"Back to You" was highly anticipated when it premiered, given that it was the Next Project for Kelsey Grammar and Patricia Heaton, both of whom were coming off highly successful sitcoms. It's too bad that the show didn't live up to the hype. It alternated between Grammar's character Chuck Darling finding out that he was father to a ten-year-old daughter he never knew he'd had (the product of a one-night stand with his co-anchor) and the work environment of a local news team.
I think "Back to You" was most successful when it focused on the wacky antics of Chuck's co-workers, namely Fred Willard as the slightly insane sportscaster and Ty Burrell as a nebbishy, henpecked reporter condemned to doing bizarre "human interest" stories around Pittsburgh. Burrell has, of course, gone on to success on "Modern Family" since this show went off the air. Memorable episodes include Burrell at a furries convention; he showed no respect for the participants, and he paid for it later in the episode! The show's biggest weak point: the way Heaton's character is written. She always appears angry, repressed and defensive, which is reasonable considering her situation: She had been the solo news anchor and now finds herself forced back into sharing her broadcast with a scene-stealing co-anchor she can't stand, who is also the father of her child. We get it. But you have to ask why she wasn't also allowed a softer side. As it is, her character is so off-putting the audience finds themselves rooting for Chuck despite how self-centered and immature he is. I also didn't like the show's reliance on cheap sex jokes. I've certainly heard worse, but there were way too many on this show to suit my taste.
Now that "Back to You" is on Netflix, I certainly think it is worth a quick look. There are only about 11 episodes available, some better than others. When the show is on, though, it's really on, and it had me laughing more than I had anticipated.
(Note: I know Grammar's name is spelled with an "E" but apparently IMDb insists on correcting it. Knock it off, IMDb!)
I think "Back to You" was most successful when it focused on the wacky antics of Chuck's co-workers, namely Fred Willard as the slightly insane sportscaster and Ty Burrell as a nebbishy, henpecked reporter condemned to doing bizarre "human interest" stories around Pittsburgh. Burrell has, of course, gone on to success on "Modern Family" since this show went off the air. Memorable episodes include Burrell at a furries convention; he showed no respect for the participants, and he paid for it later in the episode! The show's biggest weak point: the way Heaton's character is written. She always appears angry, repressed and defensive, which is reasonable considering her situation: She had been the solo news anchor and now finds herself forced back into sharing her broadcast with a scene-stealing co-anchor she can't stand, who is also the father of her child. We get it. But you have to ask why she wasn't also allowed a softer side. As it is, her character is so off-putting the audience finds themselves rooting for Chuck despite how self-centered and immature he is. I also didn't like the show's reliance on cheap sex jokes. I've certainly heard worse, but there were way too many on this show to suit my taste.
Now that "Back to You" is on Netflix, I certainly think it is worth a quick look. There are only about 11 episodes available, some better than others. When the show is on, though, it's really on, and it had me laughing more than I had anticipated.
(Note: I know Grammar's name is spelled with an "E" but apparently IMDb insists on correcting it. Knock it off, IMDb!)