Reed Between the Lines

I love this show! It reminds me of the warmness that I felt when I watched the Cosby Show in the 80's. I normally do not watch sitcoms, but I make sure that I record this show on my DVR. I watch it along with my fiancée and three boys. It is a good wholesome family show that I am surprised to see on sleazy BET. Great job BET for bringing people in their middle thirties, with families, a show that they can be proud of because I get tired of seeing black people depicted as sexual objects, money hungry monkeys that want to fight all the time, wanna be gangsters, drug addicts, and junkies etc. It is about time we had a show that showed that the sane blacks are nothing like those images that we see on reality shows or other sitcoms.

for many family series , "nice" is the best word when you do not know say something more. but in this case the word is more than a form to save appearances. "Reed Between the Lines" is nice because it gives a precise picture of every day reality. this represents its first virtue. the second virtue the use of "spices". humor, jokes, the war between parents and children at different ages, the relations with family, colleagues and the others, the link between husband and wife, the wise choices for create an ordinary universe using the most inspired tools. short, a series about family. remembering many others series about same subject. but, more important, proposing a real useful perspective.

after so many series about family , it is a real challenge to discover something new. parents, children, friends, nice dialogs. at first sigh - only versions of same thing . again and again. in this case the secret ingredient is the honesty. not the humor, not the dialogs, maybe not the performances. family problems in cruel light. few drops of irony, usual situations, great problems and easy answers, the love not in pink nuance but comfortable to discover everyday crisis. a modern series who has the art to use old recipes in wise style. and that does it an adorable TV series. because it has this kind of charm useful for every viewer not only as entertainment but as inspired reflection of his life.

Reed Between the Lines is a quality program, once you take into consideration it is on BET. That being said, the show is just OK. This show has the potential to be on the level of shows like the Cosby's or My Wife and the Kids. The first thing that is apparent is you have Malcolm playing a grown up Theo and Traci is recycling Joan from Girlfriends who just changed careers again. The weakness of the show can be traced back to its writing and direction. Why would you have, Traci play a psychologist who in the workplace acts goofy and silly when she should be a serious professional and let her co-stars get the laughs. She picks the wrong times to be channeling Lucy/Carol Burnett. I do not mind her being silly when she is at home but not in the work place. Another concern is the youngest daughter is at times the smartest one the show. That does not fit when one parents is a MD and the other a PhD. That is the fault of the direction the show when it goes for cheap laughs instead of good humor, but the show is on BET I guess they are doing the best they can do. I hope they realize it before it is too late.

I love Tracee and who doesn't love Malcom...but this show is horrible. They could have at least used seasoned child actors or at least used some kids that attended acting school. The acting is horrible and Tracee and Malcoms characters I don't see the average couple relating to. Tracee and Malcoms characters relationship on screen is too plain and boring. They are not believable as a couple thats been married for 4 years! The storyline is so flat, that I fell asleep on this show twice. Maybe new writers are needed. Try hiring the writers from past successful family shows. I don't see this show lasting one season. Sorry.