'CRACKING UP' SHOULD KEEP YOU ON THE COUCH.Byline: David Kronke Television Critic FOX'S dysfunctional family dysfunctional family Psychology A family with multiple 'internal'–eg sibling rivalries, parent-child– conflicts, domestic violence, mental illness, single parenthood, or 'external'–eg alcohol or drug abuse, extramarital affairs, gambling, sitcoms boast enough neuroses to keep the psychiatric industry in co-payments for decades to come, and now here's the program to prove it. ``Cracking Up'' stars Jason Schwartzman Jason Francesco Schwartzman (born June 26, 1980) is an American actor and musician. Biography Early life Schwartzman was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of actress Talia Shire (née Coppola) and the late producer Jack Schwartzman. , de-nerded from his hilarious turn in ``Rushmore,'' as Ben, a psychology student recruited by an upscale family to look after their youngest son Tanner (Bret Loehr), who has recently experienced some trauma. Turns out Tanner's ``trauma'' is the simple fact of living with his family. When Lesley (Molly Shannon Molly Helen Shannon (born September 16 1964) is an Emmy-nominated American actress and writer. Biography Personal life Shannon was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio to an Irish American Catholic family. ), the family matriarch, isn't evincing '50s-style family values, she's hitting the bottle and experiencing whiplash whiplash n. a common neck and/or back injury suffered in automobile accidents (particularly from being hit from the rear) in which the head and/or upper back is snapped back and forth suddenly and violently by the impact. mood swings. Shannon, whom the right filmmaker could transform into the female counterpart to Jim Carrey, could end up playing as many different personalities here as she did on ``Saturday Night Live This article is about the American television series. For the show related to Big Brother (UK), see Saturday Night Live (UK). Saturday Night Live (SNL .'' Ted (Christopher McDonald) is a father-knows-worst type, cheating everywhere - home, work and anywhere else he can find a chance to do ill. Tanner's older siblings are well on their way to a lifetime of therapy as well: Chloe (Caitlin Wachs) runs a Web site appealing to horny horn·y adj. 1. Made of horn or a similar substance. 2. Tough and calloused, as of skin. hillbillies, while Preston (Jake Sandvig) is revealed, in a terrifically surprising scene, to be a neat freak - emphasis on both words. Tonight's episode escalates into hilarity as Ben slowly, then quickly, realizes how much work he has ahead of him. Written by screenwriter Mike White (``School of Rock,'' ``The Good Girl'' and ``Chuck & Buck''), ``Cracking Up'' is anything but bland - its dementia builds manically and agreeably. A future episode is slightly less inspired because much of its comedy hinges on the dreary sitcom convention of the clueless clue·less adj. Lacking understanding or knowledge. clueless Adjective Slang helpless or stupid Adj. 1. pal (David Walton). Still, it's clever enough and has a mature enough sensibility to sit comfortably in a programming block with Fox's other acclaimed comedy, ``Arrested Development.'' David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke(at)dailynews.com CRACKING UP - Three and one half stars What: ``Rushmore's'' Jason Schwartzman plays a psychology student recruited by a family (Molly Shannon, Christopher McDonald) to examine their young son, who, it turns out, is the least of his worries. Where: Fox (Channel 11). When: 9:30 tonight and Wednesday; thereafter at 8:30 p.m. Mondays. In a nutshell: Should be scheduled alongside ``Arrested Development.'' |
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