Related
Y
Oct 5, 2005
9-10 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 5
WB Network
Part comedy, part drama and part histrionics, "Related" is about the four Sorelli sisters, each a knockout, whose middle names should all be "Drama." In the premiere episode, one is afraid to announce her pregnancy, a second is taken aback by the breakup of a six-year relationship, a third is evicted and forced to move back home with dad and the fourth switches from a pre-med major to experimental theater and moves in with the Roommate From Hell.
Exec producer Marta Kauffman has said she considers the series to be more comedy than drama and, indeed, it has its funny moments, though not many. Mostly, it ranges from anxious to glum, with few stops for laughs in between. WB Network would like you to believe that this series, set in New York, is "Sex and the City" for a new generation. The HBO comedy, however, was famous for its pointed humor, clever story twists and self-aware characters. "Related" matches its glamour quotient but doesn't come close to the sly wit. At times, it seems more intent on chasing a demographic than entertaining it.
Still, it's a great cast. Jennifer Esposito nails the role of eldest sister Ginnie, a combination mother hen and workaholic (if that's possible) who is reluctant to acknowledge her pregnancy to Bob (Callum Blue), her free-spirited husband, because of the impact it will have on their lives. Kiele Sanchez brings great sensitivity to the role of Ann, a professional therapist who's been oblivious to the fact that her longtime relationship with restaurateur Danny (guest star Dan Futterman) has been foundering. Lizzy Caplan deftly plays flighty and petulant Marjee, whose career and social life can be described charitably as accident-prone. Then there's Laura Breckenridge, solid as baby sister Rose, ready and eager to jettison her image as the sweet, obedient child.
The script, from creator Liz Tuccillo, is full of rhythmic dialogue and formulaic sisterly hugs and admonitions but short of those revealing moments that probe beneath the surface to produce complications that make each character unique. We get it. They love each other, and any criticism comes from the heart. But there should be more to it than that. Maybe it wouldn't matter as much if "Related" was the comedy Kauffman means it to be, but genuinely funny moments are rare. Based on the first three episodes made available for review, most of the comic relief is supplied by Ginnie's husband, Bob, whose appearances are too infrequent.
Finding an audience opposite ABC's "Lost" will be tough enough; competing against "American Idol" in a few months will take all the power the sisters can muster.
RELATED
WB Network
Class IV Prods. in association with Warner Bros. Television
Credits:
Executive producers: Marta Kauffman, Steve Pearlman, Andrew Plotkin, Mimi Leder
Co-executive producer: Bill Prady
Producers: Robert Lloyd Lewis, Timothy Marx
Co-producer: Jamie Gornberg
Supervising producer: Brian Buckner
Consulting producers: Alex Taub, Maggie Friedman
Creator-writer: Liz Tuccillo
Director: James Frawley
Directors of photography: Paul Maibaum, Charles Minsky
Production designer: Steve Wolff
Editors: Brady Heck, Martin Nicholson
Music: Blake Neely
Set decorators: Amy Vuckovich, Kate Sullivan
Casting: Mark Saks
Cast:
Ann Sorelli: Kiele Sanchez
Ginnie Sorelli: Jennifer Esposito
Marjee Sorelli: Lizzy Caplan
Rose Sorelli: Laura Breckenridge
Danny: Dan Futterman
Bob: Callum Blue
Mr. Sorelli: Tom Irwin
Renee: Christine Ebersole
Flash: Shanola Hampton
Alex: Chris Carmack
Wednesday, Oct. 5
WB Network
Part comedy, part drama and part histrionics, "Related" is about the four Sorelli sisters, each a knockout, whose middle names should all be "Drama." In the premiere episode, one is afraid to announce her pregnancy, a second is taken aback by the breakup of a six-year relationship, a third is evicted and forced to move back home with dad and the fourth switches from a pre-med major to experimental theater and moves in with the Roommate From Hell.
Exec producer Marta Kauffman has said she considers the series to be more comedy than drama and, indeed, it has its funny moments, though not many. Mostly, it ranges from anxious to glum, with few stops for laughs in between. WB Network would like you to believe that this series, set in New York, is "Sex and the City" for a new generation. The HBO comedy, however, was famous for its pointed humor, clever story twists and self-aware characters. "Related" matches its glamour quotient but doesn't come close to the sly wit. At times, it seems more intent on chasing a demographic than entertaining it.
Still, it's a great cast. Jennifer Esposito nails the role of eldest sister Ginnie, a combination mother hen and workaholic (if that's possible) who is reluctant to acknowledge her pregnancy to Bob (Callum Blue), her free-spirited husband, because of the impact it will have on their lives. Kiele Sanchez brings great sensitivity to the role of Ann, a professional therapist who's been oblivious to the fact that her longtime relationship with restaurateur Danny (guest star Dan Futterman) has been foundering. Lizzy Caplan deftly plays flighty and petulant Marjee, whose career and social life can be described charitably as accident-prone. Then there's Laura Breckenridge, solid as baby sister Rose, ready and eager to jettison her image as the sweet, obedient child.
The script, from creator Liz Tuccillo, is full of rhythmic dialogue and formulaic sisterly hugs and admonitions but short of those revealing moments that probe beneath the surface to produce complications that make each character unique. We get it. They love each other, and any criticism comes from the heart. But there should be more to it than that. Maybe it wouldn't matter as much if "Related" was the comedy Kauffman means it to be, but genuinely funny moments are rare. Based on the first three episodes made available for review, most of the comic relief is supplied by Ginnie's husband, Bob, whose appearances are too infrequent.
Finding an audience opposite ABC's "Lost" will be tough enough; competing against "American Idol" in a few months will take all the power the sisters can muster.
RELATED
WB Network
Class IV Prods. in association with Warner Bros. Television
Credits:
Executive producers: Marta Kauffman, Steve Pearlman, Andrew Plotkin, Mimi Leder
Co-executive producer: Bill Prady
Producers: Robert Lloyd Lewis, Timothy Marx
Co-producer: Jamie Gornberg
Supervising producer: Brian Buckner
Consulting producers: Alex Taub, Maggie Friedman
Creator-writer: Liz Tuccillo
Director: James Frawley
Directors of photography: Paul Maibaum, Charles Minsky
Production designer: Steve Wolff
Editors: Brady Heck, Martin Nicholson
Music: Blake Neely
Set decorators: Amy Vuckovich, Kate Sullivan
Casting: Mark Saks
Cast:
Ann Sorelli: Kiele Sanchez
Ginnie Sorelli: Jennifer Esposito
Marjee Sorelli: Lizzy Caplan
Rose Sorelli: Laura Breckenridge
Danny: Dan Futterman
Bob: Callum Blue
Mr. Sorelli: Tom Irwin
Renee: Christine Ebersole
Flash: Shanola Hampton
Alex: Chris Carmack
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