DVR FIXATION: Buddies and Work Place Comedies

Back in the day, sitcoms took place in the home. Today the workplace and groups of friends are the new family, and TV reflects that. Ugly Betty, Community, 30 Rock, Park & Recreation, The Office, I’ve seen them all … and they do nothing for me. My daughter LOVES The Office, but for me, it’s too much like real life. Ditto 30 Rock… and it’s a shame. It wins so many awards. Every now and then, I give it another chance, but it never works out. I have enough frustrations at work without watching more on TV. I miss the humor. They strike me as sad and frustrating.

But I LOVE The Big Bang Theory. Of course, I’ve always had a soft spot for computer geeks. Jim Parsons does a great job as Sheldon and the writing is spot on. Even the theme song makes me laugh.

How I Met Your Mother started out fun and keeps improving. Neil Patrick Harris is hysterical as Barney. Such a change from Doogie Houser. I hear the character was supposed to be minor. The writers expanded it, because he did such a good job. Not since Seinfeld has a show added so many new words/phrases to the language. For Barney’s Blog, go to http://www.cbs.com/primetime/how_i_met_your_mother/community/barney_blog/index.php

But the most original show of this type in Glee. I keep telling my daughter that musicals are back. She keeps rolling her eyes. You can download the Glee version of the songs they do. Kudos to whoever agreed to put a fresh idea (and not the same old thing) on the air.

DVR FIXATION: Family Sit-Coms

Modern Family is hysterical – all the things that Ozzie and Harriet or even Bill Cosby never had in their shows.

My daughter made fun of me, when she saw I was recording a Lifetime show – Sherri. Single-parent-starting-over is not a new plot. From The Courtship of Eddie’s Father to One Day at a Time, the list is decades long. But Sherri Shepherd is funny. That’s enough for me.

2 ½ Men is a show you’d think I’d hate. A womanizing irresponsible older brother plus whining younger brother, yeah, not a scenario I’m drawn to, but it’s FUNNY!

I wish I liked The Middle better. Patricia Heaton is a working mom in middle America. I should love this show. Her narration is particularly funny, but the kids are just weird. I’ve had it set to record, but I’ve got more than I can watch. This may get cut.

I’m recording all 4 of the above shows, but as I mentioned The Middle is iffy. I’m not watching Hank and Brothers. I watched the first episode of both and Nothing. It’s a shame. I liked Kelsey Grammar in Cheers and Frasier.