ABC’s new sitcom, “How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life),” is the story of Polly (Sarah Chalke, “Scrubs”), a newly divorced mom who is forced to move back in with her parents after leaving her husband. The series premiere depicts Polly’s everyday struggles in attempting to cope with the wacky antics of her wild and loose mom (Elizabeth Perkins, “Weeds”) and her potty-mouthed stepdad (Brad Garrett, “Everybody Loves Raymond”), all while trying to raise a relatively normal daughter.
Though it’s clear that the pilot episode was produced with enthusiasm, it’s difficult to find something unique about this sitcom. Once again, audiences are presented with a story that plays off of the fun, dysfunctional family dynamic, taking the main character through zany twists and turns only to have them realize at the end of the episode that their family was there for them all along. Thus ensues a touching moment of realization and appreciation for the character’s loved ones. That’s all fine and well — except for the fact that it’s been done numerous times before and is still being done on television now.
What’s more, the premiere seems almost too whimsical at times, as serious topics are brushed off without a second thought. It’s true that “How to Live” is strictly a comedy act, but it seems unrealistic that a woman who has been divorced for only six months would be so comfortable around her ex-husband. In fact, Polly regards her ex with more of a half-cocked annoyance than anything, and her reasons for leaving him seem vague in general. This causes the divorce aspect of the storyline to lose potency and act more as backdrop to the other events occurring.
Unfortunately, even the comedy in the pilot episode isn’t that great. Most of the respectable one-liners come from Polly’s mother Elaine, but even then they are generally a bit one dimensional, and actually start to get boring by the end of the episode. Polly’s voiced over narration also seems as if it’s meant to act as a cute and funny addition to the pilot, but in truth it comes off a bit cheesy and fails to add humor to the episode. Overall, the comedic aspect of the series premiere was disappointing, and there were few (if any) real laugh-out-loud moments.
In terms of acting, the pilot is pretty mediocre in general. Elizabeth Perkins is the highlight of the episode, embodying Polly’s free-spirited mother with spunk and intensity. Yet, Perkins’ performance is at times a bit over the top, and as a result her character is sometimes less believable. Additionally, Sarah Chalke is decent but not memorable as Polly, and essentially plays the same character she’s played before on “Scrubs” and “How I Met Your Mother.” For the role of the leading lady, Chalke simply doesn’t bring enough energy and individuality to the table, leaving audiences with a pilot episode that just seems a bit “blah.”
“How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)” fails to make a name for itself in the world of sitcoms. With a recycled storyline, disappointing humor and average acting, there is nothing exciting or engaging about the series’ pilot. In fact, viewers may actually find themselves bored while watching it, and this never bodes well for a new television show. It’s safe to say that in all likelihood, “How to Live” will remain in the background of current TV.
