THE SHOW "Man Up!," <a href="/topics/ABC">ABC</a>/7, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday 
 REASON TO WATCH For Dan <a href="/topics/Dan_Fogler">Fogler</a> fans or (gosh darn it) because you just like <a href="/topics/ABC">ABC</a> sitcoms! 
 WHAT IT'S ABOUT In the frantic opening shot, our three heroes are battling to the death (virtually) as each unleashes explosive salvos on the other in some video game like "God of War" or "Killer 7," which they are playing mercilessly and remotely. "You the man . . . No, you the man . . . no, you the man" they yell at each other through their headphone sets. Of course, they are not quite the man, but (as one of their spouses note) "man-ish." Specifically, these pals -- Will (Mather Zickel), Kenny (Fogler) and Craig (Christopher Moynihan) -- are all about 30-ish going on 13-ish. In the pilot, Will -- who's married to Theresa (Teri Polo) -- is struggling to decide what to get his son for his upcoming birthday, while Kenny is about to meet his ex's new boyfriend, Grant (Henry Simmons.) Craig is still pining for the love of his life who is about to get married. 
 MY SAY Fogler is sort of the poor man's <a href="/topics/Jack_Black">Jack Black</a> -- or the rich man's Jack <a href="/topics/Jack_Black">Black</a>, depending on what you may think of <a href="/topics/Jack_Black">Black</a>. Full of manic energy and a voice that can rise or descend an octave at will, he has enough talent to win a Tony -- which he did for 2005's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" -- although the big <a href="/topics/Hollywood">Hollywood</a> break has eluded him, unless ping-pong farce "Balls of Fury" qualifies as big. He's the man-boy of this trio, or the <a href="/topics/Zach_Galifianakis">Zach Galifianakis</a> counterpart from "The Hangover," which he and "Man Up!" very much want to channel. Does he? Does this? Only fleetingly, much too fleetingly. There's a lot of noisy energy that swirls around the core premise of grown men adrift in their manhood. But it tends to be more noise than wit. 
 BOTTOM LINE "Man Up!" isn't as bad as it sounds. There's a smoldering ember of promise here, mainly in the cast, even if the pilot tended to smother it. 
 GRADE C+

THE SHOW "Man Up!," ABC/7, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday REASON TO WATCH For Dan Fogler fans or (gosh darn it) because you just like ABC sitcoms! WHAT IT'S ABOUT In the frantic opening shot, our three heroes are battling to the death (virtually) as each unleashes explosive salvos on the other in some video game like "God of War" or "Killer 7," which they are playing mercilessly and remotely. "You the man . . . No, you the man . . . no, you the man" they yell at each other through their headphone sets. Of course, they are not quite the man, but (as one of their spouses note) "man-ish." Specifically, these pals -- Will (Mather Zickel), Kenny (Fogler) and Craig (Christopher Moynihan) -- are all about 30-ish going on 13-ish. In the pilot, Will -- who's married to Theresa (Teri Polo) -- is struggling to decide what to get his son for his upcoming birthday, while Kenny is about to meet his ex's new boyfriend, Grant (Henry Simmons.) Craig is still pining for the love of his life who is about to get married. MY SAY Fogler is sort of the poor man's Jack Black -- or the rich man's Jack Black, depending on what you may think of Black. Full of manic energy and a voice that can rise or descend an octave at will, he has enough talent to win a Tony -- which he did for 2005's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" -- although the big Hollywood break has eluded him, unless ping-pong farce "Balls of Fury" qualifies as big. He's the man-boy of this trio, or the Zach Galifianakis counterpart from "The Hangover," which he and "Man Up!" very much want to channel. Does he? Does this? Only fleetingly, much too fleetingly. There's a lot of noisy energy that swirls around the core premise of grown men adrift in their manhood. But it tends to be more noise than wit. BOTTOM LINE "Man Up!" isn't as bad as it sounds. There's a smoldering ember of promise here, mainly in the cast, even if the pilot tended to smother it. GRADE C+

Entertainment

ETTEL18.WEB

Working their way up to 'Man'-hood

Newsday

ffetTV

Entertainment trending

Take our quizzes

50 best LI movies

AI's effect on entertainment

Jones Beach summer 2026 concerts

Most Popular

Entertainment Rail Module

The festival returns for its 31st year with dozens of foreign films and more U.S. indie titles than usual.

What to watch at this year's Stony Brook Film Festival

Joel was interviewed by Rick Beato for his music-oriented YouTube podcast.

Billy Joel appears on Rick Beato's music podcast

There's little new in this docuseries about the L.I. stock firm behind a major fraud,

Take two: 'Real Wolf of Wall Street' rehashes the movie

"Valley of the Dolls" and "St. Elmo's Fire" were bad, but their songs were music to our ears.

Remember these great songs from not so great movies?

Mayor Mamdani said she paid the city for "the event and the response to the event."

Taylor Swift paid $160G in city permit bill for wedding

Robert Montano stars in this NYC show about his life at Belmont racetrack.

Belmont jockey's wild ride: LI man stars in 'Small'

Sign up for Newsday's Entertainment newsletter

Entertainment newsletter widget

More Entertainment

Entertainment Article Bottom Module

This new 'Prairie' home puts a fresher and truer spin on Laura Ingalls Wilder's stories.

Netflix's 'Little House' reboot has a big heart

Nominees "The Diplomat," "The Gilded Age" and "The Beast in Me" all have local ties.

'The Pitt,' 'Hacks' and LI-themed shows are all heavy Emmy contenders

Back in the '60s, the legendary DJ knew was what was happening on New York radio.

Rock, roll and remember: Murray the K, the 'Fifth Beatle'

Here's a look back at the movies, theater, TV and music that captivated us during that glorious year:

Remembering the pop culture of 1976: The Bicentennial year brought us 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Rocky,' 'Disco Duck,' lots more

According to Paramount+, the docuseries "uncovers the explosive true story of Jordan Belfort's meteoric rise, his stunning fall and those he left stranded in his wake."

'Real Wolf of Wall Street' docuseries promises shocking revelations about LI stockbroker left out of Leonardo DiCaprio movie

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

Suffolk County officials Monday warned of scammers, preying primarily on the elderly, who direct people to liquidate their life savings to buy gold bars. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Gold bar scam warning in Suffolk County

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed heads to a new restaurant opened by the same owners who created Westhampton Beach Brewery.

Out East: Brewery opens new restaurant

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa visited Garcia's Taco Bar in Brentwood to try their birria ramen.

Trendy Bites: Birria ramen

NewsdayTV's Marie Elena Martinez got a sneak peek at the new Babylon Whiskey Down Diner location, which is currently under construction with plans to open in the fall.

Take a peek inside Whiskey Down Diner's new location

For a quick trip not far from home, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano checks out the Rockaway Hotel.

A getaway close to home for mom

A weaver from Huntington helped hide guns from the British at his home. NewsdayTV's Doug Geed reports.

America 250: The arsenal in Huntington

Joe Tosini, owner of River Center Shopping Center in Riverhead, said the businesses in the center lost power during Saturday's storms and that their electricity wasn't restored until late Tuesday afternoon. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

Riverhead shopping center back in business after 3-day power outage

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano joined the volunteers of Save the Great South Bay to clean oysters. The oysters are cleaned weekly and then placed back into the bay, where they'll be able to help filter the water.

Help boost the Great South Bay oyster population

Juan Bonilla Lagos, who was arrested by ICE in October near his Plainview home, was freed from jail after nine months.

Plainview man detained by ICE freed from jail after 9 months 

As boaters set out on the water this summer, they will be paying more at the pump. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Boaters feeling the pinch at the pump 

Sitewide Video Playlist

An arbitrator detailed ex-officer George Trimigliozzi's poor job performance before his high-profile criminal case. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie and Newsday investigative reporter Jim Baumbach has more.

'He really wasn't being a police officer'

'Very thankful that we saved that money for her'

There have been 23 closures due to shark sightings at Queens' Rockaway Beach and that has other South Shore beaches on alert. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

'They're coming to visit more often'

Police are only addressing the supply, but demand is what fuels the illicit sex trade, experts say. Newsday political reporter Bahar Ostadan has the story.

'If you don't address demand, you don't address the problem'

DeVuono describes her scheme to an undercover investigator in January 2022.

See the undercover video of the DeVuono sting

'We're still behind'

The foundation paid for staff events at wine bars, a $2,000 limo ride and a Gracie Mansion gala. Newsday investigative reporter Peter D'auria, Richard Kessel, current chairman of the Nassau Health Care Corporation and Albany Law School professor Randle Pollard discuss.

'It should exist for the benefit of the hospital'

It was an unimaginable crime that shattered the idyllic image of a suburbia. On July 4, 1956, little Peter Weinberger, only 32 days old, was snatched out of his stroller on the back patio of his family's home in Westbury and killed. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

'It impacts who I am today, and I'm going to be 80'

Dangerous extreme heat with the possibility of thunderstorms are in store for Long Island and the entire NYC area beginning Wednesday, NewsdayTV's meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.

Possible record temperatures coming

'I fought so hard'

Teachers' median pay on Long Island grew by 1.5% in Nassau and 0.9% in Suffolk from the 2023-24 school year. Newsday education reporter Dandan Zou has more.

'They should make more'

The mother of a 7-year-old who was allegedly tortured and killed is filing a $250 million lawsuit against Suffolk County. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

'Multiple systems together that failed at every single point'

App Nativo Ad Unit Slot

TV - megaslot

Newsday TV critic Verne Gay reviews new TV shows and series from Netflix, Max, Hulu and more. Plus, what Long Island actors are working on and Long Island filming locations.

Working their way up to 'Man'-hood

Most Popular

Top Stories

Stay logged in.