There is a reason why Bonnie Hunt's previous series didn't last ... there was a certain lack of any "there" there. She has talent, has an interesting off center p.o.v., but at times you get the idea that everything is just an inside joke mostly for the actors' amusement (many whom went from show to show, e.g., Bonnie Hunt's friend Holly followed her along, and her now husband played someone she was in love with on a past show of hers). This is shown here by a lot of ad libbing (especially by guest stars, who are sometimes amusing, sometimes not) and steady as you go scenes that sometimes just don't work.
This show has a few annoying characters ... the son is just too cutesy (ditto his friend), the piano player is just annoying as is the housekeeper (who does less work than Alice). The daughter, who actually was enjoyable, for some reason wasn't in many episodes this season. More time for the annoyingly cute son? The station owner (Carl Reiner, again not funny -- he wasn't that funny on The Dick Van Dyke Show [admit it], but he is surely a historical figure on t.v. ... doesn't make his lame appearances more enjoyable) is another one I can do without.
A show you want to like more than you do, it's a good fit on Friday nights... with other nice enough comedies that aren't really that funny, but you watch them, since they are nice and all.
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