We're Back!

Happy New Year!   

Whew.  After a restful break, the Walker family is back in action, and so are we.  In the wake of the holiday season, each writer has returned to Burbank with a refilled reservoir of familial baggage.  All of the drama and exhaustion of being home – with the gifts and the food and the guilt – has been noted, logged and is currently being recycled for use in future episodes. 

Greg couldn’t be happier.  All the stories of parental betrayal and sibling recrimination have him humming about the office with glee.  It’s either that… or the fact that he has started a “master-cleanse,” during which he is only allowed to drink lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper.  Not food.  He’s supposed to last ten days, but I have money on him breaking down no later than Thursday.

I hope you enjoyed last night’s episode as much as I did.  You are going to love the next few weeks.

-- Ben

PS – Feel free to make your own predictions on the strength of Greg Berlanti’s will here.

Comments

[Kong Chang]

I loved "Family Day". I would love to say, thank you Molly Newman & David Marshall Grant for writing such a funny yet powerful episode once again since "Date Night". I haven't laughed and got so excited since episode 5, and this brings back the whole great feeling of why I love this drama so much.

I can't wait to see what's in store, Ben. I also predict Greg would barely last 3 days on that stuff.

Hope everyone's having fun filming episode 14 and 15. I'm counting the days to meet Kevin's new love interests too.

[janedoe from D.C.]

Hooray for B&S! "Family Day" rocked! So happy to have Sunday back where it belongs airing Brothers and Sisters! The ratings are great and B&S deserves season two!!!!!!

[will]

NICE! (Okay, you have to imagine it like Borat would say it: "NICE!")...I'm in such a great SPACE right now! Everything clicked in "Family Day". Snappy dialogue was flowing & overlapping (very Altman-esque!) Honestly, I was frankly worried after Hannekuh/Christmas show....something of a fumble for me....BUT! Spectacular recovery.
My favorite dialogue exchange from "Family Day" was between Kitty & Kevin:
Kitty: (in bed) Why do all you gay people work out so early in the morning?
Kevin: (handing her some coffee, plaintively) All you "GAY people"? (pause.) Cause after 6, all the treadmills in front of the mirror are gone...
LOVE THIS BANTER. Silly jabber like this makes them quirky true siblings. You could feel the sweet undercurrent of love beneath it all. (Oh! & the writers giving Kevin a boxed Princess Leah action figure in "mint condition" for Justin to steal & sell. Funny!) Keep this stuff up!...you're clearly entering that Zen-Buddhist comedy ZONE now, everything's merging for optimal artistic creativity, I see only good things in your future...

[Carrie]

It's great to have Brothers and Sisters back. I didn't realize how much I loved the show until we had the long break. Great episode and I can't wait for the rest of the season.

[Tara]

I absolutely love your show! I can't wait for more! I am very interested to see what will happen with Holly. She's not my favorite by any means, but I suppose every show needs a "villain"

[Jim]

I love this show, I missed it, and I'm so glad it's back.

[Vinny]

Last night's episode had me smiling the entire way through! It was witty, intelligent, amusing, heartfelt, and profound. In fact, a mere five adjectives don't even touch the tip of the iceberg when it comes to describing this show. I absolutely cannot wait until next Sunday; I haven't been this enthusiastic and excited about a TV program... well, ever! Congratulations to all the writers, producers, cast, and everyone else involved with the show.

[Mike]

Hey guys i loved last nites episode and cant wait for more, how many more episodes this season? And will it be back next season? Hopefully... I love this show

[TomB]

I think B&S is great. One of the reasons, among many, is the character Kevin. I really like that he's just a successful guy, with a supportive family, that happens to be gay.

I'm getting a little worried, though. It seems like you may be beginning to push the gay issue a little. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that he's gay and I want to see him develop relationships, etc., but the most interesting thing about him shouldn't be that he's gay. I'd like to see him develop into a character that isn't defined as simply the "gay character." I think he needs a solid storyline that has nothing to do with his sexuality - like the other characters have. THEN explore the gay issues.

Right now it seems that Kitty has huge career and political issues, Justin has addiction issues (not to mention Iraq), Sara has work and home issues, etc., etc., and Kevin is gay. Oh yeah, he's a lawyer too.

I just hope that he develops as a person/character in areas other than his sexuality.

[will]

Okay. ENOUGH with Senator McCallister as a potential love interest for Kitty. Those 2 have flirted & laughed & it's been fun....but I'm now ready for Rob Lowe's character to take that step we all have to face one day &...come out of the closet. He's republican & this will add a whole element of frission when he starts his affair with Kevin...a hot, sweaty (man-sweat) & very physical & life-altering tryst, because with Kevin he finally becomes ALIVE, see? He's like the Swan in "Swan Lake"...& then he has to go out making public speeches condemning same-sex marriage. Plus, Kitty confronts the fact that she too has a thing for him, so there's this whole brother-sister rivalry sub-text going on. Think of the family dinners at Norah's! & those 2 sibs throwing quips & barbs & chicken legs across the table! OK, one of these days I'll get this ALL out of my system.

[Skye]

Family Day was one of my favorite episodes thus far. Absolute perfection. Grant and Newman totally rock! And Sally Field, as per usual, stole the show. Is there nothing this woman is not capable of?

I'm so glad the show is back already! Knowing there will be a new episode on Sundays makes getting through the week more bearable. Without it, I go through complete and utter withdrawal.

Long live B&S!

[mark]

a nice return to form
the chemistry from the cast is undenibale
i still can't get into sarah's family problems - too after school special
but i loved rob lowe far more then i ever expected him too. he works well with calista.
keep up the good work.

[Suzanne]

I just love this show. It is so refreshing to have a show that is so new. I tried to watch the episode from 1/7 on my computer but it does not show under all of they other episodes. Whats up with that.

[Jude]

Oh Thank God you're back.
And indeed, I agree with TomB: let's see Kevin develop into more than just "the gay one." I loved his courtroom scene with Justin; he came across as articulate and passionate for justice. (Must be that Welshness showing through. Da iawn, Matthew.)But that's the only time we've seen Kevin really go to work. Chatting on the phone in his office doesn't present much of his motivation for practicing law. Give him a yummy case to deal with, something with complexity and angst. Hey go up against the congressman in a libel suit!

Otherwise, this was an excellent episode and Sally as Nora oozes maturity power. I adored her lines with Holly - intelligence and barbed wit make for one very empowered Mama.

And hey, did everyone vote in the PCAs? Do we know the winners? If Dave is coming back to haunt the streets of Tucson should I watch out for some guy with "will fetch Starbucks for food" signs?

[TomB]

Rob Lowe's character has a gay brother, right?

And of course we all know that thenever two gay men meet they always get together for a date or a hook-up, right?

Please don't go there, writers of B&S, please!!

[Karrie]

Loved last night's episode, even though I'm not sure I approve of this "making me cry by the end of the episode" business. I have a reputation as a soulless bitca to maintain!

I'm glad you all had nice and/or traumatic holidays, and can now harness that for some Walker family angst. (And probably make me cry some more.)

Berlanti's fast sounds disgusting and I can't imagine anyone managing to keep to it beyond a few hours or two days, at most. Then again, I can't imagine life without coffee beyond a few hours.

[ilovemylife]

So glad to have you ALL back.

"Family Day" episode thoughts . . . ...

The writing was fresh and that brand of BROTHERS-and-SISTERS special. Thank you.

At “family day” number one when everyone (but Julia) was present – Mom Nora was all over the place and so enjoyable to watch. I lovingly hail this family “functionally-(almost) dsyfunctional”. When they yell at each other they still maintain some rationality. And they can summon up the heartfelt apologies. AND they're intelligent. How can you NOT love them?

I so liked the writing where each member of the family came to Justin’s Place-of-12
Steps and was looking to Justin for help in their flapping-in-the-wind thinking, completely overlooking the inappropriateness in the place where JUSTIN’S PURPOSE was to get-things-together. This was so good. Thanks.

Fingers crossed for People’s Choice Awards. You so deserve to win.

[Julie]

"Family Day" was my favorite episode so far of B&S. Everything totally clicked with this episode. There was so much great dialogue that it is hard to choose a favorite, but being a huge Star Wars fan, I loved when Justin told Kevin that he sold his $300 Princess Leia for $50. Kevin's reaction was priceless. I'm glad I will be able to rewatch the episode this Friday night at 9 pm. Encores on Friday night work for me. Keep up the great scripts!

[Jas]

I loved the latest episode. The chemestry between the actors, and the story lines are amazing! Keep it up. :-)

[Cathy]

loved it.... love the banter between everyone.... wish you would bring Matthew Settle back! LOVE HIM!!!!

[Rosanne]

This show is a true winner!! The storyines and great acting is keeping me on the teetering edge for the next band of excitement & twists. Hats off to Sally Fields an icon of television and movies as well as a mentor. You have a defitnite fan here on board. Good Luck!!

[Rene]

Great episode! The Walker clan is hilarious. However, I enjoy your show immensely but dislike your blog. Most television show blogs at least briefly discuss the writing dynamics of the characters actions in the recent episode. As a fan of your show please try to incorporate some show discussion versus what is going on in your personal life.

[jeannie]

What kind of car did the mistress arrive to work in?

[will]

A quick note to all afraid of Kevin being labeled "The Gay One":
Sally's "the mother", Kitty's "the conservative talk show host", Holly's "the bitch" (for now), Justin's "the drug addict". I see NO PROBLEMA with Kevin's shouldering the burden of being "the gay one". All who watch know Kevin's much more than his label anyway: lawyer, potential surrogate father, action-figure doll collector. I revel in the specific gay sensibility he brings to B&S. The day Kev stops bandying about gay ripostes is the day I love this show a little less. And I LOVE Kitty's unconditional acceptance & how she tows the line between gay issues & being republican spokesperson. Don't worry how homophobes in BLUE STATES react to Kevin. As society changes, THEY'LL have to adjust to B&S, not the other way around. (can any of you honestly watch B&S without Kevin's witty quips? Please.)

[will]

I meant don't worry about homophobes in RED STATES! (my mistake). And for all of you concerned with this "gay image" thing, maybe we can suggest to writers that Kevin wave a little American flag in each episode & neutralize gay comments which might give offense (no "gym" references, no female action figures, no one-nighters with military men) in fact, DRAIN HIM OF ALL COLOR & STYLE that makes him interesting. Look, I'm not out to rile anyone up, but what I saw Sunday on "Family Day" was exactly right. There was nothing to "tone down". What happens when Kevin starts getting gay boyfriends?
Let less talented shows be concerned with "gay image" & not crossing anyone's line & keeping it safe. I like the idea of "Greg Berlanti as artistic maverick" better....and enjoying all the family member's diversity. (Without getting all PC!)