The second-season premiere of Men of a Certain Age on Monday night found our trio of pals – Ray Romano’s Joe; Andre Braugher’s Owen, Scott Bakula’s Terry – facing, or avoiding, new challenges. Joe was self-treating his gambling addiction by geting in shape for a golf senior tour; Owen was trying to assume the mantle of leadership at his father’s car dealership; and Terry was swallowing his actor’s ego and trying to boost his income by selling cars at that same dealership. It’s not a spoiler to say that they’re all failing, in varying degrees. But the achievement of this series that it makes middle-age failure so energetically entertaining.
No other show would, or could, make one of its stand-out moments include a man’s embarrassment at having to use reading-glasses for the first time in front of his date. Self-conscious about aging and his newly-single status, Joe can barely bring himself to do things that might bring him pleasure, whether it’s playing golf or playing the field. Similarly, Owen can’t revel in the victory he secured at the end of last season – forcing his imperious dad (Richard Gant) to let him run the dealership – because as soon as he takes over, he faces new ego-battering problems, such as a sales staff that dismisses him as a mere Daddy’s-boy.
There’s a loose, almost ragged pace to Men that’s unlike other TV shows’ rhythms — it’s more like a rambling indie film each week. In the case of Romano and Braugher, it plays against their most familiar TV images. Romano played a needy wuss in Everybody Loves Raymond; Braugher has specialized in brainy authority types, whether it was in the wonderful Homicide: Life on the Street or the short-lived Gideon’s Crossing. As for Bakula, he’s trading on all the good will you have for him in shows ranging from Quantum Leap to Star Trek: Enterprise — his Terry is a version of Scott Bakula if Bakula had never had that earlier degree of success.
Men of a Certain Age contains a core of blunt truth: Life isn’t easy, or tidy, or pretty. This dark-tinged show is frequently very funny, never more so than when the pals gather for a diner meal, to whine and tease each other. The dialogue has a cutting crispness; the pace of the hour zips along, no matter how logy its anti-heroes may become. Indeed, Men of a Certain Age is downright inspirational to anyone, of any age.
But don’t tell these guys that: They want to moan for your — and their — pleasure.
Did you watch the season premiere?
Twitter: @kentucker
Not only did I watch (this date was marked on our calender for months), but again, this show spured conversations with my husband that we’d never had before.
I LOVE this show…
I’m with you. I was surprised by how excited I got when I heard a commercial for it on the radio yesterday during the day, and I remembered it’s be on.
Excellent acting, strong writing with neither being unnecessarily showy. I like the show’s confidence that these every-day/relatable problems will be interesting enough to carry the show.
Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton are both infinitely more enjoyable in their new shows. I couldn’t handle watching either of them whine on “Everybody Loves Raymond” but really like “Men of…” and “The Middle.”
I’m so glad to see I’m not the only one who couldn’t stand “Everyone Loves Raymond” – not just for the leads, but for those incredibly annoying parents! I usually love Doris and Peter, but those characters were unfunny, rude, obnoxious, and made you want to smack them. LOL
I’m with you, Allison and Wickeddoll, loving both of their new shows MUCH more than Everybody Loves Raymond. (Even the title of that show turned me off.) However, I did love Peter Boyle, tho’ it usually wasn’t worth it to sit thru that show just for a couple of minutes of his great line readings.
excellent show
We LOVE this show!! Smart, funny, enjoyable! Was so happy to have it start again!!
I watched this from the very beginning and recommended it to all I know. I have laughed and cried, and loved every minute of this series from the beginning!
Me too. But I also did that with Terriers. Was very glad with all of the ad coverage it got during the World series on the backboard.
So happy this one made it to a second season. Didn’t have a chance to watch it yet, but can’t wait to get home from work today and watch.
This is the best show that few know about. I suggest it to men and women alike. My almost 72 year old dad loves it too!
Actually, it’s one of the top 5 cable shows in terms of viewers and also has high DVR numbers. It’s encouraging to know folks will watch quality TV when it’s offered.
Alirght, I’m 22. I love Everybody Loves Raymond, I watch the re-runs, I’m a raymond nerd. I try watching this new show if his from time to time. Watched the series premiere, and like 6 other episodes. Seriously, it is boring, a bit depressing, and not so fun to watch. Mostly because of the camera. Worst cinematography ever. That aside, nothing much happens…I think I’d rather just be 40 something than watch this show about forty somethings. When that time comes, maybe I’ll rev up my brain’s internal dvd player (because in the future we’ll have dvd players in our brains) and I’ll see what I missed. Although hopefully my life will be 300 million times better than these characters’ lives.
Watch for the DVDs when you are 40. Then it will all make sense to you. Enjoy your youth but do not look at these guys as depressing. They are amazing guys sloggging through like as it is. Love all three of them. This is Gen X’s “thirtysomething” More realistic and self aware!!
You are absolutely not the target audience for this show. I completely understand why it doesn’t appeal to you.
Om behalf of people of a certain age, the fact that it doesn’t appeal to you reflects the producers great courage in letting your demographic slip by the wayside and focusing on us as its audience. The premiere hour packed so much well-written, well-acted product into the slot that when it ended i felt I’d been watching for hours. Real quality, real depth, and all too true.
It’s a TV show, not real life. It’s a comedy — I think you have to be 45 or older to enjoy.
I am 29 and not the intended demographic for this show, yet I truly enjoy it. At times I get slightly bored, but I think that is only because these men face problems that I haven’t faced yet, and it is painful to watch. However, other times, I am captivated by this show, and laugh out loud at it’s hilarity. The friendship that these three men have is fun to watch, and I enjoy seeing where their lives will go as they struggle to find success and stability.
@zack
And where do the DVDs go? I think you’re talking more about plant implants, or what Scalzi calls BrainPals in Old Man’s War. That said, I love this show. I’m 42, Caucasian, Canadian.
I love this show! So glad it’s back – I hope it doesn’t lose too many viewers from being gone so long.
I started watching this show last season and was hooked. Even as i’m a decade plus junior to the key characters, i identify with all three as archetypes of what the future may hold for me and my buddies (career bachelor, family man, part of the 50% failed marriage crew). Great actors. Great show.
I’ve been a fan of A. Braugher since “Glory”. An excellent actor and a great choice for this role. Love the show cant wait to see what happens next.
This is a great show! Love it. I am early 60′s and this show really speaks to me in so many ways.
Love the show, so happy it’s back! I admire how they depict uncomfortable situations for people over 40.
By “people” you mean men since that’s what the show’s about. I don’t get the love for this show. I tried it again last night; I guess it’s a “guy” thing. There’s enough focus on guys and there needs and their problems in our society. We don’t need a show that dwells on it.
It can’t just be a “guy” thing. I’m a woman. I love this show.
I would much rather watch a “guy” TV show than whiney chick show like Grey’s or Desperate Housewives! And I’m a woman!
This is a great show; not one I thought I would like, but now I am a huge fan of these men
Love this show…couldn’t wait til it came back!
But I had NO IDEA it was a one hour show!! Story moves so well it feels like it is over too soon!