There were two incarnations of
Watching Ellie. Both focused on the character of cabaret singer Ellie Riggs (Louis-Dreyfus), with markedly different approaches. The first was directed by
Ken Kwapis, known for his innovative work in
single-camera sitcoms such as
The Larry Sanders Show,
Malcolm in the Middle and
The Bernie Mac Show. Each 22-minute episode was meant to portray a 22-minute slice of Ellie's life, in real time. In the earliest episodes, a clock was even shown in the corner of the screen. Louis-Dreyfus stated in 2003 that the clock was
Jeff Zucker's idea. Thirteen episodes were filmed, but only ten aired before the series was put on indefinite hiatus (the remaining first-season episodes have never aired). Nearly a full year later, the show reappeared as a more traditional sitcom, with multiple cameras and a live studio audience plus an added
laugh track. This version fared even worse than its predecessor and was canceled after six episodes. == Cast ==