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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The New Normal is a sitcom in which all subjects -- race, sexuality, age, body size -- are fair game for skewering. The story centers on a committed gay couple that hires a surrogate to carry a baby for them, so there are plenty of jokes about sperm, eggs, and body parts (as when one character tells another that he faints at the sight of a vagina, as they look like "tarantula faces"). Another character is an unapologetic bigot who spews a rainbow of offensive comments, from calling gay men "salami smokers" to insulting a former Girl Scouts' colleague for trying to "Jew down" the price of cookies. There are some intimate and/or sexual scenes between both gay and straight couples, with at least one brief shot of a bra-clad woman grinding atop an apparently nude man. Expect cursing such as "Have you lost your damned mind?" as well as other rough language such as one character saying that she was "a whore for a long time. I slept with everybody!" There are some unkind comments about fat and/or ugly people, as well as moments that shine a positive light on all types of families.
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What's the story?
In NBC's comedy The New Normal, Bryan (Andrew Rannells, best known for Broadway musical The Book of Mormon) and David (Justin Bartha) are a loving and committed gay couple with successful careers, a gorgeous house, and everything else a person could want, except one thing: a child. But with plenty of money, the lack of an in-home womb is no problem, and Bryan and David soon rent the services of Goldie (Georgia King), a Midwestern mama who's just left her cheating husband and wants David and Bryan's cash to attend law school and make a better life for her precocious young daughter. Crashing the party is Jane (Ellen Barkin), Goldie's concerned grandma, who doesn't like the idea of her granddaughter serving as a surrogate for anyone, much less a gay couple, since she's a loud-mouthed and unabashed bigot. But when sperm meets egg and a baby happens, all of these motley characters are stitched together into one big, mostly happy, decidedly non-traditional family.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
Famed for his star-making turn on Broadway in The Book of Mormon, Rannells displays even more star-power on the small screen, moving smoothly from snappy put-downs to emotion so genuine that he tears up (and viewers might, too). He's the sweetest of sweet daddies, which brings heart to all the "oh, snap!" dialogue that peppers the scenes around him. It won't surprise viewers familiar with glossy shows like Glee and Nip/Tuck that Ryan Murphy is one of The New Normal's executive producers; the dialogue has that same snippy/quippy quality found on those shows, and there's a similar "is nothing sacred?" vibe to the jokes.
Which are mostly pretty funny, if too profane for young kids, as when Goldie hands her husband's paramour a bottle of bleach for his tighty-whities, declaring that he's "not real detail-oriented back there." Or when Jane tells Goldie's naked husband to "put his Gherkin away." Speaking of Jane, viewers should be prepared for a (mockingly) racist and/or homophobic rant every time she's on screen. It might be more offensive if The New Normal's characters and plot points weren't too outrageous to take seriously. Both the talk and the action are a little salty, but viewers with a sense of irony will find it satisfying, if fleeting, junk-food fun.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about the meaning of the show's name, The New Normal. Who decides what "normal" is? What kinds of families do you know? Does what is "normal" change over time?
Bryan and David have a nice house and plenty of money. Do you think that the creators of The New Normal consider this important? Can you see any difference in the way the poorer characters dress, or what they say?
Do you think the audience is supposed to like Bryan and David? What about Jane? What gives you this impression? How are these characters shown to be different kinds of people?
TV details
| Cast: | Andrew Rannells, Ellen Barkin, Georgia King, Justin Bartha, NeNe Leakes |
| Network: | NBC |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Available on: | Streaming |
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QUALITY
Great collection of characters that gives your family plenty to talk about.
What other families should know
Great role models
Too much consumerism
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I feel good after watching this show...
I LOVE this show! The dialog is surprisingly intelligent for TV, *and* actually funny. I love how 'regular' people whom we might come across in our lives are portrayed for who they are, without apology, and their differences which might normally serve as the punch line or judged harshly, are spotlighted for their positives and celebrated. I love to listen to Ellen Barkin's character (I know a few people who think like she does - but use a much more limited vocabulary than she does, unfortunately for me, the things she says can be horrifying if she were real), but what I love best, is by the end of the show, a light is shined on how very similar those who appear so different from 'us' actually are. 'They' are actually much more similar to 'us' than we might think. This show celebrates positive difference and thereby promoting tolerance - in an intelligent way. FINALLY! A worthwhile message on TV. I think this show is a must watch for anyone who tends to think a little or a lot like the grandmother. Well done! I didn't think broadcast TV was capable of producing anything worth watching anymore. What a breath of fresh air! Kudos to those who make this show who end up treating all those who are deserving, with respect and intelligence. Not for my young children though, at least not before sex ed classes.
What other families should know
Great role models
Too much swearing
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QUALITY
Occasional Pushing-The-Boundaries Jokes along with Heart and Good Messages.
"The New Normal" is one of TV's Freshest and Funniest Sitcoms Currently Airing. However, expect sexual references including some occasional jokes that push the boundaries and irreverent humor such as jokes about Racism, Special See-Through "Lotion" and more. Characters also drink often and curse in context. Overall, this is a good, funny show that has positive role models and messages (Except for Ellen Barkin's Character who is the only one negatively portrayed on the show) and is appropriate for kids 13+
What other families should know
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
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