Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – Gladiators!

This week on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday, Tiffany and I revisit some of our simmering series, letting you know if continued viewing gave these shows a place in our queue, or knocked them out indefinitely. Tiffany returns to the drama of Missing, while I cozy up to Scandal.

In my previous review, I mentioned that hearing the words “political drama” set the bar high, with my previous love of The West Wing. It’s unfair to judge Scandal up against this show, particularly because it just isn’t that kind of show. So, I begin this revisit by saying that this show is not West Wing.

But that’s not a bad thing.

After viewing a few more episodes of Scandal, I’ve had a chance to learn more about the characters. Yes, the mystery behind the storylines, the “scandals”, are a huge part of the show, but the characters are what sells them.

Olivia (Kerry Washington) and her crew refer to themselves as gladiator
s more than once in the show, and as the show moves along, that description is proving true. Not solely because they are so often engaged in battle, but like a true warrior, they’ve experienced it. They come to the fight with wounds and losses that make them who they are, and make them ready to go to war for others.

This team of fixers, a group of people who obviously have serious talent, is a group of people who are also seriously flawed. We are still learning about each characters back story, but every glimpse makes them that much more interesting.

For example, in Episode 5, you’ll get a much stronger picture of who Huck (Guillermo Diaz) is and how his past informs his decisions to act in the present. His past is not pretty and let me just say, that is the episode that really sold me, so if you are on the fence, see it through.

Then there’s my pal Josh Malina in the role of DA, David Rosen. I was worried he’d end up the typical overzealous, by-the-book authority figure who gets in the way of real good being done. He isn’t that guy. Fingers crossed they continue to make him so much more. (Especially if it means more screen time for Malina. Have I mentioned I’m a fan? No?)

There are still elements and characters I am not totally sold on, but the show has given me enough to keep me looking for the next episode.

Vague enough for you? I know. I’m sorry. But I can’t bear to give away some of the surprises the show has delivered so far.

That’s right. I used the word delivered, which means that I am taking this one off the back burner and promoting it to MacTV. Time will tell if it gets a stronger position in my queue, but currently it definitely satisfies and has me coming back for more.

Are you watching Scandal? Is hearing about awesome, yet flawed characters enough to get you watching? Who’s your favorite on the show?

Now click over to Tiffany’s blog to find out if Missing has her hooked.

Come back next week when we review two of the USA Network’s dramas – the new series,Common Law, and the sophomore surprise, Fairly Legal.

As always, don’t forget to find us on Twitter (#watchwed) and talk TV. We love hearing what shows you think are worth a watch, and worth a review here!

A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:

GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – Parenthood

This week Tiffany and I review two of TV’s top dramas on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday: the returning favorite, Parenthood, and the new smash hit, Revenge.

I’ve complained once or twice about televisions depiction of family: the dopey father, shrill mothers, and bratty know-it-all children. Parenthood manages to present an image of family in several ways, none of them being the trite formula above.

The show follows the large Braverman family. Zeke (Craig T Nelson) and Camille (Bonnie Bedelia) are the parents of four grown children: Adam, Sara, Crosby, and Julia. Each of these children offer the opportunity to examine different aspects of the family dynamic.

Adam (Peter Krause), the eldest, is the responsible, successful, and happily married to his equally capable wife Kristina (Monica Potter) They have two children (as the series begins) Haddie and Max. Haddie is a fairly good teenager, but they find themselves entering new territory as their teenage daughter starts making changes that teenagers often do. To add to the madness in their home, the family discovers that their younger son, Max, has Asperger’s.

Sara (Lauren Graham), the next in line, seems to have taken the more free-spirited track in life, landing her back at home with her parents and two children, Amber, a teen who seems to be taking after her mother a little too much, and the very quiet younger brother, Drew.

Crosby (Dax Shepherd) is a small time record producer living on a houseboat, who also takes after the more free-spirited side of the family.  This life results in discovering he has a five year old son, Jabbar, when a former fling comes back to town to introduce them.

Last in line is Julia (Erika Christensen), a very together and successful corporate lawyer. Her husband, Joel (Sam Jaeger), is a stay-at-home Dad to their somewhat precocious only child, Sydney.

 

Got all that?

Now with all those characters, I thought for sure as this show began that many would be flat, one-dimensional. In reality, the writers have done a solid job giving each individual depth. What constantly amazes me is how the actors are able to act in a way that convinces you that these people are actually related. Even the smallest mannerisms can be seen from parent to child. Mae Whitman (who plays Amber) in particular is a stand out in how she can be a fully developed character of her own, but at the same time echo pieces of her fictional mother throughout the show.

The stories are varied, giving everyone watching the opportunity to relate somehow. Single parenting from both a full time and part time perspective, a full time mother dealing with a desire to have a career again, a full time dad coping with taking on the duties that are generally assumed to be a mom’s, grandparents speaking up (or standing aside) on issues involving their grandchildren; chances are, you’ll see yourself in one of these characters.

One aspect that has garnered both praise and criticism is the show’s depiction of Max (Max Burkholder), a child with Asperger’s. It should be noted that the creator of the show, Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights), based the character on his son, who also has Asperger’s. A behavioral psychologist is also consulted in the writing of Max’s scenes, and other consultants are brought in for more intense ones. My experience with Asperger’s is limited to a student I had some time ago, so I couldn’t tell you how accurate the show’s depiction is, but I can tell you that it certainly feels real, and I do appreciate the writer’s attempts at an accurate portrayal.

But what do I think of the show overall? Every week, I find myself getting teary. Whether it is a situation that I can directly relate to, or one that the actors and writers craft so well I can’t help but be emotionally invested, I’m glued to the screen.

Are the storylines action-packed? Not really. But they deliver a picture of family life, parenthood in particular, with all its faults and ultimately, its beauty.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I come from a large, close family, or perhaps it is because I look forward to having a good cry with this show each week, I have to give it a GTV. A home cooked meal at a big table, surrounded by family you love.

Do you watch Parenthood? Which character do you find yourself relating to most? What situations really tug at your heart?

Don’t forget to see what Tiffany thinks of ABC’s Revenge.

Come back next week when we’ll have more TV for you!

Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag on Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future. 

A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:

GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

Why It’s Worth A Watch Wednesday – These Are Their Stories

As 2011 winds down, so does the need to tell you about any new programming on the TV. As a matter of fact, a lot of shows start showing reruns, leaving our DVR queue a little quiet.

This week, Tiffany and I share a few of our standby shows. They’re the ones we turn on while we fold endless piles of laundry, bake cupcakes, or pretend to get something done in the house.

My pick is one of a large and successful franchise: Law and Order. Specifically, Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

The original Law & Order has been around since 1990, and at the time of its final episode last year it was the longest running crime drama around. Criminal Intent began in 2001 and ended just this past May. While not as long running as the original, it definitely held its own with a ten year run, and for this TV watcher, it was the one that kept me tuned in.

Where the original series focused on the police catching criminals and the prosecutors bringing them to justice, L&O:CI paid more attention to the motives of the criminals. The show spent time singling out the criminal, showing what drove them, and generally ended with a confession. Unlike the other L&O series, Criminal Intent did not focus on the prosecutorial element.

So, for a TV viewer who likes good court case viewing, what made me choose the one L&O that shies away from the courtroom?

Simply put, Detective Robert Goren. The primary detectives working cases during the length of the series are Goren and Eames. Goren is a detective who has pays close attention to minor details, has a wide array of knowledge, and possesses a special knack for getting into the head (and often, under the skin) of the criminals he encounters.

Regular readers know how much I love the guys with a gift – Shawn Spencer, Dr. House, Patrick Jane – so it should come as no surprise that the character of Detective Goren holds a special place in my TV heart. After all, it is rumored that his character, like House, is based on Sherlock Holmes.

As the series continued, elements of his life are very slowly revealed that bring to light how he could be so good at what he does, and why he isn’t always appreciated for it. As a matter of fact, this is an element of CI I didn’t expect to appreciate; the characters personal lives are rarely touched on in the show.

Aside from loving the character, I will admit that the fact that he is played by the brilliant Vincent D’Onofrio is the biggest reason that this show is on regular rotation in my house. Whether he’s doing Kubrick, playing a demented serial killer, a tormented writer*, or an alien, I’ve never been disappointed with him in any role. Detective Goren’s character is occasionally over the top in interrogations, but D’Onofrio’s delivery keeps me watching.

While I wasn’t thrilled when the show added another set of detectives to share the caseload, it was definitely still watchable, particularly with actors like Chris Noth joining the cast for a few seasons.

Is this show an amazing feat of writing? No. The cases are often predictable, and some lines are occasionally cheesy, which is why I give this show the MacTV rating. But just like my mac n’ cheese, I’ll eat it by the bowlful, even the cheap kind from the box. Low on the nutritional value, but it will forever be a pantry staple.

Given my earlier post, I opted for a "mature" photo here.

And yes, I did, and probably forever will, have a bit of a crush on Mr. D’Onofrio.

Are you a fan of any of the L&O franchise? Does anyone share my admiration for the “actor’s actor”, Vincent D’Onofrio? What’s your laundry day go to?

Now click over to Tiffany’s blog and find out what she tunes in to when the household chores are piling up.

Come back next week to see what we have cooking!

Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.

*The Whole Wide World is based on the memoirs of Novalyne Price, following her relationship with the writer Robert Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian. Random trivia time: Renee Zellweger thanked him when she accepted her Oscar for Cold Mountain. This movie is the reason why.

A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:

GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – Body of Proof

This week Tiffany and I flip over to ABC, where she examines the long standing hit Desperate Housewives and I discuss the newer (but not brand new) Body of Proof.

First off, I’d like to say that the DVR ate my homework. I didn’t watch Body of Proof before today, but began recording it so I could prepare for this week.

As I settled in on the couch this afternoon to finally prep for my post, I found that my DVR had removed everything we recorded before Monday evening. Everything.

I was able to find the show in question online, and for you, I plopped in front of my computer to watch it.

I know. I’m a giver.

Body of Proof is a show where someone who is smarter than everyone else solves crimes.

Ok, ok, I’ll give you more than that. Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delaney) is a former neurosurgeon who sustains injuries in a car accident (that I never got to see) that make it impossible for her to continue her life as a surgeon. She transfers her knowledge and skills over to a job as a medical examiner. Apparently, she is not only good at the medical stuff, but has a keen mind for investigation and is often a step ahead of her cop compadres in solving the crimes.

What’s this? A brilliant and observant person who appears smarter than everyone around them and uses those smarts to solve mysteries or crimes? GENIUS. Very original. Nothing at all like The Mentalist. Or House. Or Psych. Or Monk. Or…

You get the picture.

What you may also notice is that the shows I listed are ones that I enjoy. Sure, there is a basic formula they all employ, but I love the way they do it.

In the episode I watched, a random one from Season 1, I can’t say that I have the same love for Body of Proof.

The actors do a fine job in their roles. But what is it about writing female know-it-alls that has writers stumped? Is it impossible to make a smart woman likeable?

I mean, I get it. This character loses her career, the same career that caused the demise of her marriage and the disconnect between her and her daughter, so of course she is going to be a little bitter. What I’m missing here is the balance in her bitter personality, the balance that makes me either care, or at least enjoy watching her.

A jerk and a know-it-all, sure, but so funny.

Dr. House is bitter about his bum leg, but at least he is funny when he is a jerk. Patrick Jane is bitter about his murdered family, but at least he is charming. Monk is more neurotic than bitter, but he is endearing. And Shawn Spencer is funny, charming and endearing.

Why didn’t the writers of Body of Proof give me a reason to like the main character?

I’m not saying the show is a total waste. Maybe if I didn’t have so many other choices when it comes to a show with the same basic elements, I’d throw this one in the queue for a rainy day. Maybe if the other choices weren’t so much better, I could be convinced.

For that reason, I give this show a NIVTV rating. Only under the influence, too weak to pop in my Firefly DVDs, might I have the desire to tune in.

Oddly enough, the only other show to receive this rating had the exact same problem. C’mon TV writers, step it up. Watch a few episodes of The Good Wife and learn how to write a female character.

Of course, I did only see one episode, so if you are a fan, chime in! What makes you tune in to this show? Do you think I am being unfair to the writers of BoP? Or do you agree?

Now click over to Tiffany’s blog and check out her review of the ladies of Wisteria Lane, Desperate Housewives.

Come back next week when we laugh it up (or at least we hope) with a double dose of TV’s new comedies: Suburgatory, New Girl, Up All Night, and 2 Broke Girls.

Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future. We’re currently working on our November schedule and would love to chat with you!

A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:

GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – USA! USA!

This week on #watchwed, Tiffany and I take on the USA network in a big way.  We review two shows each, one brand new and one already in progress.  I’ll be discussing Covert Affairs and Necessary Roughness; head over to Tiffany’s blog for the already popular Burn Notice and the new legal drama Suits.

A little something about the USA network.  Their branding, in my mind, is brilliant.

“Characters welcome.”

For me, the most important part of a story is it’s character development.  I can forgive you for a predictable plot.  Or even a meandering one.  If the characters are really great, I may even go as far as overlooking a lack of plot altogether (rare case, but possible).

USA prides itself in characters you can get into.  The obsessive-compulsive neurotic Monk.  The hilarious and observant slacker Sean in Psych. Even their syndicated viewing includes the curmudgeonly brilliant Dr. House.

In reviewing these shows, I was looking for characters I could love.  Or hate.  Characters that I want to be.  Or be friends with.

Covert Affairs surprisingly hits that mark.  I say surprisingly, because I thought it was unlikely that I would relate to the perky and perfect Piper Perabo, who plays the main character, Annie Walker.  Annie is a newly assigned CIA agent, pulled in to work in the covert division because of her grasp of many languages and, well, her hotness.

The good looking cast.

Being hot is helpful when your first assignment requires that you look like a high class call girl.

Sound familiar at all?  (*Alias fans raising hands*)

Despite the familiar formula of gorgeous girl kicking butt while navigating relationships with family who don’t know about her CIA status, Annie’s character is truly likable.  She’s great at what she does, but doesn’t always get it right.  Despite being smart and seemingly perfect, she has to deal with the discomfort of a new job like the rest of us.

Well, except for the high tech gadgetry and an attractive blind tech genius (Christopher Gorham, Ugly Betty) helping her along the way.

Is this a show that will challenge your mental muscles?  Perhaps not.  Will it entertain you?  For sure.  If you were looking for a show to fill the void Alias left years ago, this is for you.

That’s why I give Covert Affairs MacTV rating.  While it’s not absolutely riveting, it may have you on the edge of your seat from time to time, and the characters make you want to watch more.

But wait, there’s more!

Necessary Roughness, a newcomer to the USA lineup, follows the life of Dr. Dani Santino (Callie Thorne, Rescue Me, Burn Notice), a therapist who quickly finds her life thrown in a spin when she finds out her husband (Craig Bierko) has been cheating on her.

A lot.

Oops.

Excuse me a moment while I discuss the awesomeness that is Craig Bierko as the philandering spouse.  Remember the part about hating a character being a good thing?  You will hate him.  There is a line he delivers in the pilot to Callie’s character that literally made me cringe.  It’s not just the line, it’s the way he says it.

Awesome.  Please, writers of this show, give us more Bierko.

While I take issue with the main character immediately hitting a club and bedding the first charmer she meets (Marc Blucas), who just happens to be the trainer for an NFL team, I do enjoy the feisty nature of Callie Thorne’s character.

Which is necessary with the high profile clients she obtains through her newfound relationship with the aforementioned trainer.  Her primary client is a troubled star athlete (Mehcad Brooks) who, in the pilot, can’t catch a ball and has an attitude that needs to be checked.

The show is trying to give us a strong female lead, and I am hoping they can deliver.  I am hoping that “feisty and tough” doesn’t turn into “screams and whines a lot”.

I want to root for the mother taking on her rebellious daughter, her well-read teenage son (who seems to have his father’s smarmy charm…they must keep it in their hair), her wonderfully awful ex, and her high maintenance patients.

More pretty people.

And then, I’ll root for her to get the guy.  Just maybe not that trainer.  (Keep an eye on the team “fixer” (Scott Cohen, Gilmore Girls) and you’ll understand.)

That’s right.  I just told you to watch it.  I’m giving it an SSTV.  I see it’s potential.  Solid cast.  I just need the writers to win me over.

Now, it’s your turn.  Are you a fan of Covert Affairs?  Did you watch the Necessary Roughness premiere?  Will you be watching these shows now?  Do you love the USA network as much as everyone else?  Leave your comments or discuss with us on Twitter using #watchwed.

Head over to Tiffany’s blog to find out about Burn Notice and, one of my new favorites, Suits.

Next week, we get our science fiction on with TNT’s “Falling Skies” and SyFy’s “Alphas”.

The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – Cop Dramas

This week, Tiffany and I head off to different networks, both returning with some cop dramas for you.  The direction I head is an unlikely one for me, even if I do fall in the demographic they’re aiming for.

I bring you a Lifetime original, The Protector.

We can do better.

Let’s start with some kudos.  Lifetime, thank you for producing something on your channel aimed at females that does not involve a woman being beaten, chased, raped or a victim in general.  We all know how much you cling to those themes, and I, for one, thank you for abandoning them for 2.5 seconds.

Having said that…really?  This is what you came up with?

I realize that there are only so many stories to be told.  But if there are several shows on TV with a similar theme, you need to do something special to grab me.

The Protector stars Ally Walker as a police detective and single mother.  She’s the kind of detective who notices everything and is always right.

Like Sean on Psych.  Or Detective Goren on Law and Order: CI.  Or Patrick Jane on The Mentalist.

I love all of those shows.  Each one has something about the “know-it-all” formula that works.

In The Protector, the main character is neither likeable nor unlikable.  There are a few moments when she is being motherly that are nice enough, but nothing to write home about.

Every cop drama has a partner backing up the main character.  Gus (Psych) occasionally uses his great sense of smell to help Sean solve mysterious crimes.  Eames (L&O:CI) is a capable detective in her own right.  All the detectives that work with Jane’s consultant character (The Mentalist) have their own strong traits that contribute.

How about The Protector’s partner?  Played by Tisha Campbell-Martin, this “partner” (or more accurately, sidekick) seems more concerned with bedding other detectives than figuring out the current case.  When she is “helping” with a case, it generally involves following her partner around with no mind of her own.

And everyone else?  Well, that’s exactly it.  They are just “everyone else”.

I wanted to like this show.  I did.  I like “know-it-all” characters.  No matter how many shows deliver them to me.  And with a creator like Jeffrey Bell, known for projects like Alias and Angel, I was hoping for more.

The Protector just didn’t deliver.

While I should probably give this a L&OTV rating, I didn’t hate it as much as other shows.  But I also don’t think it qualifies as a guilty pleasure either.  So, I will have to make up a new rating.

Right now. On the spot.

Let’s call this “Nyquil Induced Viewing”.  When I have a cold, and am under the influence of large quantities of Nyquil, I have been known to tune in to Lifetime, shake my head, and eventually drift off to sleep.  In that respect, this show delivered what I should have expected.

Want more cop drama?  Head over to Tiffany’s blog and check out her review of Memphis Beat. 

Did you watch The Protector?  Were you even aware that Lifetime did new series?

Next week, Tiffany and I both give you a double header (does that make it a quadruple?) from the USA network.  I’ll be talking about Covert Affairs and Necessary Roughness, she’ll be covering Burn Notice and Suits.  You won’t want to miss this one.

Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – TNT Knows Drama

This week on #watchwed, we move away from ABC Family over to TNT, where they claim, “We know drama”.

Based on today’s series, I tend to agree.

“Men of a Certain Age” (TNT, Wednesdays 10 PM) follows the lives and relationships of three best friends, Joe, Terry and Owen, all men in their late forties.

In a time where I can only recall shows that focus on the female group dynamic (“Sex and the City”, “CougarTown”, and other shows that make me cringe), MoCA is refreshingly original.

Joe, played by one of show’s creators, Ray Romano, is a slightly neurotic father of two, recently separated from his wife.  He aspires to join the Senior Golf tour while managing a party supply store he owns.  He is also dealing with a gambling addiction.

Terry (Scott Bakula), a long time struggling actor, spends the first season dating women half his age, but as the show continues, he finds himself wanting stability and commitment, to the surprise of his friends, as well as himself.

Owen (Andre Braugher), the stable one of the crew of three, is a donut eating diabetic, happily married with two kids.  While he has a relatively good family life, he finds himself dealing with issues of confidence while living, almost literally, in his father’s shadow, a former NBA player and owner of the car dealership where Owen works.

The cast in this show is excellent.  Award winning actor Andre Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Street) turns in the expected brilliant performance scene after scene, and Scott Bakula is as charming as his Quantum Leap days.  Perhaps more so.

The surprise here is in Ray Romano.  I’ve always liked him, but never was a big fan of his hit sitcom, “Everybody Loves Raymond”.  I blame Patricia Heaton.  Due to his comedic rise to fame, I never took him for a serious actor.

He is perfect in his role as Joe.  He portrays his neurosis and anxiety in a manner that makes our heart ache for him.  The self deprecating nature of his personality also delivers some great laughs that never feel forced in the midst of every day life.

This is a drama, but just like real life, there is plenty of humor, particularly in scenes where the three sit together at their regular diner discussing their “man issues”.  (Note: If you are a parent who is concerned about what you have on in the house, keep in mind this is a show that centers around three middle aged men. There is occasional “adult” language and situations. Ergo the 10 o clock time slot.)

This is not a show about plot so much as it is about people and relationships.  Realistic ones.  Each character is believably flawed and likeable.  With each character being so different, there is a solid chance you will find yourself connecting with at least one.

This is one of the most solid shows on TV right now, so for that, I give it a GTV.  No empty calories here.  This is wholly fulfilling television.

A caveat: Do not get attached to shows I give a GTV.  Historically, the men in the white tower who make all TV related decisions take away any TV show I think is quality.  I may be the kiss of death.  Just sayin’.

Do you watch Men of a Certain Age?  Are you a man of a certain age?  Do you think you need to be one to “get” this show?  Which character keeps you watching? 

Now, be sure to head over to Tiffany White’s blog to check out the new TNT drama Franklin and Bash. 

Next week, we’ll be filling you in on some cop drama.  Lifetime’s The Protector and TNT’s Memphis Beat.