Tonight's episodes of Sons & Daughters (beginning at 9 pm/ET on ABC) are titled "Family Finance" and "Karaoke." What is it about money that brings out the worst in human behavior? My good friend William Shakespeare used to always tell me, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be." Of course, later, when he came crawling to me straight from the pub for a loan, I would throw that quote right back in his face using a phony-sounding British accent. He could write a heck of a play, but he was terrible with money. Anyway, I digress. The first episode, "Family Finance," is one of my favorites. It was written by one of our shining stars in the writers' room, Justin Adler, and directed by David Steinber
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We had our big red-carpet premiere last week at Universal Studios in Hollywood. The producers invited the entire cast and crew, and we ate popcorn and watched the first two episodes in a movie theater. It was so great to be together once again with everyone involved in this show. Several cast members of The Office showed up to support us. After the screening we moved to a nearby restaurant for food, drinks and sparkling conversation.
Let me fill you in on what's fappenin' on Sons and Daughters this week. ABC is broadcasting two episodes back-to-back again on Tuesday at 9 pm/ET. The first episode is called "Film Festival." Cameron tries to connect with his son Henry by getting the whole family to attend the screening of one of Henry's short films. Henry is extreme
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Question: I was going to give Sons & Daughters a pass. The ads for it did not look too appealing. However, after reading your review I decided to give it a shot. Thanks! It was thoroughly enjoyable, all the way down to the opening music (Grateful Dead's "Althea" — thus stressing the improvisational nature of the show). The question is: Is this too quirky for network TV? My gut says low ratings will lead to a quick cancellation, although I hope I'm wrong. What's your take?
Answer: That is the several-million-dollar question, isn't it? The show doesn't clip or promo well, as you noted. It's going to have to survive, at least at first, on critical buzz and the network's patience. I'll consider it a triumph if ABC just lets it stay on the air for the allotted six weeks until Commander in Chief is scheduled to return to its old time period. The early ratings weren't great, but it put ABC in third place against powerhouse House and the expected strong launch for The Unit behind NCIS (a very
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I play Don Fenton on ABC's new comedy Sons & Daughters [premiering Tuesday, March 7, at 9 pm/ET]. Hopefully this blog will be even more exciting, dynamic and handsome than Don Fenton is, if that's possible. Frankly, I've never heard of a blog being described as "handsome," but that's all changed now: We've entered a new era of blogging. This handsome and charismatic blog might just change the way you look at yourselves, and at television. If I can make a difference in one person's life... just one person's... well, it won't be enough. Now, about Sons and Daughters. The central figure of the show is Cameron Walker, played by Fred Goss. I play his brother-in-law. Fred is also one of the ex
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When a new comedy shows up as fresh, original and painfully hilarious as Sons & Daughters (Tuesdays at 9 pm/ET on ABC) at first I want to cheer. And then I start to worry if it can survive. Call it Arrested Development syndrome.
ABC is calling this partially improvised, very offbeat series about a messily extended multigenerational family a “unique hybrid.” Not exactly the next According to Jim, if you get my drift. But unlike Arrested, which turned off so many by constantly going over the top, Sons & Daughters is defiantly low-concept, mining laughs of recognition from the cringe-inducing small embarrassments, annoyances and resentments that define long-term, inescapable family relationships.
As humane and wise as it is amusing a
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