What is it? The Millers, Season 1, 23 episodes on three discs from Paramount Home Video
How much? $49.98
When? Now
Who are the Millers? An average, multi-generational family who find their dysfunction is heightened by new living arrangements.
Meet Nathan Miller (Will Arnett), a TV news reporter who's been hiding his recent divorce from his parents, Carol and Tom (Margo Martindale and Beau Bridges). Younger sister Debbie (Jayma Mays), who owns a foundering yoga cafe with her husband, Adam (Nelson Franklin), and has a young daughter (Eve Moon in early episodes, then Lulu Wilson), has been cheerfully keeping his secret.
Then, Carol and Tom arrive for an emergency stay and discover the truth. Carol is horrified. Tom is inspired. Fed up with Carol's controlling, domineering personality, he decides he wants a divorce. Nathan's happy. He wants to be happy too.
So, Carol moves in with Nathan and Tom moves in with Debbie. The kids are not exactly thrilled, especially since Carol's tendency to micromanage and control gets turned on Nathan full force, and living with his mom doesn't exactly make his return to the dating world easier. As for Debbie, hapless Tom has a complete inability to use electronic devices without setting off some minor catastrophe.
Nathan's best pal and co-worker Ray (J.B. Smoove) usually gets sucked into the insanity and finds the whole situation amusing.
Is it good? Not as good as you'd expect with this cast. All the main actors have demonstrated their acting and comedy skills before, particularly Arnett. Creator Greg Garcia was also the force behind hilariously off-beat but warmhearted shows My Name Is Earl and Raising Hope.
This one does have its sweet, fuzzy moments. Unfortunately, it just isn't very funny.
One of its biggest problems is that it relies heavily on body-function humor and sex jokes that are juvenile, gross and lazy rather than inspired. At least the actors are good, even if the material is mostly sub-par.
Add in a typically precocious TV child and you've got a recipe for a show that doesn't come anywhere near living up to its pedigree.
Are there extras? On the conventional side, there are launch promos, a seven-minute gag reel and a 15-minute puff piece featurette about making the season. Also, Smoove hosts a 10-minute rambling set tour. Arnett presents The Actor's Actor: William Arnett, a short faux-interview about the series that parodies self-involved actors.
New this week: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Season 1; Blue Bloods, Season 4; Dynasty, Season 9; The Goldbergs, Season 1; Homeland, Season 3; Little House on the Prairie, Season 3; Supernatural, Season 9; The Vampire Diaries, Season 5; The World Wars, Mini-series.
Next week: About a Boy, Season 1; Arrow, Season 2; The Big Bang Theory, Season 7; Bones, Season 9; C.S.I., Season 14; Castle, Season 6; Grimm, Season 3; Hannibal, Season 2; Hawaii Five-0, Season 4; Highway to Heaven, Season 5; Prisoners of War, Season 2; Roosevelts: An Intimate History, Complete series; Sleepy Hollow, Season 1; South Park, Season 17; Tour of Duty, Season 1.
Style on 09/07/2014