Debra Messing
Josh Lucas
Laz Alonso
Janina Gavankar
Max Jenkins
Meg Steedle

Developed by:
Jeff Rake

2014-
Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery
NBC
TV-14

“The Mysteries of Laura,” starring Debra Messing, is an impersonation of lots of other shows that have been on television and are on television now. This isn’t a breath of fresh air, folks. Instead, it’s a detective procedural with a sense of humor … but no laughs. It’s a dramedy, I guess. But, unlike successful dramedies, its shifts from comedy to drama and back again are awkward and surprisingly amateur.

Messing plays an ace detective (the titular Laura) who flouts the rules at work, but can’t keep things together at home. Her soon-to-be ex-husband and brat twin sons keep her in a tizzy; the soon-to-be ex, played by Josh Lucas, encourages the boys’ bad behavior, much to the exasperation of Laura. Also, he doesn’t want a divorce; she does (or does she?).

I’m not buying any of this. Messing looks like she’s been purposely styled to be a bit messy yet still beautiful. Plus, I just don’t care. From the beginning, the pilot has energy despite its staleness. However, it gets worse and worse the longer you watch it. It goes from energetically generic to confusingly inept. By the end of the pilot, directed by McG, I was left with this question: Am I supposed to take this seriously or not? You can’t effectively execute a show that, on a whim, shifts from taking things seriously to not taking things seriously at all. This is a waste of NBC’s money. …

I couldn’t even finish the second episode. They must be kidding with this writing. No thanks!

Verdict: Whatever to Pretty Bad

About: (Source: mysterieslaura)

Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”) stars as Laura Diamond, a brilliant NYPD homicide detective who balances her “Columbo” day job with a crazy family life that includes two unruly twin boys and a soon-to-be ex-husband – also a cop – who just can’t seem to sign the divorce papers. Between cleaning up after her boys and cleaning up the streets, she’d be the first to admit she has her “hot mess” moments in this hilariously authentic look at what it really means to be a “working mom” today. Somehow she makes it all work with the help of her sexy and understanding partner. For Laura, every day is a high-wire balancing act.

The cast also includes Laz Alonso and Janina Gavankar.

Writer Jeff Rake (“Boston Legal”) and director McG (“Supernatural”) serve as executive producers with Greg Berlanti (“Brothers & Sisters”), Aaron Kaplan (“The Neighbors”), Todd Lituchy and Sarah Schechter. “The Mysteries of Laura” is a production of Warner Bros. Television, Berlanti Productions and Kapital Entertainment.