Calling All Friends - "What About Brian"?

Every so often, a show comes along that becomes a part of your life, even if only for one night each week. It may not be the most popular show, and it may not even be your favorite show. But week after week, you tune in because its television's equivalent to comfort food. "What About Brian" is that type of show.

"What About Brian" premiered in April 2006 on Sunday nights after Desperate Housewives and is seen around the world, as well as at abc.go.com. The story began with Brian's interest in Marjorie, the girlfriend of his friend, Adam. (Brian met her first.) Upon their engagement, Brian must deal with the fantasy of wanting someone he cannot have.

We watched as Brian dressed up as "Pretty, Pretty Princess" while babysitting children of his friends, Dave and Deena. We hoped that when Dave and Deena separated, it would not be forever. And, we sympathized as Nicole, Brian's sister, dealt with the death of her husband while preparing to deliver their child. Secretly, some of us rooted for the marriage of Adam and Summer, the stripper he met at his bachelor party. Adam married her on the rebound after Marjorie left him at the altar. The story-lines of "What About Brian" could be ones that happen to your neighbors, your friends, or your family.

The cast of "What About Brian" is a talented one, which makes you wonder why ABC did not do a better job with it. With actors such as Barry Watson, Matthew Davis, Rick Gomez, Amanda Detmer, Rosanna Arquette, and Tiffani Thiessen, ABC executives and writers have wronged both the show and its fans. "What About Brian" is a "comfort show," and in today's reality entertainment overload, it is a refreshing change. Perhaps rather than canceling the show, ABC could invest in another group of writers.

The thing that makes "What About Brian" work is that Americans can relate to the characters. From losing a job to a rebound marriage, "What About Brian" is a bit of all of us. In the end, we all manage to find our way, but the paths we take hold sadness, anger, confusion, and humor. We all struggle to mature while the child inside of us fights to come out.

Although it is not listed on the fall 2007 lineup for ABC, nothing is ever 100% dead in TV land. ABC's site still has the page for it up, so maybe there is hope. Just in case, die-hard fans of "What About Brian" have setup an online petition requesting that ABC renew the show. It is located at http://www.petitiononline.com/fashh254/petition.html. At this point, "Calling All Friends" by Low Stars, the theme for "What About Brian," is playing loudly.

Perhaps another network will see its value and renew it. One never knows. On the other hand, maybe ABC executives will realize that, sometimes, it takes a while to grow up. Such is the case for "What About Brian."