Rip-off of Malcolm In The Middle? Please. Title similarities aside, this show is done in a much different style. For starters, it's not quite as centered on the kids as Malcolm was, or at least not in the same way. Yes, the kids get a lot of the spotlight on this show, too. But the real laughs lie in the parents' responses to their kids' behavior. Especially Mike's responses. Carrying over at least some of the Janitor's dry sarcasm from Scrubs really helps.
Of course, funny as the show is (I actually consider this one funnier than the much-vaunted Modern Family, which is no slouch in the comedy department itself), it's a bit flawed, too. Like most sitcoms, it unfortunately falls prey to Flanderization. Particularly affected is Sue, whose excessively positive, quirky, Zooey Deschanel-y personality only gets worse as the show goes on. I just wish there comes a time when they stop having Sue act "rebellious" over extremely minor misdeeds, and also have her finally act normal. Many fans like her for it, but I don't. Brick doesn't escape either (stage whisper: either!), but at least his character isn't terminally annoying - in fact, as the Dewey-Expy, he's one of the funniest ones on the show. As for Axl - if anything, he seems to undergo some kind of simultaneous Flanderization and reverse Flanderization. Sure, he's increasingly portrayed as a dummy, but at least he's not lounging around in his underwear all the time anymore. In the first couple of seasons, that Running Gag kinda wore out its welcome. I take it as a sign that the writers learned a lesson. In addition, he demonstrates Hidden Depths more and more as time goes on - see "Life Skills" for proof.
Overall, though - great show. Maybe someday it'll outshine MF in popularity.
Lots and lots of fun.
Rip-off of Malcolm In The Middle? Please. Title similarities aside, this show is done in a much different style. For starters, it's not quite as centered on the kids as Malcolm was, or at least not in the same way. Yes, the kids get a lot of the spotlight on this show, too. But the real laughs lie in the parents' responses to their kids' behavior. Especially Mike's responses. Carrying over at least some of the Janitor's dry sarcasm from Scrubs really helps.
Of course, funny as the show is (I actually consider this one funnier than the much-vaunted Modern Family, which is no slouch in the comedy department itself), it's a bit flawed, too. Like most sitcoms, it unfortunately falls prey to Flanderization. Particularly affected is Sue, whose excessively positive, quirky, Zooey Deschanel-y personality only gets worse as the show goes on. I just wish there comes a time when they stop having Sue act "rebellious" over extremely minor misdeeds, and also have her finally act normal. Many fans like her for it, but I don't. Brick doesn't escape either (stage whisper: either!), but at least his character isn't terminally annoying - in fact, as the Dewey-Expy, he's one of the funniest ones on the show. As for Axl - if anything, he seems to undergo some kind of simultaneous Flanderization and reverse Flanderization. Sure, he's increasingly portrayed as a dummy, but at least he's not lounging around in his underwear all the time anymore. In the first couple of seasons, that Running Gag kinda wore out its welcome. I take it as a sign that the writers learned a lesson. In addition, he demonstrates Hidden Depths more and more as time goes on - see "Life Skills" for proof.
Overall, though - great show. Maybe someday it'll outshine MF in popularity.