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Herc Says SONS OF TUCSON Is Fox’s Funniest Sitcom!!
I am – Hercules!!
A high-concept “Malcolm in the Middle”-ish sitcom from a lot of the folks behind “Malcolm in the Middle” (including executive producer Justin Berfield, who played menacing teen Reese), “Sons of Tucson” is about a ne’er-do-well car-dwelling slacker hired by a trio of motherless underage brothers to impersonate their real dad, a corrupt banker now doing prison time. Chubby, bearded Tyler Labine of “Invasion” and “Reaper” fame plays the faux dad.
I deem the pilot sharper and funnier than what I’ve seen of “Malcolm in the Middle.” Not worthy of space on my DVR, but it’s the best sitcom Fox has had on since the cancellation of “King of the Hill.”
Reviews are mixed:
Entertainment Weekly says:
If you like the laid-back-dude vibe given off by Reaper's Tyler Labine, you'll enjoy this nicely ratty sitcom. …
USA Today says:
… could use less concept and more comedy. … NBC used the exact same plot 20 years ago for the deservedly short-lived Robert Mitchum sitcom A Family for Joe. …
The New York Times says:
… forces Mr. Labine to do something he hasn’t had to do before on television: play the straight man. … doesn’t have all that much going for it beyond Mr. Labine’s presence, however muffled. … The way the show blunts Mr. Labine’s edge is of a piece with the way it tries, uneasily, to navigate a course between standard family sitcom and postreality metacomedy …
The Los Angeles Times says:
… a lesson in just how many old tropes, previously seen characters and stock situations one may hammer together into a television series and still arrive at something fresh and real. … the governing impulses here are more sardonic than sentimental, and this being television, the usual end may be forestalled indefinitely, and happily so.
The Washington Post says:
… almost as hilarious as a punch in the 'nads. … from his tepid attempts to lift the material, Labine will have to deflect the ever-present suspicion that he's basically doing a value-meal combo of Jack Black and Zach Galifianakis. …
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
… not very funny. … In "Sons of Tucson," there's not anyone else to carry the comedy load, so [Labine is] talking and riffing constantly. What ought to be funny soon becomes manic and distracting. It's not as bad as the kids constantly yelling, but it doesn't endear you to the series. …
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
… Utterly unpleasant and unfunny, Fox's dispiriting "Sons of Tucson" may be the worst comedy series of a generally winning 2009-10 TV season. …
The Newark Star Ledger says:
… The premise is creepy, the brothers not funny, and Labine not very well-used - unless you enjoy watching him crash into things over and over and over. Pass. …
The Boston Herald says:
… Labine is essentially playing the same character he played on CW’s cult favorite “Reaper,” but his wiseacre act shows no sign of getting old. … Even at its worst, “Sons” is better than a third Seth MacFarlane cartoon.
The Boston Globe says:
… won’t blow you away so much as keep you lightly amused. … nonetheless a welcome addition to Fox’s cartoon-heavy Sunday night lineup. …
Variety says:
… Labine brings manic energy to his role as the pseudo-pop, but the three brothers register closer to the bottom than middle of the sitcom-kid scale. …
The Hollywood Reporter says:
… could pay off thanks to above-average writing, a winning performance by Tyler Labine and an understanding by the producers that this series must walk a tightrope to avoid becoming too sweet or cynical. …
9:30 p.m. Sunday. Fox.
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Mar 14, 2010 1:25:06 PM CDT
There hasn't been 1 thing in the ads that made this look funny
by jt kirk
It did have that "Malcolm" feel (moreso even than the ABC wannabe, "The Middle") in tone and camera, but zero entertainment value out of what was shown. I am very surprised to hear the show itself might be otherwise.
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I still lament Reaper's passing but I will hold out some hope that this is good...and, as a Boston area resident, why does the Boston Herald TV critic not even realize there are already 3 McFarlane series???
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I'll take it!
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Bring back Reaper, he was funny in that.
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...only because it's set in Tucson, AZ and I live in a town about 80 miles SE of it. Not enough movies or programs filmed out here...wussamattah boys? Does are erratic and unpredictable weather and desert clime scare you?
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Nothing in the commericals sugest it will be worth my time!
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Malcolm in the Middle laughs at your inferior copycat.
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Seeing Ray Wise in everything else since just isn't as fun as him playing Satan. I did set my DVR for this though. Besides Bernie Mac, FOX hasn't done sitcoms to well, but this looks like it could be funny.
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Mar 14, 2010 3:07:02 PM CDT
"Not worthy of space on my DVR" Talk about damning with faint pr
by v'shael
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but having said that, I'll give it a shot anyway.
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Just wondering if Fox finally killed that P.O.S.?
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sorry to burst your bubble but no, Cleveland is alive and well. Tuscon is taking American Dad's spot so that show ended its season sooner. i did notice they are airing a 2nd Simpsons instead of Cleveland the last few weeks (tonight included). so maybe its taking a hiatus as well.
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Mar 14, 2010 6:20:35 PM CDT
Herc says spinal meningitis is his favorite bacterial infection!
by epitone
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Mar 14, 2010 6:25:25 PM CDT
speaking of FOX sitcoms - how is TIl death still on?
by redbull_werewolf
How the hell is til death still on? I mean is there a regular audience for this showI looked it up and it's in its fourth season somehow. It must be either really cheap to produce or someone involved with the show has dirt on a fox exec, and not just normal dirt but like pedophile slave owner type dirt
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Mar 14, 2010 6:57:27 PM CDT
"sharper and funnier than what I’ve seen of “Malcolm in the Midd
by supertoyslast
"Malcolm" was excellent. The pre-credits sequences alone were sharper and funnier than almost anything on TV now.
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I just checked the TV listings. Interestingly enough, Fox HAD a Cleveland show announced for tonight then, for no announced reason, replaced it with a Simpsons. Makes you wonder if the bloom isn't off the McFarlane rose.
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The guy has made a billion dollars off his shows and it's about time to quit beating the dead horse. I'm no hater, he should be able to enjoy every dime, but it's just not nearly as funny when you spread the same material into three shows. Reaper was the shit, I almost set my DVR just because Sock was in this show but I figured if it was good it'd be canceled in a year anyways.
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Only watched the first 1 1/2 episodes of Reaper BECAUSE of Tyler Labine. Awww, who'm I kidding? Everything about that show blew.
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.....It will be on for years. There is a bigger liklihood of McFarlane getting ANOTHER spinoff for Quagmire than ANY of the 3 already on getting cancelled.
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Fuck this show for delaying American Dad until next season. AD is the best and my favorite of the (granted, spread-thin) MacFarlane output, worth it for gaylien Roger alone. This is Fox, though, so this abortion will be cancelled in about two more episodes...
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As far as I can tell, and assuming the animated shows don't count, they've got TIL DEATH. So, ringing endorsement of the century there.
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Mar 14, 2010 11:53:31 PM CDT
Herc has no taste in TV. MacFarlane-Block is MUCH funnier.
by juansanchez
Even the freaking Simpsons is better. This is Malcom in the desert.
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The Daffy Duck explosion was really stupid. This show isn't funny. At all. Sorry to say it.
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...to being like Malcolm. So far that it's not even close.
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Best taken in small doses, like in Reaper. Full strength, uh-uh.
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Other Than Brothers and 'Til Death"would be another way of putting that headline. Or does Hercules include The Simpsons and Family Guy et al. as "Sitcoms"? "Sons" is probably funnier than Brothers and 'Til Death, but not exactly a difficult level to reach. It certainly doesn't come close to The Simpsons or American Dad or even Family Guy. I'd say it's about on par with The Cleveland Show. That is, a supposed comedy that's not funny. I chuckled at the frozen squirrels and a slight guffaw at the Charlton Heston cutout, but other than that, I found it flat.
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I dug that show.It was NOWHERE near perfect, but it was definitely fun!
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Kind of pissed to hear American Dad is done for the season because of this. Wow, it's sad to realize, but AD is probably the best show Fox has right now. And that's not saying much.
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Was it on last night? I've been looking forward to this but forgot to record it. Oh Hulu...!!
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Did I miss something?
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Malcolm was a consistently funny and quality sitcom and I never understood why I didn't hear more praise for it during its time, especially being that it was on during a period when sitcoms were by and large crap, Malcolm stood out. That said, I can't believe the kid who played Reese is an executive producer, kid apparently found a smart way to stretch that Malcolm money, good on him.
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