A group of freshmen decide to throw a dorm party their first night at college. People are playing pong downstairs, someone gets "sexiled" by his roommate and there's a lot of beer around. Sound like a night at Dartmouth?
Actually, it's the basis of the first episode of Fox's new comedy "Undeclared," which focuses on a group of freshmen who live on the same dorm floor at the University of North Eastern California.
The comedy centers around Steven Karp (Jay Baruchel), who claims to have grown seven inches in the last year but still has yet to outgrow his awkwardness of stature.
While he tries to be fashionable (i.e. sports a hideously flashy black striped zebra shirt on the first day of college) and suave with the ladies (when asked if he has a condom, responds, "Yes, I have eight"), it is clear that Steven is nothing more than a nerd in, well, nerd's clothing. Yet somehow he manages to sleep with his attractive hall-mate on the first night.
Though the show isn't exactly the picture of reality (I repeat: the nerd sleeps with the pretty girl down the hall on the first night), many of the jokes hit very close to home -- home being Hanover, NH.
When Steven tells a good-looking frat boy about their dorm party, roommate Ron (Seth Rogen) points out: "Steve, you're supposed to ask ugly guys. Hot girls, ugly guys."
The characters are very believable in that they try to act like grown-ups when really they are all still kids at heart. Like real college freshmen, Steven and his new friends must adapt to quirky roommates and tough classes; hook-ups and heartbreak.
Monica Keena (of "Dawson's Creek" fame) plays Rachel who breaks out in panic attacks from time to time and needs to be calmed down by her R.A. who reads her poetry about the joys of his job as residence advisor.
Lizzie (Carla Gallo) plays Rachel's roommate whose relationship with her "hometown honey" prevents her from returning Steven's affections.
Steven's roommate Lloyd (Charlie Hunnam) is an extremely attractive (a.k.a. an exact replica of Heath Ledger) and charming (at their dorm party, he explains to a girl how "shy" he is at parties and then proceeds to ask her to see his room) theater major from England. When Steven tells him he's been to England once on his teen tour, "Shalom, Europe," Lloyd just says "I don't know" and starts to explain why they should have a party to attract all the beautiful women on campus. The two share a suite with music major Marshall (Timothy Sharp), and Ron, a business major with a sharp sense of humor.
The show was created by Judd Apatow, whose 80s-based high school drama "Freaks and Geeks" was quickly canceled last season. While "Undeclared" can be looked at as "Freaks and Geeks" goes to college, this time around Apatow has finally got it right.
In the pilot episode (which aired last Tuesday), Steven's father Hal (Louden Wainwright III) shows up at his dorm on the first night of college and announces that Steven's mother is divorcing him because she feels "dead inside."
While Steven sulks in his room (and is later consoled by Lizzie), Hal drinks beer and gets marital advice from "the guys". While this plot seems a bit farfetched -- would these kids actually spend their first college party talking to someone's father? -- it shows just how embarrassing parents can be to their teenage children.
The next morning plays like a typical college morning: Hal wakes up with pen marks all over his face, the dorm is a huge mess and Lizzie ignores Steven as he passes her in the hall after they spent the night together.
And that's only the first night. The fall "term" of "Undeclared" promises to live up to its expectations. In tonight's episode , Steven tries to convince Lizzie to dump her boyfriend so that she can fully enjoy her "college experience," but when she heeds his advice and dumps her boyfriend on a weekend visit, Steven's guilt forces him to help Lizzie get back together with her smalltown sweetheart.
And next week, Will Ferrell guest stars as an alumnus who sells Steven and his friends some really good term papers and hooks them on cheating. Look for other special guest appearances in future episodes including Adam Sandler playing himself at an awkward dorm party.
So if you're looking for something to do after classes and before Fox's 9 p.m. showing of "Love Cruise: The Maiden Voyage", then declare yourself a fan of "Undeclared."
