Men of a Certain Age "The Pickup"

     TNT's Men of a Certain Age takes a very depressing turn in "The Pickup," with two of the three guys' lives heading in the wrong direction. Terry (Scott Bakula) is letting work slip as he looks for women to sleep with to help take his mind off of Erin (Melinda McGraw) dumping him. Even his surprise 50th birthday party is a miserable affair for him. Things come to a head when Terry finally pushes Marcus (Brian J. White) too far, and Marcus slugs Terry before quitting the dealership. Owen (Andre Braugher) refuses to let Terry quit, too, telling him he needs to grow up and clean up the mess he causes Owen by prompting Marcus to leave. Meanwhile, Joe's (Ray Romano) golf game is suffering, and he allows himself to get pulled back into the gambling world.


     A gambling addiction has long plagued Joe, and while addiction is something that must be battled long after the habits stop, and relapse frequently occurs, it is sad that it is happening to Joe again. He works so hard to avoid anything that might tempt him, which is not easy for him. But by being a good friend to Manfro (Jon Manfrellotti) and helping him out while Manfro undergoes chemo, Joe is drawn back in. It's a tough call to make, because to remove temptation, something right for his life, Joe must abandon a friend in his hour of need, which is not a very nice thing to do. Is staying clean more important than the care one has for a close friend?

     Neither option is appealing, and Joe doesn't really make the choice, which is where he gets into trouble. By being a half-hearted friend to Manfro, Joe isn't really being there for him as he needs to be, nor is he avoiding the triggers of his condition. Manfro has to convince Joe to do the favors Joe is doing, and Joe only somewhat fights back. One could argue Manfro isn't being a very good friend by putting Joe in these situations in the first place, but Manfro is sick and suffering, so he likely isn't thinking things through all that clearly. He needs errands run, and he asks Joe to do it. Simple as that, to Manfro. Not so simple to Joe.

     This is probably why Joe's golf game isn't going too well. To play any sport focus is a primary component, or so I hear. Joe's focus is on Manfro and on his own gambling addiction, rather than the game. While it's too bad Roy (Damien Leake) isn't asking the right questions to figure out why Joe isn't doing so well, as he is the one really seeing the effects, it's not like Roy is really a friend, either. So it looks like Joe is losing his coach, his best chance at making it onto the Senior Tour. The addiction is costing Joe yet another thing he really cares about. He needs help badly.

     Too bad Joe isn't able to draw enough strength from Albert (Braeden Lemasters). Albert is inspired, with his father's help, to overcome his own anxieties and take the stage to perform with his band at school. The performance is a rousing success, and for a minute, it appears Joe will be inspired in turn by Albert. And he is, to a degree. But instead of taking Albert's lesson and applying it towards life, he only tries to use it for golf. He should take another look at his son and see that Albert uses Joe's advice, which is geared towards golf, in everything. If Joe brings the right attitude towards the gambling problem, maybe he stands a chance at escaping yet again. His determination kick the habit cannot be at half strength.

     Terry is nearing rock bottom. Hopefully, he will not need to hit it to clean things up. Sleeping with random, mostly younger, women will not help him forget about Erin. She is a very special person, who matured Terry romantically for awhile. For the first time in his life, Terry is ready to give up his playboy ways and commit to one person. Sadly, she is not in the same position as he is. But Terry needs to look for a woman that will make him happy for years, not just a few minutes in bed. Sleeping with his birthday party caterer is a big step in the wrong direction.

     Unfortunately, the maturity Terry finally finds in his romantic life does not extend at all to his professional one. He allows himself to let everything important slide while grieving over the loss of his relationship. Many teenagers have made a similar mistake, but not most fifty year olds. Perhaps because the experience of losing love is so new to Terry, he cannot help but act in this manner. Sadly, society does not allow such mistakes in the real world, and if Terry expects to have a decent life, he needs to get past it quickly.

     There is nothing mature at all about the way Terry feuds with Marcus. While Marcus is usually the biggest jerk in any episode, this time, Terry starts the trouble, and is much more in the wrong. A bigger man would let Terry slide, even though that's not what Terry needs. Marcus is far from a bigger man, and quits instead, causing a scene in the process. Most people would not act as Marcus does, but hopefully that will be the kick Terry needs to get things back on track. He is called on his crap.

     Also helping Terry is Owen. Owen is a good friend who is willing to sit silently and let Terry unload his problems. However, Owen also has a business to run, and Terry is messing up that business. Owen tasks Terry with making up for it, and blatantly tells him his behavior is not acceptable and cannot continue. This combination of sympathy and firmness may be what Terry needs. It's a calculated discipline designed to kick Terry's butt without being cruel about it.

     It also proves Owen is surely the most put together of the three main characters. Thanks goodness one of them is doing well.


     Men of a Certain Age airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.

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Article first published as TV Review: Men of a Certain Age - "The Pickup" on Blogcritics.

Preview: Men of a Certain Age Season Two

     TNT's drama about three aging men, appropriately enough titled Men of a Certain Age, returns for a second season tomorrow (Monday) night. After a ten episode season last winter, many people may not remember the show, and I think that will probably hurt it. Unlike other dramas, it's not must-see TV, or exciting enough to warrant an event. Though that sounds like an insult, it's not meant to be. Instead, it's a really nice, tonally calm story of three men and how they deal with getting older. Which, unfortunately, is not something I would expect to do well after taking nine months off between seasons.

     As season two begins, all three of the main characters are dealing with the effects of decisions made at the end of season one. Owen (Andre Braugher) has taken over his father's car dealership, and as you might expect, he's having a rough time of it. Sales are down, which isn't surprising, considering our current economy, although that is never mentioned on screen as a reason for the down turn. In the first new episode, Owen's father, Owen Sr. (Richard Gant), tells Owen he must woo back old rival (and top seller) Marcus (Brian J. White). If you watched the show, you'll remember that Owen and Marcus don't have much affection for each other, and that's putting it nicely. As such, their meeting is not exactly warm, though I won't reveal the result. In episode two, Owen is dealing with Jesse (Patrick Gallagher, Glee), a new character who runs the repair shop at the dealership. Let's just say that the service guys and the sales guys don't play nicely with one another.

     Terry (Scott Bakula) took a job from Owen, and is now trying to make a go of it as a car salesman. As the first episode plays out, Terry has had not a single sale, and things aren't going too well. It's not from lack of effort; Terry is taking the work schedule seriously and really trying his best. He just can't get over the fact that he feels like he's taking advantage of people if he pushes a sale. While no easy solution to this issue is in sight, Owen Sr. is encouraging. Things aren't made any easier by the rest of the staff, who haze Terry pretty good, dredging up his past online. Owen stays out of it, thinking that the boss jumping in to defend his friend would probably only make things worse. He's likely right.

     What's nice about these plots is that Owen and Terry are in the same environment, going through some of the same things. While season one had three distinctly different threads, and that element is not totally gone, Terry's and Owen's threads now intertwine more often, making a more tightly connected show. Both Braugher and Bakula handle their characters with such depth and genuine feeling, that even though the story may be somewhat slow paced, I was riveted by both men.

     That does leave Joe (Ray Romano) by himself more, though, than the other guys. Which is fine, as Joe has quite a bit to work with. His divorce seems finalized, and he has moved from a hotel into what appears to be a condo. He has several different love interests in the first two episodes, including some familiar faces, though only one is developed much. Thankfully, as most TV dramas spend a lot of time on adult dating already, and it's nice to see this one doesn't need to every week. Joe's store still requires plenty of attention, and his children are going through their own issues. Add to that that he really needs some work to get back in shape for that golf tournament he began talking about last year, and his plate is plenty full.

     Sadly, Owen's wife, Melissa (Lisa Gay Hamilton), does not appear in the first week, but does get an interesting story in episode two. Her plot has just as much to do with her age as any of the guys' ever does. I consider her fairly essential to the show, too, as Hamilton holds her own in every scene she appears in. Perhaps the title should be less gender specific.

     Although the main men's children rarely get much meat in the stories, Joe's son, Albert (Braeden Lemasters), does get to work on his anti-social behavior in episode two, which will find him at a party. Yes, alcohol is involved, and no, his parents did not give him permission to attend. The way Joe deals with the situation is incredibly well done, but the writers have also painted a picture far from black and white. Should Joe be proud of the progress his son has made to even attend the party, or furious at his unacceptable actions? My guess is, the viewers who are parents will understand the mixed emotions, but side with Joe's reaction.

     The thing about Men of a Certain Age is that it feels so incredibly real. An extremely talented cast, who must surely allow real life to influence their performances, keeps this anti-drama drama going strong. Season one suffered a little as the show figured itself out. In fact, episodes were aired out of production order, and I doubt anyone noticed. But those growing pains are gone by now, leaving a confirmed serial. The first two episodes were tightly scripted, and set up some good arcs for the season.

     And someone gets glasses.

     Be sure to watch Men of a Certain Age, which airs Monday nights at 10pm on TNT.

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Article first published as TV Preview: Men of a Certain Age Season Two on Blogcritics.