Rodney

Just found this show on YouTube. One of the best family-ish sitcoms I've ever seen. A shame ABC didn't continue it. I'd have watched every one. Twice.

I saw the other comments and the only way I can account for the variance in viewpoint is the differences in expectancy. I had not seen the comedian before to the best of my knowledge so this was just another sitcom with unknown faces to me. It was good family entertainment, story-telling, based on something one could expect to occur in the home. I really appreciate not having to make excuses for poor behavior of actors on screen (and off) to children; there was no risqué content. I hope that wasn't just this one episode by a fluke, I hope there's more like this to come. We need decency back for (at least) family viewing, even if it means some people will call it flat and others call it predictable. I'm old enough to remember Ozzie and Harriet, and by today's sophisticated and earthy world view Ozzie and Harriet would be slaughtered by commentary and then summarily canceled. In America our tastes have become more sophisticated, but that shouldn't be blindly taken as a good thing. Almost nobody blushes at anything any more, and it seems to take more shock and awe (even in family situations) to satiate our appetites. We're like the frog put in water with the temperature slowly raised to where it's boiling before we are aware (if we are ever aware). My opinion is that it's our loss (just like it's the frogs loss); our loss that we think this show is missing anything; what we need back is our appreciation for a simple story-line made up of genuine family situations. In the show I saw someone who looked how I think Mac Davis would have aged to this point in time (after all these years since his variety show). In IMDb Mac wasn't listed in the cast of Rodney, but when I checked under Mac's page he had guested on three episodes. IMDb is wonderful for answering questions that arise. Summary: We need decency back for (at least) family viewing, even if it means some people will call it flat and others call it predictable. Flat and predictable are an element in life, a good one that makes us feel secure, when someone plays that back at us on screen we should call it a good thing. The fastest of the thrill rides at Disneyland is partly appreciated because of its contrast to the other rides, a point we're losing about Disneyland, about stories, and life.

If you've ever heard any of Carrington's cocksure, edgy comedy CDs, on which it certainly seems as though he's thoroughly loaded, laughing at himself, rolling quite blue, but always with good reason-- the guy is funny as hell-- you're probably also scratching your head at this lame attempt to turn him into the new Andy Griffith. I mean, you can sit through retread of crap after retread of crap, but this man needs a working venue, and this clearly isn't it. The writing is dumb, the pace is slow, the kids are cookie cutter cute and the wife has no presence. But they all stand out when you see what they've done to poor Rodney. If you think I'm being overly severe, go buy a copy of "Morning Wood" and hang on.

'Rodney' (2004) Rodney Carrington, Jennifer Aspen, Amy Pietz, Nick Searcy, Oliver Davis, Matthew Michael Josten. Down-to-earth husband/father in middle America quits his job that he hates and starts doing stand-up comedy, much to the dismay of his wife and kids. Saw the pilot at an ABC Premiere Party @ Times Square on August 22 and although this looks like 2004's answer to Roseanne/The Drew Carey Show, it is a lot better than it has any business being. Some of the jokes fell flat, but that often happens in a pilot episode (especially one on ABC). Several supporting characters are realistic people whom anyone could know. I had never previously heard of Rodney Carrington, but he seems to know what he is doing and delivers one-liners in a swift manner. Certainly promising.

this is the best family comedy since home improvement. there are many situations especially in season1 that common folk can relate to. Rodney is quite simple and down to earth, i love this show, it is probably the best family show of all times! i especially love that this show focuses on family and importance of father's presence in his kids lives. Rodney is funny as hell,i love his songs and stand up comedy. and on the show the rest of the cast do their thing really well,we all want the best for our kids, but we can find ourselves in situations where unwillingly we disappoint them, now who hasn't found himself in that situation? the entire show is well made, hope it stays on for a long time.