'THE NEW NORMAL'

Dear Heterosexual America,

As a gay person living in this country, I give you permission to think "The New Normal" is not funny.

I certainly wanted it to be; and there are great moments, such as when the little girl impersonates of Little Edie from "Grey Gardens."  She is inspired. Although you won't get that joke unless you've seen this documentary.

However, the writing in this show is pathetic, preachy, and predictable (I love alliteration!), with lame jokes that aren't even interesting enough to be scandalous.  The show seemed to have promise when the NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City (owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) banned it from air, due to "graphic content."  But that decision was just because one of the show's leads, Andrew Rannells, was awesome on Broadway in "The Book of Mormon" and they don't like how he made fun of their religion.  It was a total bitch move, LDS.  The show is not offensive, certainly no more offensive than "Will & Grace" was.  You're just bitter.

It seems that Ryan Murphy, the creator of "The New Normal," is to television as M. Night Shymalayan is to movies: he made some excellent work at first, but people keep giving him money for more based on faith, even though now he's out of ideas he's just making garbage. "American Horror Story" is alright...but do we need to discuss the travesty of "Glee"?

Sometimes people don't know whether or not they should laugh at a show, because they don't find it funny but perhaps they just don't "get" the joke and they don't want to be rude to people who like it.  But no, the reason you're not laughing is because the is nothing to laugh about.

Comments

[Mike b.]

After reading all the bad press (e tu Dan), especially about the Ellen Barkin character, I was surprised that I liked it and thought it was kind of funny. Have seen the first 2 episodes. I did wonder how many people have ever heard of grey gardens tho. And do you think she was doing a Drew Barrymore does Edie? I wonder how Partners is going to be?

[Mike b.]

btw congrats on the huffpost gig, love huffpost!

[Andreah]

Oooh. Now I feel bad and dirty for really really liking it. Maybe because Im a parent and the parent jokes are hilarious??!

[erik]

Oh, now I feel bad for liking it!

[Andy Fang]

I love it and I don't feel bad for liking it. It's not perfect, but it's new. BTW, Ryan Murphy was also responsible for a little show called Nip Tuck :)