By Kendra Beltran
Back in the day FOX comedies were it for my family. We dabbled in other channels, but there was something about shows like Married with Children and Malcolm in the Middle that we couldn’t get enough of. They were about families that weren’t…well, normal. As proud trailer trash, we connected to those shows, for we finally had people like us on TV. There’s been shows here and there since Malcolm said adios to my Sunday nights, but I haven’t felt that real life connection until this past fall when FOX gave birth to a little girl and her off the wall family in Raising Hope.
Raising Hope follows baby Hope and her less than picture perfect family. Her dad, Jimmy, knocked up a serial killer and then had to take on Hope when his baby momma got the electric chair. His pool cleaner dad and maid mom were young parents too and since the apple never falls too far from the tree, the infectious pair took on their roles as grandparents. And where would any family be without an insane member who lacks bras and sense? Fans of Malcolm will be happy to recognize Cloris Leachman as Maw Maw, Hope’s great-grandmother. I’m not sure if they brought Leachman on to get ratings or will keep her around for the shows full run, but either way, I’m glad she’s there for the time being. Everything from her flashbacks that cause racism to breastfeeding her great granddaughter to burning her grandson-in-law with a cigarette is golden.
Today shows like ABC’s The Middle and Modern Family are slaughtering in the family comedy realm, so that has my nerves going when it comes to Raising Hope making the cut. FOX doesn’t cater well to laughs unless you’re a in the Animation Domination gang or singing up a storm on Glee. But, and that’s a big but, because Raising Hope follows Glee there’s hope some of those viewers will spill over and not notice there’s no singing.
My family can’t be the only one in the world that has a teen mom, lives paycheck to paycheck and has hoards items found on the side of the road. Because of that, I want to see Raising Hope make it among those happy-go-lucky comedies that are sprinkled throughout primetime. And even if you don’t have a trashy family, you can pretend to be less like the Camdens on 7th Heaven and more like the Chances on Tuesday nights with Raising Hope. Trust me, the break from reality will do you good.
