Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – Bunheads!

June 27, 2012 By 23 Comments

This week Tiffany White and I take on two new television programs on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in our first Boys versus Girls post—ABC Family’s Bunheads and TBS’s Men at Work.

I’ve never in my life been the little girl with dreams of being a ballerina. I enjoy the idea of dancing, but my interest in it never developed very far beyond that. Maybe it has something to do with my solid lack of coordination, or fear of leotards. (Not to be confused with leopards, which are awesome.)

Anyhoo, despite my disinterest in the craft, I was pretty excited about the new series Bunheads, which derives its name from the common hairstyle worn by ballet dancers.

Why so excited?

I love dialogue. Banter, “speechifying”, you name it, when done well, I love it. If I could write only dialogue all day, I probably would. There are a few writers that are known for their abilities in the dialogue department (Sorkin, anyone?). One such writer is Amy Sherman Palladino. If you just said, “who?”, go to your room.

But seriously, Amy is the creator of The Gilmore Girls. If you watched GG (yes, in my head, this show is what GG stands for, not Gossip Girl) and hated it, you should probably just move along now. Bunheads will not be for you.

For the rest of you, Bunheads follows the character Michelle (Sutton Foster), a classically trained dancer turned Vegas showgirl who is feeling a bit sorry about her lot in life. As a result she agrees to marry her very persistent suitor, a sweet man who she doesn’t love but wins her over with tales of his hometown, Paradise.

Michelle arrives in Paradise to find a town that doesn’t exactly warm up to her, particularly her mother-in-law Fanny (Kelly Bishop). The only people in town that seem pleased with her arrival are four ballet students, excited about the prospect of knowing a “real” dancer.

As if being in this small town isn’t bad enough, a tragedy hits, leaving Michelle even more alone than she already was.

I’m really enjoying the show so far. I should disclose that I was a fan of The Gilmore Girls, and was a little worried this show would try too hard to be what Gilmore was. So far, it seem to be striking the right balance of being its own show, but retaining the signatures of Mrs. Sherman Palladino. The fast paced chatter, the pop culture references (although those seem to be toned down  a bit), the three generations to relate to; it’s all there.

There is also something to be said for a new program that appeals to various ages. Family programming is hard to come by, but like Gilmore Girls, this show seems like it will be one that will be enjoyed by adults and young people alike. (Oh, and dudes, I know far too many of you who pretend not to like The Gilmore Girls, yet will sit through it, laugh, and want to see the next episode, so don’t get all “this is a girl show” on me.)

Bunheads is definitely off to a solid start. I give it a MacTV rating. Totally a pantry staple.

[Hey, non-cable peeps: You can watch the third episode on Hulu. The rights have not been secured yet to keep a queue of the shows, so fingers crossed they get them soon so you can catch up. In the meantime, you can get away with starting at ep 3.]

What do you think? Have you watched Bunheads? How would you rate it? Are you a fan of dancing or The Gilmore Girls?
Now click over to Tiffany’s blog and see what she thinks about the Men at Work.
Come back next week when we review something…this Tropical Storm has my brain a bit waterlogged and is taking a toll on my ability to plan.

Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.
ATTENTION RED CARPET WINNERS! Your photos will be posted in next week’s post. Sorry. Tropical Storm Debby ate my homework.
A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

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Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – Parenthood

February 29, 2012 By 23 Comments

This week Tiffany and I review two of TV’s top dramas on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday: the returning favorite, Parenthood, and the new smash hit, Revenge.

I’ve complained once or twice about televisions depiction of family: the dopey father, shrill mothers, and bratty know-it-all children. Parenthood manages to present an image of family in several ways, none of them being the trite formula above.

The show follows the large Braverman family. Zeke (Craig T Nelson) and Camille (Bonnie Bedelia) are the parents of four grown children: Adam, Sara, Crosby, and Julia. Each of these children offer the opportunity to examine different aspects of the family dynamic.

Adam (Peter Krause), the eldest, is the responsible, successful, and happily married to his equally capable wife Kristina (Monica Potter) They have two children (as the series begins) Haddie and Max. Haddie is a fairly good teenager, but they find themselves entering new territory as their teenage daughter starts making changes that teenagers often do. To add to the madness in their home, the family discovers that their younger son, Max, has Asperger’s.

Sara (Lauren Graham), the next in line, seems to have taken the more free-spirited track in life, landing her back at home with her parents and two children, Amber, a teen who seems to be taking after her mother a little too much, and the very quiet younger brother, Drew.

Crosby (Dax Shepherd) is a small time record producer living on a houseboat, who also takes after the more free-spirited side of the family.  This life results in discovering he has a five year old son, Jabbar, when a former fling comes back to town to introduce them.

Last in line is Julia (Erika Christensen), a very together and successful corporate lawyer. Her husband, Joel (Sam Jaeger), is a stay-at-home Dad to their somewhat precocious only child, Sydney.

 

Got all that?

Now with all those characters, I thought for sure as this show began that many would be flat, one-dimensional. In reality, the writers have done a solid job giving each individual depth. What constantly amazes me is how the actors are able to act in a way that convinces you that these people are actually related. Even the smallest mannerisms can be seen from parent to child. Mae Whitman (who plays Amber) in particular is a stand out in how she can be a fully developed character of her own, but at the same time echo pieces of her fictional mother throughout the show.

The stories are varied, giving everyone watching the opportunity to relate somehow. Single parenting from both a full time and part time perspective, a full time mother dealing with a desire to have a career again, a full time dad coping with taking on the duties that are generally assumed to be a mom’s, grandparents speaking up (or standing aside) on issues involving their grandchildren; chances are, you’ll see yourself in one of these characters.

One aspect that has garnered both praise and criticism is the show’s depiction of Max (Max Burkholder), a child with Asperger’s. It should be noted that the creator of the show, Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights), based the character on his son, who also has Asperger’s. A behavioral psychologist is also consulted in the writing of Max’s scenes, and other consultants are brought in for more intense ones. My experience with Asperger’s is limited to a student I had some time ago, so I couldn’t tell you how accurate the show’s depiction is, but I can tell you that it certainly feels real, and I do appreciate the writer’s attempts at an accurate portrayal.

But what do I think of the show overall? Every week, I find myself getting teary. Whether it is a situation that I can directly relate to, or one that the actors and writers craft so well I can’t help but be emotionally invested, I’m glued to the screen.

Are the storylines action-packed? Not really. But they deliver a picture of family life, parenthood in particular, with all its faults and ultimately, its beauty.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I come from a large, close family, or perhaps it is because I look forward to having a good cry with this show each week, I have to give it a GTV. A home cooked meal at a big table, surrounded by family you love.

Do you watch Parenthood? Which character do you find yourself relating to most? What situations really tug at your heart?

Don’t forget to see what Tiffany thinks of ABC’s Revenge.

Come back next week when we’ll have more TV for you!

Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag on Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future. 


A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:

GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

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Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – Old School

December 7, 2011 By 17 Comments

This week on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday, Tiffany and I are kickin’ it old school. Not so much because we are hip, but more because we are playing the part of cranky old folks, bemoaning days gone by. Specifically, we’re looking back to good ole TV programs we watched as kids that we occasionally long for, given the lack of quality family programming nowadays.

Tiffany is extra cranky this week, as her old favorite can’t seem to be found in syndication. At least I can tune into WGN or hit up Hulu Plus to see mine.

What did I pick?

Without a second thought, The Cosby Show. Like Tiffany’s choice, this show centers around a family. Though not perfect, they love each other and we get to look on as they go through the various trials of family life, simple and complex.

Having Bill Cosby at the helm as Dr. Heathcliff “Cliff” Huxtable, the show offered more than its share of laughs, using much of Bill Cosby’s standup material as fodder for the episodes. If you are not familiar with his standup, get on that, now. Here, I’ll wait for you:

Cliff is an obstetrician, married to Clair (Phylicia Rashad), an attorney. If their successful careers didn’t keep them busy enough, they also have five children (four at home, one grown and in college, played by Keisha Knight Pulliam, Tempestt Bledsoe, Lisa Bonet, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Sabrina Le Beauf) to handle. Their children dealt with the small problems we could relate to: sharing a room with your sister, younger siblings wanting the same privileges as the older ones, kids trying to play their parents against each other; the simple problems that arise in any family. The Huxtables dealt with their children firmly and lovingly.

What makes me miss this show so much? So many things.

For one, the show depicted a minority family as successful and educated. Originally, Cliff was supposed to be a limo driver and Clair a stay-at-home mom. It was Bill Cosby who convinced the show’s producers to change their roles to reflect a more successful family. While the show didn’t stereotype the family or deal much with the issues of race, it did educate by highlighting elements of African-American culture in the show.

The Cosby Show didn’t follow the formula of the bumbling idiot father, the annoyingly overbearing mother, and the sassy, too-smart-for-their-parents children that most family sitcoms fall into nowadays. The parents knew when the kids were up to something, and taught them valuable lessons, which sometimes were as simple as “listen to your parents”.

In our house, The Cosby Show was important enough in our TV viewing schedule that it was the reason my father bought our first VCR. Did I mention that I grew up in a family of five children with intelligent and funny parents? That could have something to do with my love for this show as well. I related. Watching moments like this make me feel like I am sitting with my dad.

The show also had great guest stars. Guests like Stevie Wonder, Tito Puente, Lena Horne and Dizzy Gillespie contributed to my musical education and were among my favorites. But the most memorable for me was my childhood crush, Danny Kaye, playing a dentist.

The show ran for eight seasons, from 1984 to 1992. It marked a revival for the successful TV sitcom, and set a great example of real family TV.

I miss you, Cosby Show.

Did you watch The Cosby Show? Could you relate to the characters in the show? Can you think of any current shows that compare?

Now head over to Tiffany’s blog to experience some Growing Pains.

Come back next week when Tiffany and I discuss a few of our favorite TNT syndications…the shows we like to run all day long while we fold laundry or bake treats for our sweets. (I stole this line from Tiffany – it captures exactly what I use my TNT syndications for perfectly.)

Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.

A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,