We can always do better, the consent compulsion to reach self-actualisation, to push onward to the conceptual peak of ourselves. Few will ever get there, but there will always be a dollar in helping you on your way. In 2001, the personal problems of the very same gurus who try to help us achieve better was the setting of a short-lived vehicle, in Bob Patterson.

Meet Bob Patterson, one of the more successful self-help coaches, at least on the surface. However, his personal and professional life is hectic at best. His love life is made more complicated when his ex turns up in his life and has taken a vow of zen-like celibacy. Along with a son gives him no respect, and his secretary might be faking their disability. Despite the lack of clarity, It is up to Bob to keep up appearances and try to help the lives of people around him, all while his life is hanging by a thread.

Jason Alexander has had some prior successes from a few stints on Broadway, and some key animation work. Yet Patterson is his first starring T.V. role since at least his Seinfeld days (although he did star in four seasons of Duckman). Bob’s neurosis and shortcomings, feel reflective of George’s only somewhat different, especially with the larger focus on his family, versus George’s perpetual bachelorhood. Alexander has focused and will continue to focus on elements like these in other projects, and they manage to shine. When the show mainly focuses on the antics in his office (often caused inadvertently or otherwise by Bob), Jason Alexander can sell the dramedic, even without the life experiences of Larry David to draw upon.

The frenetic pace of Alexander’s performance lends itself to the 22-minute format. Never mind serenity now, for the surviving few episodes, really delivers the neurotic stresses that come from being the fourth-best life coach, as well as the increasingly madcap schemes he undertakes to get his way. Watching Patterson interact with the people in his day-to-day does make up the show’s bread and butter, and as if to both help and hinder his way, he deals with a lot of larger-than-life characters. If the surviving episodes are anything to go off of, the pressure would only be built up for Bob.

While a lie may not be a lie If you believe it, Jason Alexander certainly believed in the character evolving the premise into a stage show and being disappointed by the lack of an opportunity that the show got. Airing during October 2001 (I don’t want to blame certain turbulent events for the problems of the show, but I cannot imagine they helped), as with many things, timing is everything. Recordings survive, so if you know where to look, you can watch the results yourself.  Alexander’s valiant attempt at staring in his sitcom. Bob Patterson tried to help everybody, and it is a shame that he couldn’t help himself.

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