First things first, I’m not the only one who, every time he hears the title of ABC’s new Sunday-night drama, Brothers & Sisters, wants to shout, ”Brothers and sisters! Pump up the volume!”, am I? Okay, good. Glad we got that out of the way. Anyhow, because I’m not the only one who tuned in for the series premiere last night (according to the overnights, I’m one of 16.1 million, in fact), let’s discuss.
Things I liked: Rachel Griffiths’ textured performance. I especially loved seeing Griffiths (pictured, with new TV sib Dave Annable) dress down Ron Rifkin’s scary Uncle Saul, while trying to suppress a case of the nervous trembles. I also liked seeing all those Alias alumni (Rifkin, Balthazar Getty, Patricia Wettig), though it’s no surprise since Ken Olin is the show’s executive producer. And I enjoyed the fairly intriguing setup that’s killed off the family patriarch (Kelly’s mom’s favorite, Tom Skerritt) before anyone could find out why he’s tapped the pension plans of the family business. (Ohnohemostcertainlydidn’t!)
Things I disliked: The wonky interaction between Calista Flockhart and Sally Field (because we all know talk-radio hosts are meek little mice who don’t speak their minds…wha?); a decided lack of glamour (this is a nighttime soap, is it not? so bring on the shoulder pads and sequins!); and a general disjointedness that’ll hopefully subside once the show’s creative team puts early unrest to rest.
Bottom line: I’m intrigued enough to check out a second episode next week. How bout you, PopWatchers?
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Am I the only one that is having trouble keeping the men separate???
I know people complain when tv families don’t look alike, but still!!!! Even Calista’s boyfriend looks like her brothers/brother-in-law.
Maybe in the future, they could color code them like you do when you have a batch of puppies!
I started watching the first half just because of Sally Field and Calista but I got bored real fast. ABC has done pretty good in the dramah department but they’re running their course. Brothers & Sisters is too much like “What About Brian”, “Men in Trees” and Grey’s; not that they’re alike but too much drama.
Anyway, by now I’m overloaded with new shows, my TIVO is stacking up.
I too am intrigued enough to watch next week, if only to help make sure Rachel Griffiths has a steady gig. Kinda nice to see Balthazar Getty on TV again, with actual lines. Big drawback: Calista FLockahart and Sally Field annoy me to no end.
Was I the only one ecstatic about seeing M’Lynn and Drum finally reunited? If only for one episode…
I really liked the first episode. I think there’s a lot of potential for the storylines and good acting. I was sorry to see Tom Skerrit die so soon though; intrigued by the relationship betw. he and Sally Field and the creepy Uncle Saul. Of course, I loved NBC’s American Dreams and we know that disappeared into the low ratings abyss a few years ago, so who knows!
Well, if you sire 25 (or was it 7?) children who all basically look the same age, you will die of a heart attack on your daughter’s birthday,which, by the way, is sadistic of the writers.
I love Rachel Griffiths just from her lioness performance at the end of “Six Feet Under” when and after Nate was dying. I liked how she ate Maggie, like a femme Clive Owen, ferocious. I did turn on this show. It was –orrid, without the h. Network TV should take a note from the way HBO handles pilots, because this one was shamelessly written, and embarrassing. “Hi, I’m Ally McBeal, and every line of mine will reiterate just how conservative I am, without actually saying anything.” “Hi, Ally. I’m your gay brother Gay and I am going to mention gay things, you know, what Middle America is safe with, you know, curtains and cooking and eunuchism, in every line. Gay!” The ratings dropped off as the episode progressed. And I proudly proclaim I helped with that, and for good reason.
I liked it and thought critics were too harsh on it. it isn’t six feet under good, but it deserves an hour of my time. especially on a sunday night. hope it does well.
I will agree, however, that they need to quit mention Kitty’s politics everytime she speaks. she needs a character first. she can’t just be “conservative girl”. I think Studio 60 is doing a good job at making that one character be more than just “christian girl”.
An odd pilot that was a little all over the place and hard to understand who all these characters were, but Flockhart was fantastic in this. If this show takes off, she’s a definite Emmy nominee. I didn’t see an ounce of Ally McBeal in her performance.
She had some great scenes with Field as well.
Yes, David, it was great to see ‘M’lynn and Drum’ reunited on the small screen! I loved ‘Steel Magnolias’! I liked this show…even though the critics panned it. Rachel and Sally are definitely the best actors. I loved Calista in ‘Ally’ but I think she has been miscast in this one. Maybe they can get Olympia, Dolly, or Shirley to do a guest appearance!
I liked the show a lot. Am surprised the critics panned it so much. I think it has a lot of promise. Rachel Griffiths was indeed great – didn’t see her in SFU so didn’t know how good she is. This is no knock on the show but I’m disappointed Ron Rifkin, who I really like, is not going to be a warm fuzzy uncle to go against his Alias type. He’s supposed to be a sweetheart in person.
The begining was a bit messy, but I think that it will get better. But Sisters meets Thirtysomething meets Family is not original. The late James Broadwick would be shaking his head if he saw this.
The thing Michael Slezak hated was actually the thing I liked most. Sally and McBeal’s performances together were amazing. Two A-List stars together in a scene is really great.
Michael, get out of my head! In the scene with Michael Beach, the first words I said of Rachel Griffith’s performance was “could someone gift bag her Emmy please?” (which is also what I said while watching Grey’s about Kate Walsh – it’s my line).
I think the reshoots mixed some things up and in the writer’s desperation to explain things for viewers who turned in at any time, they did over explain things a bit. However, for someone who loved “Once and Again,” “Relativity,” “Felicity,” “Sisters,” and even “thirtysomething” although I was too young to really understand it, I am glad there’s a new family drama on (and these actors are a dream!)
Rachel was by far the most natural of all the actors but I think with time, people will settle into the roles. I don’t care what people say with “Men in Trees,” ABC is my drama department…
When I saw Ken Olin as director and then Patricia Wettig in the show, I had already had enough. Thirty Something part II, sap, and crap. Good performers in this sap fest. too much.
This show was an incredible surprise. I too loved Rachel Griffith’s performance, and didn’t expect to be captivated by the subtle yet captivating storyline. I also loved the scenes between Sally Field and Calista Flockhart. Since Ally McBeal, I completely forgot that Flockhart can actually, uhhh, act.
Sally, put on your old whimple and fly out of that show as soon as possible. You are being wasted there.
though I stayed tuned in, I have to agree with silas. for the show to keep my interest it’ll have to make the characters a bit more three dimensional…calista flockhart needs to not say ‘because of my politics!’ anymore, and the gay brother needs to be more than the gay brother. likewise with the drug-addicted-solider brother.
also, the non-gay and non-drug-addicted-soldier brother, you know, balthazar getty…did he have a personality/subplot? my dorm-room 13″ tv with antenna recepetion isn’t great, but I think he blended in with the background for the whole hour.
also, ron rifkin is great at the am-I-evil-or-aren’t-I? which he not only mastered on alias but during his one episode guest spot on sex and the city as the vogue editor with ulterior motives…come to think of it, this show needs a little sex-and-the-citying up; less suburban please. less…wisteria lane without the humor.
This show is as heavy as a bad biscuit. I couldn’t make it past 20 minutes. What a waste of a good caste. I agree with Mia about they guys looking alike. The sisters don’t look related at all. Nobody was likable. Thanks ABC for another TV free hour in my life.
…at the end of the day…….
Rachel Griffiths was the best thing about the show. The exchanges between Calista & Sally fields got old fast. But was surprised how good an actress Calista was…as for the ex-Army brother – why couldn’t he have been paralyzed, in a wheelchair, or lost a limb in the war? That would have been more of a reason for the mom to be upset – but he came back IN TACT FROM A WAR where thousands have ended up wounded. Writers missed a good chance there. I’ll watch next week, but it’s bec Griffiths is the best thing in the show.
I really liked the show, great actors, and promising story line.
But… it really reminded me of Six Feet Under. Not only Griffiths (always great), but the father of a large family dying in the first episode to change the lives of the other members…
You add in the family business and the gay brother, and what do you get ?
We can just hope they show will be as good as 6FU, and maybe, if we cross our fingers long enough, we’ll get Patricia Clarkson to play Sally Field’s sister.
PS: And you just know they are waiting for the season finale to use that great mellow coldplay song, “Brothers & Sisters”
Everytime I hear the name of the show I start humming “Brothers and Sisters, Sisters and Brothers, each and every one…” from Free to Be You and Me
I loved the casts performances enough that I’ll stick to the show, especially since the major plot inducing point doesn’t happen until the END of the pilot, so I’ll give it a chance. Rachel Griffiths must have signed on for SOME reason? (Ditto Ron Rifkin, Sally Field etc etc).
I liked it a lot. I was surprised by Calista Flockhart. I liked her in “Ally McBeal” but thought she was a one-note actress. Like other posters I was a little confused by the male actors, they looked alike specially Calista’s fiance and the guys she interviewed with for the tv show. I wished I didn’t know beforehand about the father. I have to stop reading EW.
I think I’m in agreement with the scenes where we are forced to watch awkward interactions between Flockhart and Field. But then again, perhaps that was the point. I mean, they are a shaky mother-daughter combo, but that’s because their relationship is written as such. So maybe it makes sense.
I’ve missed Calista Flockhart though. And Rachael Griffiths did need a good steady role, and she got one.
I have to admit, I was a bit bored with the first episode, until closer to the end when the father died. The whole mystery with the funds, and such. That is what will keep me from running away so fast. I need to know what the hell was going on!
Overall, the days of shoulder pads, big hair, and gawdy jewelry, these days, can only be found on daytime TV soaps. The Age of Dynasty is officially dead. RIP.
I’m not the hugest Ally McBeal fan (although I did watch it for the first 2-1/2 seasons), but it felt really good to see Calista Flockhart on TV again. And she seemed to look good too (happier?). I dunno what it was…
what’s Six Feet Under good? mediocre?
Brothers & Sisters isn’t even worth dis-
cussion. a lot of past-their-prime people
thrown together for a lot of sappy, forced
melodrama. i hope it gets the ax…
I watched Without A Trace, but if they can get a cast reunion of Steel Magnolias on it – I’ll watch! Good idea people!
I’ll agree on disliking the Sally-Calista interaction, but why must it have glamour? Leave that for “Ugly Betty” — this is more realistic of a real family(one not on the run or affected by nuclear bombs or with a kidnapped family member, but rather facing real problems). Let them stay unglamorous, let them be real siblings et. al –something that is sorely lacking on television these days (in a post-”Everwood,” post-”American Dreams” era).