Parenthood Has Room to Grow

Can the new Parenthood, a remake of the Ron Howard flick of the same name, help repair NBC’s 10pm timeslot? Maybe, critics say, but it’s got some problems. Here’s what they’re saying about the show, which premieres tomorrow:

• It’s a “credible dramedy with the misfortune of arriving after the similar—and better—Modern Family,” writes Brian Lowry of Variety. There are so many plot threads that it “risks becoming Brothers and Sisters-Lite (which is already pretty lite, come to think of it).”

• “It's sweet and funny and heartbreaking, and relatable to the point of cliché,” says Paige Wiser of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Parenthood strikes all the right notes, although it's not yet can't-miss television.”
• “Where are the laughs?” asks Vince Horiuchi of the Salt Lake City Tribune. There’s potential here, but the show needs to strike a better blend of comedy and drama. “Perhaps, like a good parent, the network can nurture this series into something it can be proud of.”

(More Parenthood stories.)