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'Fitzgeralds' serves plenty of spirit and stereotypes
Tuesday, March 6, 2001
I have this idea for a sitcom about a Franco-Canadian-American family. It really ought to fly someday, because how many comedies can you remember about people named Levesque? Or Cournoyer? Or Robitaille? I'm thinking of calling it "The Fighting Canucks." The networks are always looking for fresh new material about feisty people who shout a lot. THE FIGHTING FITZGERALDS
True, the French-Catholic families in the neighborhood where I grew up were about as feisty as creme brulee, but seething beneath those pale Gallic exteriors were emotionally repressed souls just aching to burst into fits of unchecked moderate behavior.
Alas, I've been aced out again this midseason by a similar idea from the actor Edward Burns ("The Brothers McMullen") and his brother, Brian. The Burnses' show is about an Irish American family, which hasn't been tried on TV since "Madigan Men" went off the air 20 minutes ago. It's called "The Fighting Fitzgeralds" and features Brian Dennehy (also an executive producer) as a cranky widower whose three grown sons can't seem to leave the house. One actually lives there with his wife and daughter, another doesn't live there but spends most of his time there mooching, and a third recently quit his job as a stockbroker and is staying over until he gets back on his feet.
At least it wouldn't have a fresh, original, never-been-tried-before comedy. In "The Fighting Fitzgeralds," NBC has an ordinary, safe TV show about an Irish family with familiar names (the sons are James, Terry and Patrick), familiar jobs (Dad is a retired fireman, one of the sons is a teacher, another a bartender) and familiar habits (drinking and arguing).
"The Fighting Fitzgeralds" premieres tonight at 8:30 on KING/5, bracketed by episodes of "Frasier," but its actual time slot will be Tuesdays at 8 p.m. for the next several weeks while "3rd Rock From the Sun" takes a breather.
Presumably, if audiences take to "The Fighting Fitzgeralds," it could return next fall. And NBC could certainly do worse. Dennehy is a fine actor with a good sense of comedic timing. After one episode, the sons (Justin Louis, Christopher Moynihan and Jon Patrick Walker) are largely indistinguishable, but solid. And Connie Britton, who shone as Nikki Faber for five seasons on "Spin City," brings her wise-woman presence to the role of Sophie Fitzgerald, wife of Jim the gym teacher and mother of 6-year-old daughter Marie (Abigail Mavity).
So, for those who don't mind leftover Irish stew, "The Fighting Fitzgeralds" may be the perfect dish. Those waiting for creme brulee will have to wait a little longer.
John Levesque is the P-I's television critic. Call him at 206-448-8330 or send e-mail to tvguy@seattle-pi.com.
By JOHN LEVESQUE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER TELEVISION CRITIC TV REVIEW
CAST: Brian Dennehy, Justin Louis, Chris Moynihan, Jon Patrick Walker, Connie Britton and Abigail Mavity
WHEN / WHERE: Series premiere tonight at 8:30, KING/5; series moves to its regular
time slot March 13 at 8 p.m.
RATING: TV-PG
GRADE: C
Hilarity ensues as Dennehy, aka Mr. Fitzgerald, cuffs his boys in the back of the head, talks about the good old days of corporal punishment and cracks wise when he finds out the youngest son is seeing a therapist. The outward Mr. Fitzgerald is a clueless lout who fits all the negative Irish stereotypes, but we're given to understand he's a knowing, sensitive dad who can't show his true colors because, one, he's a macho Irishman who can't show his true colors and, two, NBC wouldn't have a comedy if he were something else, now, would it?
The Fitzgeralds: Brian Dennehy as the patriarch, surrounded, from left, by sons Jim (Justin Louis), Patrick (Jon Patrick Walker) and Terry (Chris Moynihan). The show premieres tonight on NBC.
Chris Haston/NBC
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