Fall TV Preview

The New TV Reality: Complex Characters, well-written scripts

Reality TV shows have become the nation’s hottest rage as viewers excitedly tune in every week to see what unexpected things will happen in real life to the shows’ colorful casts of characters. Whether it’s talent shows, such as American Idol, competition shows such as Survivor, or marriage-related shows such as Who Wants To Marry My Dad, reality shows have meant a ratings bonanza for the networks.

Ironically, TV sitcoms and dramas are now emerging as the new “reality” TV because they may come closer to depicting real life than the reality shows. Whereas reality programming captures “real people” in unreal circumstances (such as a deserted island or French chateau), today’s scripted entertainment accurately depicts situations that come closest to the real lives of Americans. Shows such as CSI: Miami, JAG and Law & Order explore complex characters and relationships as they delve into dilemmas of ethics, family relationships, and personal struggles. While the subject matter runs the gamut— from emergency rooms to courtrooms— these shows are all examples of storytelling at its finest.

Since its inception, television has been defined by its remarkable, and usually lovable, characters, including Lucy, Andy Griffith, and the Brady family. But in retrospect, perhaps many of our TV icons were a bit too one-dimensional, too predictable. There was comfort in knowing what you could expect from your favorite show once a week.

But television programming has evolved over the last few decades and prime-time viewing is the better for it. Now we have a plethora of multi-dimensional characters who are far from perfect. Like the rest of us, they sometimes make bad choices for the wrong reasons, or follow their hearts instead of their heads. The same character may at times be affectionate, agitated, threatened or secure. But what always gets them through their seemingly insurmountable travails is the indefatigable spirit of human nature. This basic drive and desire are the common threads that transcend various environments.

Rather than going for the quick laugh, the shows’ creators allow the story lines to slowly unfold so that the viewers can become deeply engaged with each character. The characters become like members of the family, for whom you can root to succeed and empathize with when they fail.

As the 2003 fall season gets underway, there are several new shows that epitomize the art of storytelling and celebrate the things we all have in common. Tackling topics such as job loss or the blending of two families, these new prime-time shows capture real characters and real life.

Joan of Arcadia (CBS), Fridays, 8 p.m., ET

When a fellow passenger, who happens to be cute, follows 15-year-old Joan off the bus and strikes up a conversation, she’s flattered and ready to flirt. Then he explains to her that he’s God, speaking to her in a form that she can understand. Why her? He won’t say. He just tells her that there’s a job opening at a bookstore, and that she needs to fill it. So starts her regular conversations with God, who later appears in a less attractive physical form as the school’s cafeteria lady.

Meanwhile, Joan still has to deal with the usual problems of school and boys and family. “I originally wanted to stay close to real Joan of Arc story,” says Barbara Hall, the show’s creator.

“I read a biography that caused me to frame the show as a father/daughter story. I became interested in seeing what was happening to her in context of her family, because with Joan of Arc there were big repercussions with her family.”

Mary Steenburgen, who plays Joan’s mother, says, “The thing I admired about this is that Barbara Hall took a great big fat scary chance and wrote about something that actually is worth thinking about. There’s nothing formulaic about it; there’s nothing safe about it. One of the things that I responded to is that the scripts are filled with humor and a genuine connectedness in terms of family.”

Hope & Faith (ABC), Fridays, 9 p.m., ET

Hope, a stay-at-home mom to three kids, enjoys a nice, orderly suburban life. Her sister Faith, a self-involved soap opera actress, finds herself unemployed when her TV character is suddenly killed off. Faith and her inflated ego sweep into Hope’s home, and things will never be the same. It’s a classic clash of sisters, whose dramatically different lifestyles rub each other the wrong way.

Unlike Married To The Kellys, this series is the reverse of real life for its two stars. Faith Ford plays Hope, the mom, but has no children in real life, while Kelly Ripa, who plays Faith, is a mother to three kids. “Before I got married and had kids, I think I was a lot like Faith,” Ripa says. “I mean, totally self-involved and totally about ‘do you think I look fat in this?’ I could, for all intents and purposes, spend two-and-a-half hours picking out a lip gloss. That’s a young, self-involved woman thing and I think there’s a little bit of that in all of us.”

Ford, on the other hand, says, “I have always loved and wanted to play a great mom. I don’t have kids at this point in my life, but I have a tendency to be a very mothering person anyway.”

All of Us (UPN), Tuesdays, 8:30 p.m., ET

Movie stars Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett-Smith are the executive producers of this show that’s based on their own experience as a blended family. All of Us centers on Robert (Duane Martin), an entertainment reporter in Los Angeles, who’s about to get married. He’s been married before, and shares custody of his 5-year-old son with his ex-wife, which leads to assorted complications and clashes. First wife Neesee doesn’t want to be replaced as Mommy, while bride-to-be Tia bristles at Neesee’s permanent place in her new life. Robert has to be the mediator, and everyone wants to be sure that little Bobby Jr. stays unhurt by all the changes.

“We wanted a sitcom that really reflected a piece of life that you don’t see often on television and a piece of life that’s very difficult to deal with,” says Jada Pinkett Smith. “Audiences are much more sophisticated now, which gives us more room to explore so many different areas. Comedy is a great way to pierce a heart and to pierce the soul. So I’m just thankful that the networks are open to allowing us to have very dramatic elements within this sitcom, and that it works so well.”

Married To The Kellys (ABC), Fridays, 8:30 p.m., ET

Tom (played by Breckin Meyer) is a New York writer who leads a solitary sort of life. He marries Susan, a friendly Kansas-born girl from a gregarious and close-knit family. When Tom sells his first book, he promises Susan they can move anywhere. Goodbye Manhattan, hello Kansas! But don’t expect cool-city-guy-just-doesn’t-get-these-Midwesterners jokes. “It’s not about geography at all,” says Tom Hertz, the show’s creator. “It’s about a guy who was an only child and had a quiet, latchkey life taking care of himself, and he doesn’t know how to be part of a big family.”

The show treats all of its characters with a gentle affection. Susan’s mom keeps track of her family’s transgressions by making dog magnets with each of their names, placed outside a picture of a small house. One wrong move and she places their magnet “in the doghouse.” Susan’s sister Mary takes zealous pleasure in challenging Tom on everything. Louis, Susan’s younger, somewhat odd, brother, collects bugs. Uncle Dave, the rich one in the family, has people kiss his ring. But all of them consider Tom family. “What I really hope people see that’s different about this show is that the in-laws are not annoying, they’re not intrusive, they’re not wacky,” Hertz says. “They’re a good family, and Tom just has to figure out how to be a part of it.”

Run of the House (WB), Thursdays, 9:30 p.m., ET

Every teenager’s dream comes true for 15-year-old Brooke when her parents temporarily move to Arizona for her father’s health, leaving her at home with her three older siblings. “This is so cool!” they all agree. But then the three oldest realize they have to set rules for their little sister, and Brooke realizes that they’ll actually enforce them.

Oldest brother Kurt, played by former teen dreamboat Joey Lawrence (Blossom), gets most parental on Brooke, especially when he catches her getting her first kiss—in her bedroom. Sister Sally tends to think about herself more than her little sister, and Chris, who just dropped out of law school, just wants everyone to have fun.

“I have three older siblings in real life, except I have two older sisters and one brother,” reveals Margo Harshman, who plays Brooke. “The character Chris is like my older brother, because he’s hilarious, and he’s always watching out for me. One time when I was having trouble with a friend, my brother came up to me and said, ‘Margo, I’ve got a full tank of gas and nothing but time. Let’s go!’”

Joan of Arcadia (CBS), Fridays, 8 p.m., ET

When a fellow passenger, who happens to be cute, follows 15-year-old Joan off the bus and strikes up a conversation, she’s flattered and ready to flirt. Then he explains to her that he’s God, speaking to her in a form that she can understand. Why her? He won’t say. He just tells her that there’s a job opening at a bookstore, and that she needs to fill it. So starts her regular conversations with God, who later appears in a less attractive physical form as the school’s cafeteria lady.

Meanwhile, Joan still has to deal with the usual problems of school and boys and family. “I originally wanted to stay close to real Joan of Arc story,” says Barbara Hall, the show’s creator.

“I read a biography that caused me to frame the show as a father/daughter story. I became interested in seeing what was happening to her in context of her family, because with Joan of Arc there were big repercussions with her family.”

Mary Steenburgen, who plays Joan’s mother, says, “The thing I admired about this is that Barbara Hall took a great big fat scary chance and wrote about something that actually is worth thinking about. There’s nothing formulaic about it; there’s nothing safe about it. One of the things that I responded to is that the scripts are filled with humor and a genuine connectedness in terms of family.”

Hope & Faith (ABC), Fridays, 9 p.m., ET

Hope, a stay-at-home mom to three kids, enjoys a nice, orderly suburban life. Her sister Faith, a self-involved soap opera actress, finds herself unemployed when her TV character is suddenly killed off. Faith and her inflated ego sweep into Hope’s home, and things will never be the same. It’s a classic clash of sisters, whose dramatically different lifestyles rub each other the wrong way.

Unlike Married To The Kellys, this series is the reverse of real life for its two stars. Faith Ford plays Hope, the mom, but has no children in real life, while Kelly Ripa, who plays Faith, is a mother to three kids. “Before I got married and had kids, I think I was a lot like Faith,” Ripa says. “I mean, totally self-involved and totally about ‘do you think I look fat in this?’ I could, for all intents and purposes, spend two-and-a-half hours picking out a lip gloss. That’s a young, self-involved woman thing and I think there’s a little bit of that in all of us.”

Ford, on the other hand, says, “I have always loved and wanted to play a great mom. I don’t have kids at this point in my life, but I have a tendency to be a very mothering person anyway.”

All of Us (UPN), Tuesdays, 8:30 p.m., ET

Movie stars Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett-Smith are the executive producers of this show that’s based on their own experience as a blended family. All of Us centers on Robert (Duane Martin), an entertainment reporter in Los Angeles, who’s about to get married. He’s been married before, and shares custody of his 5-year-old son with his ex-wife, which leads to assorted complications and clashes. First wife Neesee doesn’t want to be replaced as Mommy, while bride-to-be Tia bristles at Neesee’s permanent place in her new life. Robert has to be the mediator, and everyone wants to be sure that little Bobby Jr. stays unhurt by all the changes.

“We wanted a sitcom that really reflected a piece of life that you don’t see often on television and a piece of life that’s very difficult to deal with,” says Jada Pinkett Smith. “Audiences are much more sophisticated now, which gives us more room to explore so many different areas. Comedy is a great way to pierce a heart and to pierce the soul. So I’m just thankful that the networks are open to allowing us to have very dramatic elements within this sitcom, and that it works so well.”

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