Men of A Certain Age (Season 2)

[tharpdevenport]

I've now watched three of the four episodes thus far this season.


The show is as funny, if not more so at time, than the first season, and the characters are progressing.

I love that so far there's been no overt "Everybody Loves Raymond" in-jokes (though I am not opposed to one) and that he's played a character that's not just a straight-up series transplant.

I love that all three leads are given equel time and just as compelling situations and story lines.

Good humor, good writing, and just plain fun.



Anybody else watching? TNT has the full first three episodes online if you've missed them:
http://www.tnt.tv/series/menofacertainage/chevy/



(on a seperate not,e it appears someone over there saw my complaints about the lacking scoring of the series, and as a result S2 now has a new composer: Mark McAdams -- who's doing a good job)

 

[Saxman1]

Love it! Great show, one of the best on TV IMHO!

 

[the G-man]

It's an excellent show. Obviously I expected good things from Ande Braugher and Scott Bakula, but...damn, who knew that Ray Romano could really act?

If I have a complaint its that Romano's gambling problem takes the show to such a dark place at times that I actually find the show uncomfortable to watch. It's like a ticking time bomb.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I watched an episode for the first time just to see what it's like. Kind of a tangent here but Scott Bakula's teased out hair drives me nuts, it looks awful IMO. I suspect that is part of the joke, old guy still acting young, but I find it oddly distracting whenever he was on screen.

 

[the G-man]

I watched an episode for the first time just to see what it's like. Kind of a tangent here but Scott Bakula's teased out hair drives me nuts, it looks awful IMO. I suspect that is part of the joke, old guy still acting young...

Yeah, that's the major plot point regarding his character: his inability/refusal to grow up.

 

[Saxman1]

In his week's ep, Bakula hooked up with a woman his age he'd always liked. They used to do commercials together.

But from the previews, the gambling storm cloud is gathering again as the bookie tries to entice Ray back to the dark side. I wish someone would blow that scumbag away, LOL!

I agree: Ray Romano is an acting revelation, a real actor, the eyes are always communicating something. He's created the series and written quite a few of the eps. Who knew he had such depth? I wrote "Everyone Loves Raymond" off as a 3-horse joke, but wow, I'm impressed with his work here!

Andre and Scott are their usual awesome selves. Must-watch-TV!

 

[the G-man]

But from the previews, the gambling storm cloud is gathering again as the bookie tries to entice Ray back to the dark side. I wish someone would blow that scumbag away, LOL!

I don't know. Last season it was strongly implied that the bookie actually genuinely liked Ray as a person. But he had a job to do and no one was putting a gun to Ray's head. In fact, I think a few times he actually tried to talk Ray out of some bets.

 

[davejames]

Absolutely love this show. Haven't gotten to the last couple eps yet, but so far I agree it seems to have gotten even better this season.

And yeah, I've been really impressed with Romano as well, but the one I love watching the most is Braugher. It's amazing to think that the same guy who played the badass, intimidating Pembleton all those years ago could be so utterly believable as this character. It's almost painful to see him constantly getting trampled on all the time, and everytime we get a little taste of the old Pembleton anger it makes me want to cheer.

Bakula is really good too (but man, is he really starting to look old).

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I've been enjoying this show. I agree with the comments here that the performances from all three actors are superb. Any one of them could pull off an Emmy nomination. Their friendship feels very real, and the writing is pretty darn solid. I hope this show sticks around.

I hope they don't do any Everybody Loves Raymond jokes, though. Not only would it be lazy, but it would ruin the reality of this show. It would harm it to use such a winking gag. Thankfully, I seriously doubt they'll do anything like that.

 

[the G-man]

Braugher is never less than brilliant and I think he got an Emmy nod last year for this.

 

[Saxman1]

Braugher is never less than brilliant and I think he got an Emmy nod last year for this.

He deserves it! What a great actor!

I think Bakula is supposed to look like an aging pretty boy with the blond streaked hair and crow's feet, which they could choose not to show with makeup, lighting or CGI.

That's true, I think the bookie did try to talk Ray out of a couple of big bets, forgot about that. He just needs to stay away from gambling.

It's like an ex-musical associate of mine (I play music part-time) who is heavily into substance abuse and marital infidelity, yet he chooses to play in bands with users and doesn't resist anyone who throws herself at him. Then he complains about feeling like crap when he's coming down and again expects people to feel sorry for him because his wife caught him cheating and threw him out, LOL!

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Plus, he's 56. Of course he's looking older. I hope I look half as good at that age.

 

[Borgminister]

Watch it with my son all the time, being a man of that certain age. I like that the show basically doesn't sugar-coat issues.

For example, the ending where father accepts daughter's having had sex with the boy he caught, after which his daughter informs him that she has dumped him and gets hoisted by a tatoo'd guy.

Too bad the ratings aren't all that good...

 

[the G-man]

Given it was renewed for a second season, how bad can the ratings be, at least by cable TV standards?

 

[Count Zero]

I love that show, it's witty, yet also able to tackle serious issues well and it feels very authentic. I'm happy we get 2 more episodes than last season. All the actors in this a very good, not just the three main characters.

 

[tharpdevenport]

They broke up the 12 season run into two six runs, and final episode before the break, aired a few days ago.

General thoughts about the episode, and this season thus far -- some SPOILERS:



I think Owen has the best story line of the three main leads. Poor guy just can't catch a break, and now we learn his father left him a business in the hole.

Seems to me the writers are leading to something, but I'm not sure what. But I do feel they've written his father out. Gotten okay (until the news of taxes) with his dad, had the passed passed on to him, then learned he was left nothing. All that comes now is his dad dying suddenly, like of a heart attack, after a tense argument, leaving Owen unable to ever make it right.

I don't believe for a second Joe's bookie is sick. I think it's a sick, sick twisted ploy to get Joe back in since he blew big amounts a bit too often And that knocked over trash can -- a bad sign of what might come should Joe not go back to gambling.


Just me or does it seem Terry's character, while making some emotional advancements, just doesn't seem to be going anywhere?


And finally, I think one of them probably lied about being clean on the colonoscopy.

 

[auntiehill]

No, I think the bookie really IS sick. The knocked over trash can was about Joe standing him up for a guy's night out. The guy's feelings were hurt. Of course, all Joe had to do was tell him he got lucky that night, and the bookie would have understood.

With Terry, I think he's going to get his heart broken, in a bit of role-reversal. Whether or not it will make him finally grow up or not is anyone's guess.

I was wondering if Owen's gambling winnings might be enough to help the business get out of the hole; he seemed to be on quite a roll there in Palm Springs. Things don't look good for the dealership at all. I'm wondering if Owen will have to close the place--or if his health will give out due to the stress.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

My wife and I really enjoyed this season. Half-season, whatever. I hope the show somehow gets another.

I agree with auntiehill. I think the bookie really is sick.

I don't think any of the guys were lying about their results, either. For one, it'd be a little cliché, but for another, that aspect of the episode felt like an under-the-radar Public Service Announcement. If that's what the writers intended (and it really felt like they were encouraging men to go get checked) giving one of the guys cancer would just make it scary.

That's my guess, anyway. The show isn't really about those kinds of trials.

 

[the G-man]

I don't believe for a second Joe's bookie is sick. I think it's a sick, sick twisted ploy to get Joe back in since he blew big amounts a bit too often

No, I think the bookie really IS sick. The knocked over trash can was about Joe standing him up for a guy's night out. The guy's feelings were hurt.

I agree with Auntie.

The trash can thing was clearly about Joe standing him up. And, as I noted before, the bookie actually tried to talk Joe out of a couple of the big bets, both because he likes Joe and because he considers it bad for business to let a client go broke.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Oh, I know exactly wht the trash can was about. I was implying it's a foreshadow of what the bookie might do to Joe if he doesn't fall back in.