The TV Chick

Traditional multiple camera sitcoms with laugh tracks seem to be few and far between these days. Most shows tend to stray away from these 90s mainstays, leaning more towards documentary style filming or at the very least single camera. However, the sitcom is what started this TV Chick on her TV loving journey. Friends is one of my all time favorite shows and it is as sitcom as they come. This is not to say that the recent trend in the comedy format isn’t a welcome and wonderful change, but I still see the merit in a laugh track (as long as it’s not too distracting) and multiple cameras.

Better With You is filmed in front of a live studio audience and with multiple cameras. It is a new ABC comedy from Shana Goldberg-Meehan who was an Executive Producer on Friends. It’s about three couples — one married for many years, one living together for many years but not married yet, and a new couple who gets engaged really fast. There are the parents, and then two sisters and their respective relationships. Debra Jo Rupp (from That 70s show) is one half of the older married couple, and she is hilarious. Jennifer Finnegan and Joanna Garcia play the two sisters — Maddy and Mia respectively. For all intents and purposes, this show isn’t one that should stand out as one of the best new comedies of the season, but it does. The premiere made me laugh out loud several times, which is rare. The relationships felt real and at its core, this sitcom was about the characters. Friends was about a group of friends — sure they developed and evolved tremendously over ten years — but that was always at the center. Better With You is about sisters and family and relationships. Joanna Garcia is fantastic and has deserved a leading role like this for quite some time. Jennifer Finnegan is equally as charming and plays the neurotic worried sister part very well. It’s also nice to see Debra Jo Rupp back on TV.

For all those out there who don’t want to give a traditional sitcom a chance (I understand, Everybody Loves Raymond was ridiculous and Joey was a trainwreck), give Better With You a try. The acting is great, the writing is very funny and you might just find yourself reminiscing about the sitcoms of Yore. (Please tell me you got that Friends reference or we may not be able to continue this relationship).

Better With You premieres tonight at 8:30 PM on ABC.