Let's hope ABC gives Neighbors and its writers a chance to further develop an already enjoyable premise. The leading parents are resourcefully cast, with Simon Templeman and Toks Olagondoye as Larry Bird and Jackie Joyner-Kersee, brilliantly funny as they are curious of the human race, (asking questions from the ridiculous to worthy of everyone's self-examination). And the absence of a laugh-track is always welcome. I know mindless critics such as Matt Roush would have a weak comeback about the laugh track, but avoid his shallowness. This regressive ranked "The Middle" seventh out of all shows network and non-network, while panning HBO's Newsroom, because he felt it degraded women. Much to be said here, but will leave it as a brief expression of the futility of television critics. There's plenty of room for Neighbors to draft a five-year plot line. They're already improving with each show. One suggestion: a little less howling from the Weaver kids. In TV comedies, children, when not the main focus, are not always a winning formula. One big exception was Jami Gertz's last comedy, "Still Standing", where the kids were a hilarious element of the show. Let them protest, but with wit. Tim Jo's character as Reggie Jackson shines; and Clara Mamet, as Amber shows promise. In our household, comedies reign, and we are discerning. Neighbors is a show we look forward to each week and hope to look forward to each year.
Review of The Neighbors
