny.
Read Full Review
25
San Francisco Chronicle Tim Goodman
Mainly Carpoolers uses the cheap conceit of four guys sharing time in the car (confiding in each other, getting away from their troubles at home) to distract you from the fact this is merely another unfunny comedy of forced antics, cliched jokes and unbelievable characters.
Read Full Review
25
USA Today Robert Bianco
The show is so painfully witless and dull, your daily commute may begin to seem entertaining in comparison.
Read Full Review
20
Variety Phil Gallo
Carpoolers is shockingly dull and unfunny with Fred Goss shoehorned in an uninspiring role.
Read Full Review
20
Philadelphia Inquirer Jonathan Storm
Well, a lot of thought and money goes into advertising, and basing a show on characters that emerged from that effort and expense is no more bogus on its face than making up ridiculous excuses for human beings out of thin air, like the men in Carpoolers.
Read Full Review
0
New York Post Linda Stasi
Carpoolers tanks like the Titanic.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this tv show is 7.7 (out of 10) based on 38 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Cranky R. gave it a9:
The concept is edgy and the acting is brilliant. Especially the character played by TJ Miller.

Max V gave it a10:
I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was very funny. A show that has a lot of physical laughs and a lot of "slow burn" laughs. It is only getting better since the pilot. Funny characters and I hope ABC sticks with it.

[Anonymous] gave it a0:
Absolutely Not Funny.

Andrew H gave it a9:
So far the show is getting better, although, there has only been two episodes. The witty humor and random questions posed in the car is very close to my own experiences on carpooling.

nick s. gave it a10:
loved it! didn't expect to, but it is extremely funny.

Holly P. gave it an8:
I like it...especially episode #2...it seemed to pick up. I love the characters too! Gotta get rid of Cavemen though!

Robert E gave it a9:
I only watched it (episode #2) because my son watched Cavemen (sucks!) and left it on the station. I thought it was great and very funny, but it will probably go the way Fred Goss's other great shows (Significant Others and Brothers and Sisters) went.

Read more user comments...

Discuss this tv show in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | BOOKS | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

About CNET Networks | Jobs | Advertise | Partnerships                                Visit other CNET Networks sites:

Copyright ©2007 CNET Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use