Back to You

Network: Fox; Genre: Sitcom; Content Rating: TV-PG (for some language and sexual innuendo); Perspective: Contemporary (star range: 1 - 4);

Seasons Reviewed: 1 season

In the mist of a career nose dive, Chuck Darling (Kelsey Grammar) returns to the local news station where he got his start and former co-anchor Kelly Carr (Patricia Heaton) still holds up shop. He meets all the newscast regulars: the sportscaster (Fred Willard), the weathergirl (Ayda Field), the hung out to dry field reporter (Ty Burrell) and the geeky young news director (Josh Gadd).

It isn't long before we learn that Chuck and Kelly once, as sitcoms always so elegantly put it, "did it" and Chuck learns that this night actually led to the birth of Kelly's 10-year old-daughter Gracie. Cue the sex jokes. And keep them coming until the series finale.

"Back to You" would be disposable as another lame network sitcom. It's the sheer wattage of talent attached to it that makes the show such a disappointment. Emmy-winners Kelsey Grammar and Patricia Heaton are put together on the same set with halfway decent chemistry between them despite the glaring age difference. Mr & Mrs. Comic Timing. Behind the camera we've got serial-writer Steven Levitan ("Just Shoot Me") and Christopher Lloyd ("Frasier"). So, frankly, I just don't know what happened here. How did such a classy group of actors get buried under a pile of sitcom sex jokes? It's like the "Frasier" side of the series duked it out with the "Just Shoot Me"/"Stacked"/"Oliver Beene" side of the series and Levitan won.

The aforementioned set-up, Chuck, Kelly and their kid, becomes all "Back to You" can think about. Every single episode of the single season run orbits closely revolves around this idea. It grows tiresome quickly, never evolving, never giving the leads something else that might flesh them out. Character jokes, local news media jokes, rival anchor jokes, forget all that - Chuck and Kelly have a kid together. Chuck quickly goes from arrogant ladies man (funny) to a man serious about being a father (unfunny). He instantly falls in love with Gracie and wants the world to know it regardless of the detriment to himself, his job, Kelly or Gracie.

"Back" has a "'Till Death" formula to it. Like Fox is taking all these stars from modern classic sitcoms and using their name to pump life into an otherwise worthless show, while they slum through collecting a paycheck still able to deliver the goods giving 10% of their skill set. Grammar and Heaton are able to strain some laughs out of the material. There are a few good one liners. I can't lie. That is more than I can say for most sitcoms. Ty Burrell makes a good impression as a likable comic klutz, but "Back to You" marks a comedy first for me. This is the first time I've ever not found Fred Willard funny.

* * / 4

I have seen several episodes of Back to You and I feel that its the best sitcom about broadcast news since Newsradio. The shows are well-written and the cast is a mixture of veterans and young actors. Kelsey Grammar doesn't seem to be typecast as Frasier Crane, playing co-anchor Chuck Darling, though he has a little of Dr. Crane's pomposity in his new role. Patricia Heaton is outstanding as Kelly Carr. Fred Williard adds a veteran presence to the show, Ayda Field brings beauty as meteorologist Montana, Josh Gad as the young news director and Ty Burrell as Gary round out the news crew. Let's not forget Laura Marano, fresh off Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader as Kelly's daughter, Gracie who plays the role very well.

My only complaint about the show is the constant fighting between Chuck and Kelly. I feel that it should be more of an ensemble comedy and less of a verbal battle between the two sitcoms veterans.

In an era of boring one-camera comedies, Back to You has revitalized the traditional sitcom genre.

I was looking forward to seeing this show, but I wasn't sure when it was coming on. Luckily, I happened to scroll by it just as it was starting up. It has a great cast, a good premise, but the writing fails to impress. Many of the jokes are obvious one-liners that aren't even funny. Kelsey Grammar can't even save any of the lines. There is no originality, no cleverness; I could have written this show. The only good parts are when it is dramatic; the "humor" makes my head hurt. I need a good, original sitcom besides the shows that I watch on NBC, and this doesn't do the trick. It should be canceled soon. However, I'm giving it a 5 because the cast could possibly be able to save it.

This television show was never given a chance. I never saw it on the air, and only picked up the first season after its cancellation. I don't have much to say about it, but it wasn't a bad show. The first few episodes were a bit ... err ... some might say "boring" but I'd say, not as entertaining as a comedy series should be. But as it progressed through, the show became funnier, and funnier, especially the episode with the fish. But, again, I say "Why must good shows, die young?" and I think its a solid question. I know, in the end, its all about money. Dollhouse was not up to scratch with its ratings, but sold the first season for MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of dollars, so it was picked up in the last minute. Another big example would be Family Guy, it got canceled, several times, and was brought back for the MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of dollars it made on DVD.

So again, I think Network's should have a two-year contract with every show it picks up, because if a show isn't its best at the first season, which most shows aren't, the Network's should realize, mistakes are made, but people learn from them. This show had so much potential, but now, its dead.

8/10

I love this show!! It's so funny, and so unlike all the other shows that are on TV right now. The two lead actors (Kelsey Grammar and Patricia Heaton) are so good together, it's the perfect pairing. They are just SO funny. Every time I watch an episode, I end up laughing my head off. Everything is so perfect, and they have such great interactions. The supporting characters are great, too. It's so refreshing to see a show on anymore that's actually funny. Whenever I think of the show (usually when I'm sitting at my desk in school) I just burst out laughing, which results in a lot of weird looks. There's such great chemistry, it's really a near perfect show.