Tonight: Modern Family, Cougar Town, Eastwick

I wanted to give tonight's ABC line up a chance tonight. They had a few new shows premiering, each with their own idea. My favorite of the three was Eastwick. Something about witch stories has always been somewhat intriguing.

Modern Family

Immediately upon hearing the title of this show I think about television families in general, and the fact that the title of this show begs to be different. So as they introduced each couple and their children, I was automatically comparing them to The Brady Bunch, or back even further, The Andy Griffith Show, or Leave it to Beaver. Early, early TV shows from the 50s were very traditional families: husband, wife, kids, dog. The Brady's introduced a re-married couple. And while Modern Family is not the first show to showcase a gay relationship, I'm having trouble thinking of any that actually show a gay marriage. I only wish they weren't so uneasy with their acceptance, but I suppose a lot of ABC viewers aren't going to be as open minded, so maybe jokes are the easy way out on that subject. Either way, Mitchell and Cameron are great. The other 2 couples are a husband and wife - the husband being "too cool" and using terms like LOL and Keep it Real, and leaving the serious talks up to the wife. Then the third couple is an older man and a younger, Latina wife. So there we get an interracial relationship. It's all a non-traditional approach to a family oriented sitcom. We can relate to the day to day, and appreciate the characters for not being cookie-cutter citizens of society. This is a pretty decent show for parents to watch with the older kids and be able to laugh about the things we all go through, like bringing home that first boyfriend and that "keep this door open" moment.

Cougar Town

This show started out with fat pinching and skin jiggling. Courtney Cox plays a somewhat angry divorcee of 5 months, and a horny one at that. She of course lives across the street from a 40-something single guy who brings home younger girls. And this is how we are introduced to her mission to find a young guy for herself. I wasn't too into the body image stuff throughout the episode. Perhaps I'm not old enough to relate. But man, the boy she brought home was a major hottie. Yup. I'm not old enough for this show.

Eastwick

I had no idea what Eastwick was about prior to hitting play tonight, nor had I heard of the books it is based on, The Witches of Eastwick, but I don't think being familiar with the books is necessary. So far, all we've come across are magic coins in a wishing well, ants that attack, super natural powers, and a new, rich guy in town, Raymond, who seems too good to be true. Eastwick is a small town with its' eclectic set of characters, and the three main characters that we meet, Joanna, Roxie, and Kat, are very different, but also all without a real connection in their life. (One woman is married, but to an asshole and by the end of the pilot they've agreed on a divorce.) Due to the passion and control these women are lacking in their lives, Raymond is definitely getting their attention. But crazy things keep happening as well. So no one is sure whether or not to trust him.

I'm pretty sure this show is filmed on the old Gilmore Girls lot... I feel like I'm in Stars Hollow as I'm watching. And the fact that the characters are all a bit quirky and small town adds to the Stars Hollow reminiscence. If you miss Charmed, and you enjoy Desperate Housewives, you'll probably love this show. I'm intrigued. To be continued next week.

Tonight: Gossip Girl "The Freshman"

Decorating my dorm, and meeting new people; Everyone being optimistic and nervous, and awkward student-run orientation ice-breakers. I'm trying to remember what the first day of college was like. Sadly, watching this week's Gossip Girl didn't help bring back any memories. Maybe it's because I didn't go to an Ivy League on the east coast, or maybe it's because my high school cast wasn't at all present on the first day of college, but either way, this week's episode feels a little off, for GG, and for a college 101 episode.

Conservative pearls and a high-collared burgundy dress, Blair's outfit is far from studious. And the dorm room shots felt completely elementary. (Did you notice the squiggly paper borders on the bulletin boards. What the hell??) I would have liked to have seen the actual bedrooms, and to really get to know the new roommates. Gilmore Girls had a really great transition into college -- Rory had 2 new eccentric characters to get to know in her dorm, plus Paris, who we already knew. They could have done something similar here, but they really failed to show that we are starting a new chapter at a top notch university.

Instead of giving us something interesting and different, the same cast of characters we've seen now for years danced around each other as if they were in a cramped New York apartment. This is not an episode of Friends, people. Show me more important, new characters. Show more intro to college moments. And please, do something with creepy Scott. That is being dragged out while everything else is spinning in fast forward. (Couples hooking up, Serena's indecisiveness.)

I guess this episode just felt rushed. A lot of ups and downs. A lot of changed minds and acting out. It kind of felt like the writers never went to college, and they really had no clue what they were talking about. Either put them in college, or leave them in their penthouses. I can't deal with both. Sushi parties... fancy rooftop parties with junky couches and red cups.. I understand that they were different types of high school kids, but they don't have to be so completely awkward to send to college.

The best quote of the night comes from a guy who we have yet to see go to school: Nate referring to things people in couples do post-honeymoon stage, "...watch tv shows you really like, as opposed to ones you're supposed to like..." I do. And I will. I'll be tuning in next week, ready for something amazing to happen.... Perhaps something Gossip related? ...since that's the name of the show? xoxo.