FIRST LOOK: FRASIER MEETS DEBRA in Back To You - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-23-2007, 12:13 PM

June 22, 2007 -- SO you've signed two of prime time's biggest stars for your new situation comedy.

Now what do you do?

You find them a situation - preferably one which will allow them to be pitted against each other in a battle of egos week after week without the idea wearing thin in about two weeks.

And then you hope the situation results in comedy. In the new Fox sitcom "Back to You," the battling egos belong to Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, the most highly anticipated star pairing of the upcoming fall season by virtue of their resumés ("Frasier," "Everybody Loves Raymond") and Emmy awards (Grammer: five awards, 17 nominations; Heaton: two awards, seven nominations).

They've been cast as warring, head-strong co-anchors - Chuck Darling and Kelly Carr - at a Pittsburgh TV station, where their personalities clash and the insults fly.

And, of course, they are surrounded by the usual gang of caricatures - in this case, the chauvinistic sportscaster (Fred Willard), the whining correspondent (Ty Burrell) who was passed over for the anchor job, the portly, over-worked news director (Josh Gad) and a hot-blooded Latina weathergirl (Ayda Field) with the brains and body of a blowup doll.

A look at the pilot episode for "Back to You" - which I would not even think of reviewing this far in advance since the pilot may undergo changes before it hits the air this fall - reveals a work in progress that could benefit from some judicious rewrites and possibly some cast changes.

For one thing, not that anyone in the TV business seems to care these days, but this show's planned 8 p.m. time period (on Wednesdays, leading into the Brad Garrett comedy "'Til Death") seems a little early for some of the raunchiest innuendo I've ever heard on network television.

For example, when arguing over a one-night-stand affair they engaged in 10 years ago, Chuck (Grammer) says: "Kelly, look, denying it is not going to make it go away - we slept together! Alright? This just in!"

To which Kelly replies: "Your exact words that night, as I recall!"

Funny? Yes. Too adult for kids watching at 8 o'clock? Double yes.

With Grammer and Heaton (and also Fred Willard, who's hilarious), Fox has the makings of a comedy series that ought to be a slam dunk, but at present is closer to an airball.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06222007...am_buckman.htm

Mikado · 06-23-2007, 01:58 PM

Thats the trouble with most new comedies these days, too much innuendo, not enough substance! Hey writers, gets your heads out of your a.....es and write comedy thats related to character development and making a real point! ( like Kelseys first show, Cheers! )

06-23-2007, 12:13 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	FIRST LOOK: FRASIER MEETS DEBRA in Back To You June 22, 2007 -- SO you've signed two of prime time's biggest stars for your new situation comedy. Now what do you do? You find them a situation - preferably one which will allow them to be pitted against each other in a battle of egos week after week without the idea wearing thin in about two weeks. And then you hope the situation results in comedy. In the new Fox sitcom "Back to You," the battling egos belong to Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, the most highly anticipated star pairing of the upcoming fall season by virtue of their resumés ("Frasier," "Everybody Loves Raymond") and Emmy awards (Grammer: five awards, 17 nominations; Heaton: two awards, seven nominations). They've been cast as warring, head-strong co-anchors - Chuck Darling and Kelly Carr - at a Pittsburgh TV station, where their personalities clash and the insults fly. And, of course, they are surrounded by the usual gang of caricatures - in this case, the chauvinistic sportscaster (Fred Willard), the whining correspondent (Ty Burrell) who was passed over for the anchor job, the portly, over-worked news director (Josh Gad) and a hot-blooded Latina weathergirl (Ayda Field) with the brains and body of a blowup doll. A look at the pilot episode for "Back to You" - which I would not even think of reviewing this far in advance since the pilot may undergo changes before it hits the air this fall - reveals a work in progress that could benefit from some judicious rewrites and possibly some cast changes. For one thing, not that anyone in the TV business seems to care these days, but this show's planned 8 p.m. time period (on Wednesdays, leading into the Brad Garrett comedy "'Til Death") seems a little early for some of the raunchiest innuendo I've ever heard on network television. For example, when arguing over a one-night-stand affair they engaged in 10 years ago, Chuck (Grammer) says: "Kelly, look, denying it is not going to make it go away - we slept together! Alright? This just in!" To which Kelly replies: "Your exact words that night, as I recall!" Funny? Yes. Too adult for kids watching at 8 o'clock? Double yes. With Grammer and Heaton (and also Fred Willard, who's hilarious), Fox has the makings of a comedy series that ought to be a slam dunk, but at present is closer to an airball. http://www.nypost.com/seven/06222007...am_buckman.htm
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06-23-2007, 01:58 PM	#2
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	Thats the trouble with most new comedies these days, too much innuendo, not enough substance! Hey writers, gets your heads out of your a.....es and write comedy thats related to character development and making a real point! ( like Kelseys first show, Cheers! )