10 Items or Less (TV series)

Infobox television
show_name = 10 Items or Less


caption = Cast of "10 Items or Less"
format = Sitcom
Mockumentary
camera = Single camera
runtime = 20-22 minutes
creator = Robert Hickey
Nancy Hower
John Lehr
executive_producer = Robert Hickey
Nancy Hower
John Lehr
starring = John Lehr
Bob Clendenin
Jennifer Elise Cox
Greg Davis Jr.
Chris Payne Gilbert
Kirsten Gronfield
Christopher Liam Moore
Roberta Valderrama
country = USA
network = TBS
first_aired = November 27, 2006
last_aired = present
list_episodes = List of 10 Items or Less episodes
num_seasons = 2
num_episodes = 13
imdb_id = 0826254
tv_com_id = 57747
website = http://www.tbs.com/shows/10items

"10 Items or Less" is a partly-scripted, partly improvised American comedy series created by Nancy Hower, John Lehr, and Robert Hickey. It stars Lehr as a less than successful businessman who returns home to run "Greens & Grains", the family-owned supermarket, upon the death of his father.

The series debuted on TBS on November 27 2006. It aired in Canada on Global's CH stations, but CH will not pick up the show when E! replaces CH due to poor ratings. On TBS, it aired every Monday night at 11pm ET/PT with either one or two new thirty minute episodes. Coincidentally, a film also titled "10 Items or Less" opened on December 1 2006, four days after the TV show's premiere.

On March 13, 2007 TBS announced that the show had been picked up for a second season of 8 episodes [cite web|title=TBS attracts top names for new prime time and late-night original series|work=The Futon Critic|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070313tbs01|date=2007-03-13] . The second season aired in the US every Tuesday at 11pm ET/PT, with the last episode airing on March 4, 2008. On May 14, 2008 the show was renewed for a third season to air early in 2009 [cite web|title=TURNER ENTERTAINMENT NETWORKS OFFERS DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING SLATE, BIG STARS AND INNOVATIVE NEW OPTIONS FOR ADVERTISERS|work=The Futon Critic|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080514turner01|date=2008-05-14] . The series airs in the United Kingdom on FX, and is showing both seasons back to back.

ummary

The series stars John Lehr as a struggling New York City businessman who moves back to his hometown of Dayton, Ohio to take over the family supermarket following the death of his father. The show is set in the fictional supermarket known as "Greens & Grains", located at 5th Street and Tiberius [cite web|title=Greens & Grains Grocers - Directions|url=http://www.greensngrains.com/directions.html] .

Filming

A detailed script is written for each episode outlining the overall story arc. However, this script is not shown to the actors; instead they are provided with a loose outline of the plot, often finding out about it as they film. All dialogue is improvised spontaneously by the actors on the set. A typical 22-minute episode will be edited-down from roughly 30 hours of raw improvised dialogue and scenes [cite web|title='10 Items' thrives on no script, hours of improv strategy|url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/entertainment/content/entertainment/stories/2008/01/14/10items_0115.html] . John Lehr describes their production style as "similar to Spinal Tap." [cite web|title=Q&A with John Lehr of '10 Items Or Less'|url=http://bumpshack.com/2006/11/16/qa-with-john-lehr-of-10-items-or-less/]

The series is filmed in a real grocery store called "Jon's" in Reseda, California (formerly Vons) [cite news|title=Grocery-store Comedy Premieres on TBS|publisher="Progressive Grocer" magazine|date=2006-11-28] , often with actual customers used as extras.

Characters

Main Characters

*Leslie Pool (John Lehr) - the owner/manager of G&G. Returning back to Ohio from NYC, Leslie brings his oblivious yet lovable management style to the "Greens & Grains" grocery store he inherits after his father's death.
*Amy Anderson (Jennifer Elise Cox) - The manager of "Greens & Grains"' No. 1 competitor from down the street, Super Value Mart. Amy went to high school with Leslie.
*Ingrid Wakowski (Kirsten Gronfield) - Ingrid is the quirky, soft-spoken customer service representative who lives for Renaissance Festivals.
*Yolanda Nelson (Roberta Valderrama) - The straight talking dominant force behind the produce department.
*Todd Sykes (Chris Payne Gilbert) - Todd, the butcher who hopes to be a NASCAR driver.
*Carl Dawson (Bob Clendenin) - Carl is the sweet doofus stockboy with a huge crush on Yolanda.
*Richard Mednick (Christopher Liam Moore) - Richard is a dignified cashier who dreams of becoming a professional ice dancer.
*Buchwald Washington (Greg Davis Jr.) - Buck is a checkout bagger who is looking towards the future of becoming a doctor by attending night school.

Minor Characters

*Manuelito (Raymond Ochoa) - Carl and Yolanda's son, but he thinks his dad died in the war. Carl finally sees his son in "The Miracle Worker", but Leslie thinks he is talking to him.
*Shannon (Evie Peck) - This is a girl that Ingrid sees Todd flirting with in the aisle in "The New Boss".
*Andy (Andrew Friedman) - Andy is Carl's friend who gives him an "It's a Boy" balloon after Yolanda tells him that he is the father of Manuelito in "The New Boss".

DVD Release

Episodes

References

External links

* [http://www.10itemsorlesstv.com/ www.10itemsorlesstv.com/] Official site
* [http://www.tbs.com/shows/10items TBS site]
* [http://www.greensngrains.com Fictitious site for Greens 'n' Grains grocery store]