Review of "Back to You"

Kelsey Grammar and Patricia Heaton, anyone would assume, would be a winning combination. Two of the most popular and well loved television stars of the last decade joining together in a new sitcom, how could they go wrong, right? We'll see. I am personally on the fence.

"Back to You" is all about two TV anchors that are reunited after a ten year break from working together. Chuck Darling and Kelly Carr were partners until Chuck hit "the big time" and was offered a cushy job in California. In the ten years that Chuck has been gone, Kelly has moved in to the spotlight and is none to happy to find out that Chuck, after losing his job in CA, has come back to steal the limelight again.

Of course, as in typical sitcom fashion, Kelly and Chuck were more than just co-workers and their last night together before Chuck left for CA was much more important to Kelly than he ever imagined. Now he's back with more than a few surprises to contend with, all of which will cause more than enough angst between the two reunited co-anchors.

As I said, I'm on the fence about "Back to You". It started out quite slow for me, and in the beginning, Kelly and Chuck's characters seemed very crass and frankly, unlikable. I was afraid that I would not be able to warm up to either of them, and with no sympathy for the main characters, I didn't see the point in watching the show. However, once the meat of the reason that Kelly has such animosity towards Chuck comes to light, both characters became much more sympathetic and appealing. Heaton and Grammer do have a good deal of chemistry and their banter and the more serious nature of their relationship is realistic. It is a comedy, though, and I am worried it might become too serious if the writers are not careful.

Speaking of comedy, I was worried in the beginning that I would not find the show funny at all. I didn't laugh more than once in the first ten to fifteen minutes and it concerned me that I had nothing but mediocre to look forward to. Fox is banking on the comedic talents and past popularity of Grammer and Heaton to make "Back to You" a hit. But, if the premise of the show and the rest of the cast are not funny, I don't think even two stars of their caliber can sustain it. Once the second half of the show began, though, things did start looking up, and I began enjoying it more. I even had a few laugh out loud moments, and if they continue, there may be some hope after all of the show making it past season one.

The secondary characters can all be assets if given the right material. The actors are appealing enough and if used properly, will add another dimension to the show that Heaton and Grammer can't give it.

Josh Gad plays News Director Ryan Church, a bumbling 26 year old kid with a serious perspiration problem. He is funny in an "I know I'm a dork, so what's it to you" way.

Fred Willard is amusing as sports anchor Marsh McGinley, the only station employee who knew Kelly and Chuck from the old days. Ayda Field is not so funny as slutty weather girl or, as she wants to be called "meteorologist" Montana Stevens. Montana blatantly uses her body to try to get Chuck (and everyone else for that matter) to pay attention to her, but No one seems to take her seriously. The rest of the crew seems to find her equally as annoying, especially news caster Gary Crezyzewski.

Gary, played by Ty Burrell, so far seems to be the secondary character with the most potential. Gary is bitter because he was all set to be moved in to the anchor position before Chuck came back. His witty and biting humor helped quite a bit in keeping me interested, and I will be interested to see how his character develops.

Overall, on a scale of 1-10, I would rate "Back to You" a six. The show definitely has potential and Heaton and Grammer have chemistry to spare. I just hope the writers remember this is comedy and that it takes more than two stars to make a hit. I'll give it a few episodes before I decide whether or not I will stick around.