I've kinda gotten away from so many sitcoms, but this remains one of my few favorites. Not as much a fan as of "The Big Bang Theory" (perhaps my fav sitcom of all time -- and I'm 63). But this is a darned good show...hints of realism while still being offbeat.
So what's my "except for" complaint? It's a strong one. Charlie McDermott, as Axl, is faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar too obnoxious, and I'm darned (I cleaned that up) tired of seeing him wander around in his underwear. You've gotta like the characters to buy into a sitcom. And the character Axl is too far over the top and too much of a do-do head (I cleaned that up, too) to be even the least bit likable...or real. To the directors -- tone him down. Give him some redeeming qualities.
As for the rest of the characters -- BRAVO! Of course, the focus is on Atticus Shaffer as Brick. What a unique little guy, and it's a pleasure watching his performance as a bookworm with poor social skills. As a former principal, I've known kids like that...but here the producers realize that Brick has to be adorably nerdy to be liked...and they succeed.
Eden Sher as Sue is a hoot. Hard to believe she's as old as she really is (21 as of this writing), but her character is so off-beat, and yet so likable. And again, I've known kids sort of like this. This is good acting.
And then we have the parents Neal Flynn and Patricia Heaton. We're not talking Shakespeare here, but these two folks are "real". Flynn may be a little too deadpan, but again, he seems real. Heaton plays it just right.
So, what's to complain about this sit-com? Not a thing, well except McDermott, whom I suspect may be a decent young actor. The situations for our cast of characters are relatively realistic...kinda "Father Knows Best" situations to the extremes, but still believable.
I rarely miss an episode, and in terms of today's television, that's a high compliment.
So what's my "except for" complaint? It's a strong one. Charlie McDermott, as Axl, is faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar too obnoxious, and I'm darned (I cleaned that up) tired of seeing him wander around in his underwear. You've gotta like the characters to buy into a sitcom. And the character Axl is too far over the top and too much of a do-do head (I cleaned that up, too) to be even the least bit likable...or real. To the directors -- tone him down. Give him some redeeming qualities.
As for the rest of the characters -- BRAVO! Of course, the focus is on Atticus Shaffer as Brick. What a unique little guy, and it's a pleasure watching his performance as a bookworm with poor social skills. As a former principal, I've known kids like that...but here the producers realize that Brick has to be adorably nerdy to be liked...and they succeed.
Eden Sher as Sue is a hoot. Hard to believe she's as old as she really is (21 as of this writing), but her character is so off-beat, and yet so likable. And again, I've known kids sort of like this. This is good acting.
And then we have the parents Neal Flynn and Patricia Heaton. We're not talking Shakespeare here, but these two folks are "real". Flynn may be a little too deadpan, but again, he seems real. Heaton plays it just right.
So, what's to complain about this sit-com? Not a thing, well except McDermott, whom I suspect may be a decent young actor. The situations for our cast of characters are relatively realistic...kinda "Father Knows Best" situations to the extremes, but still believable.
I rarely miss an episode, and in terms of today's television, that's a high compliment.