2/4/05

Reba, WB

The single-mom sitcom. Since these exist frequently in reality, there’s not much of a reason to have a television show based on the premise. Lucky for us, not all single-moms with grown-up daughters living at home are as perky as this country star turned medical technician, but that’s the beauty of Reba. She wrote the show’s theme song, too. And, in a bow to “reality,” she’s still friendly with her ex- and the woman who stole him from her. Such complicated lives these characters lead.

Here, Reba comfort’s her ex’s wife. The wife is trashy and dumb, no match for Reba. Clearly. But Reba tolerates her with good cheer and polite jabs that the new wife doesn’t understand. The new wife wants to dump the old husband. Reba is into it until she realizes that the wife is being like her old husband.

Message time. Reba throws water on the wife’s dating fire.


Blue Collar TV, WB

This seems to be an outgrowth of a redneck Kings of Comedy Tour. Despite the frequent "redneck" shout outs, the humor doesn’t seem so redneck, more po’ white trash. It’s pretty safe for anyone to consume. Too bad the safe jokes are also tame and pretty flat. But I guess television is trying to give something to the “southern” demographic the way Seinfeld took care of the northern demographic.