astro129

I caught this movie on cable. I was pleasantly surprised how good it was given the relatively unknown actors. The teens' dialogue seemed realistic and the depiction of the home life felt authentic. It came close to being "cliche ridden" but never quite got there. I presume the director had real life experience with the subject matter. I found myself caring about the characters. However, I wish there would have been at least one positive male role model. It was great to see Gaius Charles - who was terrific in Friday Night Lights - in a different role. In addition, Leslie Uggams did a nice job. For "The Wire" fans, there was a cameo by an actor who had a meaty role in that excellent series.

Very good show. The first show did a great job of introducing the characters. Subsequent shows definitely kept my interest. I like how the group is friends but they still annoy each other at times. The 12-26-06 airings were 2 of the best. I happen to be a lifelong serious baseball fan. One of my good friends and I frequently make baseball and real life analogies just like on the show. It's obvious someone connected to the show knows his/her baseball. They treat the game with respect and don't talk down to the baseball savvy viewer. Suggestion to TBS - Market the show to baseball fans - perhaps advertise on various Cubs fans websites.

The show is set in a locally owned grocery store. The founder's son has inherited the store after the death of his father. The characters primarily consist of the owner/son and the quirky employees. A very formulaic premise. I don't normally think of TBS for original comedy. Thus, I was not expecting much. Boy, was I surprised. It was very funny.

The generally unknown cast is appreciated as it is a nice contrast to the recycled comedy actors on the Big 4 networks. The first episode did a nice job of introducing the characters with humor and even had a little dramatic tension. If subsequent episodes are this smart, I am definitely hooked. 9 out of 10.