Speechless

Season 2 is almost over and this show continues to deliver. Speechless masterfully takes a difficult and potentially isolating health issue and shows the world stubborn love, camaraderie and strength all while making you smile. The characters all have their own "extreme" traits - Maya's brazen outlook for one - and it works beautifully in this hilarious symphony of a family supporting each other no matter what comes their way. Also, I'd be remiss not to mention the amazing job JJ's character does at reminding the world that there's so much more to a person than what you see. This show is first class. For anyone that likes to laugh, Speechless is a must see.

Speechless has a ton of heart and the family under the monarchy of Minnie Driver has a feelgood chemistry. I don't think her British origin has ever actually been explained in the show (that I can recall), so it's somewhat offputting at first getting adjusted to an all American family with the matriarch being the lone Brit. It's not a common situation in a domestic sitcom, but neither is much else common about Speechless. From the lead character JJ DiMeo suffering from Cerebral Palsy and his silky-voiced partner Kenneth to their quirky dog Pepper, the entire main cast shines through--each member offering their own form of delivery (deadpan, self-deprecating, etc)--giving the viewer a buffet of all the different shades of comedy available. It's also refreshing that there's no canned laughter--ABC's better comedies tend to share that trait.

Another great thing about "Speechless" is that it never tries to make you feel bad for JJ. The show does a great job at showcasing JJ's humanity rather than his disability, and his personality takes front-and-center stage. JJ and Kenneth have great chemistry and they remind me of a mix of Shawn and Gus from "Psych" and Adrian and Sharona from "Monk".

If you like Speechless,. check out the show "Single Parents" too.

EDIT: Speechless has been cancelled and will not be back for a 4th season. RIP to an amazing show. I'm sad that we won't get to see JJ try to navigate life away from home as a student dorming at NYU but at least the show didn't end with a cliffhanger. Maybe it'll get picked up someday in the future.. *crosses fingers*

Speechless simply put is perfection. Actress, singer songwriter Minnie Driver delivers what we all want to say but usually do not as the Mom. She's surrounded by a cast who shines right along with her. For anyone who felt unhinged growing up this show is for you; it's a great commentary on the things we do not normally see in a comedy. Nothing is perfect here and ins't that spectacular. Kinda like the way most of us live. The 30 minute length gives us just enough to look forward to more and Wednesday night is a perfect place for it. I hope the series creator, producer and writer Scott Silveri continues to elevate this show with great writing.

I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a show where the main character was a wheelchair user played by an actor who actually uses a wheelchair. This alone makes the show a must-see. Admittedly there are the typical ABC-sitcom tropes: the corniness, the less-than-ideal acting, etc. But it's all worth it to see the way they tackle disabilities with an actor who experiences everything first-hand. As a viewer in a wheelchair, it was genuinely incredible. I cannot wait to see where the show goes in the future. I hope that this is one that sticks. If you don't care about it, chances are that you have never been disabled or affected by someone with a disability. (Which is disappointing as the messages in the show are aimed at you.) And if you are disabled, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

It's unfortunate this show only went three seasons. It seemed that season three was where they were just starting to hit their stride. The cast had come together nicely and the writing had a little more edge than the previous years. The entire series is entertaining and fun. Definitely worth a watch.