Welcome to the Family: Season 1, Episode 3 “The Big RV Adventure” (B)
Well, that didn’t last long. I was concerned last week that this show would soon be axed, and, wouldn’t you know it, it took just over three weeks for NBC to decide that it wasn’t worth its time. This episode was indicative of a slight dip in quality, but it certainly didn’t merit immediate cancellation. What this episode did feature which was positive was more of Molly, who is proving to be intelligent enough to figure out that there’s something up with her boyfriend not wanting to have sex with her but still naïve enough to bring the problem to her mother. Katrina expressing a combination of rage at Dan for buying an RV and hunger for the burger resulted in a rather over-the-top field trip to the drive-thru, with Molly and a shirtless Junior in the back helpless to do anything about the situation. I’m not convinced that enough people watched this show to realize what wasn’t great about it, but I will admit that perhaps its broad nature might have been disappointing. It also did seem a bit early in the show’s run to feature Eva Longoria, who for those paying attention played Ricardo Chavira’s onscreen wife on “Desperate Housewives,” as Demetrio’s teacher and Miguel’s ex-girlfriend, though she was fine if not particularly hilarious. It was also strange to see Jamie McShane, most memorable to me as a murderous Irishman on “Sons of Anarchy,” as the cop not seduced by Lisette at the encouragement of Miguel. I do hope that this show’s remaining filmed episodes get put online somewhere, since this show deserved more than three short installments.
Showing posts with label Welcome to the Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Welcome to the Family. Show all posts
Monday, October 21, 2013
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Round Two: Welcome to the Family
Welcome to the Family: Season 1, Episode 2 “Dan Finds Out” (B+)
I’m hanging on to this show for as long as I can, and a big drop in ratings from last week’s already miserable numbers means that it’s not looking good. Content-wise, this episode was a strong follow-up to the pilot, providing some slightly exaggerated scenarios in which the entire family got to all be present together at big life events and important moments. Katrina’s pregnancy wasn’t going to stay secret for long, and having Junior walk in on her while he was trying to go get Molly’s purse was as god a way as any for the news to start spreading. This episode was most productive for the embellishment of the relationships between the mothers and the fathers. The latter already started last week, but it’s the former that was new and surprising in this episode. Lisette seems to have it together, certainly much more so than Katrina in the face of this life-altering news, but she also demonstrated her pushy curiosity, which might create some awkwardness going forward if the Yoders don’t want to be fully public about all of their affairs. Dan’s visit to Miguel’s gym went about as well as their first encounter there did, and ended with a predictably immature resolution on both of their parts. Agreeing to be punched in the crotch for the satisfaction of getting to punch the other in the crotch was rather funny, and it’s good to see Mike O’Malley and Ricardo Chavira having fun playing these dads who just aren’t ever going to like each other.
I’m hanging on to this show for as long as I can, and a big drop in ratings from last week’s already miserable numbers means that it’s not looking good. Content-wise, this episode was a strong follow-up to the pilot, providing some slightly exaggerated scenarios in which the entire family got to all be present together at big life events and important moments. Katrina’s pregnancy wasn’t going to stay secret for long, and having Junior walk in on her while he was trying to go get Molly’s purse was as god a way as any for the news to start spreading. This episode was most productive for the embellishment of the relationships between the mothers and the fathers. The latter already started last week, but it’s the former that was new and surprising in this episode. Lisette seems to have it together, certainly much more so than Katrina in the face of this life-altering news, but she also demonstrated her pushy curiosity, which might create some awkwardness going forward if the Yoders don’t want to be fully public about all of their affairs. Dan’s visit to Miguel’s gym went about as well as their first encounter there did, and ended with a predictably immature resolution on both of their parts. Agreeing to be punched in the crotch for the satisfaction of getting to punch the other in the crotch was rather funny, and it’s good to see Mike O’Malley and Ricardo Chavira having fun playing these dads who just aren’t ever going to like each other.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Pilot Review: Welcome to the Family
Welcome to the Family (NBC)
Premiered October 3 at 8:30pm
Sometimes a simple concept can be a good one, especially if you have the right people picked out to bring it to life. This show revisits the oft-filmed topic of teen pregnancy, setting two high school graduates up for a new plan as they embark upon their unexpected journey with the help of their parents. What this show does best is select its players right, enlisting four familiar TV faces to portray the adults. Richardo Chavira was supporting husband Carlos for so many years on “Desperate Housewives,” and Justina Machado was supportive wife Vanessa on “Six Feet Under.” Mike O’Malley has recently had dependable turns on “Justified” and “Glee” after a long-running role on “Yes, Dear,” and Mary McCormack starred in “In Plain Sight” and “The West Wing.” They make two great couples, and I particularly like the dynamic that Chavira and O’Malley have as Miguel and Dan, started in that funny first scene at the gym and embellished later on in their competitive running towards the rollercoaster. I also enjoy Ella Rae Peck as Molly, who likes to incorrectly use words like “patriotic” and “parochial” to describe society, but has no trouble following up on her words with actions like asking Migeul for his son’s hand in marriage. This show is smart to not have a laugh track, because it succeeds in being funny all on its own. I recognize that most people probably don’t love this show and find out all too uncreative, but I found it very enjoyable.
How will it work as a series? Molly and Junior are sure to have many mishaps related to the pregnancy and Molly’s forgetful tendencies in particular, but this show isn’t content to leave it at that, making Molly’s mom Katrina pregnant too. That should make for lots of awkward tiptoeing and plenty of hilarious overreactions once the cat inevitably gets let out of the bag.
How long will it last? It appears that the most promising broadcast network show I’ve seen so far may live the shortest, if its pilot ratings are any indication. NBC hasn’t done well on Thursday nights in a while, but scoring the lowest numbers for a fall comedy pilot in NBC’s history is pretty bad. Let’s hope that this show is granted a stay of execution so that we can at least enjoy a few episodes.
Pilot grade: B+
Premiered October 3 at 8:30pm
Sometimes a simple concept can be a good one, especially if you have the right people picked out to bring it to life. This show revisits the oft-filmed topic of teen pregnancy, setting two high school graduates up for a new plan as they embark upon their unexpected journey with the help of their parents. What this show does best is select its players right, enlisting four familiar TV faces to portray the adults. Richardo Chavira was supporting husband Carlos for so many years on “Desperate Housewives,” and Justina Machado was supportive wife Vanessa on “Six Feet Under.” Mike O’Malley has recently had dependable turns on “Justified” and “Glee” after a long-running role on “Yes, Dear,” and Mary McCormack starred in “In Plain Sight” and “The West Wing.” They make two great couples, and I particularly like the dynamic that Chavira and O’Malley have as Miguel and Dan, started in that funny first scene at the gym and embellished later on in their competitive running towards the rollercoaster. I also enjoy Ella Rae Peck as Molly, who likes to incorrectly use words like “patriotic” and “parochial” to describe society, but has no trouble following up on her words with actions like asking Migeul for his son’s hand in marriage. This show is smart to not have a laugh track, because it succeeds in being funny all on its own. I recognize that most people probably don’t love this show and find out all too uncreative, but I found it very enjoyable.
How will it work as a series? Molly and Junior are sure to have many mishaps related to the pregnancy and Molly’s forgetful tendencies in particular, but this show isn’t content to leave it at that, making Molly’s mom Katrina pregnant too. That should make for lots of awkward tiptoeing and plenty of hilarious overreactions once the cat inevitably gets let out of the bag.
How long will it last? It appears that the most promising broadcast network show I’ve seen so far may live the shortest, if its pilot ratings are any indication. NBC hasn’t done well on Thursday nights in a while, but scoring the lowest numbers for a fall comedy pilot in NBC’s history is pretty bad. Let’s hope that this show is granted a stay of execution so that we can at least enjoy a few episodes.
Pilot grade: B+
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
