Can "Back To You" Revive The American Sitcom?

It's a lot of responsibility for one series, but when the fall season begins in the US, many critics and television executives will be watching Fox's new situation comedy "Back To You" very carefully.
And with good reason: The state of the half-hour sitcom in America is not good. Only one comedy--CBS' "Two and a Half Men"--is a regular top 20 series. And for the most part, the networks have delegated certain nights to sitcoms (Sundays to both Fox and The CW; Mondays to CBS; Thursdays to NBC.) What's more, for the first time in more than two decades, there is not one new comedy premiering this fall on NBC.
So why is "Back To You" being hailed as the savior of the sitcom?
Consider its pedegree. Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd (not the actor) have worked on some of America's best comedies over the years; the show stars two veterans of sitcoms--Kelsey Grammer ("Cheers;" "Frasier") and Patricia Heaton ("Everybody Loves Raymond") as a pair of sparring news anchors for a local television station. And unlike many of the better sitcoms now on the air ("The Office;" "My Name Is Earl;" "30 Rock"), "Back To You" is a multi-camera show filmed before a live studio audience. (So is "Two and a Half Men;" the others I mentioned are filmed with one camera, minus a live audience.) But the show will air on Fox--a network whose last live-action sitcom hit was "That 70's Show;" the Brad Garrett comedy "Till Death" will return for a second season, but it was helped by good numbers when it aired after "American Idol" for several weeks last spring. And the two leads have created such strong characters from the past--particuarly Grammer's Frasier Crane--viewers may have a hard time seeing both Grammer and Heaton in different roles, especially since their old shows continue unabated in reruns.
I've already seen a ten-minute clip of "Back To You" and while I'll wait for a full episode to judge it, the scenes show Grammer and Heaton at their best.
But in television, there is no guarantee "Back To You" can rescue a single genre. If it becomes a hit, great. But remember that much-publicized shows that get early buzz don't always go on to success. (My recent Teletronic article on the death of "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip" is just one example; there have been many others.)
We'll see on September 19th, when "Back To You" leads off Fox's new Wednesday schedule (followed by "Till Death" and the American version of "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares").
Until next time, happy viewing!

"The Simpsons Movie": A Lesson For Other TV Remakes

The best films based on television series don't try to reinvent the wheel; they add a new spin to a familiar concept. That was my thought this past Saturday night as I sat in my local multiplex watching "The Simpsons Movie."
Like many people, I have been a fan of everything Simpsons since its premiere as a weekly series in 1990. (Even before that: I loved the family when they were short cartoon segments between the skits on the little watched but much-praised "Tracy Ullman Show.") But in recent years, I have not been a constant watcher of the show. Other series demand my time; I don't think about setting the hard drive--or maybe because they are so familiar, I usually catch the missed episodes in syndicated reruns.
But watching the first-ever film version of what is now the longest-running American comedy series in history (animated or not) reminded me anew of what drew me to the clan from Springfield in the first place. Sure, some portions of the movie were slow-going; a few scenes were needless; and I missed some of the familiar Springfield residents (where was Sideshow Bob and Marge's sisters-from-hell Patty and Selma?)
But yet, I loved "The Simpsons Movie"--because it didn't forget the basics of the characters and their behaviors, yet put them into unique situations that a 90 minute film could only do justice to.
Always irreverent, creator-executive producer Matt Groening and his team continue to bit the hand that feeds them--watch for the TV-like graphics promoting a fictional Fox network show. It's only fair: The network has run endless reminders about "The Simpsons Movie" for its sister studio, 20th Century Fox. All hail Rupert Murdoch, the omnipotent master of synergy and cross-promotion! (That's sarcasm, folks!)
"The Simpsons Movie" is the latest example of how to make a film based on a television series. It's up there with my favorites--"The Brady Bunch Movie;" "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut;" at least one or two of the "Star Trek" films; "The Addams Family (not the sequel)" and "The Naked Gun" films based on the short-lived 1982 series "Police Squad!" (Among the worst: "The Honeymooners;" "Sgt. Bilko;" "Bewitched;" and a few others I can't remember at this time.) And even better: You don't have to be a "Simpsons" fan to enjoy it.
Until next time, happy viewing!