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 Brothers

(October 2nd, 2009. - Editor)          Michael Strahan, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, C.C.H. Pounder, Colton Dunn and Carl Weathers star in the half hour situation comedy, Bothers, airing Fridays on FOX.

A former NFL hot shot learns that even though you can always go home again, the trip back might be tougher than you think. Mike Trainor (Strahan) seemingly has it all, he’s a good-looking, wealthy and recently retired NFL player living the high-life in New York City, but he’s about to get sidelined. When Mike gets a phone call from his mom (Pounder) who orders him home to Houston, he quickly realizes the more his life has changed, the more his family has stayed the same. His brother, Chill (Mitchell), whose life was altered drastically after a car accident left him in a wheelchair, is struggling to keep his restaurant afloat with the help of his loudmouth associate, Roscoe (Dunn). The dynamics between Mike and Chill are the same as when they were kids, and their sibling rivalry hasn’t lessened with age. If they can stop their bickering, put aside their differences and learn to be teammates, the brothers might just turn out to be each other’s biggest asset. Wedged between Mike and Chill are their parents. Their father, whom everyone refers to as Coach (Weathers), is the local high school football coach and the conservative, opinionated alpha male of his clan. Coach thinks he runs the show, but really it’s Mom who calls the shots. Saucy, stern and a schemer, she is the mastermind of the family. And when she learns that Mike’s business manager took off with all his money, she orchestrates a plan to keep Mike in Houston, save Chill’s restaurant and bring the family back together under one roof again, all without anyone realizing what she’s up to. Mom’s plan helps Mike realize that his family, however dysfunctional they may be, is the only family he’s got. And although he may not have a penny to his name, as long as he’s surrounded by people who love him, he’ll always be a rich man.

This is one of the best planned comedy series of the season. The standard situation comedy format is perfect for the premise and the characters have been created to operate in that framework. There are plenty of ways to expand the story lines and the cast, if the show needs an injection of something new and there is plenty of mileage in the original set up. Add a cast that is already finding their timing in the pilot episode and I predict good things for this one.

The pitfall this comedy must avoid is being called a "Black" show. Yes, the cast is black, but the events of the script are not color specific. This is a modern upper-middle class family who has a lot of family issues to deal with. The writers must be careful not to rely on the easy ethnic or color joke and instead look to add funny moments that will add to the range of this comedy.

I like this show's chances. The writing is sharp and the cast is funny. If it can overcome a poor time slot, I think this one can go the distance.

 

- Editor

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