KEVIN (PROBABLY Might) SAVE THE WORLD

Article first published as TV Review: KEVIN (PROBABLY) SAVES THE WORLD on Seat42F.

This week, ABC presents the new program KEVIN (PROBABLY) SAVES THE WORLD. Kevin Finn is an awful human being who has valued material things and having money above the feelings of others, including his own family. This obviously isn’t a strategy that is going well for him because, shortly before the series begins, he tries to kill himself. With nowhere else to go, he returns to his hometown while he figures things out. While there, he meets a messenger from God (don’t call her an angel) who tells Kevin he is the last of the righteous, and must improve himself and anoint others to save the Earth.

This premise feels familiar because it borrows from a few others in the past. Touched By An Angel and Eli Stone spring readily to mind, and KEVIN (PROBABLY) SAVES THE WORLD goes for a middle ground of the two. It’s less sentimental and preachy than Touched, but not nearly as whimsical or fun as Eli.

It’s a relatively heavily religious series, though it avoids getting into specific scripture, at least in the pilot. This is a good thing for a time when atheism is on the rise. You may say, “but this show isn’t for those that don’t believe in God.” I think that would be a naïve position for a mainstream network to take, and hopefully the series will continue be as vague as it has been on the deity Kevin is expected to serve.

Like most programs these days, KEVIN (PROBABLY) SAVES THE WORLD has a decent cast. Jason Ritter (Parenthood) is Kevin and JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Better With You) is his sister, Amy. Both performers have done well in ensemble and guest roles, and I think they can probably carry a show as its leads. Kimberly Herbert Gregory (Vice Principals), who is the messenger, Yvette, is not someone I am familiar with, but she immediately stands out. J. August Richards (Angel) has a small part as a local deputy, and India de Beaufort (Jane by Design), Chloe East (Liv and Maddie), and Dustin Ybarra (We Bought a Zoo) round out the group. These aren’t generally household names, but most will at least look familiar, and none seem out of place in the show.

The show itself does seem designed to emotionally manipulate. It may not necessarily be trying to get you to go to church on Sunday, but it definitely is pushing a certain philosophy in a very strong way. And while being good to others is laudable, I’m not sure it will achieve its goal if it comes on too strong. The pilot fluctuates on either side of that hard-to-define line, and it’ll be interesting to see where it lands.

The best parts of the episode are Yvette trying to coach Kevin, especially when she messes up, and the budding relationship between Kevin and his niece, Reese (East). Honorable mention goes to the one real conversation between Amy and Kevin on the porch. Some of this works because it finds humor in the situation, and others because they demonstrate real human connection. Kevin’s interactions with the other main characters are less effective because they don’t feel as natural. So those dynamics will need to be figured out before the show goes on too long.

I am torn on this one. There is some solid potential in KEVIN (PROBABLY) SAVES THE WORLD, and I am curious enough to give it a little time to grow into itself. Especially if what we’re told is happening at the start isn’t what the actual story is. The 10PM time slot means it doesn’t have to stay as tame as it starts out, and it might be a good thing to mix edgy with the source material, as they dabble in sci-fi at the start (more of that please). But if it gets too heavy into evangelism or too cheesy in its emotional moments, that’s where it’s likely to lose some, myself included.

KEVIN (PROBABLY) SAVES THE WORLD premieres this Tuesday at 10 ET on ABC.

Join THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB

Article originally published as THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB Review on Seat42F.

The “Launch” of ABC’s THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB is just around the corner. Based on the novel by Lily Koppel, which is subtitled A True Story, the series follows the wives of the Mercury Seven, America’s first astronauts. Set at the beginning of the 1960s, this program focuses on the women behind the now-famous men who ventured above our planet and out into the unknown.

The Mercury program is well-known, but how much people know about the individuals involved may vary. Being from Ohio, I definitely know who John Glenn (Sam Reid, Hatfields & McCoys) is, and I’m also vaguely familiar with Alan Shepard (Desmond Harrington, Dexter) and Gus Grissom (Joel Johnstone, Getting On). But how many know the names Deke Slayton (Kenneth Mitchell, Ghost Whisperer), Scott Carpenter (Wilson Bethel, Hart of Dixie), Gordon Cooper (Bret Harrison, Reaper), and Wally Schirra (Aaron McCusker, Shameless)? (Unless you’re Matt Myra, of course.)

THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB isn’t really about the men, anyway, though, so while they do appear, they aren’t the focus. Instead of telling us a history story, it strives to show us the personal side, zeroing in on the wives who stayed home. They are as eclectic a bunch as their husbands, if not more so, but they are going through a shared experience no one else could possibly quite understand. And so, despite the varied personalities who wouldn’t necessarily be drawn to one another without this major influence, these woman come together to be profiled by Life magazine and to support one another.

The group is interesting, though it’s hard to get to know them all in a single hour. There’s flashy Rene Carpenter (Yvonne Strahovski, Chuck), who doesn’t pay much attention to the rules set out for the group. Trudy Cooper (Odette Annable, House M.D.) is hiding a divorce put on hold for the sake of her husband’s career, and is a pilot in her own right. Louise Shepard (Dominique McElligott, Hell On Wheels) doesn’t want her past to come out, likely part of the reason she resists the forced bonding. Annie Glenn (Azure Parsons, Salem) seeks to keep her severe stutter out of the public eye. Betty Grissom (JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Better With You) is loving the new attention. Marge Slayton (Erin Cummings, Detroit 1-8-7) and Jo Schirra (Zoe Boyle, Downton Abbey) seem less well defined in the pilot, “Launch,” but there’s plenty of time to get to know them later.

It’s very hard to do period pieces, and THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB struggles much of the time. When showing momentous events, it excels at capturing the gravity and the emotion, and makes one feel what the characters feel. But it’s very easy to take for granted the costumes and settings, which appear decent enough, and because of the way the roles are played, it doesn’t feel all that different from today, other than some surface, superficial, stereotypical things.

While this could be a good thing, helping an audience relate to what they’re watching, that’s not how it comes across here. THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB feels much more like Mistresses, or a lesser Desperate Housewives, than anything that would come from this era. There is much bickering and drama, conflict appearing to pop up just for the sake of conflict, rather than to advance the story. Maybe this is how things were between these gals, competing to sell their family as the best, and thus earn their husband a top spot; I couldn’t say for sure. But it feels purposely bent towards modern sensibilities, to its detriment.

Perhaps that’s why ABC is burning it off during the summer. While cable keeps chugging along with solid offerings year ‘round, the broadcast networks tend to use the warmest months to get rid of their junk they don’t think anyone wants to watch. Despite a few good qualities, I do feel like THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB just isn’t good enough for the regular season, and so belongs where it is.

THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB premieres Thursday, June 18^th at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

"Jolly" Time for ONCE UPON A TIME

Article first written for Seat42F.

In the latest installment of ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME, “The Jolly Roger,” we catch up to what Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) is doing during the Lost Year. He’s reformed his pirate band, Smee (Chris Gauthier) having turned human again when they came back to the Enchant Forest, and they’ve become land pirates, or common robbers. A chance run-in with Ariel (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) gives Hook a clue as to where his ship is, and he sets off to find it.

Hook is yet another bad guy the series is trying to redeem, at times unevenly. “The Jolly Roger” is his relapse, if you will, a return to the way he was before meeting and falling for Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison). Yet, we can tell right away that it’s a hollow existence for him. He turns away a whore and pines mightily over the hole in his heart.

Hook can be forgiven for, at first, thinking his ship might fill that void. That’s why when he and Ariel storm the deck and Black Beard (Charles Mesure, V, Desperate Housewives) tells Hook he can choose between The Jolly Roger and Ariel’s missing Prince Eric (Gil McKinney), Hook chooses the boat. He’s not trying to be cruel to the mermaid; he just wants to be happy again. He has convinced himself that he loves the vessel. Even killing Black Beard doesn’t seem so evil, despite the wasted guest star, because we know the pirate deserves to walk the plank.

However, because Hook is redeemed now, he carries a heavy guilt over not helping Ariel. This comes back up in Storybrooke when Ariel enlists the extremely reluctant Hook to help her track Eric. Hook could get away with what he’s done, but is instead moved to confess, yet another sign of his growing maturity and goodness. Hook may have done the wrong thing, but at least he owns up to it.

“The Jolly Roger” is a terrific character study episode. While it does pause the main arc of the spring run temporarily, it doesn’t feel like stalling because the writers really delve into the psyche of this man. O’Donoghue proves his acting chops, delivering his best hour to date, and the whole thing comes together nicely.

There is another missing chapter, though. We’ve now seen why being a pirate doesn’t work out for Hook in the Enchanted Forest. We don’t yet know what ultimately happened to The Jolly Roger and how Hook escaped the realm before the second curse, thus remembering what everyone else has forgotten. If the second Hook flashback this spring is as good as this one, sign me up!

The twist at the end, that Ariel is already reunited with Eric and that this is Zelena (Rebecca Mader) in disguise, using Hook to bring down Emma, whom Zelena sees as a threat, is great! ONCE UPON A TIME really keeps the secret well, Zelena playing a convincing mermaid, and thus surprises us at the end, always a good thing. Add to that the heart-breaking choice Hook is now faced with – make the woman he loves vulnerable or see those she cares most about hurt – is a rough one for the pirate, and more compelling pathos are a sure thing.

There are a couple of side stories this week, too. In one, Regina (Lana Parrilla) tries to teach Emma to harness her power without resorting to the cruel methods Rumple (Robert Carlyle) used on Regina. In the end, though, Regina gets an idea of what to do from Rumple, and helps Emma tap in through peril. This works and it proves Regina is smart, but did anyone else not buy Regina allowing Emma to actually plummet to her death. Where was Regina raising her arms, prepared for a last-minute save?

Secondly, the Charmings (Josh Dallas and Ginnifer Goodwin) are disappointed to learn their grandson-who-doesn’t-know-he’s-their-grandson, Henry (Jared Gilmore), finds them boring. While they shouldn’t try to compete with Hook for the boy’s affections, the sequence where David allows Henry to try driving, taking out a mailbox in the process, is funny. David and Mary Margaret are often the least interesting characters on the series, but give them more like this to do and they can be interesting again yet.

While some may consider “The Jolly Roger” filler, and technically it is, it is filler of the best kind, rich material that adds depth to current events and illustrates the journey of a lead character. If only all filler tasted this good, no one would have reason to complain.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

"Dark Hollow" Dark Spot for ONCE UPON A TIME

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review Season 3 Episode 7 Dark Hollow on Seat42F.

ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME finally returns to Storybrooke this week in “Dark Hollow.” Ariel (Joanna Garcia Swisher) fulfills her mission of getting a message to Belle (Emilie de Ravin), and together they find the object Rumple (Robert Carlyle) needs to defeat Peter Pan, literally Pandora’s Box (how cool is it going to be when that opens!). But getting the box back to Neverland proves not so easy when a couple of guys from the Home Office seek to destroy it.

It’s pretty predictable that the two boys who have broken into Storybrooke are John (Matt Kane, Switched at Birth) and Michael (James Immekus, Boxboarders!), especially once you see one is taller and wears glasses. But that doesn’t stop one from wondering what they are doing there, and what control Peter Pan (Robbie Kay) has over them. He’s evil, and we’ve seen that the Darlings are sweet, or at least they were as children. Plus, Michael and John have grown up, so they clearly didn’t stay in Neverland as Lost Boys all these years, making one assume they aren’t totally loyal to the Big Bad.

Of course, Pan has something to hold over them. It turns out to be Wendy (Freya Tingley), still a child after a century, who Pan then uses to manipulate Henry (Jared Gilmore). One definitely feels sorry for the Darling family, just more pawns in Pan’s twisted games. If anything, the revelation that Pan has abducted Wendy and kept her for so long, controlling her brothers with threats, only makes him seem more evil.

Unfortunately, the plot to stop Pan is growing stale. The parts of “Dark Hollow” that are set in Neverland break down into petty squabbling, losing the focus of the story. It’s a good thing Belle and Ariel’s little adventure is such fun, and the dwarves get some great, humorous lines, or else this installment would have little to no redeeming qualities.

Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) is still upset with Charming (Josh Dallas) at keeping his poisoning and inability to leave Neverland a secret from her. This is understandable, it really is, but three seasons in, tension between Snow and Charming feels so old, not that it was ever any good in the first place. They have had enough issues, and unlike some couple’s bickering, which can be entertaining, theirs just seems whiny and dumb. They’re both noble and heroic, so even when they enact misdeeds, they’re for the right reasons. Just move past it already!

The Emma (Jennifer Morrison) / Neal (Michael Raymond-James) / Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) love triangle is no better. Hook accidentally lets it slip to Neal that he kissed Emma, assuming Emma has already told Neal, and then Neal and Hook argue, leaving them vulnerable to attack by Pan’s shadow and friends. Emma is done with both of them for the present because her focus is her son, not her love life, exactly as it should be. The guys eventually agree, but it’s too little, too late.

Look, there’s a way to do this triangle right that could be really cool. Hook is someone who seems worthy of love, at least right now, and obviously Neal and Emma still have some unresolved feelings from their sordid past. Plus, Neal and Hook have a past relationship that could come into play. However, a boy has been captured by a really, really bad dude. This drama needs to wait, and by not doing so, it drags the episode down.

ONCE UPON A TIME has always been a bit uneven. I guess it’s understandable that, after a string of terrific installments, there’s bound to be a dud. It’s still disappointing, though, because they were doing so well lately that I’d forgotten about many of their flaws, which come barreling back in “Dark Hollow.”

I would never argue that the series should ditch character stuff in favor of action. That’s what should have happened in this hour, but overall, I really love when the players change and wrestle with quandaries. Seeing Regina (Lana Parrilla) keep her bargain with Ariel is a wonderful moment for “Dark Hollow,” something Regina would not have done only a short time ago. But there’s a time and a place for everything, and by giving us the worst of the personal stuff at the worst possible time, “Dark Hollow” is largely a failure.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

"Ariel" Swims Onto ONCE UPON A TIME

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Recap Season 3 Episode 6 Ariel on Seat42F.


ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME introduces viewers to “Ariel” this week. The famous mermaid’s story doesn’t quite play out the way fans of the original expect it to, of course, as this show rarely presents a fairy tale in a traditional, straight forward manner. Instead, she is tied into Snow White’s (Ginnifer Goodwin) past.

On the run from Evil Queen Regina (Lana Parrilla), Snow dives into the sea and is pulled out by Ariel (JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Better With You, Reba). Talking to the fish-woman, Snow learns Ariel is in love with Prince Eric (Gil McKinney, Friday Night Lights), and decides to help her new friend get her man. Ariel and Eric hit it off, but upset about returning to the ocean and leaving Eric behind, Ariel accepts help from Ursula, who is actually Regina.

It’s cool that Regina is tied into The Little Mermaid tale, but isn’t actually Ursula, merely pretending to be that persona. Ursula is a sea creature, and it wouldn’t make sense for Regina to spend so much time under the water when her kingdom is on land. It’s unknown if the real Ursula, who makes a cameo in CGI form, will be involved in Ariel’s story, but some of the familiar elements, such as Ariel temporarily gaining legs and losing her voice are included.

What is disappointing is that Ariel’s underwater kingdom is not shown. It’s not necessary to this particular tale, and ONCE UPON A TIME has yet to introduce us to any other characters who could or would go there, so it seems extraneous. Yet, for a series about magical realms, one may be forgiven for being curious as to what Ariel’s home would like, and sad that the show chooses not to show it. Thus, Ariel’s tale is only partially explored.

ONCE UPON A TIME frequently tries to strike a balance between serving the fairy tales it chooses to cover and its main cast. The back story in “Ariel” says something about Snow, but it is mainly a set up because Regina needs Ariel going forward. As such, it doesn’t really serve Ariel as much as it might.

Regina leaves the group when they take yet another side path on the way to saving Henry and finds Rumple (Robert Carlyle). Is it a little convenient she comes across him so easily? To be sure. But we now have “the heroes” and “the villains” as two separate groups working towards the same goal. This should make the next few episodes even more interesting, though I hope they combine forces in the end to defeat the evil Peter Pan (Robbie Kay).

Regina thinks that she knows Rumple, speaking of his strong sense of self-preservation, yet, I don’t think she knows him as well as she believes. Yes, Rumple is less eager to sacrifice his life than he was when he got to Neverland, but that’s because he finds out Neal (Michael Raymond-James) is alive, not because Rumple loses his nerve. There is still a chance at redemption for Rumple, and even as his own son rejects him, Rumple has the opportunity to win him back, at least a little, by being noble. Sticking with Regina, while creating a very powerful and entertaining twosome, might be a step backwards on that mission.

It’s very interesting that Belle (Emilie de Ravine), who has appeared to Rumple for the past several episodes, is actually Pan’s shadow. I wouldn’t put it past Pan to try something so devious, of course, but what does Rumple think Belle is? Does Rumple really believe he’s hallucinating? At first, the Rumple / Belle conversations seem sweet and a good plot device, but now that Regina has exposed Belle’s physical manifestation and the trick, it makes me wonder about how sharp Rumple still is and how vulnerable he may be. Something is wrong with him that he fell for this, which seems a tad out of character.

Across the island, Emma (Jennifer Morrison), Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), Snow, and Charming (Josh Dallas) must spill their secrets in order to rescue Neal from the Echo Cave. It’s a great device for ONCE UPON A TIME, forcing hidden things to come to light, and it’s brilliant for Pan, who wants to create divisiveness in the group, preferring to win the game by setting the others up to lose through their own actions, not his. What happens in the cave will have impact far beyond “Ariel.”

Emma and Neal have find each other again and confess their love for one another, but they aren’t together. Emma is still hurt by him, and while Neal can offer explanation for abandoning her years ago, he cannot heal her pain so easily. One might think losing Neal, whom Emma thought was dead, might make her reassess and forgive, but her admission that she hoped he was dead proves that isn’t the case. She is too deeply broken to move past this quickly, and it’s good the show doesn’t try to do that. Thank goodness Neal is willing to be the patient one, because Emma just needs more time.

This does allow an opening for Hook, who admits Emma has helped him finally get over his last love, but also sets Hook up for disappointment. Should Hook even try to move in, having heard Emma and Neal express their feelings out loud? He is clearly the third wheel, but his affections are real, too. Will he gallantly step aside? Will he redouble his efforts? Will he be angry at Neal, someone Hook is clearly fond of, too? Emma may not be Hook’s next romance, but now that he has moved on, might that leave him open to someone new, or will he obsess?

While a love triangle can never truly by a fresh story element, “Ariel” makes it more complex and intriguing than most, and leaves the door open for development that could go in multiple directions.

Charming and Snow have bigger problems. She wants a baby, which has to be painful for Emma to hear, considering that Emma is the daughter that Snow and Charming left on her own, inadvertently or not, though Emma has a lot of other things on her mind at present. More importantly, though, Charming must admit he can’t give Snow what she wants because he’s stuck in Neverland due to an injury he lied about. Suddenly, there is a large chasm between them.

Will Snow be willing to stay behind with Charming, thus ending their time as main characters on the show? That wouldn’t be so bad, since they’ve been the most boring of the central cast since the beginning. Or, more likely, will they find a way for Charming to get back to Storybrooke? With their home in the Enchanted Forest mostly destroyed because of Regina’s curse, the couple’s future is uncertain anyway. Why not build it here, though that would mean giving up other family and friends?

Of course, first Snow must forgive Charming for his lie. He hid the truth for the right reasons, but he was stupid to do so in the first place, and Snow has every right to be mad. She’ll forgive him eventually, though, so let’s hope their rift doesn’t drag on too long.

“Ariel” is an excellent episode mostly because of the Echo Cave, which really lets the series dig into the personalities of its players. There are weaknesses in story structure but not in the way the actors handle their roles, or the doubts and complexities of the parts. This makes it easier to overlook the flaws in the writing, much more so than when the strengths and weaknesses are reversed.

Next week, we finally return to Storybrooke, which viewers have not seen since last May!

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Animal Practice doesn't make perfect

Grade: 69%

ANIMAL PRACTICE, a new NBC sitcom, is airing a special preview of its “Pilot” tonight after the Olympics. Set in a huge veterinary hospital, Dr. George Coleman (Justin Kirk, Weeds) runs the show in his unprofessional style, gambling while helping patients, assisted by Dr. Rizzo (Crystal the Monkey, The Hangover Part II, Night at the Museum, Community). Then his ex-girlfriend, Dorothy Rutledge (JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Better With You), takes over, and as they say, there’s going to be some changes around here.

It’s smart of NBC to air their new shows following a popular sporting event that lots of people tune into, considering that not a lot of viewers generally watch NBC shows. However, this only works for series that are smart and funny, like Go On. In the case of ANIMAL PRACTICE, it will probably be counter productive, confirming the negative opinions about the network, and not earning any extra eyeballs come September.

On paper, ANIMAL PRACTICE should be good. Kirk is brilliant in Weeds, Garcia Swisher is charming and funny, and they have decent enough chemistry. The animals, especially acting pro Crystal, lend an air of whimsy, and actually contribute positively, not just being used for gags, or wasted as set dressing. There is also a terrific ensemble, which includes Tyler Labine (Reaper), Bobby Lee (MADtv), and Kym Whitley (Sparks). Plus, the setting is unique and quirky enough for viewers to expect something original and neat, a la Better Off Ted.

Unfortunately, ANIMAL PRACTICE does not live up to the sum of its parts. The main problem, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, has to be Kirk. Or more accurately, Kirk in the part of Coleman. He just isn’t right for the role. I’m not asserting that Kirk can’t handle being the center of a series, as I don’t believe that to be the case at all. He just doesn’t feel right in this one, even though he should, given his past work. The entire half hour, I wished that Labine would switch places, and then there might be something here. But alas, no.

Coleman is supposed to not play well with humans, preferring the company of animals, but I think that part of the issue is that Kirk does display empathy to other people. He can’t help it. His character is allowed to show that just a bit, even as we’re hit over the head with the knowledge that he’s actually the opposite of this. This can shift, given time, but at the moment, nothing really adds up, and that’s unacceptable because he is the show’s lead.

The second change that should be made is to immediately fire Betsy Sodaro’s Angela. She is a weird person, which again, should be a good fit for this type of humor. But she’s too weird. Her presence is disturbing, and every time she’s in a scene, it distracts from what’s going on, in a bad way. She’s part of a new sitcom trend, like Jennifer Irwin’s Creepy Carol in Breaking In, that should never have been started. Again, the actress is probably fine, though I’m not familiar with her previous work. But unlike Kirk’s Coleman, she isn’t necessary, and I don’t see any way that she could become an acceptable part. Best just to ditch her now.

Now, there is room for ANIMAL PRACTICE to grow. Just because Kirk isn't connecting with the rest of the cast and his surroundings now, doesn't mean he won't eventually. He's a smart guy and a talented actor; he can probably figure it out, and I'm willing to wait around and give him that chance. After all, there are some good jokes, and there are enough positive ingredients to hold my attraction. So my recommendation isn't to avoid the show, but don't hold high expectations for it at the start, either.

ANIMAL PRACTICE previews tonight, and then officially premieres Wednesday, September 26th on NBC.

Better With You greets the baby

     ABC's Better With You ended its freshman run with "Better With the Baby." By the title, it's easy to predict the main event in the episode: Maddie (Jennifer Finnigan) searches for her next career path. Oh, and Mia (Joanna Garcia-Swisher) also goes into labor. Everyone rushes to the hospital to be there for her birth, which is complicated when she suddenly decides she must be married before the baby comes. Casey (Jake Lacy), a.k.a. the most patient boyfriend in the world, agrees. The cast must pull together to make that happen, because unlike many first-time mothers, it is soon clear that Mia's baby is coming pretty quickly.


     It's May sweeps, which is the biggest sweeps period for stunts because it overlaps with season finales. Better With You merges a wedding and a birth into one plot, serving the necessary big developments quota. By combining those two particular events, the sitcom could easily shoot itself in the foot, making the episode utterly unbelievable and ridiculous. For a freshman series to do so is unwise. Yet, the series pulls it off with a pretty charming episode.

     That's because 'baby' and 'wedding' are not pounded in the viewer's faces every minute. Better With You's strength is the tightly defined six main characters and their interactions and dialogue with each other. By structuring "Better With the Baby" as a series of those small scenes that happen to surround the hype story, the show strikes a delicate balance in entertainment, pulling off a not-terrible episode from a risky recipe.

     It probably also helps that one character is really not thinking much about the baby at all. Maddie steals a list of patients and their occupations from the nurses' station, and spends much of her time running around to discuss different career possibilities for herself. All of the Better With You characters are selfish, in the tradition of Seinfeld and It's Always Sunny..., but this may be a new low. Her sister is giving birth down the hall! In Maddie's defense, she does keep tabs on Mia, and does not miss anything important. But still...

     This is in character for Maddie, though. She is very career-orientated, and being without one has screwed her up. She needs purpose and goals in her life and doesn't have any. It would be hard for her to devote her full attention to helping anyone else before she rights her own course, which is a little like securing your own gas mask on the plane before your child's. From one perspective, Maddie's need to land that next job before devoting herself to her sister is actually the best way she can help Mia. It's justa bit twisted compared morally to what most people accept.

     Luckily, Maddie's side mission does help Mia, because she finds a judge (the talented Edward Herrmann, Gilmore Girls) who is a patient, and he agrees to perform the ceremony. Any opportunity to see Herrman on screen is welcome, especially one that finds him officiating a wedding in a hospital gown and robe. Perhaps a bit undignified, but funny.

     All of the characters on Better With You are a bit twisted. Joel (Kurt Fuller) and Vicky (Debra Jo Rupp) illustrate this best, especially in their marriage. Perhaps because they're older, they care less about what others think, and just say whatever they feel like saying. While their daughter is in labor, they are involved in a marital squabble about Joel throwing out one of Vicky's family heirlooms. An act he did decades ago, not recently, by the way. They are concerned about Mia, but not so much so that they can't find time to fight.

     Vicky and Joel's relationship works, despite the clashing, because they are both honest with each other, and mostly accept who the other is. Joel ends up screaming at Vicky that he would throw away the precious heirloom all over again because their marriage has been great and he wouldn't change one thing. It may sound like a cop out, but it comes from a place of sincerity. She is moved, and they make up. With lesser actors, this story would not work, because it exposes a very kooky pair that is hard to relate to. But Rupp and Fuller expertly balance real emotion with their weird quirks in a way where even yelling can be sweet. And very enjoyable to watch.

     As reported in other reviews, Better With You has really defined itself by finding a working formula. All six cast members have wonderful chemistry, and the writing is witty. For instance, this week, all of the Putneys couldn't understand why Ben (Josh Cooke) thinks he will be Uncle Ben (wonder why no one made the obvious rice joke?) when he isn't legally married to Maddie. They just state it so matter-of-factly, not intentionally hurting Ben's feelings, but doing so all the same. He rolls with it, used to their dismissal of him. It's almost a throwaway, but is memorable because it lands so well. These sort of amusing bits happen multiple times in every episode.

     That's why Better With You, a bubble show, deserves a second season. It has characters and situations that deliver, and it will break new ground. After all, how many sitcoms rearranged themselves around a baby? Especially selfish sitcoms? Yet, that is likely to happen, as in the confined world of the six main characters, it isn't realistically possible to hide the kid off screen too frequently, as is so often done on television. Please, ABC, give the show a chance to continue. It has met expectations so far.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     To be notified when Better With You comes out on DVD, visit Amazon.com.

Article first published as TV Review: Better With You - "Better With the Baby" on Blogcritics.

Better With You is better all the time

     ABC's Better With You has refined the formular in introduced last fall. In last night's installment, the first in over a month, the series demonstrated exactly what it does. First, open with a joke strung between the three central couples illustrating their differences. This week, lies were talied up. Then present at least two stories that have some similarities and intersect between all six central players. Then, end with another gag split between all three. In this case, each couple takes some sort of magazine quiz. The younger two duos are searching for compatibility, while the eldest picks out a cemetary.

     Each of the six has now defined who they are. Like many sitcoms, Better With You doesn't so much as go for layers, as it does slightly eccentric characters with hilariously exaggerated flaws. Maddie (Jennifer Finnigan) loses her job, but lies to her parents about it because she is super-career driven and prideful. Mia (Joanna Garcia-Swisher), Maddie's younger sister, also lies to her parents, but because she is selfish and doesn't want them to know. Her guy, Casey (Jake Lacy), has discovered a book handed down and read to generations of Putney children, is worth a lot of money. Mia only puts up a facade of not wanting to hurt her mother Vicky's (Debra Jo Rupp) feelings, but actually prefers the cash. Both daughters tell untruths to avoid looking bad, and both of their men support them in their deceit.

     The children's book turns out to be extremely racist, and so Mia, in another effort to not look bad, exposes the offense to the potential buyer and doesn't sell the book. While Mia and the buyer quickly realize how bad the book is as soon as they read it as adults, apparently Vicky did not when she read it to her children. Yet, she also sees the flaw as soon as she flips back through the pages. So that means Vicky was racist two or three decades ago, long after it was permissible?

     The truth is, the characters aren't all that likeable. But they are funny enough that viewers will forget that, as they do with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia or Seinfeld. Perhaps it's because it can make people feel superior to watch characters that are more broktne than they are. Or maybe it's just that Better With You is very, very funny, and so it doesn't really matter what types of people are featured. Either way, be sure to watch it.

     The show also stars Josh Cooke and Kurt Fuller. Better With You airs Wednesday nights at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Click here for an alphabetical list of all of Jerome's Current Season Reviews.


Other Better With You reviews I've written:

• Better With You really shaping up
• Better With You is better than most

Better With You Really Shaping Up

     All new shows have little bugs to work out. When ABC's Better With You began last fall, it had fewer than most. Months later, it is rapidly becoming a must-see. Even though newcomer Casey (Jake Lacy) arguably bonded with the rest of the family a little quicker than realistic, the six central characters have wonderful chemistry in any combination. The series frequently mixes up who spends time with who to delight in new arrangements, but it is strongest when all are together, as was the case for most of this week's episode, "Better With a Leather Jacket".

     Casey has an important job interview to play a mascot named Maddie. This mascot is known as Maddie because it's for a WNBA team that plays at Madison Square Garden. Showing clever writing, Joel (Kurt Fuller) remarks that daughter Maddie (Jennifer Finnigan) is also named Maddie for Madison Square Garden, as he is pretty sure she was conceived in the bathroom there during a concert. Never mind the coincidental names, that one line, and Maddie's reaction to it, made the entire bit totally worth it.

     Anyway, Casey borrows a jacket for his interview from Ben's closet. It's a leather jacket in a box at the back of the closet. Unaware of the family incidents involving the jacket, he takes off. When the others discover what Casey is wearing, they are horrified, as it is the storied unlucky jacket that has brought misery on every single one of them when they wore it. We see four of the five bad things happen in flashback, though for some reason, Vicky (Debra Jo Rupp) is always interrupted before she gets going, so we never see her tale. Is the show saving it for a stand alone episode in a year or two? Because that would be a really cool reference later on. If not, I still found it bizarrely humorous that she was left out.

     Casey is actually having pretty good luck in the jacket, until the others catch up with him and try to rip it off his shoulders during the interview, making a mess, and screwing things up. Later, when he gets the job anyway, Casey uses his unique perspective to point out that the jacket actually brought them all luck, in a round about way. Too bad Ben (Josh Cooke) and Maddie have already given the thing away to their trivia rivals, who now go on a six month winning spree, decimating Ben and Maddie in competition.

     I like that Casey is the outsider, who can often make the others see something they didn't notice before. The other five have been together so long, they have shorthand and traditions and ways of doing things set in stone. They don't even question themselves anymore. Having Casey marrying into the family is a great way to upset their balance a little bit during season one. As the series goes on over the years (as I genuinely hope that it does), this will wear a little thin, though. Soon enough Casey will start adapting to them. What will the show do then?

     At first glance, Casey is also the weird one, but if you stop and think about it for a few moments, Casey may actually be the most normal in the group. Vicky thinks her alcoholism isn't a problem, and everyone lets her get away with it. Maddie's perfectionist ways are annoying, but again, everyone in the family lets her get away with it, only making it worse. Even Mia (Joanna Garcia, who recently added a Swisher surname), who thinks she's the sanest in the group, has her quirks, usually demonstrated by a subtle gesture or offhand comment. Her story when she was in denial about needing pregnancy pants was LOL worthy.

     The reason these people are funny, though, is because they think they are normal, and really, almost perfect. Anytime a flaw is revealed, whoever has the flaw laughs it off, or throws it back on the person criticising them. No one ever learns anything. For some viewers, that may be a turn-off, as generally character growth is a hallmark of a long running show. But Seinfeld and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia both have enjoyed many seasons without any character ever getting the slightest bit better. I see Better With You as the next in the line of unlikable characters being entertaining to watch.

     Yes, all six are unlikable, in the most charming way possible. Despite their flaws, or really, because of them, it is loads of fun to watch Mia, Maddie, Vicky, Joel, Ben, and Casey every week. For now, they don't even need guest stars, as most shows do, and have frequently gotten by without them. I recommend you join me on their adventures.

     Better With You airs Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.

Article first published as TV Review: Better With You Really Shaping Up on Blogcritics.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Better With You is better than most

     When I watched the pilot of ABC's Better With You nearly five weeks ago, I thought it was amusing, but perhaps lacking in that special something that makes it worth tuning in week after week. I didn't watch a second episode until yesterday. But when I did, I had to watch a third. And a fourth. And a fifth. I joyously devoured the entire run so far of what I consider the best new sitcom this year, though admittedly the competition isn't steep.

     Better With You has a team of experienced actors at its center. The parents are Joel (Kurt Fuller, Psych, Supernatural) and Vicky (Debra Jo Rupp, That '70s Show), a couple that has been together a few decades, are definitely set in the way they do things, even if it's not always the best way. For example, in one episode, the other characters were trying to figure out ways to resolve their problems, while Joel and Vicky just passive-agressively hid each others' stuff. Both actors are tops, and play much the same character they have before, but do it wonderfully. They conceit is wonderful, and Vicky has more of an edge that Rupp played on That '70s Show. Their chemistry is believable, though far from romantic, but I believe that's what they're going for.

     Their eldest daughter, Maddie (Jennifer Finnigan, Close to Home, The Bold and the Beautiful) has been with her beau, Ben (Josh Cooke, Big Day, Four Kings) for almost one decade, and live happily together, but have no plans to get married. They consider that a "valid life choice", though Joel and Vicky disagree. Recent plot has centered on Joel not considering Ben part of the family, and Maddie's frustration with that. Even in 2010, choosing not to get married seems a little weird, but as more people are doing it, it's nice to see it respresented so well on television. That doesn't mean I'm not rooting on them to tie the knot down the road (series finale?). However, if they do, will that invalidate the relationship they are portraying? Possibly. Interestingly, Finnigan and Cooke starred opposite each other in the short lived sitcom Committed back in 2005. I remember enjoying it, and it's gratifying to see them reunited.

     Younger daughter Mia is played by the talent Joanna Garcia, who starred in the ill-fated Privileged, and more recently did a four episode stint on Gossip Girl. She became engaged to Casey (Jake Lacy, the one unknown in the cast) in the pilot, and also admitted that she was pregnant with his child. We're only a month into the series, but Mia and Casey have only been together for two months. They seem to be adapting to living together quite well, and are lacking many of the problems a couple in their situation would face. The characters are so charming I forget that when I'm watching, but hopefully a little more depth will better round them out.

     The six starring players have plenty of failed shows this decade between them, although a lot of those failures weren't bad. Hopefully the mix of them together will prove to be the right formula to keep them on the air. They're off to a good start. ABC recently ordered a full season of the series, so they're not going away anytime soon. The comedy is good, but there is also sweet affection between them. The grown up sisters are still close, and while a tight-knit family is far from rare on television, another good one is always welcome. Plus I can't think of a show quite like it on the air, in terms of the way it delivers.

     My only complaint is the theme song and transitions featuring those strips of pictures.  People don't really use those a whole lot, and it's not something I see the characters doing much of.  It seems forced and kitchy, and does not really fit in with the rest of the show.  In my opinion, ditch it.

     If you haven't seen it already, I recommend checking out Better With You. It airs Wednesday nights at 8:30 p.m. (ET) on ABC.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.



Article first published as TV Review: Better With You is Better Than Most on Blogcritics.