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TV Show Reviews
"Sullivan & Son"
review by Suzanne
Premieres July 19 Thursdays 10/9c on TBS
This show has some interesting characters, but most of
the jokes are pretty bad. They try really hard to make it
funny, but it has few laughs. Steve Byrne plays Steve
Sullivan, a New York lawyer who comes back to visit his
parents and ends up staying to run their family bar. In this
sense, it's a bit like the TVLAND show "Retired at 35".
Veteran comedy actor Dan Lauria plays Steve's dad, Jack,
who is retiring. Jodi Long plays his domineering mother.
Other familiar faces in the show include Christine Ebersole
and Brian Doyle-Murray.
Most of the jokes revolve around Steve being half-Irish
and half-Koren; and his mother being a bitch; and Ebersole's
character being a slut; and Doyle-Murray's character being a
racist. Ha, ha ha! No, not really.
The other jokes are about the various drunks that hang
out at the bar. In that way, it's a little like Cheers. Just
not nearly as funny.
If all you require from a comedy is likable characters
and a few laughs, then this show is for you. If you want to
laugh a lot, this one won't do it for you.
More Information:
Comedian Steve Byrne finds new life behind the bar in
TB's new original sitcom Sullivan & Son
Series Executive Produced by Vince Vaughn, Peter
Billingsley and Rob Long to premiere with back-to-back
episodes Thursday, July 19
A corporate attorney finds new life behind the bar when
he takes over his parents' pub in TBS's new original sitcom
Sullivan & Son, starring popular comedian Steve Byrne. The
series, which marks TBS's second new sitcom this summer, is
exceutive-produced by Vince Vaughn (The Break-Up), Peter
Billingsley (Iron Man) and show-runner Rob Long (Cheers).
The outstanding ensemble cast includes Dan Lauria (The
Wonder Years), Christine Ebersole (Royal Pains, Amadeus),
Brian Doyle-Murray (Groundhog Day, Saturday Night Live),
Jodi Long (Beginners), Valier Azlyna (Tropic Thunder),
Vivian Bang (Yes Man), Owen Benjamin (The House Bunny).
Created by Rob Long and Steve Byrne, Sullivan & Son is
producted for TBS by Wild West Picture Show productions, in
assocation with Warner Horizon Television. The series
is slated to air Thursdays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), beginning
with a one-hour premiere of back-to-back episodes on July
19.
In Sullivan & Son, Byrne plays Steve Sullivan, a
successful corporate attorney from New York who brings his
girlfriend, Ashley (guest star Brooke Lyons - 2 Broke
Girls), home for his father's 60th birthday. Steve's
timing is impeccable, however, as he learns that his
Irish-American father, Jack Sullivan (Lauria), and Korean
mother, Ok Cha (Long), are preparing to sell the
multi-generational family business, a bar known as Sullivan
& Son.
Filled with locals and regulars, Sullivan & Son is the
unofficial "town hall" for the neighborhood. Within
moments of his arrival, Steve realizes how much he has
missed home as he reconnects with his best friend, Owen
(Benjamin); gets accosted by his long-suffering,
under-appreciated younger sister, Susan (Bang); delights in
offensive comments from gruff barfly Hank (Doyle-Murray);
and gets hit on by tipsy cougar Carol (Ebersole). He
even feels a rekindled romantic spark with his former
sweetheart, Melanie (Azlynn).
It doesn't take Steve long to realize that where he
really belongs is in the old neighborhood and running
Sullivan & Son, but Ashley doesn't have the same view of
rural Pittsburgh and his decision to stay means breaking up
with her and giving up a Manhattan law career. And so begins
Steve's quest for a more meaningful and rewarding life
behind the bar.
About Warner Horizon Television - Warner Horizon
Television (WHTV) is one of the entertainment industry's
leading producers of scripted series for the cable
marketplace and primetime reality series for both network
and cable. Founded in 2006, this second production
entity allows the Warner Bros. Television Group to expand
its programming offerings and explore creative options made
possible under a new business model. WHTV's current
unscripted series are The Voice for NBC, The Bachelor
franchise - which indlues The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and
Bachelor Pad - for ABC, Randy Jackson Presents America's
Best Dance Crew for MTV and Oh Sit! for The CW. Scripted
programs from WHTV are Rizzoli & ISles and Dallas for TNT,
Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game for ABC Family,
Longmire for A&E and Political Animals for USA Network.
About Wild West - Wild West Productions is a Los Angeles
based production company with a first look feature film deal
with Universal Studios. Founded in 2005 by Vince
Vaughn, the company has produced such blockbuster films as
The Break Up and Couples Retreat. Recently, Wild West
has launched into the Television space with its first sitcom
Sullivan & Son on TBS, along with a single camera drama for
FX entitled Whipped and a currently Untitled multi-camera
sitcom with ABC starring Tony Danza.
About TBS- TBS is basic cable's #1 network among young
adults in primetime. Available in 100 million households,
TBS features the Emmy-nominated late-night series Conan,
starring Conan O'Brien, and original primetime comedy series
like Men at Work, Sullivan & Son, Cougar Town, Tyler Perry's
For Better or Worse, Wedding Band, King of the Nerds
(working title), Deon Cole's Black Box (working title) and
Who Gets the Last Laugh? (working title). TBS also
features an outstanding slate of contemporary comedies, such
as The Big Bang Theory and Family Guy, as well as
blockbuster movies and championship sports. In addition, TBS
produces special live comedy events, like the star-studded
comedy festival held each year in Chicago.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company,
creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation
and young adult; and sports media environments on television
and other platforms for consumers around the world.
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Page updated 7/11/12
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