Men of a Certain Age

Not since the 70's classics, such as All in the Family, The Waltons, Barney Miller, and M*A*S*H, has there been a ensemble cast with such a depth of characters and circumstantial and contextual realism as Men of a Certain age. This series strikes me as a straight drama with various flavors of comedy, from raucous to bittersweet, sprinkled in. As a 47-year-old male I can relate to it completely, but not that relating matters, since I enjoyed M*A*S*H and All in the Family equally when I was in my teens.

When truth is poignantly portrayed through writing, acting, and production you can't miss it. It's the magic coming together of the whole and celestial alignment that happens when courage and genius are found on both sides of the lens. This show shines and is the first I would be willing to watch in SD on my HDTV since the aforementioned series of the 70's. Nothing is overdone: no melodrama, no ego trips, no pretense, no glamor, nothing special - just wonderful, richly textured exposures of characters made compelling by the final link in the chain - the actors.

As a fan, I sincerely hope they stick to the formula and don't pull a Mork and Mindy - a highly successful piece of fluff, until Mork's character was "expanded" out of its established zone.

It's an easy, deserving, lone 10 in an ocean of "reality T.V." and other vomitous, puerile, formulaic, Hollywood, corporate morass.

Probably should come as no surprise that this smart, funny series about three likable guys from the outer reaches of LA only lasted for two seasons on TNT, a network that tends to go in more for sexy-but-damaged blond detectives, smart-mouthed lawyers and (more recently) the reanimated JR. Maybe the fact that an important theme of the series was coping with middle-aged disappointment and scaled-back expectations failed to endear it to fans of (no offense, Ted) formulaic, escapist basic cable. Ray Romano is clearly the perfect casting choice for a part written by and for Ray Romano, Andre Braugher is always welcome, but the big surprise for us was journeyman action hero Scott Bakula ("Quantum Leap," "Star Trek: Enterprise") in the role of Terry, an attractive, confident guy whose acting career seems to have petered out before other opportunities have petered in. Viewers who have experienced such midlife phenomena as sleep apnea and post-divorce dating jitters may find this series especially compelling; strong supporting cast includes Lisa Gay Hamilton as AB's sexy, beyond supportive wife, Jon Manfrellotti as RR's bookie and third-best friend and Emily Rios (who in her brief career has already been on three of the best shows in recent TV history).

These are flawed, likable men. It is refreshing to watch three-dimensional characters on television without having to resort to "reality" shows. Drama is not a bad word - no really it isn't. There is drama in every life, and placed into perspective it can be compelling entertainment. Well scripted drama, as opposed to the emotional breakdown of a spoiled 25 year-old heiress, makes watching television a good use of time. The comedic aspect of the show is the touch that makes this show so rich. If you're expecting to see Ray Romano rehashing Everybody Loves Raymond, you'll be surprised. Braugher and Bakula turn in creditable performances as well with outstanding support from Lisa Gay Hamilton, Richard Gant, and Jon Manfrellotti. If there were anything negative, I'd say that they are overusing the cable advantage (the ability to swear) just a little. There are times when it seems that the word "shit" is in the script just because it can be. In a show about middle-aged, middle-class men, a little profanity is authentic. But, the term "mother-shit" is not authentic by any means. Men of a Certain Age validates the humanity of men nearing 50. It paints them as real people who have passions, fears, faults, desires, and a sense of humor to cope with it all.

I believe that this is something to keep on watching. The three leads Ray Romano, Scott Bakula and Andre Braugher work out great in their very different styles and characters and the supporting actors are also well cast. It's always great to see Richard Gant for example.

I like how comic scenes in this series are mixed with very serious and sad moments, which make it feel real to me. Of course that's also because of the hand-held camera.

Very interesting format with a kind of nice feeling to it. I really like the mood, the style of the series and how the characters are portrayed. Looking forward to see how this is working out.

My husband and I really enjoyed this show. We are both in our early 30s yet we found this true to life, comical, and not at all dated. The casting, acting, and writing are superior to most of the garbage on TV. There's not a whole lot my husband and I can agree on watching together, but this is certainly a great show. Loved the realities they weave into this show down to doing what you have to do for your family (working at dad's car dealership) and how through it all there are unexpected and pleasant surprises. There's always that one friend that can't seem to get it together and seems to have things handed to him yet you love em anyway. Enjoyed it right down to the season finale. We just hope to see it again next year...don't cancel this show!!