Saunders: Big promise from 'Big Day'

Published November 29, 2006 at midnight

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Based on Tuesday night's premiere, there are at least two reasons to watch Big Day, a promising new ABC series that might appeal to Kiefer Sutherland. The series is sort of a comedy version of 24, detailing all the things that go wrong on a young couple's wedding day.

OK, so a heated debate about which salad should be served - Caesar or baby lettuce with pear vinaigrette - does not have the impact of Jack Bauer spending his day saving the U.S. from destruction. But based on Tuesday night's premiere, Big Day could be inventive and goofy enough in its comedy format to draw an audience.

Another reason to watch: the terrific performance of Wendie Malick as Jane, the neurotic mother of Alice (Marla Sokoloff), the bride-to-be.

I'll watch anything that includes Malick, who can hoist a below average series above mediocre and help a quality show soar even higher. I've been a Malick fan since 1990 when she portrayed the divorced wife of Brian Benben in Dream On, HBO's first successful adult comedy.

Most viewers know her as Nina, the pompous (and wildly funny) fashion magazine editor in Just Shoot Me. And while she's closely identified with comedic roles, Malick knows how to take a believable dramatic turn. I'll always remember her stunning performance as the battered society wife in a two-part tale during the opening (1993) season of NYPD Blue.

While Tuesday's premiere displayed a wickedly funny, preposterous scenario, Malick's performance produced the comedic glue. And the veteran actress displays a kicky sense of humor away from the camera. Asked in a recent interview to discuss the similarities between Nina and Jane, Malick replied:

"I think my job is always to hold up this sort of mirror and say that if you remotely resemble these women, you should go get help."

Producers were asked if there was really going to be enough happening on this single wedding day to sustain 22 episodes. One critic even wondered aloud if there would be a whole episode hunting for romaine lettuce.

Malick jumped in: "Well, isn't that fascinating to you?"

Other major cast members include Josh Cooke as Danny the groom; Kurt Fuller as Jane's beleaguered husband; and Stephanie Weir as the weird, out-of-control wedding planner.

One comedy success ingredient of Big Day's premiere was its ability to play things in a "serious" vein. While elements of slapstick were present, the wedding day battles were serious stuff to the participants.

Producer Josh Goldsmith noted: "We're not defusing a nuclear bomb here. But the stakes have to seem just as high. These are incredibly high stakes about incredibly ridiculous things."

Initially scheduled to premiere the first week in October, Big Day's debut was postponed for whatever logical or illogical reason network programmers had.

So now the series joins the Tuesday lineup at a time when potential viewers are starting to think about Christmas trees and eggnog. Unfortunately, this potentially funny wedding day could get lost in the holiday shuffle.

MORE COMEDY LINES: Anybody remember Thursday nights on NBC during the 1993-94 season?

Network executives do. That was the start of what would become known as "must-see TV," a two-hour block of popular half-hour comedies. For the next several seasons, series such as Mad About You, Friends, Wings, Seinfeld and Frasier dominated the 7-9 p.m. time period.

In recent seasons that "must-see TV" has often deteriorated into musty TV. So NBC, struggling to regain ratings dominance in general and on Thursday night in particular, is bringing back that format starting this week.

The two-hour lineup beginning at 7 p.m.: My Name is Earl, The Office, Scrubs and 30 Rock.

The first two are critically popular sophomore shows, which have suffered rating declines this season on Tuesday night. And audiences have really shunned 30 Rock, a freshman critical favorite, on Wednesday.

Scrubs? The doctor series has become NBC's utility player during its five seasons with the network. Winner of the prestigious Humanitas Prize and a People's Choice Award, the series seemingly has never completely won over the hearts of NBC executives, despite featuring major comedy talents Zack Braff and John C. McGinley.

A night of "must-see-TV?" How about "maybe-see-TV?"

TODAY'S NOSTALGIA: On Nov. 29, 1970, NBC presented Swing Out, Sweet Land, a look at American history featuring John Wayne and two dozen guest stars.

On TV

• What: Big Day, a comedy detailing all that goes wrong on a couple's wedding day

• When and where: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Denver's 7

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