The Crazy Ones

The Crazy Ones is an American television sitcom created by David E. Kelley, and starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar. The single-camera series aired for one season on CBS, from September 26, 2013, to April 17, 2014. It was part of the 2013–14 American television season as a Thursday night 9:00 pm Eastern / 8:00 pm Central entry. Bill D'Elia, Dean Lorey, and Jason Winer served as executive producers for 20th Century Fox Television. The episodes are loosely based on the life experiences of John R. Montgomery while he worked at Leo Burnett advertising in Chicago. On October 18, 2013, CBS gave the show a full-season order. On February 27, 2014, the series switched timeslots with Two and a Half Men and started airing at 9:30 pm Eastern / 8:30 pm Central. CBS canceled the series on May 10, 2014, marking Williams' final television role nearly three months before his death in 2014. Cast and characters Main Robin Williams as Simon Roberts, a Chicago advertising executive: Robin Williams described Simon as "a guy who can sell anything. He could sell frappuccinos to Starbucks. He could sell clouds to God." Touching upon how his own life was the inspiration for Simon's backstory, Williams said, "Simon's a guy with a lot of nuance. He's lived hard and been on the edge for a long time. Multiple marriages, rehab, even rehab in wine country. Trust me, I've done the research myself." During the time since Simon was divorced by Sydney's mom, he has been married several times, and genuinely wants to be a part of his daughter's life. He adds Sydney to the executive partnership after she improves his business and adds her name to the agency before the start of the series. Sarah Michelle Gellar as Sydney Roberts: Simon's daughter is also a business partner and director at the ad agency. Her character often played the "straight woman" to Simon's plans; raised by her mother after Simon was divorced, she does not fault him for being more involved with work than his family. Despite this, Sydney often uses her past growing up as justification for her business decisions. She has romantic feelings for her best friend, Andrew, but she chooses not to date him, as she values their friendship more and is concerned about the consequences of a break-up. James Wolk as Zach Cropper, a copywriter: He is a charismatic but shallow womanizer who does not know much about the advertising business. He has an on again/off again physical relationship with Lauren.