Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
In the Venn diagram of your TV viewing habits and those of your parents, the middle part is probably a bit empty (unless of course you don’t miss an episode of NCIS). Just a guess, but you probably don’t hop on the phone to recap episodes of Broad City with them. And that’s ok because there would be a LOT to explain. But if you’re looking for a show that crosses generational lines and includes comedic moments appealing to all ages, look no further than Life In Pieces.
The CBS half-hour comedy is rounding out its second season now, and more and more the show has been a bright spot on my DVR. In the jungle that is dark dramas and edgy comedies and comedy-news programs that serve up just as many anxiety attacks as laughs, Life In Pieces is an enjoyable comfort comedy.
Not that this show sacrifices any coolness to remain so widely accessible. While its network pal The Big Bang Theory draws eye rolls for the jokes that some perceive to be corny, Life In Pieces is able to swap cheesiness for sweetness. The show follows 3 generations in one family: the grandparents (James Brolin and Dianne Wiest), their children (Thomas Sadoski and his fiancé Angelique Cabral, Colin Hanks and his wife Zoe Lister-Jones, and Betsy Brandt and her husband Dan Bakkedhal), and their kids who range in age from toddler to late teens. Each generation is given their own segment of the show, so the pacing moves quick enough to keep you interested but not so quick that the show doesn’t get the chance to tell a complete story.
The show tackles evergreen topics such parenting, relationships with your significant other, relationships with your family members, and perhaps scariest of them all, your significant other’s relationship with your family members. Plus, the show keeps it totally 2017 by addressing important technological advances from Facebook to wine bras. There are mishaps with both.
While I like to discuss my crush on Colin Hanks (and they don’t disagree), my parents and even grandparents like to talk about their favorite storylines, usually involving the hijinks around family gatherings on the show. And one of its true strengths? How this show addresses sex head-on. The way “the talk” is approached with as much frankness as the expected awkwardness, is a really modern and sophisticated approach, rather than the typical squirming and giggling (if anything, that comes from the adults in the scenario). In fact, all adult sexual relationships are treated as totally normal, which they are, and not just a tool for the show to be provocative. This makes discussing these segments with your parents that much less uncomfortable, as they each come with a “Hey, we’ve all been there, right?” attitude. A recent episode found Colleen (Cabral) confronting a mechanic about the noise her car was making, only to discover it was due to an entirely different device used to get her own engine running, so to speak. Oh, and this was all in front of her future in-laws. Yet the mortification took a backseat to the LOLs, due to the relatable nature this show is always able to tap into, whether your mechanic has found your personal items in your car or not.
From the silly sibling dynamics to family traditions, Life In Pieces will leave you with a wealth of storylines to both identify with and enjoy. The fact that the charming family comedy can be so engaging for all ages makes it a delightful bonding tool for the people that slowly but surely have moved from parents to friends.
