Fox Stunner: ‘Til Death’ Lives, ‘Back to You’ Dies
May 10, 2008 by Chandra
That time of the year is upon us, namely the spring upfront season, which is when viewers learn the fates of their favorite shows on the bubble. The industry-speak phrase refers to those series that network executives haven’t yet decided what to do with: cancel, renew, or downsize to a midseason replacement. The last two options are obviously better than the first.
Fox has spoken regarding a couple of its shows on the cusp or brink or edge or whatever — the sitcoms ‘Til Death and its broadcast companion Back to You. Shockingly (at least in my head), the first series has been renewed for a third season while the second show, which stars TV-comedy heavyweights Kelsey Grammer (Frasier, Cheers) and Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond), has been axed.
Say what?!
Sure, Back to You isn’t the best it could be, but it’s still highly watchable on a decent night, and downright hilarious most times that regulars Fred Willard and/or Ty Burrell are onscreen (and when you get them both together, just sit back and soak up the comedy genius). I actually thought a sophomore run was more or less a lock for the series. That shows how much what I think matters.
Back to You: 1.13 ‘The New Boss’ Previews
May 7, 2008 by Chandra
Back to You’s May 7 episode, The New Boss, guest stars Suzy Nakamura (Help Me Help You) as the new woman in charge at WURG.
Of course, to everyone’s great dismay, she swoops in and starts changing stuff. Unfortunately for Team Ambush, Chuck and Kelly, she’s also more than a little savvy, which allows her to successfully derail their ambush … to their disadvantage.
This episode sounds like it’s going to be a step in the right direction, finally taking viewers away from all of that self-involved angst over revealing to Gracie that Chuck is her father. That’s gotten old, so I, for one, am anxious to just move on already.
Oh — And Ayda Field is back on this episode from wherever she was as sexy weather anchor Montana Diaz Herrera. Great.
Two quick preview clips from “The New Boss” follow the jump.
Back to You: 1.12 ‘Two Steps Forward, One Step Back’ Recap
April 30, 2008 by Chandra
Original Air Date: April 30, 2008
Picking up right where the last episode left off, KELLY wakes up from her faint, and she and CHUCK clarify for Gracie that the two of them conceived her the “old-fashioned way.” When Chuck admits to GRACIE that he didn’t tell her he was her father because he didn’t know himself, Gracie gets angry that her mother lied to her, and then she runs upstairs.
As Chuck and Kelly repair Gracie’s science project, which was broken when Chuck fainted on it, they reminisce about how they hooked up that one time in the first place.
It was New Year’s Eve in 1997, and the station was holding a farewell party for Chuck, who was about to depart for a bigger news market in Minneapolis/St. Paul after six years in Pittsburgh. The two anchors had both been drinking, and at night’s end, Kelly started to tell Chuck what she would really like as she was leaving. Assuming he knew what she was going to say, Chuck kissed her.
The office party then moved to Kelly’s house after MARSH overheard the two planning to go there themselves. Hours later, Kelly finally manages to get everyone to leave, and the next morning Chuck tries to do the same himself, without saying goodbye to Kelly.
Back to You: 1.10 ‘The Wall of Fame’ Recap
April 17, 2008 by Chandra
Original Air Date: April 16, 2008
There are lots of changes on Back to You post-hiatus. The first thing we notice during this episode is that the actress who plays Chuck and Kelly’s daughter Gracie has changed. She’s no longer Laura Marano, formerly of Without a Trace, but a newcomer named Lily Jackson. The network still lists Marano as the actress for Gracie in print material, yet Jackson’s name appears in the opening credits now, making it unclear if this is a permanent or temporary situation.
Another change introduced with this episode is that Ayda Field, who played weatherwoman Montana Diaz Herrera, has disappeared from the opening credits, the scenes, and the network’s press releases describing plots. Since there’s been no announcement that I know of regarding her sudden absence, I and lots of other people are wondering what’s going on.
Now to the recap…
GRACIE calls the news station office to tell her mom she made the honor roll. CHUCK takes the call because KELLY’s at a meeting to accept the Most Trusted Woman honor. Unfortunately, she couldn’t read Chuck’s handwriting from the message he took. As a result, she misinterprets his “9” as a “4” and ends up at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting instead.
Another unfortunate turn of events happens then because a WURG employee named MARGARET (Guest Star Amy Farrington) is also there, attending her regular AA meeting. Margaret is one of those needy people in search of a friend, and she latches onto Kelly and refuses to let go, although Kelly repeatedly tells her she’s not an alcoholic.
Back to You: ‘Hug & Tell’ Spoilers (4-23-08)
April 15, 2008 by Chandra
The April 23 episode of Back to You, “Hug & Tell,” will pack an extra shot of star power due to the guest appearance of entertainment pioneer Diahann Carroll.
Carroll is an icon for so many reasons besides her obvious beauty, talent, and good deeds. She’s the first black actress to star in her own television series in an untraditional non-servant role (the 1968–1971 sitcom Julia, on which she played a nurse), the first black woman to win a Tony Award for Best Actress (the 1962 musical No Strings), and one of only seven black actresses ever nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award (the 1974 comedy drama Claudine).
The episode itself revolves around Chuck and Kelly’s decision to finally tell Gracie who her father is. We all know that’s what Chuck wants, despite Kelly’s continual concerns. But, when a therapist enters the picture, the situation becomes even more difficult for all involved.
I personally think it’s time for the so-called adults to get this over with and let Gracie know what’s what. She deserves the truth, especially considering her maturity for her age, not to mention that she already knows Chuck fairly well.
Back to You airs Wednesdays on Fox at 8:30pm EST.
Back to You: ‘The Wall of Fame’ Spoilers (4-16-08)
April 15, 2008 by Chandra
Fox newbie Back to You returns from writers strike-induced hiatus on April 16 with the festive episode “The Wall of Fame.”
Crotchety sports reporter Marsh plans a big surprise for his colleague Chuck that leads to a troubling discovery for Chuck and Kelly. Of course, the two, ever concerned about appearances, then go to great lengths to make sure that nobody else finds out what they just found out. I’d bet money they won’t succeed either.
Back to You airs Wednesdays on Fox at 8:30pm EST.
Back to You: 1.9 ‘Business or Pleasure’ Recap
March 9, 2008 by Chandra
Original Air Date: February 27, 2008
While the Channel Nine news team is out to dinner at a nice restaurant, Channel Eight News’ charismatic new anchorman CRAIG ST. CLAIRE (Guest Star Coby Ryan McLaughlin) comes over to introduce himself and make small talk. This is a big deal because the newsman is the hottest new personality in town — everyone’s discussing how good-looking he is.
Not surprisingly, MONTANA flirts with Craig relentlessly, but he seems most interested in KELLY. She offers to give him some insider local tips because he’s not from Pittsburgh, and he agrees and asks her out for a drink later. Blushing and giggling, Kelly accepts.
Earlier, CHUCK and MARSH had complained about Craig’s audacity to not wear a tie sometimes, while RYAN just seems thoroughly infatuated with him throughout the episode. As a result, Chuck repeatedly chastises the news director later for acting gay.
Back to You: 1.8 ‘Cradle to Grave’ Recap
Original Air Date: February 26, 2008
After CHUCK and KELLY close the news broadcast with the development that former anchor Ed Coleman has died, Kelly reveals she was asked to deliver the eulogy at his funeral, although she didn’t like him because he was so mean to her. GARY is stunned because, according to him, he knew the man better than anyone else at the station. Chuck, on the other hand, informs his colleagues he’s not even going to the funeral since he decided at nine years old that there were certain things he wouldn’t do anymore, and funerals was one of them.
In their shared office, Kelly makes a few snide remarks when she realizes Chuck is preparing for a date with AMBER, a blonde who’s much younger. She receives a message then that her babysitter for the funeral has canceled. Chuck volunteers while claiming he has to start spending time with their daughter GRACIE eventually, even if she still doesn’t know he’s her father.
So, Kelly drops Gracie off at Chuck’s hotel on the day of the funeral. Gracie is petulant, however, because she thinks she’s too old to require a babysitter. Everything Chuck has planned sucks to her, too, such as watching a movie with the Olsen twins — Gracie thinks their movies are stupid and their lives are a mess.
Back to You: 1.8 ‘Cradle to Grave’ Previews
February 26, 2008 by Chandra
Tonight at 9:30pm EST, don’t miss the first new installment of Fox’s Back to You since November 14, 2007.
“Cradle to the Grave” is about death — specifically a former WURG anchor’s death, which will lead to all sorts of hilarity when current co-anchor Kelly Carr (Patricia Heaton) is called on to give the eulogy at the deceased’s funeral.
Two one-minute preview clips from the episode follow the jump, both featuring lots of Chuck Darling just for all the Kelsey Grammer fans out there (you know who you are).
Back to You: ‘Business or Pleasure’ Spoilers (2-27-08)
February 19, 2008 by Chandra
The February 27th episode of Back to You is called “Business or Pleasure.” True to the title, an incredulous Chuck Darling grows increasingly suspicious about the motives of another TV station’s new anchor when the young(er) man shows a keen interest in his colleague Kelly. Does the guy want to get with Kelly or is he just trying to get ahead? Hmmm… I’m sure Chuck will get to the bottom of that situation within the half-hour.
This episode of Back to You airs Wednesday on Fox at 9:30pm EST.