17 replies to this topic

[redheadgal]

I read about the show and decided to record it...what a disappointment!!! I love Dan Lauria and I thought the show had a decent premise (NYC-based son returns home for Dad's birthday and decides to buy the bar from his parents, who are retiring.) There is such stale, unfunny, over done racial "humor" on this show that features totally predictable characters:

1. The tough, overbearing, and unemotional asian mom.
2. The harped-upon, never-good-enough daughter.
3. The pride-and-joy of the family, the son.
4. A couple of guys that are supposed to be Mexican who bring two roosters to the bar for cock-fighting.
5. One African-American male who is afraid of his wife (obviously an angry black woman)
6. One man who is Arabic.
7. One crusty, old Archie Bunker type of white guy that spouts off whatever he thinks of any nationality.
8. One randy, older caucasian women.

What makes this even worse is that not only were the jokes stale and offensive, they were not even funny. There are people (Chris Rock for one) that can make jokes about things that can seem insensitive or speak to racial stereotyping but are done in a manner that makes us both laugh and reflect upon what is being said. This show does nothing and adds nothing thought provoking. Yes, I know its a comedy but it's not even remotely funny. And all of the actors, even Dan Lauria, are horrible. Owen Benjamin in particular is horrific.

Here's a Link to the TBS website Sullivan & Son.

I'm interested in other's thoughts.

[OoogleEyes]

Well, redheadgal, stale, unfunny, over done racial "humor" pretty much sums it up. Even though I am from Pittsburgh and I wanted it to succeed, it's just not funny.

Edited by OoogleEyes, Jul 20, 2012 @ 9:01 PM.

[Actionmage]

I thought it was fun and an easy way to pass an hour. It was the first two episodes, so I'm giving it time to grow.

I'm just glad it's giving Jodi Long a more visible vehicle to be noticed. She's cool.

All the ads mentioned that Vince Vaughn was an executive producer, so I figured there'd be bits I wasn't thrilled with and I was right. Still, I found bits that I'm hopeful will get better. We have to have more episodes than two to flesh-out characters so we can have character-driven humor.

I'll be tuning in unless Mr. Vaughn's questionable stamp is stronger in later episodes.

[mooncreek]

I find it interesting that in redheadgal's list, she didn't mention the EMT. She was the only person in the commercials that interested me enough to see this show since even in ads it felt like a bunch of bad stereotypes.

I came in on the second episode (traffic) so the EMT was barely in it. I stayed around to catch the second showing of the pilot, catching exactly how this mess started and lasted ten minutes before flipping.

Basically, my reaction is that the son had gotten away from these people and was stupid to get sucked back in... and I'm indifferent toward him but his parents were so annoying as written. When you can't tell why two people are married beyond sitcom device, that's a really bad sign beyond the stereotype issue. For the culture clash "joke" to work, there has to be some sign of family unity amongst the sniping.

[Cougar High]

I only got to watch the pilot and I thought it was strong. It was stronger than the pilot for the other TBS sitcom 'Men at Work'. Frankly it was stronger than the pilots for 'Whitney', 'Two Broke Girls', and the 'The New Girl', all of which debuted this year. I didn't mind the sterotype humor. I guess because the cast is so strong (Dan Lauria, Brian Doyle Murray, and Christine Ebersole) that it didn't offend me. Compared to the sterotype humor on 'Two Broke Girls', this dialogue was barely offensive. I was so pleasantly surprised, I can't wait to see further episodes of this show.

[Oldernotwiser]

Pretty much lost me the second the EMT woman downed a shot on her way back to work. WTF?

"It's okay, I just turn on the siren and everyone gets out of my way."

[TheBombDotCom]

All stereotyping aside, the show is just plain poorly acted, directed, and written.

[backformore]

the show is just plain poorly acted, directed, and written.

And it gets worse each episode. I want to yell to the main character - RUN! Get away from these crazy people!
I gave it a chance, but after 3 episodes, it's off my DVR. I predict it will be canceled pretty soon.

And redheadgal - you missed one stereotype from the first episode -
The superficial, narcissistic, New York uppity bitch girlfriend who looks down on anyone who doesn't live in NYC.

Edited by backformore, Aug 4, 2012 @ 12:15 AM.

[dhall60]

I was just going to say that if some of you were turned off by the first 2 or 3 episodes, you might like to give it another try. It has begun to evolve into a mildly funny workplace comedy with family-conflict touches. I am in no way comparing it to Barney Miller or Bob Newhart or Mary Tyler Moore workplace comedies, but it does have its own little charm.
The most offensive thing to me is Christine Ebersole's sex-crazy matron and all the jokes at her expense. She's much better on Royal Pains. The mental deficiency of her son is also a concern in the way he is written as a joke.
Mostly I just wanted a new comedy, as I have given up on all the ones that mention a bikini wax in the first episode and the ones where the family has annoying kids.Just saying.....

[Kitty Bac]

I'll be tuning in unless Mr. Vaughn's questionable stamp is stronger in later episodes.

See, this is why I would tune back in. To each, his own, though.

Basically, my reaction is that the son had gotten away from these people and was stupid to get sucked back in... and I'm indifferent toward him but his parents were so annoying as written. When you can't tell why two people are married beyond sitcom device, that's a really bad sign beyond the stereotype issue. For the culture clash "joke" to work, there has to be some sign of family unity amongst the sniping.

THIS! I wanted to like this sitcom - primarily because of the Pittsburgh setting and Vince Vaughan's involvement, but on first viewing, yuck. I'm willing to give it a few more tries in the hopes that they develop the characters a little better. Unless it disappears before that happens.

[Actionmage]

I think I want Billy Gardell to be the three guys' "nemesis". He was fun as the collector, and one or two eps would be about right.

One of the better parts of the night? Christine Ebersole's singing. She has a nice voice.

Hey, Vivian Bang had more than two lines tonight! Don't make a big deal or else they'll stop it.

dhall60, IA with the volume of Carol jokes. Sadly, even if they cut those jokes by half, it'd still be too many. As for Owen, I just think that he's supposed to be a guy who just hasn't pushed himself much. In the second ep/ there the bar was closed, Owen had a job at a bank or some other three-piece-suit-required job. He also did other things which he chose to forget/drop/quit. It's a newfangled slacker type, I think.

I'm enjoying it still, so I hope it gets another season!

[Actionmage]

Dropping in to bump this- next week is the season finale.

Last night's episode was a bit predictable, but Vivian Bang and Brian Doyle-Murray were good together. Jodi and Vivian are super together. I like that Steve is trusting, but not blindly so and is prepared with a plan when he needs. Another quality I like in Steve is that he also didn't really have an 'I told you so' attitude, he just went about trying to help his friends.

I am curious as to what Carol had in the purse that would horrify/squick out the aunt that would make it past TSA. *g*


As for "How Carol Got Her Groove Back", it surprised me at how actually sweet at heart it was. Carol dressing 'old' was insane. The group 'lift' was a hoot- I was betting it was Owen helping with The Balcony instead of the good Father.

Ahmed was super in that monologue to Carol, actor and character. Ahmed Ahmed made it not squicky at all, just a man expressing honest emotion to someone he cares about. Kudos to the writers of that scene.

I hope this show comes back in the winter, if not next summer.

[Joimiaroxeu]

IMO, the comically overblown, emotionally abusive, loudmouth parent claiming to "only do it for your own good" and assuming credit for their adult child's success is a tired and questionable trope, and attaching it to a racial stereotype doesn't help. I guess it's good for the actress playing Steve's mother to have a steady job but it's unfortunate that the job is what I'd consider to be a borderline racist and misogynist portrayal by someone who isn't even Korean (I guess they must have been casting for "generic Asian tiger mom").

I'm pretty much only watching the show for Christine Ebersole, who I'd really prefer back on Royal Pains.

[Pico]

5. One African-American male who is afraid of his wife (obviously an angry black woman)

Actually I think that one is more a straight ripoff of norm. Drunk guys bitching about his unseen wife whose a shrew and he doesn't pay his bar tab.

That aside, it's a decent time waster. I love the mom. I mean, yea it's fairly racist but she just cracks me up.

[Actionmage]

The thing about Ok Cha is that Susan understands (mostly) how to take what Ok Cha says. She also has a loving father. Steve may be "the favorite", but it's not like Susan's a pariah at the bar. The regulars like her, she seems to like them, and ,other than her rivalry with Steve, seems okay.

To quote Steve Martin, comedy is not pretty. There is enough on-screen friendship and warmth to work against the stereotypes, imo. Obviously, with comedy, mileage varies.

With a ten episode Season 2 coming, hopefully, the show will be able to build on the average of 2.5 million viewers.

[prosperity2day]

Pico
That aside, it's a decent time waster. I love the mom. I mean, yea it's fairly racist but she just cracks me up.

I love comedy and I agree it's a decent time waster. I like a little bit about all the characters on the show. Since it's on a cable channel it will probably be around for a few seasons. Wouldn't stand a chance on one of the main network channels.

[Joimiaroxeu]

To quote Steve Martin, comedy is not pretty.

Ah, yes, the guy who squandered his comedy legacy built on the likes of The Jerk and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles and gave the world Father of the Bride I and II, Cheaper by the Dozen 1 and 2, and the Pink Panther 1 and 2, all retreads which didn't need to be made. Not pretty indeed.

The thing about Ok Cha is that Susan understands (mostly) how to take what Ok Cha says.

I think Susan takes it sort of like how a much-abused spouse or child learns how to take a punch. It doesn't change the fact that they're being punched.

There is enough on-screen friendship and warmth to work against the stereotypes, imo.

I agree about all of the stereotypes except the tiger mom. That character is allowed to be offensive with impunity and there has been nothing--so far--to counterbalance it. Sure, Ok Cha is being played for laughs but it seems to me like the laughs are supposed to be in support of her versus against her. I wonder if someone (Steve Byrne, perhaps?) originally had the idea of writing a show about the tiger mom concept and this is what it turned out to be: a barely begrudging valentine surrounded by a bunch of standard sitcom characters.

Sure, this show is good enough for second or third tier cable but so far I'm not seeing it as a lot to be proud of. Hopefully before the next season the people writing and producing it will do a post mortem and rework the problematic issues.

[Actionmage]

Bumping this up to ask if anyone's seen the new season start date?

 

 

 

Adding- June 13th is the start of the new season. Also, the TBS site has info on the four lead guys' comedy tour.

Edited by Actionmage, May 14, 2013 @ 3:12 PM.