Sullivan & Son

This is an alright enough series. This series could have been a lot better and stronger if the crew had added some extra effort and strength. The storyline of this series may have been simple and straightforward but it was fine enough and still watchable. The cast selection could have been a lot better and stronger. They did not exactly fully commit nor connect to the storyline nor to their respective characters. The chemistry that was displayed between the cast members was weak which did not work for this series. There were some parts throughout this series that did not make sense. This is an alright series that could have been better.

Dan Lauria stars in a sitcom about a bar owner, Mr. Sullivan, who sells the bar to his son, Steven Sullivan, who has given up a lucrative law career in New York City. He goes home to Pittsburgh to see his family and realizes what he's missing. The cast is first rate with a stern Korean mother in a scene stealing role. Other characters include regular barflies played by Christine Ebersole (Carol Walsh) and Brian Doyle Murray who always worth watching. The show has some bumps and needs improvement in some areas but they're really worth watching. I love a good sitcom even with it's faults. You'll laugh, be offended, but you'll enjoy it if you give it a chance to succeed.

Just watched the pilot and second episode and we really enjoyed them! We've always found Steve Brynes' standup funny and thought he did really well in a sitcom role as well. Steve's mother, played by Jodi Long, steals the show. She is flipping hilarious and had us cracking up the entire time she was on screen. As a child of the 80s, I was thrilled to see Dan Lauria as his dad (I always loved him as the dad in the Wonder Years!!). Christine Ebersole is fabulous as the slutty, drunk mom of one of Steve's friends. Rounding out the cast is his neurotic, jealous sister and a group of loser friends from his past ;) everyone's got some of those, right? Really looks like it has some potential to be a good new show!!

I was in Austin and saw an advance screening of the pilot. And it's hysterically funny, and it's nice, it's a family run bar, so it has real emotions and laughs. Found myself rooting for all the characters, laughing, and even teared up a little in the end. Great show.

Steve Byrne as the lead, is charming, and one of the better stand-up actors I have seen, when he says, "I want a good life," you believe him and it's moving, rare for a sitcom these days. It has Dan Lauria, the father from Wonder Years, who is great in this, he's the dad you'd want, if he ran a bar. The mother, Jodi Long, is priceless as the Korean mother. Her and the sister Susan get some of the best laughs.

Valerie Azlynn is so cute, sweet, and tough, nice strong woman combination, and she's hysterical. The jokes are funny, and it's daring comedy with the barfly Christine Ebersole as the former groupie, and Brian Doyle-Murray as the old white racist.

All of the friends and patrons of the bar are great too, can't wait to see more.

I really wanted to like this show. I am a fan of Steve Bryne. He is a very funny guy if you have not seen his stand up check it out on youtube...but I just could not get into the show. I gave it three episodes and gave up. Here is the problem with this show the writers are missing the second act. There should be a first act, a second act, and a third act but with Sullivan and Son there is no second act. They completely skip it sometimes there is not even a third act. For example there was an episode with Steve's best friend where the bar is shut down and he goes off to get a real job. This could be interesting if you actually see him actually working and trying to be a real adult but you really don't see any of that. This is pretty much what happen... hey guys I have a real job now and end of the show hey guys that job was not for me......whats the point of even having that as a storyline if you are going to go in detail with it. Just so you can use it to have a few semi funny one liners? The show does not do enough or involve you enough with the characters and the story for you to enjoy the show.