I laughed once during the first episode of the WB’s new show “Related.” Considering that the sisters-based comedy comes from the creators of “Friends” and “Sex and the City,” that wasn’t a good sign.
I knew it was supposed to be funny because of the background music–think of the goofy music accompanying Susan as she creeps naked through the shrubbery on “Desperate Housewives”–but without it, I would not have been able to tell.
Fortunately, “Related” got better. Episodes from last week and Wednesday remain filled with hackneyed, forced situations and vastly overwritten, self-consciously cute dialogue, but somehow real moments of sweetness, humor and potential manage to sneak in.
The show, which airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, centers on the four Sorelli sisters and their crazy, intertwined lives.
The three oldest are bubbly blonds: eldest Ginnie (Jennifer Esposito), a high-powered attorney and unfailingly cheerful Pollyanna who discovers she’s pregnant; Ann (Kiele Sanchez), a therapist whose own six-year relationship is suddenly coming undone; and Marjee (Lizzy Caplan), the irrepressible, irresponsible party planner who flounces around with her cell phone on her ear and is prone to adorable tantrums.
The youngest, and lone brunet of the group, is introspective, timid Rose (Laura Beckenridge), who signals her independence by switching her college major from pre-med to experimental theater. Rose’s raven locks tell us that she’s the serious one.
In fact, hair sends a definite message on “Related.” Rose’s dark, straight mane was an actual tool of rebellion when she dyed it a vivid blue in the first episode. Ginnie and Marjee are both irrepressible and emotional, and, accordingly, their hair flies, flings and spills wildly down their backs; Ann is buttoned-up and serious, with a sleek, shorter blond ‘do to match.
The setup is juicy and provides the potential for all sorts of drama and conflict. It’s a shame the writers keep hitting us over the head with clunky dialogue and attempts to create “sisterly” moments. The mobile-to-mobile “phone chain” was mentioned ad nauseum during the pilot episode, just to be sure we got it: They’re sisters! They’re quirky!
The writers very nearly kill their plot points with each sister’s never-ending torrent of words as they fight over one another for airtime. It’s one of the reasons I hated most of these characters out of the gate: Nobody listens to one another, and they love to complain. OK, so that’s two reasons.
The series is best when it stops to take a breath–and when the sisters take one too. Life has moments of silence, and one of the best came at the end of last week’s episode when Ann was alone in the apartment she shared with her boyfriend, Danny (Dan Futterman), sitting on the floor after trashing the place. No cute dialogue could have made this situation any better. It was powerful.
The supporting men are the show’s high point, and, hopefully, as the series proceeds, they’ll provide more of the action and comic relief. Although poor Danny doesn’t have much to do other than look tortured, Ginnie’s freewheeling Brit husband, Bob (Callum Blue), is a delight (and very easy on the eyes).
In Wednesday’s episode, Rose gets two adorable love interests: drama-class hottie Alex (Chris Carmack) and her pre-med buddy, Joel, who clearly adores her.
After previewing several episodes, I found myself grudgingly wanting to know what happens next. Will Marjee throw another obscenity-laced tantrum? (Hope so — Caplan’s scenery-chewing is a high point). Will Ann and Danny make it work? Will Rose still her fluttering heart and smooch Drama Boy? Will Ginnie be less annoying?
–I can’t help it, I want to know. But don’t blame me if I occasionally put the TV on mute while it happens.
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Edited by Curt Wagner (cwwagner@tribune.com) and Kris Karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com)
