LAKER REVIEW
FRIDAY, Sept. 16, 2016
C5
Pamela Adlon’s ‘Better Things’ gives new take on tradional show Morgan Altland Laker Review Editor maltland@oswegonian.com
No one loves you like mother. Viewers get sight of this in the new FX comedy “Better Things,” which premiered Sept. 8 on the FX network. The channel has been known for their unique original programs, such as “Louie” and “Fargo,” and this new program stands as another original masterpiece in the making. The cast is different from that of the typical sitcom, which is no surprise for FX to try. The main cast is all female, as it follows Sam, portrayed by Pamela Adlon (“Trip Tank”), and her journey to raise her three daughters while working as an actress. The show was created by Adlon and the comedy icon Louis C.K. After getting a glimpse of how well the two work together on “Louie” it is great to see viewers get another glimpse at
what they can create. Another problem with the typical sitcom is finding the right way to introduce its cast to the viewers. Some sitcoms force them all at once, while other focus heavily on some and other characters fall to the wayside. “Better Things” introduces us to the supporting cast almost flawlessly. Thirty seconds on screen is all it takes to give viewers a proper glimpse of who the daughters are to their mother. Olivia Edward (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) is the first to appear as Duke, the youngest daughter, who is spoiled by her mother because she knows how to get what she wants. The youngest child can easily be overdone in shows, as just a cute human being that makes the other characters say “Aww,” or as the spoiled child in need of everyone’s attention all the time. Edward does a good job of making the most of her character and presenting her in a way that is not too much or too unbelievable. Next, there’s Hannah Alli-
good (“Miracles from Heaven”) as the middle child Frankie. Of the three children receives the least amount of screen time. She falls more into the traditional role of the sitcom middle child, which is, “uh, I don’t get enough attention so I am gonna make myself look different and focus on other people from different nations who are struggling and find ways to make myself show their struggle…. and I am also a talented artist.” However, viewers also witness a rant about how she would be making a statement by cutting off her clitoris for her 13 birthday because it’s what happens to girls in Africa. So it’s clear that yes, Frankie is like the typical character but may push the bar further than any other wannabe protestor or activist. Finally, there is Max, portrayed by Mikey Madison (“Bound for Greatness”). She is the eldest daughter and although she plays into some traditions, she pulls out as an interesting character for Adlon. Yes, she hates life, and yes she
Photo provided by fxnetworks.com FX network hits strong again with the new take on a sitcom, ‘Better things.’
is always talking with her friends (classic teenage sitcom daughter), but she also asks her mom for weed, makes fun of how she acts and smokes after her mother tells her that she should have kept it a secret. It is a combination of the typical sitcom daughter with a modern day daughter and it fits perfectly with the tone the pilot
sets for the series. “Better Things” is not the traditional sitcom. The new take on archetypes and the dynamic of a real family is shown in the pilot. Hopefully for viewers, writers will continue to stay true for the series. Watch for the jokes, stay for the realism.
Throwback Corner: ‘The Dean Martin Show’ powerful Alexander Simone Copy Editor asimone@oswegonian.com
One of the staples of American TV for decades has been the talk show. During the ‘60s and ‘70s big band royalty graced one such show, “The Dean Martin Show” on a weekly basis. Technically speaking, the show was a “variety” show, which featured more skits and comedy routines, as opposed to the coffee table chats of many talk shows. Today’s generation recognizes the name Dean Martin (“Cannonball Run II”) for classic songs like “That’s Amoré,” as well as his association with fellow big band favorite Frank Sinatra. However, Martin also starred as the host of the show for over 250 episodes in a span of nine years. Although there were several components that made the show enjoyable, the primary one was unquestionably the music. Not only were there regular performances by Dean Martin himself, there
Photo provided by en.wikipedia.org Dean Martin and guest Florence henderson share the spotlight with a dance on the show.
were also regular appearances by musical talents from Tony Bennett to Ella Fitzgerald. The music may have been the focal point of the show,
but Martin hosted a fair number of renowned comedians and actors as well. This was not surprising considering the clout Martin’s own name car-
ried. However, it may come as a surprise that Martin was a bit of a comedy and acting wiz himself. The art of the joke may have been his hidden talent and he had more than enough wit to for when guests started acting funny. Martin’s comfort on set and the number of A-list guest appearances made the show his most successful visual production. In his nine-year tenure as host, Martin won one Golden Globe out of three nominations and was nominated for three primetime Emmys. Despite these achievements, both Martin and his show had some definite shortcomings. For all his talents, Martin’s ability to dance is underwhelming and that’s being rather generous. Whether on the show or in movies like “Robbo and the Seven Hoods” (1964), the most suave move Martin could muster was turning around. This does not mean clicking his heels while walking a circle or even spinning on one foot; it literally means turning in a circle. The most glaring flaw the
variety show presented was the lack of a diverse guest list. Almost all appearances made were by comedians, big band musicians or actors. There were a few appearances by famed New York Jets quarterback “Broadway” Joe Namath, but even Broadway Joe was a personal friend of Martin’s. Completely devoid from the list were any blues or rock musicians. Save for Broadway Joe, there were not even any baseball players featured on the show, even though baseball was the most popular sport in the country at the time. Not even American darlings like Elvis Presley or Joe DiMaggio ever graced “The Dean Martin Show.” Even taking into account the imperfections of Martin and the show, the show remained popular for the majority of its run and Martin was far from the end of his career. The best indicator of this was the creation of “Dean Martin Celebrity Roast,” which ran from 1974 when “The Dean Martin Show” was cancelled until ‘84.