Stars: Justin Bartha, Andrew Rannells, Georgia King, Bebe Wood, NeNe Leakes, Ellen Barkin
Writer:  Ryan Murphy & Allison Adler 
Director: Ryan Murphy     
Network: NBC, airs Tuesday nights
Original Telecast: September 11, 2012

I do like THE NEW NORMAL in spite of myself. I can’t help it. The one-liners are fast and funny, and even though this series does nothing but perpetuate stereotypes to middle America, I still find a lot of it funny — and I hate sitcoms. In my last review I bitched long and loud about the various forms of stereotypes that this show reinforces, and with the second episode it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

In “Sofa’s Choice” we’re all still waiting to find out if Goldie (Georgia King) is pregnant with David (Justin Bartha) and Brian (Andrew Rannells) baby, and the rest of the episode is what happens around in their lives while they are waiting to find results of a blood test.

One of the most brilliant things in this particular episode is Shania (Bebe Wood) running amuck dressed and acting like Little Edie from GREY GARDENS. I mean who would even have a contemporary child aware of that documentary? That bit is writing genius!

How old are David and Brian supposed to be exactly? The first time they meet in a club, with the costumes and hair and music makes it look like 1980’s…which unless they have an excellent plastic surgeon there is no way that was the time period they met. In real life, Andrew Rannells is a year younger than me, so he couldn’t possibly have been in clubs in the 80’s or even early 90’s — it would have to be late 90’s and closer to 2000, which makes that sequence not make any sense.

Speaking of Brian, I’m pretty sure this episode establishes that he is a stay at home house wife who employs his assistant Rocky (NeNe Leakes) to feel more important and like he’s doing something with his life besides living fabulously. He’s sort of like Eddie from AB FAB…only not quite as chemically altered. And, as much as I hate to admit it, Ryan Murphy should have cast an actual actress as Rocky instead of a REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA cast member. Leakes is only in a few moments of this episode, but her delivery of lines is terrible and falls flat of what this character has the potential to be.

Now thanks to Grandma Jane (Ellen Barkin), the philandering box of rocks ex is in the picture and Clay (Jayson Blair) doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Can I ask the practical question of what did these two characters have in their lives that they clear just abandon to follow Goldie and Shania to LA? It seems really unrealistic that Nana Jane just up and goes to LA and then flies Clay out as well….but maybe her pet store money knows no bounds?

The series is still cute for what that’s worth and time will tell if NBC keeps it on the air for a full season or not.

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Article: TV Review of THE NEW NORMAL – Season 1 – “Sofa’s Choice”

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