'Brothers & Sisters': Back to balanced

Hallelujah! Last night's "Brothers & Sisters" achieved a nice balance of comedy and drama, a feat that's been long overdue this season.

The typical elements were there -- a dinner party bound to go awry, a depressed Kitty whom everyone was eager to fix, a few Walkers who overstep their boundaries -- but everything was thankfully tempered with comedic moments, most of which were spearheaded by guest star Dave Foley. He nailed the role of the ultimate awkward dinner party guest as a recovering addict and compulsive oversharer named Paul. It was not only funny to see a new and completely odd person at the Walker table but it was also laughable that Justin would want to set that person up with Saul. Looks like Saul won't be needing the help -- he'll get more screen time soon when he reveals his secret boyfriend.

I was also glad to see a scene featuring a signature Walker conference call. The past few episodes have put various members of the family at odds with each other, so it was refreshing to see them all come together to devise a plan to distract a guilt-ridden, depressive Kitty. Still bummed over botching the adoption, she's now an insomniac who spends her nights donating to TV charity commercials. I'm all for seeing this vulnerable side of Kitty, but I hope that the fire that made her character so interesting returns soon, with child or not.

Kudos to the show for giving Scotty more screen time and a promotion. This puts him at a more equal footing with Kevin, who himself has had to take a pay cut at his new government job. Since Kevin is Kevin, the void had to be filled somehow, this time by impulsively buying a mansion without consulting his husband. Of all the relationships on the show, Scotty and Kevin's is by far the most revealing and fulfilling. However, I found it interesting that the show acknowledged Obama's election as president but didn't address the passing of Prop. 8, the measure that could make Scotty and Kevin's marriage moot.

When I asked, an ABC spokesperson responded that at this point, "the show won't acknowledge the passing of Prop. 8." For a show that is so rooted in the present, I find it strange to overlook a huge social movement that has prompted rallies and protests throughout Los Angeles in the past few weeks.

What do you think? Should "Brothers & Sisters" address the outcome of Prop. 8 or leave Kevin and Scotty in wedded bliss?

-- Enid Portuguez

(Photo courtesy ABC)

Comments

[Adamina]

Yes, I was also surprised Proposition 8 wasn't mentioned since the writers have always been so open and matter of fact about Kevin and Scottie's "marriage" and current events, especially those concerning the continued prejudice against gays (like Scottie's parents and Kevin's defunct partnership, suggested), but also the Walker family's total acceptance of the couple. To keep in tune with the liberal ways the writers have shown in the past, yes, I think Prop 8 should be mentioned at some ponit in time. I was also thinking last night that the audience of this great show must be mostly liberals as it would seem to be very offensive to ultra conservatives. This is my favorite show and has been since the first episode. And no, I'm a white mid-50's straight woman.

[dormilona]

since u asked:

scotty & kevin should go to demonstration against prop. 8, one does civil disobedience (the other is support person), and the one who does cd gets arrested...kitty contributes to anti-prop. 8 campaign; this info goes public and blows up in her husband's face, forcing him to take a stand...which he finally does (against prop 8).

[Val]

I do believe they should address prop 8, and play out the reality of the situation which has effected real life same sex marriages. I would like to see Kevin and Scotty deal with the decision and decide that it doesn't affect their marriage.

[Jake]

Dormilona, its unlikely, the way they have presented Kitty (and she did, after all, speak at the ceremony for Scotty and Kevin), that she would donate against the right for them to marry. However, as far as Robert goes, the episode last week made it clear that he had already issued a statement in opposition to the passage of Prop 8.

I'm not sure (as a gay male) that its important for them to mention prop 8. Also, IIRC, they didn't get married, they had a commitment ceramony. I don't even recall them having a domestic partnership. However, the current interpretation that most legal scholars are giving is that any marriage conducted prior to the electoral passage of Prop 8 would remain legal, so if what they had at the end of last season was a marriage, that is still what they have.

My problem with this show is the same problem I have had with all the episodes since the post strike: the writing - the lack of logic (Nora all of a sudden goes from long time unemployed housewife to the head of her own charity with the resources to buy a $750,000 house? In this econmony, when so many business and foundations are giving less to both the arts and to LONG-ESTABLISHED charities with consisted bonifides?), the use of so many rethreads (another multi-million drama at Ojai that has to get bailed out, another William Walker child out of wed lock, etc.), and so forth.

Even the jokes last night were good, because Dave Foley is a pro with killer delivery; dinner and a show, I end up with cheaters all the time too, etc., these are not NEW jokes, and you can see them coming a mile away. It's his delivery that pulled them off, not the fact that the B&S writers can write funny material - they didn't. At best, you can say they cribbed funny material.

[ABC]

Enid:

It seems unlikely that the show last night was filmed such a short time ago to reflect the election results. My guess is that either DGI'd the scene or they filmed two different articfical news bulletins to reflect both possible presidential outcomes and simply slipped in the correct one. Notice that neither Robert nor Kitty commented on what the news story was about. Same thing happened at the end of the first episode of Law and Order this year (which aired the day after the election), when you heard -- as the last scene was fadiing to black -- a question for DA Jack McCoy from the assembled press, "Do you expect to get a job offer from the Obama administration?" The liberal producers running network programming are so predictable.

As for the ABC spokesperson's comment that B&S does not intend to at least mention Prop 8's fate in passing, that would be a major mistake from a plot standpoint since Kevin made it an issue with Robert when he first starting working for the Senator. Then, again, when does Kevin not make an issue with everything. Can we find out that William wasn't his father and remove him permanently from the Walker clan? A whiney non-breeder -- enough with the stereotypes. Bring back Jason McCallister. Now, that's eye candy!

Thanks.

[daniel]

It's just TV, not real life. It doesn't have to reflect the reality. Just let Kevin and Scotty be the happy couple that they are. I'll flip out if they dare to tear these two people apart. They're pretty much the only thing that's ineresting on B&S, which is kinda sad.

btw, Kevin & Scotty never got married. They just registered as domestic partners. So i don't think the passing of prop 8 should have any effect on them.

[Kevin A. Barry]

I agree that Kevin and Scotty shoudl at least have a conversation about Prop. 8 because it will have a dramatic effect on their future moving forward. This show focuses on the life of the Walker family and that includes a gay couple living in California during a time where their rights are being taken away. Of course, they should be part of the conversation. It is importnat that they reflect what many of us are currently experience -- a mix of anger, sadness and frustration. For ABC to ignore how Prop. 8 will impact Kevin and Scotty's future is a severe mistake, especially for a show that strives so hard to be based in current events. The reality is that the battle over Prop. 8 has just begun and with Kevin being a lawyer, he would have either been inovlved or known people who were protesting. I'm VERY disappointed in ABC's decision to not address this issue. Very disappointed, indeed.