What's Wrong with "Miss Guided"

ABC's recent midseason sitcom "Miss Guided" wasn't all that bad, really, and it was way more entertaining than "Samantha Who," but it just didn't quite click with me. I have always enjoyed star Judy Greer's work, and I was hoping this show would be better. But there was one big problem that held it back.

Well, two big problems. One huge mistake was inviting Ashton Kutcher on as a "special guest star" in the second episode, playing some supposedly too-cool-for-school substitute teacher. I can't imagine any circumstance in which Kutcher's presence in anything would be a big deal, except maybe a Mensa meeting. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised considering he was an executive producer of the show. But what does that say about your show when you think an Ashton Kutcher guest spot is your big ratings ace in the hole? Hell, what does that say about society that it could even be a credible proposition?

Ahem. I digress. "Miss Guided" is a pleasant--if often crude--show about a high school loser who comes back to her old stomping grounds to be a guidance counselor. It has some laughs, and for those who miss Chris Parnell from "SNL," well, he's here. Incidentally, it's amazing when someone moves from THAT show and becomes MORE over the top.

Here's the problem: As great as Greer is, she's wasted somewhat in this role. Her character is too much the loser, to the point where she seemingly must be humiliated on some scale each episode. The tart-tongued Greer who played so many sarcastic best friends in recent feature films is replaced in "Miss Guided" by a timid creature who never unleashes that bite we all know she has. Even her running voice-over is holding back.

I'm sure someone decided that the more caustic Greer persona was too much so to carry a weekly series. But we don't need to see the lead get dumped on every single time out, either. Seeing her pine away for a hunky teacher she thinks is two levels above her can be funny over the course of a season. But does she have to be thrown into situations like getting caught in an upskirt photo in the school paper? No, she doesn't. I say, give us the real Judy Greer, and you give me a reason to watch the show again.