Yes, You Can MARRY ME

Article first published as MARRY ME Review on Seat42F.

From the creator of beloved, dead-too-soon series Happy Endings, David Caspe, comes MARRY ME, airing this fall on NBC. His new show is about a guy and a girl that have been together a long time, but while they both want to take the next step and get married, they may not be mature enough to do so, given the many bad things that happen when they try. Will they be able to make it work, or are they heading for an implosion?

Since Caspe is married to Casey Wilson (Saturday Night Live), it makes sense that she would be the cast member he brings over from his previous effort to play Annie, the female lead in MARRY ME. Annie is clearly designed to play to Wilson’s strengths, being a little obsessive and creepy, while still thoroughly likeable and charming, her foibles more funny than pathetic. She is the first one to screw things up in the pilot, but she won’t be the last.

Joining Wilson is the reliable Ken Marino (Childrens Hospital, Party Down) as Annie’s beau, Jake. Marino is very patient, but allows Jake’s annoyance and doubts about Annie to creep through. Jake’s not perfect, either, though, springing things on her in an inappropriate way and not always doing the understanding thing when he should, making for a good pairing.

What we get, then, are two people who do seem to belong together, but are self-sabotaging. The pilot swings back and forth from sweet and romantic to depressing and awkward. Can they stay on the former long enough to make it down the aisle, or will the latter stumble them up enough so that they never do? And if they break up, who else is going to want them?

The supporting cast is pretty good and familiar looking, even if names of the players may escape most viewers. Playing Jake and Annie’s friends are Sarah Wright (Parks and Recreation) as Dennah, John Gemberling (Broad City) as Gil, and Tymberlee Hill (Grey’s Anatomy) as Kay. None get enough development to really stand out in episode one, but each can deliver a one-liner, which is what’s really needed here.

Interestingly, only one of the three parents introduced is listed as a main character. Tim Meadows (the Ladies Man) plays Kevin 1, Penny’s dad. But Penny’s other dad, Kevin 2 (Dan Bucatinsky, Scandal), and Jake’s mom, Myrna (JoBeth Williams, Private Practice), are only guest stars. Given their equal roles in the leads’ lives and how good all three are, that’s a shame. One can only surmise that Bucatinsky is too busy with other projects to sign on, but hopefully he and Williams can appear early and often.

I like how rocky MARRY ME’s plot begins, even when it makes me uncomfortable. Too often, TV either shows us the early stages of a relationship, where exterior factors get in the way of the happy ending, or the later stages, when they’ve settled into their married roles. MARRY ME aims for a middle period, extending something often glossed over, as the couple portrayed is at an important turning point that could go either way.

That may not make a solid long-term premise on which to build a show, as certainly the writers will have to choose to keep things going. They’ll choose marriage, of course, because Caspe already did the opposite with Dave and Alex in Happy Endings and MARRY ME is focused on two leads, rather than an ensemble of six equals. But it’s a terrific, interesting starting point.

In a fall where cutesy dominates (see: A to Z, Manhattan Love Story), MARRY ME offers an alternative that feels authentic and is genuinely funny. I look forward to seeing more of it when MARRY ME premieres October 14^th on NBC.

Private Practice: The Complete Fourth Season coming to DVD

     The fourth season DVD of ABC's Private Practice goes on sale next Tuesday, September 13th. For those of you familiar with the series, you know that it can be a bit uneven, and at times, painful to watch. Yet, season four contains the award-winning "Did You Hear What Happened to Charlotte King?" and its aftermath, definitely one of the finest plots in the run of the show. Nay, on television last year. As such, this season, more than any other of Private Practice, is worth buying.

     "Did You Hear What Happened to Charlotte King?" features a criminally insane man (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Nicholas Brendon) raping Charlotte (KaDee Strickland) in her office at the hospital. Charlotte struggles for many episodes after to come to terms with what happens, and to start to move past it. Her friends are also quite stricken by the entire situation, and it takes awhile for everyone to learn exactly what the man does to her. Later, he returns, causing trouble all over again as he reopens old wounds, barely begun to scab over. It's a long arc, driven by some fantastic dramatic acting, and wonderfully realistic depictions of a heinous act. Strickland's lack of Emmy nomination for the ordeal is unacceptable.

     In fact, the best bonus feature of Private Practice: The Complete Fourth Season is a 13-minute special on the monumental episode. Called "An Inside Look: The Violation of Charlotte King," it contains interviews with producers and actors, explaining how they struggle to make it seem real, and the reactions they have gotten about it. Paul Adelstein, in particular, describes his experience of filming the episode. Of course, KaDee Strickland has plenty to say, too. Others praise KaDee for the way she has gotten involved with RAINN since filming the emotional entry, and she gets teary speaking about it. It's very clear the impact of this hour of television extends far beyond the episode itself.

     The other bonus features are few, but rich. There are 12 deleted scenes from eight episodes. Practically every single one of them are actually character development material, often with emotional impact. These are not the standard castoffs that can be taken or leaven. It's almost fifteen minutes of footage you will wish you had seen, and now can.

     There is also a two minute and fifteen second blooper real, featuring screwed up lines and funny faces. This is less important, yet still entertaining.

     Back to the plot itself, season four marks a lot of big change, ending in the ultimate closing of Oceanside Wellness, which is struggling financially. Naomi (Audra McDonald) spends much time out of town this year, and decides to quit the practice (and the series). Addison (Kate Walsh) deals with her mother, Bizzy's (JoBeth Williams), marriage to a woman, and untimely death. Violet (Amy Brenneman) publishes her book, which causes a stir among her co-workers. Pete (Tim Daly) tries to accept Violet, now his wife. Orphaned Betsey (Hailey Sole) returns to tug a few more heart strings. Sam (Taye Diggs) tries to make a relationship work with Addison. Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) struggles with her alcoholism. And Sheldon (Brian Benben) searches for love.

     While I would not recommend buying each season of Private Practice on DVD, season four is overall pretty worthy, so check it out. Private Practice: The Complete Fourth Season hits shelves on Tuesday, September 13th.

     Private Practice will return for a fifth season soon on ABC.

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     To purchase Private Practice DVDs and streaming episode, please click here.

Article first published as DVD Review: Private Practice: The Complete Fourth Season on Blogcritics.

Private Practice Goes For "Blind Love"

     ABC's Private Practice is Grey's Anatomy's less consistent younger sibling. Despite a great cast, the series has had its share of ups and downs in the quality department. On shows I like, such as this one, I tend to try to overlook the downs, and only review the ups. Last week's "Blind Love" was an up, not for the story of the week, which was decent, but for the furthering of two major, well written, well acted running arcs.

     Last time I covered Private Practice was during November sweeps, when a man named Lee McHenry (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Nicholas Brendan) raped Charlotte (KaDee Strickland). As good as Charlotte's arc of recovery has been, it should be no surprise that I am now revisiting the show at the end of that story, as Charlotte confronted and forgave Lee last week. Bonus points because Charlotte convinced Lee's abused girlfriend to tell the police that Lee confessed to the rape, so Lee will be paying for the crime in jail, which viewers may have considered a lost cause. It had previously appeared that Lee had gotten away with the assault. Not so fast!

     What's been great is that Strickland has really shone in a very out of character story for her. I say out of character not because the writing was bad, but because Charlotte has always been such a strong, assertive women, and lately she's played the terrified victim. I do not know anyone close to me who has ever been raped, but as near as I can tell, Private Practice has done a superb job at tackling the subject realistically, and in a very moving way. It wasn't just shown in one week, but in an ongoing story of recovery after the traumatic event. Both Charlotte and Cooper (Paul Adelstein) struggled mightily last week, both urging Sam (Taye Diggs) differently on whether to allow Lee to live or die during surgery. It was a strong note for the series, with both viewpoints being well rationalized. I wasn't completely sure which way Sam was going to go until just before the surgery.

     Equally strong, Private Practice is finally making good use of Kate Walsh's Addison Montgomery. For too long the character has been reduced to pining over various men, and bouncing from failed relationship to failed relationship. The recent plot with Addison's mother, Bizzy (JoBeth Williams), who came out as a lesbian, and then watched her long-time secret partner, Susan (Ann Cusack), die the day after the wedding, has been phenomenal. Addison's struggle with who her mother is, as well as expressing emotion to a woman who doesn't seem to have any, has been handled with care. I am giddy with anticipation, so to speak, over how tonight will play, considering the shocking surprise ending of last week's episode. Perhaps giddy is the wrong word, but I am very much looking forward to it.

     Sadly, Naomi, despite being played by the amazing Audra McDonald, has been pretty much worthless this entire season. She will soon be leaving the show as a main character. Perhaps her continued presence in coming years, only using her when good story needs her, will make up for a lackluster run. I can only hope. McDonald deserves better. I assume it's too much to ask that Naomi get one more good story so she can go out on a positive note?

     Though both larger arcs appear to be winding down, let's hope that Private Practice has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Now that it's got the momentum, don't let it stop! Private Practice airs Thursday nights at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

Article first published as TV Review: Private Practice - "Blind Love" on Blogcritics.

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