Extended Family Season 1 Review – This NBC sitcom is a trainwreck

Episode Guide

Episode 1 -| Review Score – 2/5
Episode 2 -| Review Score – 2/5
Episode 3 -| Review Score – 1.5/5
Episode 4 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 5 -| Review Score – 1/5
Episode 6 -| Review Score – 0.5/5
Episode 7 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 8 -| Review Score – 1/5
Episode 9 -| Review Score – 0.5/5
Episode 10 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 11 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 12 -| Review Score – /5

NBC’s Extended Family is a trainwreck. It is an easy miss for a number of reasons that we will get into later. But foremostly, the most important offshoot: the laughing track is dead rubber. There must not be any more attempts to revive the tradition, even in the remotest possible form. Its fate was written in stone way back in the early 2000s and NBC’s decision to greenlight this only sets the dust more firmly. Unfortunately for Extended Family, the laughing track is the least of its problems.

Several more facets of the production trump it in terms of disappointment. Not to sound overtly dismissive or pessimistic but thinking of the positives is incredibly tougher. Jon Cryer, Donald Faison, and Abigail Spencer sound like a great trio on paper. Each actor brings pedigree and star appeal to the fore. Their variety of work in the genre is impressive. However, all of that optimism and promise does not translate into anything substantial on the screen.

The trio bears much of the brunt when it comes to the main storyline and different subplots in Season 1. Jim (Cryer) and Julia (Spencer) are a divorced couple but made a conscious decision to make the separation easier on their kids, Grace and Jimmy. They decided to keep the kids at their house called The Nest and took turns every week staying with them. Julia decided to get engaged with the owner of the Boston Celtics, Trey and he quickly became a regular fixture at The Nest and in the lives of the children. 

That is where the central plot of the show ends as it branches out into different scenarios episodically. Each of the episodes has its own subplot with very few commonalities. There is no single thread binding all these different instalments, making it even tougher to bond or make an association with the show.

The problems for Extended Family begin with its writing. Creator Mike O’Malley’s conception of the show is based on the real-life experience of co-executive producers George Geyer, Emilia Fazzalari and Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck.

One would imagine that this would bring genuine insight into the show. But that is not the case. There is nothing wrong with the premise of three adults trying to get on and raise a family. Where the show desperately lacks is the execution of the idea. The writing is weak, unclear about what it wants the show to be, and is mostly a regurgitation of derivative sub-standard sitcom stereotypes. Extended Family has no identity of its own. The conclusion in most of the episodes is how flawed and moronic Cryer’s character is, and how perfect Julia and Trey are.

The latter more often than not outshines Jim by a mile in every stretch of life imaginable. Money, charisma, sex appeal, personality…you name it and Trey is better at it. Instead of creating sympathy, this lob-sidedness is infuriating, to say the least. There is nothing compelling about this characterization that makes you root for either of the three characters.

Faison gets the best lines – which are far and few in between – and is arguably the most sincere performer in the cast. He is the saving grace on most occasions, but honestly, the writing is so terrible that there isn’t much he can do. 

Both the kids hardly feature at all in the show. They are thrown in as fillers to make sure that the central premise of a “show about family” remains intact. Whenever they are occasioned to act, they are unbearable. There is enough time for them to change tracks professionally and switch to better things.

The show, overall, boasts of no relatable characters or life experiences that an average viewer can relate to. Above and beyond that, Season 1 of Extended Family is grossly unfunny with a fractured sense of self. It is an easy miss so here’s hoping there is no Season 2!

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