I was very excited because of the great cast, specifically Lauren Graham and Craig T Nelson. I loved Graham on Gilmore Girls. The funny thing is that her role on Parenthood is very similar to the Lorelai character. She has the same sarcastic appeal. She has the same I don't want any pity or help attitude. I really like the Lorelai character, but I didn't really need to see the same character on a different show and without the pizzaz of the writing of Amy Sherman-Palladino. (update) Seriously on this weeks episode they did the Lauren Graham is attracted to the daughter's English teacher bit. I clearly remember that on Gilmore Girls. The only difference is they threw in the curveball of the teacher being about 16 years younger than her. Every time Sarah reacts to a situation I think that is exactly how Loelai would react. As viewers we shouldn't be thinking of a different character from a different show. The other flaw of the show is that there are too many characters and too much going on with each character. Things take too long to develop on certain story lines because there is not enough time to devote to every storyline. Its kind of like a soap opera in how you get jumped from story to story. It makes it difficult to remember all that is going on and by the time they get back to certain stories you are like oh ya I forgot about that. Now that I have lamented about the negatives lets reflect on the positives. It is a good wholesome show with family values mixed in with some edge. I am interested in seeing where the story goes with Max. He is a great character that I hope becomes further defined. Equally interesting is what will happen with Crosby and his secret child. It is distracting that he looks just like Steve Nash (or is it just me). Also it is kind of annoying that he can't take a leak without consulting big brother Adam. Basically my take on this show is wait and see. Things could progress and this show could become a favorite on my DVR or it will go the way of so many other somewhat similar shows.

The Bravermans would like to be seen as a family that stays together, when actually all they do is meddle in each other's lives and cry. We have Adam Braverman, the eldest who thinks he's a leader, but it's actually a control freak who removes his teenage daughter's door and gives her zero privacy as well as showing double standards for boys and girls. The knock-kneed actor with a hang to exaggerated gestures with his hands seems to think he's talking to toddlers, when in fact, it's his wife. His wife cries in every single episode, and likes to whine "Maaaaax" as interjections to any conversation. Their daughter Haddie is trapped in between the control freak parents, who say they raised their daughter well but refuse to trust her. Good going, parents. Sara is supposed to be the loser of the family, but is just Lorelai Gilmore 2.0 in exactly the same outfits. You can tell she has a romantic relationship with the guy playing her brother, not a good match and comes across creepy. She has too good a relationship with her kids to be a "loser mom", and is too likeable to be a loser. Her daughter Amber is supposed to be this tough kid, yet who constantly cries. Confusing character as she is respectful 98% of the time, and only if the writers want conflict, does she become a "naughty girl", but her character is inconsistent. Poor Drew is a victim of his mom's and sister's overbearing personality, a shy kid who seems like he just really doesn't want to be there and we can't blame him. Joel and Julia make good money as she's a lawyer and he watches the kid. Her dad makes comments about him being emasculated, which is far too 1950s. Besides, you can work part time if your genius daughter is in school. Instead, they adopt a boy and hover over him 24/7, because suddenly her job is not demanding anymore and you need 2 parents to ask a kid to turn off the TV. Cosby is my favorite as he's the only one consistent to his character. He's funny and authentic, despite being handed a kid who is 5 years old and the mom didn't even ask you if you want you be in his life before introducing him to you. Dangerous game. The parents are also a little stange, I don't think it was good casting. The dad is a veteran, old fashioned but still super involved in his kid's and grandkids lives. Camille is supposed to be hippiesque but is just a doormat in the end makes a whiny face 99% of the time. Everyone is over involved. One person goes to the hospital and everyone shows up with their small kids. In real life, you'd go on taking care of your kids and call or text to find out what's happening. But nothing is "real life" in this show. Everyone sleeping with their boss, a really hot girl hitting on Adam instead of Crosby, dads are seemingly more involved than moms and all the houses are always clean. The only realistic thing is the way people argue, everyone talking over each other instead of waiting for cues like they do in other shows. It does get annoying after a while though. There are better shows.

Miles' portrayal of Drew, the disturbed teen on Parenthood, is right on the mark. He conveys so well the hopeless frustration of trying to deal with the well-meaning but insensitive, self-centered adults who cluelessly control his life and frustrate his ability to value himself as a person. I look forward to his performances, so I was disappointed that he did not appear in Episode 7 (April 13) and appeared only as a silent observer at Jabbar's party in Episode 8 (April 20). I wish to commend Jennifer Lare and Camille H. Patton for their brilliant casting of this fine show, and would like to encourage them to make more use of the untapped talent of Miles Heizer as his family forges boldly into an uncertain future that they may live up to the name they bear, the Bravermans.

Initially, I enjoyed this show. I looked forward to watching each week as the family dynamics unfolded. Because it airs at 10 p.m. I found that it was a show that I could watch to unwind and settle down for the night. I watched faithfully for the first season. While I admired the acting skills of most of the cast of characters involved, I began to lose interest as the twists and turns of the storyline became less and less plausible. More recently, I have repeatedly tried to watch episodes and inevitably must turn the channel because of the manner in which the characters now interact with each other. I am not able to tolerate the constant yelling and the way 2 or 3 people will talk at the same time. If this happened in my own home....I would leave! And so, even though I want to watch.....I find I must leave the channel!

If Monica Potter cries one more time I will be forced to drink my own puke

I was very impressed with the Pilot of this show. I am glad Lauren Graham has the chance to do such emotional acting. I was kind of worried about her in this role, because i thought she was just going to act like Lorelei from Gilmore Girls. The bottom line is, she is great. Peter Krause is good just like he is good in everything he is in. Craig T. Nelson is just as good. Dax Shepard is pretty good along with the rest of the cast. The plots they come up with are mildly engrossing, but I am watching it because I like the characters. The story revolves around this single mother (Graham) who has to move back into her parents house along with her two kids. If you like to watch family dramas, than Parenthood is a must see!

How does a family last so long like this without therapy? everyone is insecure. Problems could be dealt with a lot quicker than they are. Everyone is passive aggressive and the problems that everyone deals with seem outdated. I mean in the way they're portrayed. Do the majority of people in America act this way? I know this is a TV show but it seems to be extremely popular with people in the way that it imitates reality, at least from the other reviews I've read. I do enjoy whatever this sort of TV is called (drama?) but I feel stupid for sitting through an episode. It takes everyone forever to sort through simple things, especially given the fact that they come across problems with each other pretty frequently. Parents are predictable in this show and lack individuality. I actually got into this show for a bit because I was interested in the storyline to do with Max (the boy with Asperger syndrome). Want to see some real drama? watch Freaks and Geeks. Although it's partly comedy, the parents act very sincere in it and the teenagers feel like actual teenagers.

The other reviewer (RobNels2000) needs to do his homework. "Parenthood" was originally conceived as a TV series, became a movie and then became a TV series! The 1990 series (Ed Begley Jr., Jayne Atkinson, William Windom, etc.) didn't work despite having some great talent behind it (Ron Howard and Brian Grazer plus at least five others credited as executive producers). Now it's back...new cast, same situations. Three generations and lots of subplots. A truly great ensemble (Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia, Peter Krause and Lauren Graham, etc.). Many people are going to compare this to "Modern Family" but "Parenthood" was around first...as a movie and TV series. Lauren Graham is doing very well stepping in for Maura Tierney...she got her training on Gilmore Girls. Craig Nelson, having been an military pilot, football coach and police chief, now gets to play a tough dad/granddad (although my dad could've given him some lessons). The venerable Bonnie Bedelia (many movies and TV series) has aged well to play the mom/grandmom. Add in Peter Krause ("Sports Night," "Six Feet Under," and " Dirty Sexy Money") and there's four solid actors right up front. The big difference between "Parenthood" and "Modern Family" is that "Parenthood" is more drama than comedy. Ironically, I've never been a parent myself but grew up with parents similar to Mr. Nelson and Ms. Bedelia. Let's give this series a few weeks and see where it goes. One suggestion...if and when Maura Tierney gets better, bring her on in a guest role as another daughter. I gave this a 10 for the ensemble and the plot lines!! NBC can go home again!!

I have really tried to give this show a fair look. There are many shows I watch with my wife and it is rare I cannot find redeeming qualities making it work. The dialog is scattered making the acting awkward. The folk music interlude is a matter of taste and personally it is so out of place it further makes the emotion being attempted by the actors campy. The show scene jumping is schizophrenic making it even harder to take anything seriously. Actors I have liked in the past are impossible to watch. I cannot believe the characters. I feel like I am watching a slightly more eloquent version of Sharknado in television sitcom format. Sure, topically the subjects are real life matters, but how the characters handle them is so overly dramatic it just adds to the amusement, unfortunately not watchable amusement.

As a 50 something with grown children this show is so right on. The episode when they found out Max had a real problem was exactly how it went for my wife and I when we got similar news, and the reaction of the grandfather was also spot on. This show is happy, sad and everything in-between, just like real life. It is so good it will probably be taken off the air so that we can be exposed to more of the trash which makes up a lot of todays TV. I also think the brother and sister interaction is great, they can be mad and blow off steam without it becoming a federal case. The marriages are real as well, with different definitions of a good marriage and whats involved. My favorite part though is the relationship between the aunts and uncles and the kids, you treat your own children one way while watching out for the nieces and nephews. Great stuff