Family Affair

I am disappointed in the production of this show. It's nothing like the original. It has no baring to what the original story line or characters. I am a big fan of Anissa Jones and I was shocked to see Jody younger than Buffy in the new Family Affair. Both do not act like the originals or maybe they are not suppose to be like the original.

I give this new show a BIG thumbs down. I expected more from Tim Curry even though he had to gain weight for this show. Please cancel this show and save production money.

By the way, if anyone saw the original with Brian Keith, Sebastin Cabot, Anissa Jones, Johnny Whitaker and Kathy Garver than they know what this show was all about. The original was not funny but it was relaxing to watch.

I adore Tim Curry but not this show. He's a wonderful actor and he's wasting his time with this show.

One day I was watching an episode of Family Affair and about 3/4 of the way through, something odd happened. Tim Curry said something mildly amusing and then, in the background, I heard something that while not a real laugh, was definitely a chuckle. I checked to see if I'd missed a character in the scene. Who made that noise? , I wondered. I then realized that this show had a laughtrack all along. I didn't even know it was a comedy.

It actually took 3/4 of an episode for even the LAUGHTRACK to laugh....once. I have never seen that before.

If this is a sitcom and I'm still not convinced it is, it has to be the least funny one I have ever seen in my entire life. I am not kidding. It's like adding a laughtrack to the Days of Our Lives or something.

Too bad, because Tim Curry can be one of the funniest actors, if he had good material to work with. Not the case here...Here he looks really bored and ashamed of himself.

I think the writers of Family Affair 2002 couldn't decide whether they wanted to do slapstick comedy, plain drama or a hybrid dramedy, so the show ends up as an odd mix that isn't really any of the above.

The decision not to record the show in front of a live audience was a huge mistake, since the subsequent "laughter tracks" seemed to be inserted out of place. It would have been way better if they followed Ally McBeal or The Gilmore Girls and dispense with the "canned" laughter altogether. There is simply not enough humour to spread out over each half-hour episode. I can't remember seeing any episode with more than two good jokes.

The actors tried their best, especially the younger actors. Caitlin Wachs is brilliant as Sissy and she's perhaps the only reason that kept me watching the show. Her acting is natural and convincing and is a step up from her performance in The Divine Secrets of The Ya Ya Sisterhood. Sarah Pieterse's Buffy has a surprisingly good range of emotions for her young age and has great potential. But the biggest boo-boo for the casting directors is their choice for the role of Jody. Jimmy Pinchak does a fine job as Jody, but he looks like he's much younger than Buffy and there's no way they could pass off as twins. Luckily the two of them have enough chemistry to make their sibling act believable.

Still, good acting alone can't save the show that is neither funny enough to be a comedy nor serious enough for a drama.

How come there are so many bad comments about such a great show? This show is a remake of the 1966-1971 series, & I think this new version is as good as the original. The only 2 surviving members of the original series, Kathy Garver & Johnny Whitaker, ever made guest appearances on this new show.

For those of you (like me) who remember the first "Family Affair" you probably groaned when you heard of this "remake." So, apparently, did a lot of professional critics. Well, I have good news for you -- FORGET its a remake, watch it for itself, and you will find a refreshing, touching, funny show!

Yes, I admit it didn't start out too hot -- sappy story lines, 6-year-olds mugging too much, slapstick humor, and too much laugh track. But no more! After now 6 episodes, its gotten better each time! The story lines now manage to achieve that rare mix of being simultaneously touching and sensitive, yet funny (sometimes laugh-out-loud, other times amusing). Uncle Bill (the rich bachelor, Gary Cole) is learning to parent his nieces and nephew. Mr. French (the butler, Tim Curry) is learning to adapt and now keeps harried but effective control of the household. Sissy (the 14-year-old niece, Caitlin Wachs) is learning, in a gentle way, that she really does need someone to look after her. The two 6-year-olds are cute but thankfully have had little screen time lately.

The cast works quite well together. In particular, Curry is perfect as the butler, and Wachs is a delightful young actress who brightens each scene she is in.

The storylines indicate the writers now realize this show shouldn't be a "remake" but an opportunity to underscore how today's families may be unconventional yet still function and care for each other. If they keep it up, this will be a great show! For those of you with kids, its safe to let them watch. For those without, you don't realize you're watching a G-rated show.

Forget its a remake. If you watched it earlier and didn't like it, give it another chance. If you've never watched it, don't judge it until you've seen it! I think you're missing a GREAT show!