Yukking it up on TV this fall

September 13, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Edgier themes dominate networks’ new comedies

By Rick Bentley

McClatchy Newspapers

LOS ANGELES

A few network comedies have seen success in recent years, such as “Glee” and “Modern Family.” But overall, launching new sitcoms is tough.

Don’t expect it to get much better this year with only six new comedies on the 2010-11 TV schedules for the five networks. That brings this season’s total to 21 comedies on the networks, compared to 49 a decade ago.

Networks are turning to edgier themes this season — lost jobs, overeating, baby daddies, foul-mouthed parents — in an attempt to make sitcoms that are more relatable to viewers.

The new CBS comedy “Mike & Molly” features plus-size actors as the romantic leads: Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy. It’s a change from how networks have traditionally cast overweight actors, often seen as the “best friend” or “enemy.”

“I wanted to write a show about two people at the beginning of a relationship,” says series creator Mark Roberts.

Executive producer Chuck Lorre adds the normal Hollywood approach would be to cast “Chris O’Donnell and Courteney Cox” as the people who meet at Overeaters Anonymous.

“In this case we had the courage and, I think, the wisdom to just cast people that are just people trying to make their lives better and find someone that they can love and be loved by,” Lorre says. “It may be odd for television, but I hope it’s reflective of some kind of reality that people will experience.”

The other new CBS comedy, “$(ASTERISK)! My Father Says,” based on the popular blog by Justin Halpern that’s a collection of the outlandish things his father says, has already attracted the wrath of the watchdog group Parents Teacher Council because of its suggestive name.

Star William Shatner would prefer the show use even edgier language because it’s the way most people talk.

NBC’s attempt to push the envelope is with “Outsourced,” about an American (Ben Rappaport) sent to India to run a call center after his company lays off a bunch of employees.

Executive producer Kew Kwapis expects viewers will relate to the comedy because most people have talked to someone at a call center in another country.

“That’s part of what makes the show so relatable. Part of what we’re trying to do is put a face to the voice at the other end of the line,” Kwapis says.

The new Fox comedy “Raising Hope” starts with a familiar situation comedy format: family. The twist is a young man gets custody of the child he has out of wedlock with a woman put to death for being a serial killer. It’s a funny take on how a lower-income family deals with raising a baby.

Series star Martha Plimpton has a different view as to how viewers will relate to this family.

“I think the majority of Americans will probably take a certain amount of solace in knowing that they’re not the worst parents in the world, but at the same time, there’s something very relatable about these people,” Plimpton says.

The other two new comedies — Fox’s “Running Wilde” and ABC’s “Better With You” — follow more traditional themes about love and marriage.