The New Normal

Goldie Clemmons (Georgia King) leaves her small Ohio town and cheating baby daddy Clay (Jayson Blair) to start a new life in LA with daughter Shania (Bebe Wood). She becomes a surrogate for gay couple Bryan Collins (Andrew Rannells) and David Sawyer (Justin Bartha) who takes in the single mom. Goldie's anti-gay grandmother Jane (Ellen Barkin) follows her to cause havoc in the new family. Rocky Rhoades (NeNe Leakes) is Bryan's assistant.

With the success of Modern Family, Ryan Murphy's attempt to make a gay-centric network sitcom is an obvious move. All the elements are assembled here with the gays taking the lead. It boils down to personal preference whether one likes these characters. Goldie is fine if a little bland. Daughter Shania is a little too wacky without another kid to balance her. David is the 'straight man' while Bryan is the traditional flamboyant gay. There is love in the relationship although I'm not in love with them. Ellen Barkin overpowers the cast. NeNe Leakes kinda annoys me. Overall, this collection of actors and characters stress me out rather than make me laugh. That makes it hard to watch sometimes. It's not a show for me.

the only problem is to define it. because it could be perceived as provocative, bizarre, pure gay story. in fact, it is a lovely comedy. maybe an old fashion one. because the use of irony, bitter humor, perfect actors for roles who are reflections of entire universe of relations, family problems, expectations and problems, all around a child, all around a new perspective about family. so, a cute series. and the opportunity to discover new performances from Ellen Barkin. or Justin Bartha.

This show started out with a lot of potential and just keeps getting better and better. It hits many of the hard issues related to same-sex relationships, but also ties in a lot of humor and heart.

The main characters, Bryan and David, are truly in love and the on-screen chemistry between them is obvious. Sometimes the writers can be a little over the top with the "gay" outfits and one-liners (modern gay people are more likely to act exactly as everyone else), but the show does a great job of showing how normal their lives are otherwise.

Shania and Goldie are also excellent characters with their own lovable quirks. Rocky's character is funny, but needs to become more than an African American cliché. Finally, Golie's grandmother Jane is probably the least believable character and needs the most work. It is understandable that the show wants to dichotomize her bigotry against Bryan and David's love, but it really needs to be toned down to seem realistic (actual bigotry is much more discrete).

Overall, the New Normal is definitely worth watching!

The harsh critical reception of this program is uncountable, really, because for so many people the ideas promoted are abominable or simply foreign. I think it's marvelous.

It's hard to think of any other shows that make me say "aw" and laugh too much all in the same thirty minutes. The message of 'The New Normal' is genuine and sweet, and the characters are plenty without feeling excessive and mucky.

The gay couple here is actually a typical couple when stripped of the homosexual title. One man is exuberant and ridiculous while being sweet underneath; the other is laid-back and realistic. The surrogate, Goldie, is someone who is relatable for a lot of people because her dreams completely got away from her but never died. The grandmother is doctrinaire and her great- granddaughter considers her a bigot, but her statements and viewpoints do have an origin.

I must say that I have recommended this show to multiple people and will do so again. I do hope that it is given a chance for a full season and a few more.

I was skeptical when when I read reviews and saw ads for "The New Normal", because I felt that in most shows gay guys are very flamboyant and "heeeeeyyyyy"- like, which is not necessarily bad, however a lot of these characters don't have any depth, no feelings and only seem to be there to have a gay person in the show, who is basically just acting funny, and doesn't seem to have any real problems.

But "The New Normal" is very funny, has a good and very clever storyline, dealing with real and current issues in a funny way, like this year's election, gay marriage, racism, intolerance, interracial dating, same sex parents, and a lot of fringe groups and topics.

The main characters are interacting so believably sweet and honest with each other, that at some points you forget seeing two men. You see a couple having issues, like everyone else.

The grandmother is hilarious! Someone said, she is acting like she is from the 1860s and the worst character. I strongly disagree, I think she is representing the opinion of a very conservative woman, YES these kind of people are out there, please don't act surprised, because you know I am right. IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH DON'T WATCH IT! Is she over the top? Of course! Are the other characters over the top and sometimes stereotypical? Most definitely. That's why it is so funny.

"The New Normal" is an honest, funny, over the top sitcom that addresses very serious issues while taking itself not too serious all the time, and I believe everyone should watch it.