Psst: Enjoying 'Parenthood'

NBC's "Parenthood," with Peter Krause and Lauren Graham, is a promising new series.

March 8, 2010 at 11:32PM
Actor Peter Krause plays the role of the earnest dad in NBC's new "Parenthood."
Actor Peter Krause plays the role of the earnest dad in NBC's new "Parenthood." (NBC/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

It's been great sport these past few months ridiculing the brass at NBC, but let's take a break from the tomato hurling to give them credit for greenlighting "Parenthood" (★★★ 1/2, 9 p.m. Tuesdays, KARE, Ch. 11).

This promising new series reminds us that you don't need time-traveling islands to create addictive drama. The travails and (minor) triumphs of a middle-class family will do just fine -- as long as you're blessed with witty writing and a top-notch cast. "Parenthood," the second series based on the 1989 Ron Howard movie, has both in spades.

Minnesotan Peter Krause's battle with a possum in this week's second episode provides the kind of goose bumps one normally expects from a high-speed car chase, while Lauren Graham's attempt to get through a job interview without fainting reminds you why it's so great to have our "Gilmore Girl" back in action.

Ratings last week were so-so, but let's hope NBC sticks with this gem -- and resists the temptation to cast Jay Leno as the cranky neighbor.

NEAL JUSTIN

about the writer

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.

See Moreicon

More from Minnesota Star Tribune

See More
In this photo taken Monday, March 6, 2017, in San Francisco, released confidential files by The University of California of a sexual misconduct case, like this one against UC Santa Cruz Latin Studies professor Hector Perla is shown. Perla was accused of raping a student during a wine-tasting outing in June 2015. Some of the files are so heavily redacted that on many pages no words are visible. Perla is one of 113 UC employees found to have violated the system's sexual misconduct policies in rece

We respect the desire of some tipsters to remain anonymous, and have put in place ways to contact reporters and editors to ensure the communication will be private and secure.

card image