TV WATCH: In defense of My Boys

The cast, including PJ (center) and the dearly departed Jim Gaffigan (right) You know those TV shows you catch shit for watching? When you bring it up in conversation, you get that look of pity mixed condescension that just says, "I have more important things to do than watch Drop Dead Diva." Look, I watch a lot of crap television, but I don't deserve that look for watching TBS' My Boys, which premiered the first two eps of its fourth season last night. My Boys isn't a great sitcom; it will never be in the pantheon of All in the Family, Roseanne, Arrested Development or, even newer must-sees like Parks and Recreation or Community. But it's a good sitcom with a lived-in, well-drawn characters played by actors (including Norristown-bred Kellee Stewart) who know how to enhance the strength of their characters by playing off each other in ways usually only seen in the aforementioned canon sitcoms. Betsy Thomas' show is a well worn concept: The comings-and-goings of P.J. (Jordana Spiro), a Cubs beat reporter-turned-columnist, and her cadre of often drunk, mostly male friends. Even with the recent departure of P.J.'s older brother Andy, played by the great Jim Gaffigan, the rest of the ensemble knows how to plug the King Baby-sized hole by adding their own deadpan quirk. (Spiro, who like most leads, is usually stuck playing the straight-man but Gaffigan's absence has given even her the opportunity to throw in some slapstick, especially in the second, and better episodes shown last night). TBS clearly markets the show toward women — even if it's a dude-heavy cast on paper — but even more niche than that, it's geared toward a female audience to which Sex and the City might as well be broadcast in Farsi. There are definite similarities: Both shows have an ensemble cast with one leader who narrates the show in hindsight and offers a life lesson at the end of every episode, with communal gathering places to start a new adventure or rehash an old one —instead of the brunch table or at the place with the fanciest pink swill disguised as booze, P.J. and her friends commune in her living room or their bar. But what really separates My Boys is that its a show starring a woman in which her relationship follies are not front and center. While P.J. is dating one of the Boys in the current arc, that's just development, opposed to her character's overarching personality trait. This is a show that portends to be about friends and is actually about friends with the natural waves that friendships ride. My Boys isn't perfect, there are better things during its timeslot, you'll still probably get that look when you tell people you watch it. But at least we'll be getting it together. My Boys airs every Sunday at 10 p.m. Jesse Bikel Posted 2010-07-27 13:18:27

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TV WATCH: In defense of My Boys

POSTED: Monday, July 26, 2010, 8:38 PM

Filed Under: TV

The cast, including PJ (center) and the dearly departed Jim Gaffigan (right)

You know those TV shows you catch shit for watching? When you bring it up in conversation, you get that look of pity mixed condescension that just says, "I have more important things to do than watch Drop Dead Diva." Look, I watch a lot of crap television, but I don't deserve that look for watching TBS' My Boys, which premiered the first two eps of its fourth season last night. My Boys isn't a great sitcom; it will never be in the pantheon of All in the Family, Roseanne, Arrested Development or, even newer must-sees like Parks and Recreation or Community. But it's a good sitcom with a lived-in, well-drawn characters played by actors (including Norristown-bred Kellee Stewart) who know how to enhance the strength of their characters by playing off each other in ways usually only seen in the aforementioned canon sitcoms. Betsy Thomas' show is a well worn concept: The comings-and-goings of P.J. (Jordana Spiro), a Cubs beat reporter-turned-columnist, and her cadre of often drunk, mostly male friends. Even with the recent departure of P.J.'s older brother Andy, played by the great Jim Gaffigan, the rest of the ensemble knows how to plug the King Baby-sized hole by adding their own deadpan quirk. (Spiro, who like most leads, is usually stuck playing the straight-man but Gaffigan's absence has given even her the opportunity to throw in some slapstick, especially in the second, and better episodes shown last night). TBS clearly markets the show toward women — even if it's a dude-heavy cast on paper — but even more niche than that, it's geared toward a female audience to which Sex and the City might as well be broadcast in Farsi. There are definite similarities: Both shows have an ensemble cast with one leader who narrates the show in hindsight and offers a life lesson at the end of every episode, with communal gathering places to start a new adventure or rehash an old one —instead of the brunch table or at the place with the fanciest pink swill disguised as booze, P.J. and her friends commune in her living room or their bar. But what really separates My Boys is that its a show starring a woman in which her relationship follies are not front and center. While P.J. is dating one of the Boys in the current arc, that's just development, opposed to her character's overarching personality trait. This is a show that portends to be about friends and is actually about friends with the natural waves that friendships ride. My Boys isn't perfect, there are better things during its timeslot, you'll still probably get that look when you tell people you watch it. But at least we'll be getting it together.

My Boys airs every Sunday at 10 p.m.

Jesse Bikel

Posted 2010-07-27 13:18:27

You deserve the crap you're taking.  This is a very mediocre show.  Even if its narrated by a woman, the best characters are men.  Just because you might want a show where women drink beer instead of cosmos, does not make this good.

If you learned how to use On Demand, you'd find something better to watch during the summer and not waste your time convincing yourself you like this show.

S.Lyons

Posted 2010-07-27 13:38:17

Don't take any pity looks for watching "My Boys".  It's a lot more true to life than Sex in The City.  How many women do you know who actually buy $450 pairs of shoes ever other day?  The cast of "My Boys" reminds me of my group of weirdo work friends. I haven't found anything better at that time slot on Sunday night.  I personally hate Sundays and this little secret pleasure makes up for that. Be proud and watch "My Boys", dvr it and watch it again.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-07-27 15:34:18

I saw part of one where they all go to Cubs spring training and the redhead dude is in a bar and pretends to be a booze-seeking radar...he goes "boop boop boop boop...ALCOHOL!" and then points and walks toward the bar. That was really stupid and I am going to go ahead and say the rest of the show is stupid based solely on that.

Jules

Posted 2010-07-28 10:36:59

Wow, according to Jesse, if you like this show you don't know how to use your remote. It couldn't possibly be anything simple and less condescending than a difference of opinion. Molly, I've had this in my Netflix queue for a while-I've read some similar opinions that it's not great but a nice little show to occupy your time. I'll have to bump it on up.

Michelle

Posted 2010-07-28 15:26:34

Whoa, Jesse, those are some pretty harsh words.  

I for one would like to go on record saying that I thoroughly enjoy watching My Boys.  When I'm home and want spend a good 20 minutes or so watching something easy breezy this is my go-to On Demand selection.

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 8:38 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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