When I was still living at home my mom and I started watching Gilmore Girls together. Even after I left home to go to college 40 minutes away we continued to record and watch episodes together. Then when I moved to Los Angeles we would talk on the phone after watching the new episode. Even though she was in the midwest she got to see the show before me in LA. We were so sad to see it go.
When we discovered Parenthood part way into its first season and saw that 'Lorelai', aka Lauren Graham, was a cast member we started catching up on episodes on demand. Now we're hooked! Graham wasn't even originally part of the cast. Maura Tierney was initially cast as Sarah Braverman, but due to her treatment schedule in 2009 for her breast cancer she had to be replaced. On a happy note it is stated that Tierney has finished her treatment and she is going back to work, on the stage.
The show is based off of the 1989 film by the same name.
The show does loosely parallel the film characters lives.
Film patriarch and matriarch - Frank and Marilyn Buckman
Show patriarch and matriarch - Zeek and Camille Braverman
Film oldest child - Gil Buckman (Steve Martin) and his wife Karen (Mary Steenburgen) have a son with emotional issues who needs therapy, which leads Gil to question his abilities as a father.
Show oldest child - Adam Braverman and his wife Kristina have a son, Max, who has asperger syndrome that Adam struggles to understand and accept. Karen in the film and Kristina in the show are both concerned with the well being of their marriage and trying to keep things fresh between them and their husbands.
Film next oldest - Helen Buckman who has 2 teen children Julie and Garry and is divorced from the father who isn't involved with their children.
Show next oldest - Sarah Braverman (Lauren Graham) who has 2 teen children Amber and Drew and is divorced from the father who isn't involved with their children.
In the film the last two children are Susan first, who is married to Nathan who is very devoted to their gifted daughters learning. Also Susan wants more children, but Nathan's not so sure. Then there's the youngest, Larry, who has a bi-racial son (Cool), from a brief affair with a Vegas show girl.
In the show Crosby is second to youngest and also discovers he has a bi-racial son (Jabbar), from his former lover Jasmine who is a dancer.
Then there is Julie, the youngest in the show, who is married to Joel who is a stay-at-home father to their advanced daughter, Sydney. As in the film, Julie wants to have another child and Joel is hesitant at first, but eventually decides he would like to have another child too.
So far it appears that there is no Grandma, to the Braverman siblings, in the show like there is in the film.
There are small similarities that pop up now and then, but overall the show is solid, standing on its own.
Speaking of the film Parenthood, which stars Martha Plimpton as Julie, Helen's eldest, Plimpton is also now starring in a new series on Fox, Raising Hope. I've seen a few episodes online and while is not completely unappealing, I'm not sure the 30 minute sitcom will last.
No update on My Generation as I have not watched anymore episodes past the pilot.
I have caught up on Better With You online (ABC Wednesdays). I can relate to Maddie and her relationship in this show and I just love Debra Jo Rupp previously of That 70's Show, which I had no problems watching the occasional rerun of, but I never watched the show in its time slot. I didn't care for any episodes after Eric left the show either.
Anyway, have a Happy Parenthood Tuesday!
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