ABC Mid-Season Pilot Review: Splitting Up Together - Premieres March 27 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 03-27-2018, 03:14 PM

Splitting Up Together - Tuesdays at 9:30PM ET/PT on ABC
Premieres Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 9:30PM ET/PT

Lena and Martin were once madly in love. But, like many marriages, time and circumstance eventually took their toll and the romance disappeared. Finding themselves in a platonic marriage and acting more like a pair of camp counselors wrangling their kids than a couple hopelessly in love, they decide that everyone's lives would be better served if they got a divorce. Still wanting the best for their three kids and facing a daunting real estate market, the couple decides to "Bird Nest" instead. One parent will live in the house as the "on-duty" parent taking care of the kids, while the "off-duty" parent will live in the detached garage, doing whatever he or she pleases while switching off every other week. Could being apart ultimately lead to them getting back together?

Read our review here:
http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2018/0...splitting.html

TMC · 03-27-2018, 08:41 PM

ABC's Splitting Up Together is a fantasy version of divorce -- a mainstream version of HBO's Divorce
Jenna Fischer and Oliver Hudson star in a divorce comedy in which they "come across mostly as generic TV people with typical TV people problems," says Jen Chaney. She adds: "While there are some funny lines and moments sprinkled throughout the initial four episodes... the characters are pretty one-dimensional and the stakes never seem as high as they should on a show that explores one of life’s most stressful events."

ALSO:

It would be better off as Jenna Fischer's show, but she's part of an ensemble
Oliver and Fischer lack chemistry
It’s a fun look at family worth unwinding with for roughly 22 minutes

How Splitting Up Together avoids the pitfalls of romantic sitcoms
"The issue with sitcoms focused only on a couple's romantic end game is that there is no mystery in seeing two leads — that you already know are endgame — meet for the first time," says Megan Vick. "The hi-jinx in the middle might be funny or charming but you can't build tension when you already know the outcome. Splitting Up Together is different because Lena and Martin don't have to find their way back to each other. There is a will-they-won't-they question at the center of Splitting Up Together, but Marin and Lena's respective journeys of self-discovery are the actual story."

03-27-2018, 03:14 PM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,648	ABC Mid-Season Pilot Review: Splitting Up Together - Premieres March 27 Splitting Up Together - Tuesdays at 9:30PM ET/PT on ABC Premieres Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 9:30PM ET/PT Lena and Martin were once madly in love. But, like many marriages, time and circumstance eventually took their toll and the romance disappeared. Finding themselves in a platonic marriage and acting more like a pair of camp counselors wrangling their kids than a couple hopelessly in love, they decide that everyone's lives would be better served if they got a divorce. Still wanting the best for their three kids and facing a daunting real estate market, the couple decides to "Bird Nest" instead. One parent will live in the house as the "on-duty" parent taking care of the kids, while the "off-duty" parent will live in the detached garage, doing whatever he or she pleases while switching off every other week. Could being apart ultimately lead to them getting back together? Read our review here: http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2018/0...splitting.html

03-27-2018, 08:41 PM	#2
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,397	ABC's Splitting Up Together is a fantasy version of divorce -- a mainstream version of HBO's Divorce Jenna Fischer and Oliver Hudson star in a divorce comedy in which they "come across mostly as generic TV people with typical TV people problems," says Jen Chaney. She adds: "While there are some funny lines and moments sprinkled throughout the initial four episodes... the characters are pretty one-dimensional and the stakes never seem as high as they should on a show that explores one of life’s most stressful events." ALSO: It would be better off as Jenna Fischer's show, but she's part of an ensemble Oliver and Fischer lack chemistry It’s a fun look at family worth unwinding with for roughly 22 minutes How Splitting Up Together avoids the pitfalls of romantic sitcoms "The issue with sitcoms focused only on a couple's romantic end game is that there is no mystery in seeing two leads — that you already know are endgame — meet for the first time," says Megan Vick. "The hi-jinx in the middle might be funny or charming but you can't build tension when you already know the outcome. Splitting Up Together is different because Lena and Martin don't have to find their way back to each other. There is a will-they-won't-they question at the center of Splitting Up Together, but Marin and Lena's respective journeys of self-discovery are the actual story."
	Last edited by TMC; 03-29-2018 at 12:35 AM.