Hello Ladies: Season 1 (2013)
Average Rating: 5.9/10
Reviews Counted: 20
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 11
Stephen Merchant is an intelligent performer, but Hello Ladies is largely a squirm-inducing comedy that lacks the empathy of his best work.
Average Rating: 5.1/10
Critic Reviews: 9
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 6
Stephen Merchant is an intelligent performer, but Hello Ladies is largely a squirm-inducing comedy that lacks the empathy of his best work.
Season Info
In his first starring series role, Stephen Merchant portrays Stuart, a web designer who recently relocated to LA from England in hopes of finding excitement, romance, and maybe even a soul mate. Working out of his LA home, Stuart has an easy rapport with an attractive roommate named Jessica, though it is clear she's not romantically interested in him. Half as charming as he thinks he is ? and twice as desperate ? Stuart is obsessed with infiltrating the glamorous world of beautiful people, and
Network: HBO
Premiere Date: Sep 29, 2013
Cast
-
Stephen Merchant
Stuart -
Christine Woods
Jessica -
Nate Torrence
Wade -
Kevin Weisman
Kives -
Sarah Wright
Courtney -
Lindsey Broad
Annie -
Crista Flanagan
Marion -
Jenny Slate
Amelia -
Vail Bloom
Ashley -
-
Eddie Pepitone
Paparazzo -
-
-
John Hartmann
Limo Driver -
-
-
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Episodes
Pilot
Stuart treats his friends to an awkward evening at a posh nightclub's opening in the premiere of this comedy series about an English Web designer in Los Angeles who mistakenly fancies himself a ladies' man and social climber.
The Limo
Wade hires a limousine in an attempt to win back his estranged wife, but Stuart sees a chance to drive around Los Angeles in style. Meanwhile, Jessica tries to change the tone of a regular get-together with friends.
The Date
Stephen goes on a first date with a woman who works at a yoga studio, but his desire to be in control of this fledgling romance could jeopardize the chances of a second. Meanwhile, Jessica demands that Glenn find her an audition when a rival lands a major film role; and Wade starts an emergency-alert network for his friends after he slips in the shower.
The Dinner
Stuart finds himself in hot water when he tags along with Jessica to a dinner party at a posh Hollywood home. Meanwhile, Wade is disappointed after Stuart misses another movie night, so Kives tries to have a little fun at the absentee's expense.
Pool Party
Critic Reviews for Hello Ladies: Season 1
Merchant goes solo with Hello Ladies and the result is a series that would have been a whole lot funnier if the cringe-worthy comedy conceit didn't feel completely played out.
We wincingly follow along as Stuart tries to get into exclusive clubs and then makes all the wrong moves on cruelly indifferent women. It's as if "Entourage" had a nightmare.
As a self-important shlepper without any bottom line redemptive qualities, Stuart deserves what's coming to him.
Despite clever and uncomfortable moments, Ladies falls short of the pay-TV plateau, and paired with the "Is that still on?" half-hour Eastbound & Down, doesn't appear worthy of behind-the-velvet-rope access.
Hello Ladies doesn't quite pull off the trick of making Stuart someone you want to spend week after week seeing.
The execution of every one of these parts is excellent, with no unnecessary exposition or forced situations.
Hello Ladies is a diverting curiosity, nice to look at and good for a few squirmy laughs.
Shallow protagonist hits the clubs to find love -- and sex.
It's a bumpy ride, but at its best, Hello Ladies understands the demoralizing fear that turns so many men into insufferable jerk-offs.
This is funny and awkward in a way that has served Merchant throughout his career, but it's not much more than that.
It's hard to commiserate with [Merhcant], much less laugh.
I'm not sure Hello Ladies meant for us to root quite so much for the ladies.
Hello Ladies has several funny moments in its premiere episode, but it's another comedy strictly for viewers who like to squirm at bad behavior.
Hello Ladies shines a light on [Stephen] Merchant's comic role in the partnership, but it lacks the humanity of most of his earlier work, and it's in service of a character type who's long since outlived his usefulness.
Hello Ladies is awfully obvious, shooting phony fish in the Hollywood barrel.
Since Merchant is a gifted writer and performer, the series is diverting and funny, but the character and situations are too familiar.
If you like this kind of stuff, Hello Ladies will make you laugh. It will also make you squirm.
The Brit [Stephen Merchant] does a toe-curling turn - almost to a fault.
The show gets at [its] theme by making smart use of its Los Angeles setting.
Merchant doesn't have something to offer. He's proven time and again to have a spot-on wit and flawless delivery, and hopefully Hello Ladies lives up to his legacy.
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