Welcome to another Thursday Movie Picks, the weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves that consists of picking three films to fit the week's theme.
We are back with another television edition; it's the last Thursday of the month, after all. And this week's magic word is family and here are my picks.
Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006)
The middle of the two brothers who still live at home, teenage Malcolm tries to survive in his bizarre, dysfunctional family. I loved this show so much, it was probably the only reason I couldn't wait to come home from school. There are so many weird and messed up things those brothers did, I just cannot think about it and not chuckle.
The Middle (2009- )
Frankie and Mike try to survive life while watching their three crazy (it's probably the most appropriate word) children grow up into young adults. I stumbled across this show several years ago while having breakfast (the good old days when I still watched TV while having breakfast) and it was pretty awesome. The comedy was spot on but what I liked the most about it was the way the family dealt with life and its problems.
Transparent (2014- )
The Pfeffermans are a family with serious boundary issues and everybody's secrets start to spill out when Mort tells his daughters and son he was to become a woman. This is one of my favourite show at the moment. It has the right balance of comedy and drama and the cast is phenomenal, especially Jeffrey Tambor as Mort/Maura. I still haven't seen the new season, but I'm sure it's great.
Good choices though I've only seen Malcolm in the Middle. I've wanted to see Transparent but just have never found the time to catch up with it. Those that I know who watch it praise it to the skies. However I'll never watch The Middle no matter how good it is, I can not abide that horrible woman Patricia Heaton.
ReplyDeleteAs you said the magic word is family and I used that as my guidepost for my choices this week.
Family (1976-1980)-Gentle family drama of the problems big and small of an upper middle class family, lawyer dad Doug Lawrence (James Broderick-Matthew’s father) wife Kate (Sada Thompson) and their three children Nancy (Meredith Baxter again), Willie (Gary Frank) and sensitive Letitia “Buddy” (Kristy McNicol), living in a small California town. Much of the power of the series came from its refusal to go for big showy emotions rather taking a naturalistic approach to the various issues that present themselves. Very well-acted.
Family Ties (1982-1989)-Former liberal flower children of the 60’s Steven and Elyse Keaton (Michael Gross & Meredith Baxter) are now middle class parents raising their three (eventually four) very different children in the Reagan 80’s. There’s the youngest, tomboy Jennifer (Tina Yothers), middle child acquisitive somewhat ditzy Mallory (Justine Bateman) and oldest son strongly conservative money hungry Alex (the series breakout star Michael J. Fox). The series looks with gentle humor and insight at the culture clashes that constantly erupt within the household through the years.
All in the Family (1971-1979)-Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor), his wife Edith (Jean Stapleton) who Archie semi affectionately calls “Dingbat” their daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her husband Mike Stivic (Rob Reiner) who Archie far less affectionately calls “Meathead” live together often disharmoniously in Queens, New York. Archie is a firmly opinionated bigot and his daughter and especially his son-in-law equally fierce liberals so their exchanges are often incendiary. When this debuted in ’71 it caused a revolution in how TV comedy was seen, to this point it had been dominated by shows similar to Father Knows Best and even more progressive ones such as Julia with Diahann Carroll dealt with gently humorous situations. But All in the Family took aim at the hot topics of the time in a more realistic way.
I haven't seen any of your picks but Family Ties sounds fun.
DeleteI cannot believe I didn't think of Malcolm in the Middle I am SO pissed right now. I loved that show.
ReplyDeleteIt's normal, I guess. I didn't think of The Simpsons, Game of Thrones nor The Flintstones. And I love all of them.
DeleteI really like both Malcolm in the Middle and The Middle. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteMalcolm is a great choice and now Frankie is on DWTS:) The Wonder Years actually would work to come to think of it. I haven't seen the other. 2 but would love to see Transarent
ReplyDeleteGive Transparent a shot if you get the chance, you won't regret it.
DeleteMalcolm in the Middle - I grew up with this series too. I didn't love love it, but I enjoyed it.
ReplyDelete