Until MTV resurrects "Singled Out", I predict that Jenny McCarthy's career will continue to be nothing but futility. I've always thought her fairly talented, but no one has ever been able to figure out how best to use her, and that includes herself. She doesn't know what she is, and neither does anyone else.
For instance, take her latest gig. The Hollywood Reporter says Jenny has been cast to star opposite Patricia Heaton in the former "Raymond" star's as-of-yet untitled, upcoming sitcom. Patricia plays a newly widowed mother who joins the PTA and makes new friends, enriching her life with her new gal pals. McCarthy will play someone who doesn't fit in at all with this premise.
Jenny McCarthy is best when she's given free reign to be off the cuff and outrageous. There are limits to that of course, and when she takes it too far she sucks. But she's a terrible fit in anything involving an uptight, naturally prudish, ball-busting soccer mom like Patricia Heaton. Will Jenny play a fellow PTA member? A sister? A wacky neighbor? Ok, wacky neighbor might be good, except there's no way Patricia (who seems to have a lot of creative control on the untitled show) will let her go very far. After all, she has her commercial deals with the family and slavery friendly folks at Wal-Mart to consider.
Of course, sometimes something is so wrong that it ends up being right. I can't imagine a pairing being more wrong, so maybe the resulting meltdown will end up being better than expected. Sometimes the best television is disastrous television. I love a good train wreck.
