Watching Ellie
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| genre = Sitcom
| creator = Brad Hall
| starring = {{Plain list|
}}
| narrated =
| num_seasons = 2
| num_episodes = 19 (3 unaired)
| country = United States
| language = English
| executive_producer = Brad Hall
| producer = {{Plain list|
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus
- Matt Nodella
- Jack Burditt
}}
| composer = Oscar Castro-Neves
| camera = {{Plain list|
- Single-camera (season 1)
- Multi-camera (season 2)
}}
| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = {{Plain list|
- Hammond's Reef Productions
- NBC Studios
}}
| network = NBC
| first_aired = {{Start date|2002|2|26}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2003|5|20}}
}}
Watching Ellie is an American television sitcom that stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and was created by her husband, Brad Hall and aired on NBC from February 26, 2002, to May 20, 2003. Sixteen episodes were broadcast before it was canceled due to low ratings, the show received mixed reviews.
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.{{cite web|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|title=You Loved Elaine, Now Meet Ellie; A High-Stakes Gamble Brings Another 'Seinfeld' Star Back to TV|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/14/arts/you-loved-elaine-now-meet-ellie-high-stakes-gamble-brings-another-seinfeld-star.html|work=The New York Times|date=January 14, 2002|access-date=February 17, 2013}}
The show was pitched to ABC, CBS, Fox and HBO, who all turned down the series.{{cite magazine|last=Rice|first=Lynette|url=https://ew.com/article/2002/03/01/testing-one-two-three/|title=Testing: One, Two, Three...|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=May 1, 2002|access-date=March 16, 2021}}
Louis-Dreyfus and Bowles played sisters and they are also half-sisters in real life.
Episodes
{{Series overview
| infoA = Rank
| infoB = Average viewership
(in millions)
| color1 = #A62821
| link1 = #Season 1 (2002)
| episodes1 = 13
| start1 = {{Start date|2002|2|26}}
| end1 = {{End date|2002|5|09}}
| infoA1 = 55
| infoB1 = 10.0
| color2 = #0257AC
| link2 = #Season 2 (2003)
| episodes2 = 6
| start2 = {{Start date|2003|4|15}}
| end2 = {{End date|2003|5|20}}
| infoA2 = 79
| infoB2 = 8.6
}}
=Season 1 (2002)=
{{Episode table
|background= #A62821
|overall = 5
|season = 5
|title =
|director =
|writer =
|airdate =
|prodcode =
|country=US
|viewers = 10
|episodes =
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=1
|EpisodeNumber2=1
|Title=Pilot
|DirectedBy = Ken Kwapis
|WrittenBy = Brad Hall
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|2|26}}
|ProdCode = WE101
|Viewers=16.71{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41468567/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 25–March 3)|date=March 6, 2002|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=2
|EpisodeNumber2=2
|Title=Wedding
|DirectedBy = Ken Kwapis
|WrittenBy = Brad Hall
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|3|5}}
|ProdCode = WE105
|Viewers=12.03{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41468404/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (March 4–10)|date=March 13, 2002|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=3
|EpisodeNumber2=3
|Title=Dinner Party
|DirectedBy = Ken Kwapis
|WrittenBy = Brad Hall
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|3|12}}
|ProdCode = WE102
|Viewers=11.07{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41469279/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (March 11–17)|date=March 20, 2002|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=4
|EpisodeNumber2=4
|Title=Aftershocks
|DirectedBy = Michael Lehmann
|WrittenBy = Jack Burditt
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|3|19}}
|ProdCode = WE104
|Viewers=9.50{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41463649/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (March 18–24)|date=March 27, 2002|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=5
|EpisodeNumber2=5
|Title=Cheetos
|DirectedBy = Michael Engler
|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Andrew Gottlieb & Brad Hall|t= Brad Hall}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|3|26}}
|ProdCode = WE103
|Viewers=9.70{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41468778/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (March 25–31)|date=April 3, 2002|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=6
|EpisodeNumber2=6
|Title=Tango
|DirectedBy = Michael Engler
|WrittenBy = Andrew Gottlieb
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|4|2}}
|ProdCode = WE108
|Viewers=9.55{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41465499/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (April 1–7)|date=April 10, 2002|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=7
|EpisodeNumber2=7
|Title=Gift
|DirectedBy = Kevin Rodney Sullivan
|WrittenBy = Joe Furey
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|4|2}}
|ProdCode = WE106
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=8
|EpisodeNumber2=8
|Title=Medicated
|DirectedBy = Craig Zisk
|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Jeffrey Ross |t= Joe Furey}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|4|9}}
|ProdCode = WE107
|Viewers=7.48{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41464179/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (April 8–14)|date=April 17, 2002|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=9
|EpisodeNumber2=9
|Title=Weekend
|DirectedBy = Howard Deutch
|WrittenBy = Andrew Gottlieb
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|4|16}}
|ProdCode = WE110
|Viewers=7.61{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41468846/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (April 15–21)|date=April 24, 2002|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=10
|EpisodeNumber2=10
|Title=Zimmerman
|DirectedBy = Allison Liddi-Brown
|WrittenBy = Mike Armstrong
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|4|23}}
|ProdCode = WE109
|Viewers=6.90{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41469435/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (April 22–28)|date=May 1, 2002|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=11
|EpisodeNumber2=11
|Title=Dream
|DirectedBy =
|WrittenBy =
|OriginalAirDate = Unaired
|ProdCode = WE113
|Viewers=
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=12
|EpisodeNumber2=12
|Title=Junk
|DirectedBy =
|WrittenBy =
|OriginalAirDate = Unaired
|ProdCode = WE112
|Viewers=
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=13
|EpisodeNumber2=13
|Title=Drive
|DirectedBy =
|WrittenBy =
|OriginalAirDate = Unaired
|ProdCode = WE111
|Viewers=
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = A62821
}}
}}
=Season 2 (2003)=
{{Episode table
|background= #0257AC
|overall = 5
|season = 5
|title =
|director =
|writer =
|airdate =
|prodcode =
|country=US
|viewers = 10
|episodes =
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=14
|EpisodeNumber2=1
|Title=Shrink
|DirectedBy = Robert Berlinger
|WrittenBy = Brad Hall & Andrew Gottlieb
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|4|15}}
|ProdCode = WE202
|Viewers=9.76{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41428492/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (April 14–20)|date=April 23, 2003|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 0257AC
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=15
|EpisodeNumber2=2
|Title=TV
|DirectedBy = Craig Zisk
|WrittenBy = Andrew Gottlieb
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|4|22}}
|ProdCode = WE206
|Viewers=7.35{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41424238/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (April 21–27)|date=April 30, 2003|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 0257AC
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=16
|EpisodeNumber2=3
|Title=Date
|DirectedBy = Craig Zisk
|WrittenBy = Brad Hall & Joe Furey
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|4|29}}
|ProdCode = WE201
|Viewers=8.68{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41425184/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (April 28–May 4)|date=May 7, 2003|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 0257AC
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=17
|EpisodeNumber2=4
|Title=Buskers
|DirectedBy = Kevin Rodney Sullivan
|WrittenBy = Brad Hall & Andrew Gottlieb
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|5|6}}
|ProdCode = WE203
|Viewers=8.29{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41430219/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 5–11)|date=May 14, 2003|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 0257AC
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=18
|EpisodeNumber2=5
|Title=Fruit Shots
|DirectedBy = Andy Ackerman
|WrittenBy = Brad Hall & Andrew Gottlieb
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|5|13}}
|ProdCode = WE205
|Viewers=7.44{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41424933/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 12–18)|date=May 21, 2003|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 0257AC
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=19
|EpisodeNumber2=6
|Title=Feud
|DirectedBy = Craig Zisk
|WrittenBy = Brad Hall
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|5|20}}
|ProdCode = WE204
|Viewers=8.40{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/41426789/the-los-angeles-times/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 19–25)|date=May 29, 2003|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 0257AC
}}
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0306410}}
Category:2002 American television series debuts
Category:2003 American television series endings
Category:2000s American multi-camera sitcoms
Category:2000s American single-camera sitcoms
Category:Television series by Universal Television