Back to You

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.

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

Of all the new fall shows that have came out this new one on FOX Wednesday nights called "Back to You" has to be the best! I love the way it's done from the way it's shot with the camera switching scene to scene and the comedy with the funny and witty lines plus to top it off the main two characters are full of tension and have good sexy chemistry with one another. The main reason it seems a success is the acting of TV star veterans Kelsey Grammar and Patricia Heaton. Grammar plays cocky and confident newsman Chuck Darling who's moved back to Pittsburgh, PA to take back his old job at the station after his attempt at news in Los Angeles was a failure, upon return he meets his old partner and old flame the tough as nails and bossy anchor of a lady Kelly Carr(Heaton). The two have a past connection it will be interesting to see if the tension the two have rolls over to love, because they are always at each others throats yet love is still buried deep down. The performances from Kelsey and Patricia are top notch as always they do excellent work both are such experienced TV veterans. Also the cast has some good supporting help from Fred Willard who is funny and very traditional as the stations sportscaster, and don't forget Ayda Field as the hot and sexy weather reporter she can tell me the temperatures and forecast anytime! Really one of the better new series that looks promising and it's witty and funny and has great acting from two experienced TV veterans so let this sitcom entertain and come back to you!

Kelsey Grammar and Patricia Heaton, two sitcom legends teamed up in this sadly short-lived sitcom set in a newsroom.

I enjoyed this show, I thought it had real potential. Not to mention an all-star writing team, many of whom had written for Grammar previously on 'Frasier'. And look at the supporting cast they assembled - Fred Willard, Ty Burrell, Josh Gad - this show deserved to stay on the air far longer than it did.

I think it was the writers strike of 07/08 that really affected this show, and also the breaks between episodes. I wasn't keen on the recasting of Gracie midway through or the loss of Ayda Field either.

This was a well written sitcom, one that wasn't afraid to be smart and warm at the same time. It was a shame it didn't last longer.

It is interesting in this instant gratification generation that folks who saw the first show only are already on IMDb blasting this show. First episodes of 30 minute comedies are usually always a little slow. They have to develop characters so that the audience can relate to them later & then they will get better. These type of folks would have had other great ones over the years canceled.

For instance, CHEERS first episode is really no where near the quality that appeared later in the series. Seinfeld's first episode didn't even have Elaine yet, much less have it's characters fully developed. Barney Miller was very slow the first show. The list goes on, even in the 1960's the pilot to Green Acres is pretty slow. The first episode of Fraiser was nothing over the top either, but given time look where that show wound up.

This show first episode actually shows a lot of promise. It had to take time to develop the friction between the lead characters so that viewers could understand the friction between them which is sure to produce some funny shows later on. Kelsey Grammar & Patricia Heaton are both very good performers, & it shows in the first show.

There is a lot of promise here as when the scripts come along, which I believe they will, the show will get stronger. We have the situation created here where the elements of News Radio can be combined with some unique situations to become an excellent show. The supporting cast looks like they have the potential to come in & strengthen it too.

This type of situation comedy has been done before, but given time to mature, this show can be as big or even bigger than those past series. Let's just hope the instant gratification generation is not running things at FOX. This show had potential but I heard Fox has canceled it.