Pre-strike: I was pretty excited when I first heard that Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammar were joining forces for a new sitcom. This was a perfect chance for the two actors to bring back some of the magic that Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond produced.
It took only a few episodes to realize that Back to You had a lot flaws. Although I’ve been known to chuckle loudly now and again throughout the show, I feel there is too much emphasis on the cheesy jokes. More importantly, the plotline, which focuses on the relationship between Kelly, Chuck and Gracie, lacks in creativity. I wondered what would happen to Back to You after the strike, and whether it would survive the season in a competitive prime-time lineup.
Post-strike: I didn’t feel there was a major difference in the show after the writer’s strike. If anything, I noticed more cheesy jokes and less plot than before. Some part of me was hoping they’d branch off into other storylines, but the major focus of the show seems to be leading up to Kelly and Chuck revealing the truth about Gracie’s paternity.
Actually, the only notable difference was in the character Gracie. Laura Marano, who portrayed the kid prior to the writer’s strike is suddenly missing and has been replaced with a much younger version of the character. Gracie is supposed to be 10, and this new little actress looks much younger and doesn’t really suit the part.
Character Development: The only character who appeared to have any real progression throughout the show is Chuck. In the beginning he came off as a pompous womanizer, but as the show progressed, he seemed to be more interested in the welfare of his new-found daughter. Kelly, on the other hand, made it her mission to keep Chuck’s identity hidden from Gracie and went to all kinds of measures to do so – including lying about her feelings for him. Kelly’s character has remained pretty much the same from the first episode, and I feel she has made little-to-no progression throughout the season.
Cliffhangers/Wrap Up: I have a hard time imaging this show stretching into another season. I like to equate it to Prison Break, where the entire show could be nicely wrapped up in one season and be done with. After Chuck and Kelly tell Gracie about her real father, I can’t imagine where the show would go. It would seem silly to suddenly bring another completely different storyline into the mix after focusing on one subject for so long. I guess only time will tell what is in store for Back to You. I fear, however, it doesn’t have the staying power that other sitcoms do.
Overall Grade:
