The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

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Series Synopsis:

It's 2012 and anything goes. Bryan (Andrew Rannells, "Girls," "The Book of Mormon") and David (Justin Bartha, "The Hangover") are a Los Angeles couple and they have it all. Well, almost. With successful careers and a committed, loving partnership, there is one thing that this couple is missing: a baby. And just when they think the stars will never align, enter Goldie (Georgia King, "One Day"), an extraordinary young woman with a checkered past. A midwestern waitress and single mother looking to escape her dead-end life and small-minded grandmother (Emmy and Tony Award-winner Ellen Barkin), Goldie decides to change everything and move to L.A. with her precocious eight year-old daughter. Desperate and broke - but also fertile - Goldie quickly becomes the guys' surrogate and quite possibly the girl of their dreams. Surrogate mother, surrogate family.

Premieres tonight after The Voice at 10pm.

Preview:

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Another new episode premieres tomorrow at 9:30pm

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

I watched it yesterday afternoon on the internet to kill time and while not great it was good for a couple of laughs. Don't know that I'd stick with it or not - leaning towards not.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Not really sold on this. The gay couple came off a bit douchey, never really growing on me. Ellen Barkin's character is drawn too lazily obtuse for my tastes. She says these horrible things but there's no real conviction behind it. I was always aware these were 'lines', like they want you to shake your head -- "She did NOT just say that!" -- but don't want you to hate her too much. On the flipside, Goldie is a cute likable character, although she's really just Emma Pillsbury minus OCD, plus a kid (who is likable, too). And I know some people will disagree, but I think NeNe Leakes is great in this sort of role.

The real problem for me is the story felt like it existed in some sort of bubble. I never once felt like these were remotely real people living remotely real lives. I never felt like there was a real world beyond what was happening with the main cast. It just felt like everything and everyone was servicing the situation.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

The promotional picture just looks gross

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Honestly I had no idea what to expect when I sat down last night to watch this, but I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would. In the beginning I couldn't stand the guy from the Book of Mormon, but he grew on me towards the end.

The only strange thing about it really was about halfway through I realized (thanks to a commercial break) that this airs on NBC (I honestly thought it was Showtime) so now I'm a little nervous about it keeping up with the pilot and not mutating into a weird version of "Modern Family"...

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

I tried to give it a shot. Figured based on the promos, it would be a poor-man's Modern Family. I had to turn it off after seven minutes. That part in the park where people suddenly talk to the camera for no apparent reason was so obnoxious, it was the final straw for me. Maybe it got better, but what I saw that far was completely devoid of humor and borderline unwatchable.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

My thoughts exactly Decker. A Modern Family rip-off.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Ditto! They are trying too hard. I like Ellen Barkin, so I'll give it another shot tonight.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Banned here in Utah.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Yeah, Barkin was the reason I watched too. I didn't know there was one on tonight. Might DVR it.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Hmmm, might just un-DVR it and not waste my time based on the comments so far.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Eh it was ok. A little too dramatic. The grandma is trying too hard to be Lucille Bluthe but just comes off unfunny. I'll give it a few more episodes.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Yup. The difference is that Ellen Barkin came across as mean and hurtful while the genius of Jessica Walters was that Lucille never seemed to mean to offend anyone, she was just a matter-of-fact horrible person. It's much funnier that way.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Another middle finger at flyover country. No this won't upset the Fox News crowd one bit.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Fuck the flyover parts of the country... with that said, fuck this show, too. It's horrible.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

I definitely knew that I was seeing a ripoff of Modern Family with the gay couple and the vérité-style camera work, so, that's already a dealbreaker.

BTW, am I the only one that has a problem with them casting Nene Leakes in this? This woman is an actor now?

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

So far, she's not used often enough to be annoying. I fully expect that to change.

It did have one funny moment, it was when the guy from the Hangover was playing basketball with his straight, married with children, friends. The rant they went on about how they all live through him because he doesn't have kids was great.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

I barely made it through this episode. Not because it was offensive or "edgy", but because it sucked. I probably won't watch again.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

It was awful, but it's a Ryan Murphy show, so I'm not sure why anyone was expecting anything different.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

I didnt want to like it, but thought it was decent

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Usually his shows don't start really sucking until season two. This time he's putting out season three level awfulness right out of the gate. :)

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Well, you did better than me -- I lasted only 5 minutes. I was so turned off by the utter douchiness of the main characters that I stopped it mid-scene and deleted it from my PVR. W(ho)TF would green-light something this bad?

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

Didn't read the thread because I missed this - but just in case anyone else missed it, it is on again tonight at 10:30 I think.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

What got up my ass last night!? I didn't care for it. No reason for the foul language.

Re: The New Normal -- Series Premiere -- "Pilot" -- 9/10/12
 

It was like watching a half-hour drama... I don't think I laughed once.