Mr. Mom

This altogether pleasant series presents parallel fish-out-of-water stories in Greg's and Megan's individual struggles to redefine themselves and find contentment after a major life change. Many of the scenarios will ring true for adults in the audience -- from office politics to sneaking "adult" time away from the kids in unusual and often unspectacular ways -- and the show's willingness to confront them with both humor and authenticity makes for an appealing watch. Mr. Mom doesn't break a lot of new ground with its family-centered comic content, but what it does offer is strong storytelling and a heartfelt glimpse of the beautiful, imperfect experience that is life.

Cast in its modern setting, what isn't notable about Mr. Mom is precisely what made a mark in the original film -- namely, the novelty of the stay-at-home dad role. While the idea of the woman going to work and the man tending to the kids was a bit of an anomaly in the '80s, it's much more mainstream now, and so the premise that was so comical on its face in the movie loses some of that surprise value in the context of today's gender relations. Rather than being a detriment to the story, though, this reframing adds to the show's celebration of its own kind of "normal" home structure and the resilient nature of marriage and family life.