RAISING HOPE Raises My Hope Again

Article first published as RAISING HOPE Raises My Hope Again on TheTVKing.

FOX's Raising Hope got a late start this week with a pair of new episodes, "Deja Vu Man" and "Burt Bucks," that made it worth the wait. This series is goofy in the best of ways, and isn't shy about poking fun at itself or its subject matter before ending up in a warm, love-filled place. Season four gets started right.

"Deja Vu Man" begins with a scene unrelated to the rest of the story in which Maw Maw (Cloris Leachman) forgets Hope's (Baylie and Rylie Cregut) name, as well as many other things. To refresh Maw Maw's noggin, the family and a few friends sing songs about what's happened in the first few seasons, reminding us Maw Maw who the characters are and certain events in their lives. Yes, it's a cheap excuse to recap for the audience, but by building it believably into the fabric of the show in an original way, it really, really works. Especially as Maw Maw hopes that Hope is named Edgar.

In "Deja Vu Man," Virginia (Martha Plimpton) finds out that the guy that hangs around every so often snapping pictures of the Chance family is none other than her father (Jeffrey Tambor, Arrested Development). See, Maw Maw lied about Virgina's dad being dead because he abandoned his family. Now, Virginia has a chance to reconnect with her parent, who claims to have left because Natesville was unaccepting of homosexuals and he is gay.

Of course, it's a line of bull. Tambor's character is charming enough to fool people for a little while, but viewers and Virginia alike soon come to see just how selfish and terrible a person he is. (Burt sees it right away, a credit to how smart he is, even if it's not book smart.) It wouldn't really make sense for a father who loves his child to stay away from them, no matter how hostile neighbors might be, so at the end of the day, we need to see he's a scoundrel, which we do.

That doesn't mean he shouldn't return to guest star in other episodes, though. And no tears for Virginia, who had a great man to take care of her in Paw-Paw (Terrence Beasor, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story).

In the second installment, "Burt Bucks," Virginia and Burt (Garret Dillahunt) find they can barter their services for the finer things in life, then try to get their friends to barter with one another, too, ultimately creating a new currency, which Virginia and Burt keep printing more of so that they can live the high life. As Burt insists, probably necessarily given the IQ level of the town, despite the label not really making sense, this is not a pyramid scheme. Of course, it all collapses.

I love this commentary on our economic system and our government. It doesn't necessarily take a Republican or a Democratic viewpoint, instead, zeroing in on the system itself. This keeps the episode from being controversial, but also illustrates large economic issues in a way that's simple to understand.

I did keep thinking that the new system would catch up with Virginia and Burt, and they would no longer have U.S. currency to get things they need outside of their barter system, but that didn't happen. I guess there's only so much that can be gotten through in half an hour, and the focus was on satire, not keeping the zany characters stuck in the laws of reality.

An interesting thing happens in "Deja Vu Man" and "Burt Bucks" - Sabrina (Shannon Woodward) and Jimmy (Lucas Neff) make a conscious effort to stay out of Burt and Virginia's schemes. I can't say I'm not disappointed, as I love seeing the whole family together. Yet, Sabrina and Jimmy are newlyweds who live apart from Burt and Virginia, so they should have their own things. I'm sure they won't stay divided every week, and I guess the characters have to show growth, but it's a turning point that is still a little sad.

This doesn't mean Sabrina and Jimmy aren't in the installments. They have their own comedic situations, often involving Barney (Gregg Binkley) and the store. And I don't want less of the recurring cast, which has many talented players like Kate Micucci and Todd Giebenhain. I just love it when both groups mix, as they do in the opening of "Deja Vu Man."

Either way, these are still sharp, witty, welcome episodes. Clearly, Raising Hope has lost nothing during its break, and I'm glad to see it back on the air. Raising Hope now airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

The Big Bang Theory Talks About Love

Article first published as The Big Bang Theory Talks About Love on TheTVKing.

I really enjoy CBS's The Big Bang Theory pretty much every week, but the latest installment, "The Love Spell Potential," sticks out as one of the best of the season. In it, Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Amy (Mayim Bialik) finally have a frank discussion about sex.

The growth of these two characters, both as a couple and individually, has been steady and rewarding. When first they meet, Amy tolerates Sheldon, and Sheldon has no thought of romance on the brain. Yet, having spent a lot of time together, they have steadily grown closer and closer.

Sheldon is being honest when he tells Amy that he sees their relationship as intimate. Looking at the other dynamics in Sheldon's life, Amy certainly has more of a foothold on him than anyone. Sheldon does seem to sense value in having her around, and opens up to her. Sheldon always speaks his mind, but there's an added sensitivity when it comes to dealing with Amy. He may say dumb things, but he is much more likely to try to make it up to her after than he is with any of his friends.

Amy's frustration, though, is understandable. Three years is a long time to wait for sexual interaction, and as someone who has experienced it before, of course she yearns for it with Sheldon. Sheldon, having always been celibate (we assume), doesn't have that same knowledge, and so that could be part of the reason for his hesitation. I think when it finally happens for them, he will change his mind about the worth of such practices.

"The Love Spell Potential" ups the ante in their chemistry when Sheldon agrees to see sexual role playing, while fully clothed. His willingness to engage in such actions speak to his slowly coming around to the idea of intercourse. Clearly, he is no longer repulsed by the thought, and is thinking about engaging in coitus for Amy's sake, if nothing else. Sex, in his mind, may be the bullet he has to bite to keep her in his life.

The writing for this entire sequence is top notch, and the two performers bring to life these very specific, nuanced individuals in the best way imaginable. Amy and Sheldon aren't completely easy to relate to, but viewers have come to care about them because the actors do a wonderful job of making them accessible. This week is a fine example of this craft and their talent.

I don't know if The Big Bang Theory will go there soon, but I am confident that eventually it will, and it will completely change the character of Sheldon. I look forward to it.

Penny (Kaley Cuoco) is the one that forces the sex issue to come up for the couple, and at first it seems like she is butting in where she doesn't belong. I do think she does a good thing, though, because despite upsetting Sheldon, it does force him into addressing the issue. And Amy isn't exactly speaking up herself explicitly enough to get through to the dense man until this is pressed. So Penny is a good friend, helping a pair in need.

Besides being moving and emotionally fulfilling, "The Love Spell Potential" is also incredibly funny. Having the girls participate in Dungeons & Dragons makes for a great contrast to the boys' games, and Howard (Simon Helberg) kills with his various impressions, especially Nicholas Cage. Often, The Big Bang Theory keeps the genders separate for certain things, such as game night, but mashing up the two groups works very well here, and comes across as super enjoyable for both the characters and the fans. It should be done more often, in more situations. And Howard should do a lot more impressions.

I'm not as big a fan of the unfolding story of Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Lucy (Kate Micucci, Raising Hope). I enjoy Micucci in general, but I feel like her part in this show may be handicapping Raj a little bit. Raj abandoning his friends is understandable for a guy in his situation, but it's not a recipe for a permanent arrangement. It's nice that the two characters have each other to help them with their problems, but I don't see this working out long-term, nor I do feel Lucy would fold well into the larger ensemble. Perhaps this can be a good growing experience for Raj to help him along the journey towards finding someone he is truly well-matched with.

The Big Bang Theory concludes its sixth season this coming Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. It has already been renewed for a seventh year.

Raising Hope Continues to Raise the Bar

Article first published as Raising Hope Continues to Raise the Bar on TheTVKing.

FOX's Raising Hope completed its third season with a pair of new episodes last night, "Burt Mitzvah: The Musical" and "Mother's Day." Both are truly excellent examples of a consistently great series, and unable to choose between them, this review will cover elements of each.

In "Burt Mitzvah: The Musical," Burt's mother (Shirley Jones, The Partridge Family, The Music Man) tells her son that she's recently discovered she is Jewish, and by extension, so is he. She lays in a fitting Jewish mother guilt trip until Burt (Garret Dillahunt) agrees to have a Bar Mitzvah. However, Burt soon learns that his mom is lying, and his parents are trying to get even with all of their friends, whose children they have paid for gifts for all these years. They abscond with his money gifts, and, feeling like a disappointment for not having any celebration-worthy events of his own, he lets them.

Burt is a kind, good man. He has made some mistakes in his life, such as knocking up Virginia (Martha Plimpton) when they were only teenagers, but he takes care of his family, and has a big heart. It isn't fair that his mother and father treat him so poorly and look down on him so much, a theme also present in the second episode concerning others characters' parents. It's no wonder he tries so hard to please his parents now, but he shouldn't have to.

Burt's patience does have limits. He goes along with their scheme because of his love for them, but he also lets them know this will make them even, and not to try anything like this again. He understands and accepts his parents for who they are, but he won't be abused by them. They may still treat him like a child, but Burt is truly a man in every way that is important.

"Burt Mitzvah: The Musical" features three big musical numbers, which are definitely a high point of the series. The tunes are catchy and fun, with a host of upbeat extras dancing their way through. It all fits perfectly in tone with the series, and also adds something special that makes this episode more memorable than most. I love a musical done right, and my only complaint is that there should have been more than three songs, and that the episode should have ran an hour. I could definitely have used more.

Each member of the main cast gets to sing, including a big solo for Barney (Gregg Binkley), but the show is really stolen by Jimmy (Lucas Neff), who turns out to be quite the rocker. Add in Jones and Smash's Jason Kravits as a Rabbi, and the musical talent is quite impressive.

Part two of the season finale, "Mother's Day," finds Maw Maw's (Cloris Leachman) mother still alive at the rope old age of one hundred and four. Burt and Barney bring her back to the house, and Maw Maw and her mom resolve a grudge they've held against one another for seventy years.

I'm not a fan of Maw Maw, and while I like the idea of allowing Leachman to pull double duty in both roles, the humor in this subplot falls short. Leachman is a comic god, and being reduced to gross jokes and farts played for laughs seems beneath her. Yet, there is no arguing that she does such trivial junk with a talent and grace that should put to shame many modern day performers.

The ending, where Maw Maw's mother dies, but Maw Maw remembers the resolution, if little else, is incredibly sweet. I love that there is a peace between them, and that her mom hung around long enough for Maw Maw to make things right. It's a little bit disturbing, seeing what Maw Maw may turn into, but kudos for designing a story that deepens the character, even if the bits aren't particularly funny, in my opinion.

Even better is the plot involving the other women in the household. Hope (Baylie and Rylie Cregut) makes Sabrina (Shannon Woodward) a Mom necklace, which arouses jealousy in Virginia, who has helped raise Hope. Virginia is a grandmother, not a mother, to the toddler, and shouldn't feel left out. However, one can understand, now that Jimmy and Hope have moved out of the house, why she might be sad.

Thankfully, Sabrina not only makes things right with Virginia, but points out how she herself sees Virginia as a mother. Sabrina's own mother can't be reached (see my comments early in this article about parents), and Virginia treats Sabrina well. Virginia may not live in the same house as Sabrina and Hope, but she definitely has positive relationships with both, and that counts. Sabrina even gets Frank (Todd Giebenhain) and Shelley (Kate Micucci), the extended family that could very well be part of the main cast at some point, to help her make Virginia feel better.

Seeing how the Chance family gathers, full of love for one another, is heart-warming and moving. Not every family likes each other this much, and even if they screw up and get into trouble, they always support one another. That's why I like Raising Hope. It shows how a family should be.

Plus, it's super funny. From Barney and Burt walking through a gate where there is no fence, to singing pastrami sandwiches, to Virginia's tendency to get words wrong, there are so many fantastic little touches in these, and every, episode that keep the show amusing and round out the world. Make no mistake, Raising Hope isn't just a family, it's a fully flesh out, very specific universe in which these characters dwell. It's charm is rarely matched.

Raising Hope has been renewed for a fourth season and will return next fall on FOX.

This review is not Written By a Kid

Television is in the throes of a revolution. Many young consumers watch their shows online. And with a number of studios, as well as countless individuals, releasing programming online, the line between what is and is not television is blurred. I say this because this review is actually of a web series, which I believe can now be clumped into the same category as traditional television.

One of the best internet channels, a new invention by YouTube to get viewers regularly visiting, is Geek & Sundry, run by Felicia Day (The Guild, Eureka), which launched a new show this week called Written By a Kid. In the first episode, we meet a kid named Brett who tells a story to two men, the creators of the series, Will Bowles (The Underground) and Josh Flaum (also The Underground). This story is acted out by live people who inhabit a crudely animated world.

The tale told is a simple one. Called "Scary Smash," a monster kills a milkman (Dave Foley, The Kids in the Hall, NewsRadio). To save the town, the S.Q.U.A.T. team is called in. Led by a fun-loving commander (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly creator Joss Whedon), the force suffers numerous casualties until they finally subdue the threat.

Now, the story isn't completely driven by Brett. Those who have listened to children tell a story know that they can ramble, get distracted, or peter out. The back and forth format allows for seamless editing, so that it's not immediately obvious what questions the hosts are asking the kid. But for a child to remember which weapons he armed his hero with, and remember to use them all throughout a seven day battle, seems a little far fetched.

But even if the plot is a little guided, it is still enjoyable.This is partially due to the fantastic visuals, with scenery that looks like its been drawn by crayon, and partially a credit to the amazing cast put together to act out the words. This includes, besides Foley and Whedon, Felicia Day, Kate Micucci (Scrubs, Raising Hope), Rhett McLaughlin, and Charles "Link" Neal (Rhett & Link). There are probably other notables, but no complete credits are given.


The fact that famous, or infamous, people would agree to do Written By a Kid and not even get their name on screen is a testament to Day's network, as well as this incredibly creative, wonderfully made series. When something this fun is going on, of course people want to be involved! There is no telling what famous faces might pop up in future episodes.

Not to mention, Written By a Kid is genuinely funny. Whether it stems from the animators getting ahead of the narrator, having to change the color and look of the monster, or the cheesy performances by Foley and Whedon, it works. The adults behind this project are smart enough to know when to let the kid by unintentionally funny, and when he might need a little help by taking things more literally then they probably should were they interacting with him outside of the entertainment industry. Fantastic.


Written By a Kid is a must-see show, even if it might be hidden away slightly on the internet, and another fitting addition to the Geek & Sundry lineup. But that's why I link the title, so you can find it. New episodes will go up on Mondays, so make sure that you check them out!


Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com. If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published on TheTVKing

'Raising Hope' wants its baby back

FOX's Raising Hope presents the second half of a two-part episode as their season finale this week. Entitled "I Want My Baby Back, Baby Back, Baby Back," this installment finds Jimmy (Lucas Neff) and family locked in a court battle for custody over Hope (Baylie and Rylie Cregut) with his "wife," Lucy (Bijou Phillips). This follows an episode of Inside Probe, in which Nancy Grace (herself) tells the family's story, and reveals that Lucy survived her execution. Lucy wins the legal battle, and Jimmy has to leave his parents and Sabrina (Shannon Woodward) behind in order to stay with his daughter.

If a comedy series is hilarious enough, it does not need to follow the rules of realism. This is a relief, because Raising Hope leaves such constraints far behind in the dust during these final two episodes. Not only does Lucy survive the electric chair, there is a jailhouse wedding, complete with a prisoner allowed a knife to cut the cake, a jury made up purely of miners who were trapped underground for six months, and so don't know Lucy is a serial killer, Shelley (Kate Micucci) is allowed to testify with a ukelele, and Lucy will most likely survive being hit by a bus. The last of which is welcome, because Phillips is such a joy during her guest stints on the show. And with Jimmy needing a divorce, she will have to return again.

But honestly, the fact that the events of "I Want My Baby Back, Baby Back, Baby Back" would never happen does not lessen the enjoyment of the episode in the slightest. Part of this is the comedic writing, which is just as sharp, tight, and unexpected as it ever has been, if not sharper. Part of it is nostalgia, as this week's installment and the one before it reference many of the show's earlier events and gags, as well as bringing back a large number of guest stars.

Best of all, most of the cast of My Name Is Earl, a previous show by Raising Hope's creator, Greg Garcia, appears again. Earl is alluded to as well, and the tone of both shows are similar. In fact, the Inside Probe stunt feels just like Earl's Cops episodes! So it all comes across as one big, happy, funny universe, drawn closer together with each crossover, of which there have been many.

Should Raising Hope have concentrated on pathos instead? Sure, there are tears and heartbreak when Jimmy leaves Sabrina so that he can stay with Hope. Viewers would be heartless not to feel for Sabrina as tears stream down her face, and the situation really evokes something inside of oneself. However, instead of capitalizing on these dramatic moments, leaving a heck of a cliffhanger, Lucy is hit by a bus, and Jimmy gets to return home.

Nor does it appear that Burt (Garret Dillahunt) and Virginia (Martha Plimpton) will face legal charges for fighting with law enforcement in the court room, as they are seen to be in their house and doing just fine.

And that's OK. Some sitcoms need the drama to infuse with comedy in order to keep their fans invested. Raising Hope does not. It's tongue-in-cheek style, with meta elements and constant self-referencing, has created a unique world that deserves to be on television. One can drop in to see what the Chances are doing each week, and continuously be very taken in by their spell.

What kind of show dares to have Nancy Grace lampooning herself, Ed Begley Jr. playing both god and the devil, and "introduces" Cloris Leachman each episode? Raising Hope, that's who, and it does so proudly. Never before has white trash been made look so attractive. The show doesn't just play on stereotypes, it redefines them. It will change the way you think about many things, and if the show contributes anything to society, it assists in tearing down the barriers of hate and judgment.

Does this make Raising Hope sound too important? Perhaps. But it deserves the accolades. There is absolutely nothing else currently running like it, and it continues to hit all of the right notes week after week. That is a laudable feat.

Is it the sharp writing or the amazing cast, which includes Gregg Binkley and a slew of talented, recurring players to fill out the world, that makes Raising Hope work so well? It's both, as well as everyone else in the crew who builds this specific place and time. There is really nothing to complain about in Raising Hope. It's that rare gem that knows what it is, and delivers extremely well on a remarkably consistent basis.


Thank you to Raising Hope for an awesome second season, and I am greatly looking forward to years of more terrific comedy. Raising Hope will return to FOX this fall.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To buy Raising Hope DVDs or streaming episodes, please click here. Article first published as TV Review: Raising Hope - "I Want My Baby Back, Baby Back, Baby Back" on Blogcritics.

Raising Hope first season now on DVD

     FOX's Raising Hope recently released its complete first season on DVD. It is a three-disc set containing all 22 episodes that aired last year. The series follows a lower middle class family as they raise a baby. This is refreshing, considering many television characters certainly live above realistic means for many of their viewers. It also focuses on the kooky friends and relatives that surround the primary clan, creating a rich, becoming vast, world of interesting characters. After one mere season, Raising Hope has become TV to watch.

     The series begins when Jimmy Chance (Lucas Neff) unknowingly hooks up with a crazy murderer named Lucy (Bijou Phillips). Lucy is arrested and executed, but not before giving birth to Jimmy's daughter, Princess Beyonce, whom he renames Hope (Bayley and Rylie Crecut). Jimmy is in his early twenties, and lives with his parents Virginia (Martha Plimpton) and Burt (Garret Dillahunt), who had him when they were teenagers. Jimmy really wants to take care of the baby, and Burt and Virginia see a second chance to raise a child correctly; it thus becomes a team effort.

     Adding to the chaos is Maw Maw (Cloris Leachman), Virginia's senile grandmother, in whose house they live. She is only lucid for short periods of time, but resents her family, worrying they are taking advantage of her. In fact, they take good care of her during her crazy periods.

     To help pay for the child's care and feeding, Jimmy takes a job at the local supermarket after falling for cashier Sabrina (Shannon Woodward). They work for enthusiastic, geeky Barney (Gregg Binkley, a recurring character in season one, but promoted to series regular in season two). These two help Jimmy keep his own sanity, and provide some fun, outside-the-home stories. In addition, babysitter Shelley (Kate Micucci) keeps Hope when the Chance family are all working.

     There are many great episodes in this freshman run. "Dead Tooth" introduces Sabrina's cousin, Shelley, and finds Burt helping Virginia to quit smoking. The latter is a necessity, since smoking is now strictly limited in primetime broadcast network television. In "Dream Hoarders," Hope crawls into the maze of a junk-filled shed. "Burt Rocks" lets Burt meet his singer idol, Smokey (Jason Lee). In "What's Up, Cuz?" Virginia's gold digging cousin, Delilah (Amy Sedaris), who has a crush on Burt, visits. And the season finale takes a look at how different life was for all of the characters, main and supporting, only five short years ago.

     The first season DVD set (not currently available in Blu-ray) has quite a few bonus features. There are 20 minutes of deleted and extended scenes, and the essential gag reel. The broadcast "Pilot" has a commentary track with series creator Greg Garcia (My Name is Earl), Neff, Plimpton, and Dillahunt, who talk about the constantly changing babies in the episode. The original, unaired version of "Pilot," with a different actress playing Sabrina, and featuring Micucci as a cousin that lives with the Chances, is also included. Additionally, there is an extended version of the season finale, "Don't Vote for This Episode," with three minutes of cut footage inserted back in.

     As far as featurettes go, "Adorable Stars: Meet the Hopes" gives viewers more than six minutes of focus on the adorable twins that play the titular baby. Fans get a look at their personalities, and their work environment. "Moments with Mrs. Chance" is a package of clips from the first season featuring Virginia in many of her best, and funniest, moments. It's an apt choice, considering Plimpton's vast talent, but one hopes that other performers will be featured similarly in later releases.
     "Taking Chances: Shooting the Season Finale" spends only a little bit of time talking about the season's last episode, but gives lots of attention to the usual environment on the set, and how everyone gets along. It also has Neff and Plimpton complaining of  Garcia's (My Name is Earl) alcoholism and sexcapades on set. Garcia argues in his own interview that he doesn't usually start getting drunk until at least 9 a.m. One assumes this is all a joke, but it is filmed in Hollywood, so you never know. But yeah, pretty sure they are kidding.

     To buy Raising Hope DVDs or streaming episodes, please click here.

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Article first published as DVD Review: Raising Hope The Complete First Season on Blogcritics.

A secret "Prodigy" on Raising Hope

     In the season premiere of FOX's Raising Hope, Jimmy (Lucas Neff) learns that he was a child "Prodigy" when he finds a video of him playing the piano and singing, quite well. Apparently, though, eight months after Jimmy's talent surfaces, he is hit on the head with a golf club and remembers nothing of it. MawMaw's (Cloris Leachman) efforts to reteach him are fruitless. Virginia (Martha Plimpton) feels guilty, wondering if she pushes him too hard. Burt (Garret Dillahunt) secretly feels worse because he is the one that threw the golf club, though the family doesn't know it. A night of drinking makes them thing Jimmy's abilities have come back to him, but really, they're just drunk.

     It's more than a little weird that Jimmy has this ability, and then doesn't. A doctor can't explain it, and there's no sign that any of it ever happened until Jimmy finds the video. While it is nice that Raising Hope doesn't go the Gilligan's Island route and use another whack to the head to fix things, in fact, they mock that shoddy writing, but it's also just a strange plot in general. And why do his parents think he gets his memory back after some drinking? Yes, alcohol might make him sound better, but as good as he once was? Not even close. It's disappointing, after such a brilliant first season.

     Also weird is Sabrina's (Shannon Woodward) infatuation with the young, brilliant Jimmy. She stares dreamily at his video. While this "Justin Bieber-effect" of older women swooning over younger men, it's kind of creepy to see a gal in her twenties drool concerning a thirteen year old. Woodward is a hilarious actress, but this subplot is a clear miss.

     Young Jimmy is played by Greyson Chance, the young boy who got over thirty-six million hits on YouTube singing Lady Gaga. He's a decent enough actor for the role, and certainly has the voice to pull of the part. Plus, he bears a passing resemblance to Neff, and fortuitously shares his character's last name, making his casting a pretty solid choice. The weakness of the episode is not his fault.

     Raising Hope begins "Prodigy" very cleverly. Shelley (Kate Micucci) sings a recap ditty, while scenes from season one and footage of baby Hope (Bayley and Rylie Crecut) are shown. It's clever and touching. Despite the fact that two toy cars are seen in the background of one of the "home movies" of the Crecut twins, it's not noticeable that two children are used. The tune is catchy, and the lyrics are funny in Raising Hope's particular humor vein. As such, the opening is the best part of the episode.

     Strangely, and a little regrettably, Barney (Gregg Binkley) is absent from "Prodigy" even though he has just been upgraded to series regular. But, of course, not everyone can be in every episode. His portion of the story is missed, and I look forward to seeing him again soon.

     Hopefully, next week will be better, as Raising Hope is usually a very, very good show. Watch Raising Hope Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

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     To buy Raising Hope DVDs or streaming episodes, please click here.

Raising Hope asks "Don't Vote for This Episode"

     For the season finale of FOX's Raising Hope, the series goes back in time five years. Jimmy (Lucas Neff) is a goth, attracting the attention of a the new awkward, braces-wearing cashier at the grocery store, Sabrina (Shannon Woodward). Maw Maw (Cloris Leachman) still seems fully lucid, and is tired of supporting her immature granddaughter, Virginia (Martha Plimpton), and Virginia's equally clueless husband, Burt (Garret Dillahunt). So on Jimmy's 18th birthday, which is also Maw Maw's 80th, she kicks the trio out on the street. At the grocery store, a morbidly obese Barney (Gregg Binkley) hunts for the "gypsy" squatting in the shop at night (it's Jimmy), while Shelley (Kate Micucci) and Frank (Todd Giebenhain) are expert shelf stockers until an accident leaves the former with a dead tooth. And Lucy (Bijou Phillips) begins to get awfully tired of her boyfriend.

     An episode like this is purely gratuitous, but it's such fun, so that can be easily forgiven. No plots arcs or ongoing stories are furthered, but the origin of many relationships and familiar characteristics are explored. This episode also bridges the gap between other past exploits that have been briefly shown and the modern incarnations of the characters, helping explain away some major life changes.

     The title is "Don't Vote for This Episode," which can only be a message for Emmy voters. Why the minds behind the series do not want this very special entry to be considered for awards is anyone's guess, but perhaps they want to be judged on their general merits, rather than one, far from representative, effort. It's too bad, because despite all of the perfectly logical arguments against doing an episode such as this, it is wonderfully executed and very entertaining, much as Raising Hope is almost every week.

     Perhaps the neatest thing about "Don't Vote for This Episode" is Sabrina's infatuation with Jimmy. Throughout season one, Jimmy has exhibited feelings for Sabrina that she doesn't return. While some may wonder if she just isn't interested in him, others may point out that her boyfriend could be a deterant, and were he not in the equation, the pair may have a chance. This episode supports the latter reasoning, as under different circumstances, Sabrina is very much attracted to Jimmy. Also, the elaborate goth makeup is a neat device so that Sabrina will not recognize her former crush years later when they meet under more ordinary circumstances.

     It is also nice to see Maw Maw in a transitional state. She appears more vulnerable and layered than the usual one-note jokes the character is often subjected to. Maw Maw used to be a complete individual, and it's illuminating to see some of that spirit before it is tempered by age and disease.

     Finally, "Don't Vote for This Episode" provides very good development for Burt and Virginia. Jimmy always complains about the mistakes they made with him, and they are often shown as irresponsible parents in flashback. Being put in a situation where they have to care for a sick relative, and have thier own safety net removed, is a reasonable explanation for their current (relative) maturity. Their story is actually one with an emotional impact, melding seamlessly with this mostly-for-laughs episode.

     Raising Hope has already been given a second season, and will return to FOX next fall.

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

     To buy Raising Hope DVDs or streaming episodes, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Raising Hope - "Don't Vote for This Episode" on Blogcritics.