What About Brian

Network: ABC; Genre: Drama; Romance; Content Rating: TV-14 (some sexual content); Perspective: Contemporary (star range: 1 - 4);

Seasons Reviewed: Season 2 Picking up with the 2nd and final season of Dana Stevens' "What About Brian", the show starts to make a switch from being about a group of couples and the one guy who just won't settle down to a show about several relationships spiraling out of control. It is a smart and welcome change to say the least. Our hero Brian (Barry Watson, "7th Heaven") returns from a sabbatical and near-death experience in time to suffer through the wedding of his best friend, lawyer Adam (Matthew Davis) and his love Marjorie (Sarah Lancaster). Meanwhile, his video game business partner Dave (Rick Gomez, the highlight of the series) and his adorable wife Deena (Amanda Detmer)'s marriage is falling apart. His sister, Nicole (Rosanna Arquette) is still pregnant and about ready to pop.

"Brian" is not my cup of tea as it isn't the cup of tea of most people given how viciously maligned the show has been by what I can only describe as "the Family Guy crowd". As that rare breed of relationship drama, this is a slick, sophisticated adult series. Once the show gets past the done-to-death disrupted wedding episode, the show starts branching out. Brian is the least interesting character in this crowd, played like he doesn't know what to do next by Watson, and the further the show goes into the rest of the ensemble, the better it gets.

Stevens and powerhouse producer J.J. Abrams work to keep the show distinct. There is a richness to it, a depth and realism to the characters and situations. Some of the women are annoying and some of the men are idiots, but it really doesn't feel contrived. Stevens has clearly poured her heart into it and it comes through. Abrams seems to be keeping everything on track. There is some stunt casting toward the end to get the ratings up, but how can you complain with the addition of Krista Allen, Rachelle Lefevre, Stacy Kiebler and Tiffani Amber-Theissan to the cast.

The more entangled the love and work lives of these characters become, the juicer the show gets. A lot is laid out in this final season, and yes we've seen it all before - "Brian" is not entirely immune to it's criticism - but that doesn't mean that it can't be done well no matter how many wedding episodes, birthing episodes, buddies-in-jail episodes, and secret-affair episodes we've seen. There isn't a lot you can say about it, but "Brian" isn't the disaster people wanted it to be. It looks good and it sounds good. I don't like this type of series and I liked it. That says something.

* * * / 4

Enjoying the show. Hope it gets picked up in the fall. With so few episodes - just enough to get hooked - it's like your friends will be away in Europe all summer and you can't stay in touch! I have to say Brian Watson, who I was not familiar with, is very good. He is so real, vulnerable and human in his portrayal of his story line. I am looking forward to seeing more of him in the future. There are so many criminal based shows it is nice to be reminded about the subtle and not so subtle relationship dynamics we encounter. I am looking forward to Brian being in a relationship, so hopefully next season. The open marriage storyline threw me but I think there are going to be some interesting episodes coming full circle with that concept. Good Luck

I turned to this show by accident and I could not turn away. I loved the show's premise where love is portrayed in 4 stages - the single dating scene; a couple before marriage; a married couple without children; and a long-wed married couple with many children. Each of the different stages faces their own problems and they have to figure out ways to deal with them, and the show does not try to convince you about which stage is the best. The single guy faces as many problems as the married couples, so it is up to the viewer to decide what to do. Of course, there are some twists involved in addition to these stages, but the show is great to watch.

The actors fit their roles entirely and the problems they face can be identified by all people who have ever been in love. In an era where Friends, Sex and the City, Everybody loves Raymond and other quality shows that depicted the relationships of people in a comedic sense are gone, I'm glad that there is finally a new show to continue this genre. I only hope the rest of the series continues like this and keeps my interest!

I have seen all the episodes of this show, which appear to be all the episodes they have so far. They better create more since they had a great finale and I can't wait to see how it pans out. What I really find different about this show is the relationship among the male characters. They really care about each other and help each other out and have more to talk about than just sports and sex. Most TV shows have one dimensional male characters. These guys are actually interesting. The writing is great and the casting was really well done -- no weak links. Hope they bring it back next year. There are so few good shows out there and I absolutely REFUSE to watch any of those brainless reality shows.

I have watched the five episodes of the first season as well as the fifteen episodes of the second season which have been aired so far- and so far, I am completely loving this TV show. It is one of the finest TV shows that are airing right now, because of its three-dimensional characters and very realistic story. The cast is of the high class- the funny, somewhat cute Dave Greco who has troubles in his marriage with Deena; Brian, who never seems to be able to have a long relationship with a girl; Adam, Brian's best friend, who is a lawyer; Marjorie, who is a doctor and leaves Adam by the altar; Nicole, Brian's sister whose husband dies and leaves her a single mom to a new born baby. An interesting TV show that gives us many surprises by each episode. The most TV show that is being aired on TV right now often has one dimensional characters, especially when it is about men, but in this TV show it is so different. I like the new idea to make a TV show about thirty years old group of friends and their everyday life, instead of the melodramatic and unrealistic high school TV shows or the morally TV shows like 7th heaven- or the "rich life" TV show, The O.C.

This is definitely better than Desperate Housewives, according to myself.