User Reviews

"Home Economics" is a comedy, nothing more. It is about an extended family in which one member is financially well-off and living on a different economic plane than his siblings. This generates some friction, in part due to envy, but also because one wing of the family---the sister in a biracial lesbian relationship-rejects anything on its face that appears to be un-woke.

This is where I think some reviewers misunderstand the series. It is not about promoting wokism; some of its best jokes are stabs at the virtue signaling, hypocrisy and idiocy that comes with some ultra-progressive dogma. When they talk about the pronouns for a pet, you know they know what the real joke is.

Some of the humor might be termed intersectional. Not in the sense that the term is used by progressives, but in terms of the intersection of various doctrines that contradict each other. So you have a scene where the sister is called out for pitting her own feminist ideology against her professed belief that women (and girls) should be supported in their endeavors.

These jabs are not dwelt on. They pass quickly in the course of normal conversation, making them even more impactful.

Like most comedies, the quality of the show depends primarily on its characters. The ensemble nature of this show makes all the characters important, but some carry the load of the humor. And the cast is committed to the humor. The writing is also essential. Though this is not on the same level as "Frasier" or "Modern Family" and thus does not deserve a "10", it deserves more than the "1" that some reviewers have doled out.

At this point, I am content with the balance of the humor---willing to skewer the rich brother or the virtuously poorer members in equal measure.

Season 1 was a mid-season replacement that struggles to find its footing and I feel that's where the negative reviews are coming from. If you see a negative review, assume they didn't stick it out to season 2. While it may fall flat in season 1, the show works out the kinks and finds a nice groove for itself in season 2 (much like Parks and Rec or The Office who have famously disliked first seasons but gained their fans in season 2). You really don't need to watch season 1 to understand what's going on either. Tom (Topher Grace) is a best-selling novelist whose next book in progress is about his relationship with his siblings Connor (Jimmy Tatro) and Sarah (Caitlin McGee). Connor is a tech wiz in the top 1%, Tom and his wife are solidly middle class, and Sarah and her wife are barely scraping by. That's really all that's established in season 1 that you need to know, so if you want to get into the show start it at season 2. The chemistry between the actors really shines and you believe that they're actual siblings. Tom's and Sarah's wives Marina and Denise (Karla Souza and Sasheer Zamata) balance out the chaos of the Hayworth family and are given some of the funniest moments in the show as the two outsiders to the madness. Overall, it's a great comeback vehicle for Topher who is supported by an insanely talented cast of up and coming character actors. Just ignore season 1 because otherwise you'll miss out on a charming, hilarious family sitcom.

I like it, the actors are pretty good and likable. Topher needs to stop with the stupid clumsy acts. They look so scripted and it doesn't work. He doesn't have the comedic timing that the other brother has in his scenes. The sister is kind of annoying but comes together with her wife. I hope the show continues and grows more in-depth characters. I feel it might be the a good show in the spring lineup.

Mostly an effort to fill the safe family programming hole left by "Modern Family" except this is a bit more generationally horizontal than vertical. The series centers on the lives of three adult siblings whose kids are roughly the same age. Their parents (Nora Dunn and Richard Kind) make occasional appearances but are safely in recurring guest star territory while the kids are about as important to the formula as "Everybody Loves Raymond": Screen time is doled out to them if it helps develop one of their parents' arcs. Frankly, they could have recast the kids in between episodes and I wouldn't have noticed.

On to the roll call! Jimmy Tatro plays a well-off financial trader who's a bit difficult to buy considering this actor has appeared quite convincingly in a number of dim guys (from my small sampling). Topher Grace plays a novelist with a bit of neuroticism. Their sister, played by Caitlin McGee, is a lesbian who casually spouts off terms like male privilege and microaggressions. All three are married and all three have kids. The spouses are pretty disposable except Saturday Night Live alum Sasheer Zamata pops up as Caitlin McGee's other half. Way to bounce back, Sasheer!

As a 30-something with no kids and wife (and highly self-conscious about it), I started the show thinking "what's in it for me?" until I started to see how well the show poked at the thin veneer of marital bliss.

Within a couple episodes, Tatro's character gets divorced. In one episode, it's revealed that neither Topher Grace nor his wife have any ability to attract the opposite sex anymore. As for McGee's holier-than-thou wokeness, the show does an excellent line of lampooning her occasional moments of self-righteousness without ever showing her beliefs to be unworthy.

The show might not be ambitious, but it's disarming and has the potential to be consistent entertainment.

I'm through the pilot and part of episode two, I thought it was pretty great so far. Some points where I laughed out loud, some times where I just giggled. I wish people could just watch a show for what it is and not read in to things so far. I have a surprise for you guys, not everything is a conspiracy, not everyone has an agenda. Sometimes a TV show is just a TV show, that is in line with the dynamics of families this day and age. Shocking, I know.

I can totally relate some of these situations and jokes to my family life. It's great to be able to sit and laugh about it.

I think the cast is great, the writing is great etc. I'm excited for another sitcom to add to watch!

I'll give it a chance to be fine tuned over the first season because some things aren't dialed in yet. Overall though it's pretty funny if you are into dry humor.

Thought this was a great introduction to the family! Loving the fact that no one is perfect and the cast did a nice job being likeable. Love all the Matt Damon references and hope maybe he will make a guest appearance sometime! Been looking for a good comedy that makes me laugh and this seems promising!

The best thing going for this is its likeable cast and its interest in topics which rarely get airing, particularly given it's a sitcom.

American sitcoms/scripted TV shows usually ensure all characters (and families) have and maintain aspirational lifestyles (no matter their circumstances, occupation and employment). Even if money is referred to as an issue, everyone is provided with accommodation beyond their means and has the capacity to do anything and buy anything they want. Nice that this attempts to subvert that ridiculous fiction (while still leaving space for the uber-rich). Who knew income inequality was an issue!

The attempt at introducing all the characters feels a little clumsy at times and plays heavy on stereotypes to flesh out its characters which makes lots of the 'jokes' feel a little too forced and contrived. But it doesn't reach the heights of being cringe-worthy in my opinion. With a little care, it could have staying power; I liked all three families and the character dynamics and interactions.

If you view gay people on TV, non-white people on TV, and depictions of interracial or same-sex marriage as 'leftwing propaganda', then this isn't the show for you. And if so, when viewing or reviewing, try to acknowledge the irony of the situation, i.e. The sense of 'moral' outrage you feel (at a TV show) which you believe is depicting the lives of minorities (that critics would say, are) only being given this space because 'the left' are/have been so morally outraged (all that faux outrage, y'know).

Hope 'Home Economics' improves over time, and I hope IMDB reviews its policy on accepting reviews. The toxicity and incoherence of many reviews are now reaching the level of Youtube commentary where veiled bigotry is no longer even veiled. A film and TV review website shouldn't be a public forum without qualification.

Handles the uncomfortable really well without forgetting to make it appropriately funny. And ANYTHING with Sasheer Zamata is worth watching; she's like a "Secret Sauce" that improves the taste of anything you put it on.

It kinda reminds me of Life in Pieces with some of the quick dialogue!! It's true that a few of the jokes are a little over the top with the diversity theme but I thought it was and probably will be pretty good!!

...without the chemistry or laughs.

The actors* do the best they can, but the writing really sucks. I'm all for diversity, but it needs to feel natural, and FUNNY, instead of preachy, like it does here.

*That includes Jimmy Tatro, who plays Connor. Although in the episode I watched tonight, it seemed like he either just came from the dentist, or needs to go to one. Sounds like he's talking through a mouth full of potatoes.

Or as he calls them, potatoessssccch.

And not sure why all the hate for Topher Grace. He's good given the material he's working with, and looks like he's barely aged.

I just signed in to see when I would be seeing more episodes of this show. This was apparently not renewed for a 4th season?!?!?! This really sucks, This show was the right amount of everything and I am very sad to see it not returning. THE POWERS THAT BE, REALLY SCREWED THE POOCH when making the decision to not have renewed the contract for this show, the characters are lovable and the stories are relevant with out being overly PC. Families are messy, intrusive, slightly-crazy, a tad toxic, just like we like it. No one is perfect and we enjoy a great show like this one to see ourselves in. Bring it back!!! PLEASE!

This is one of those shows you want to like.

You actually try very hard to like it.

You like the people.

The basic idea is weak but maybe they can pull it off.

Then you slowly, week to week, give up hope.

Good start. I hope it continues. Modern Family had the right mix. Everyone was smart in their own way. Everyone was an idiot in their own way. No one was better than the other. As a group they were great. This seems to be on the same road but time will tell. I hope so. I miss Modern Family.

Not bad at all so far. I've always liked Topher Grace and good to see him on a sitcom for the first time since That 70s Show. Acting is pretty good throughout and the comedy doesn't seem too forced. I'll be watching more!

Exciting new show! Excellent casting and chemistry of the ensemble! Looking forward to the many stories to come from this new series!

Female sister in the show is unbearable. She can't act.

Home Economics is a "family with mild conflicts working out those mild conflicts while being funny and stupid and then everyone hugs" comedies about three siblings, whose only gimmick is one is rich, one is temporarily struggling, and one is what passes for poor in a movie about upperclass white folk.

It's generally cute. It's amusing as often as not and it's perfectly watchable. But the best moments aren't from the siblings but from their wives.

Most notable in the series are the two most disparate characters. Marina (Karla Souza) is the edgiest, caustic and with a sense of underlying bitterness that gives her jokes a sharp, cutting quality. Sasheer Zamata's Denise is her opposite, a lovely, centered person with a talent for soothing her chaotic wife Sarah. I know it's weird to even say that one of the funniest characters is the calm, sensible one, and it's hard to explain. But Sasheer has great timing and never falls into that saint-like persona, always letting you know she's a real person who is conscious of the dynamic.

These two are almost enough for me to keep watching, but after 3 episodes I decided I needed more than them. I hope they find better roles elsewhere, or that this show gets better writers.

I went in without any expectations and loved that I laughed throughout both episodes I've seen so far. My favorite is, Karla Souza.....since I watched every episode of every season of How to Get Away with Murder.

Just binge watched it and I liked it! I liked the relationship between the siblings. I felt that it was normal behavior for them to fight and support each other. I loved the flaws in the characters. I love the inclusiveness. Good job.....more of this please.

I've never been a fan of Topher Grace but I actually feel bad for him in Home Economics. His characters (Tom) only purpose seems to be the punching bag to his wife, brother, and sister. Jimmy Tatro plays his younger brother, Connor who is very rich, recently divorced and has a daughter. Jimmy is funny in very small doses but in this he's annoying, beyond stupid which makes it impossible to believe he's actually made a fortune in business.

Caitlin McGee plays Tom's younger sister, Sarah who is a lesbian in a biracial marriage with two adopted children. She is the most pretentious female character I've seen in a long time. She is beyond obnoxious and makes stupid decisions constantly that end up screwing everyone else around her. Tom's wife is a miserable woman who constantly puts him down when she's not drinking herself silly.

Anyone rating this lower than a 7 is clearly just annoyed at certain parts about the show; which I could agree with. Although it may be awkward at times, this show promises a good and funny cast along with ridiculous events that happen throughout the season. Only 2 episodes in, but I love it. It's a relaxing comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously. Like I said, anyone giving this below a 7 is just looking to hate on something to make themselves feel better.

I definitely think the pilot episode was pushed to be socially cool and "hip", which was cringey. I gave the show another shot and watched the two other episodes that are out, and I think they're better. They seem more normal. I don't laugh out loud, but I like watching it!

This honestly might have been the worst first episode for a sitcom I've ever seen. But, of course, the only thing the negative reviews are talking about is the diversity of the cast. So here's an ACTUAL review for you.

Topher Grace is not great as the protagonist. He's playing the exact same character as he did in That 70s Show, which if you remember anything about that show is not a good thing. Eric Foreman was always sort of just there and the rest of the cast was what got people hooked. Tom is just Eric 2: Electric Boogaloo, but this time he doesn't have the likes of Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Danny Masterson, etc. To carry him. I'm sure Home Ec's cast are all great actors in their own right (even Topher), but these characters didn't have the charm to carry a pretty plain character.

As for the comedy, I have a hard time saying there was any. There were so few moments that even seemed like they were trying to make a joke and even then they weren't great. There was a moment where Tom accidentally steps on an active treadmill, flies back, and hits his head on a wall. He immediately gets up and says he's fine, like it's some Looney Toons cartoon. But with the tone that had been set by the show, I genuinely wasn't sure if it was gonna be played for laughs.

Speaking of tone, MY GOD, it's so depressing for a pilot of a sitcom. Two of the three families are down on their luck and they make sure you know that. Around half way through the episode, Tom and his sister's wives started having some competition to see who's worse off. It was like that scene in Deadpool where Wade and Vanessa were arguing about who had the worse childhood. However, unlike Deadpool, this wasn't so hyperbolic you end up laughing. It was just... sad. Obviously a show can touch on the subject of wealth disparity, under paid teachers, and the turbulent job market, but you have to have a balance between the comedy and the message. Watch Bojack Horseman if you want to see a good example of a depressing comedy.

The show isn't even "so bad it's good." It's not like The Room where it's so cringey, yet you can't look away. You kinda just wanna turn it off.

I'm honestly really disappointed that this show was as bad as it was. I would've loved to see Topher Grace make a comeback in a show with a diverse cast and well written characters. But that didn't happen. Instead we got a show that commits the cardinal sin of comedy: Being boring.