Question: I currently go to college and live with three other roommates, all big fans of Fox's Sunday-night comedy lineup. A week ago, we watched all four of the shows, from The Simpsons to American Dad. What troubled me the most was my roommates' puzzling affection for The War at Home. They laughed at every racial, sexual and trashy joke, all of which I found rather disturbing. I know the modern sitcom has transformed from white-bread to dysfunctional, but War's loudmouthed stupidity was too much for me. Even The Simpsons' premiere was lacking, but it easily towered over this junk. What did you think?
Answer: Have you considered finding new roomies? (Joke.) And is it possible you're living with sophomores? Because The War at Home may in fact be the most sophomoric new comedy of the season. (Sorry.) Like you, I found this one to be crude without being the least bit funny, pandering for laughs with only one marginally adept performance (Anita Barone as the mom) in the entire cast. But
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Who dares interrupt my Sunday night of First Amendment-protected comedy? Actually, I'm just trying to start with a bang — this show lived up to its irreverent promise (I had to look up "irreverent"). Let's start with Michael Rapaport, who has succeeded in the career of being Michael Rapaport. Seriously, he's always the same guy. But that guy is right for this series. I think I counted six blatantly racial, stereotypical or uncomfortable comments in five minutes. So the alcoholic thing, the questionably gay son, the teenage girl's new black boyfriend, the implants and even Rapaport's excitement over Lindsay Lohan have opened a few doors in the realm of "borderline offensive prime-time comedy." Oh yeah, and the sparky teenaged Kaylee Defer actually looks like Lindsay Lohan. Nice.
Problems don't really get solved, nor do they click, and we're once again reminded that having kids is rough. But I like the family's legitimacy — almost like
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