'Reba' needing good thaw this season
As "Reba" (9 tonight, WBXX, Channel 20) moves into its fourth season, the domestic sitcom could be as good as it's ever going to get.
That's not as condemning to the Reba McEntire series as it sounds. The show is still amusing, though rarely laugh-out-loud funny.
All the characters are terribly likable (particularly ripe are Melissa Peterman and Steve Howey playing the next-door neighbor and the dimwitted son-in-law, respectively), though hardly worth investing time in for a weekly visit.
And McEntire remains the ultimate straight man: the comedic force who is funny enough to let everyone else get all the over-the-top laughs.
But, as "Reba" begins to become long in the tooth, it has managed the trick of staying exactly where we found it at day one.
The characters haven't progressed as people (even Reba's daughter and son-in-law still live with her). Reba is not invested in any romantic relationship. A career is not very important to her, and her annoying ex-husband and his new wife remain next door.
The harried home life that should have spurred interesting growth for its eclectic brood is frozen stiff.
The season opener indicates "Reba" might be headed for long-overdue change. After revealing he's clinically depressed, Brock, who is Reba's ex, announces he made a mistake leaving Reba years ago.
Barbara Jean, the ditz he left Reba for, wants to throw him out and start acting more independent, just as Reba did when Brock dumped her.
The revelation may shake out all this season, which is none too soon to get this comedy to show more life.
McEntire sings about being a survivor over the opening credits, but for "Reba" to soar, it's going to have to live more than it has been.
-TERRY MORROW
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
That's not as condemning to the Reba McEntire series as it sounds. The show is still amusing, though rarely laugh-out-loud funny.
All the characters are terribly likable (particularly ripe are Melissa Peterman and Steve Howey playing the next-door neighbor and the dimwitted son-in-law, respectively), though hardly worth investing time in for a weekly visit.
And McEntire remains the ultimate straight man: the comedic force who is funny enough to let everyone else get all the over-the-top laughs.
But, as "Reba" begins to become long in the tooth, it has managed the trick of staying exactly where we found it at day one.
The characters haven't progressed as people (even Reba's daughter and son-in-law still live with her). Reba is not invested in any romantic relationship. A career is not very important to her, and her annoying ex-husband and his new wife remain next door.
The harried home life that should have spurred interesting growth for its eclectic brood is frozen stiff.
The season opener indicates "Reba" might be headed for long-overdue change. After revealing he's clinically depressed, Brock, who is Reba's ex, announces he made a mistake leaving Reba years ago.
Barbara Jean, the ditz he left Reba for, wants to throw him out and start acting more independent, just as Reba did when Brock dumped her.
The revelation may shake out all this season, which is none too soon to get this comedy to show more life.
McEntire sings about being a survivor over the opening credits, but for "Reba" to soar, it's going to have to live more than it has been.
-TERRY MORROW
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
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