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Courtesy Of The Hollywood Reporter
Despite its low network profile and lack of critical support, the CBS sitcom has been the little comedy that could.
By Ray Richmond
Anatomy of a hit: "Yes, Dear"
Laugh track: Despite its low network profile and lack of critical support, 'Yes, Dear' has been the little comedy that could.
Family matters: The creators of 'Yes, Dear' discuss their inspiration.
Casting society: A look at the backgrounds of the show's stars.
That the CBS comedy "Yes, Dear" would see a 100th episode (airing tonight at 9:30 EST/PST) is something akin to the 50-1 long shot winning at the racetrack. Classic shows such as "Moonlighting" and "thirtysomething" never made it. And in "Dear," we have a largely traditional family sitcom airing in an age where the quirky is king and on a network that has bestowed far more promotion and marketing might to the likes of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "The King of Queens."
Then there were the critics. They never much liked "Dear" and weren't shy about saying so. Many predicted that it would be the first series to be canceled in the 2000-2001 primetime season. But here it is, 4-1⁄2 years later, rolling through a fifth season that was delayed until Feb. 16 but whose 13 episodes are slated to run through early May. The 109th episode might or might not prove to be the series finale, as "Dear" could conceivably return in the fall or next spring for a sixth go-round.
"We've always felt as if we were the little show that could -- and we have," says "Dear" co-creator/executive producer Alan Kirschenbaum. "I've also been associated with a few big shows that can't, too, so I know the difference. But I think the year that CBS first put us on, we were the only new family comedy on any network. We looked like the very formula, old-fashioned choice. But appearances can be deceiving. This show has always had a lot more going on than people gave us credit for."
At its core, "Dear" surrounds the conflict between neurotic, yuppie parents Greg and Kim Warner (Anthony Clark and Jean Louisa Kelly) and their working-class relatives, the Hughes clan (Mike O'Malley and Liza Snyder). None of the four regulars has become a breakout star, which has limited the show's exposure, as has its longtime positioning on Monday nights, operating at 8:30 between -- and in the shadow of -- "King" and "Raymond."
Notes one industry observer who requested anonymity: "I think CBS kind of took 'Yes, Dear' for granted, and that based on the strength of its Monday night schedule, it didn't need to promote the show meaningfully. I think that sends a subconscious message to viewers about the way a network feels about its show."
At the same time, being bracketed in the 8:30 "hammock" slot on Mondays between a pair of comedy hits has surely added to "Dear's" audience generation and, ultimately, longevity. So, the positioning and attendant competitive lack of promotion is something of a double-edged sword.
Nancy Tellem, president of CBS Paramount Network TV Entertainment Group, reasons that no producer ever is satisfied with his or her promotion level from a network and believes the show has always received "sufficient support" from CBS.
"We looked like the very formula, old-fashioned choice. But appearances can be deceiving. This show has always had a lot more going on than people gave us credit for."
-- "Yes, Dear" co-creator/executive producer Alan Kirschenbaum
"But it's a common grumble that we understand," Tellem says. "There is only so much support you can give a single night of TV, and Monday had a lot to promote. Given that, we tried to support 'Yes, Dear' as best we could. But this has always been a very resilient show that has performed very solidly for us despite its panning by critics."
It was not an easy task getting "Dear" back in the CBS lineup for its fifth season, however. Producer 20th Century Fox Television was forced to trim back the license fee and the seasonal episodic order to make it financially viable for the network to say yes to the show even as a backup.
Observes Dana Walden, president of 20th Century Fox TV: "We appreciate that CBS has a business to run and has to look at its bottom line and needed a bit of incentive to move forward with this one. While we would have liked it to premiere Season 5 in September to take advantage of the launch of 'Yes, Dear' in syndication, we simply appreciate that it made the cut to continue on."
Walden feels that "Dear" has long been underrated and underappreciated and believes that its staying power bears out that quality.
"While they were never reinventing the wheel, Gregory (Thomas Garcia, co-creator/executive producer) and Alan have always delivered on everything you would want a half-hour to deliver on," she stresses. "It has never really been given a fair shake in terms of the good work they've always done. It's a really funny, incredibly relatable show that I guess had the bad fortune of premiering during a time when shows like (HBO's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm') and 'Sex and the City' broke through and felt really different and distinctive."
Gary Newman, also president at 20th TV, agrees, noting, "The performance of 'Yes, Dear' in every time period where CBS has moved it has always been terrific. Despite never having been embraced by critics, it happens to be a hysterically funny show that we're all very proud of over here. Week in and week out, great belly laughs are to be had."
"Dear's" success in syndication bears out Newman's assessment. The comedy has seen a slow but steady ratings rise from September-January in the Nielsen count, climbing from a 1.7 to 2.2 in total households, 1.1 to 1.6 in the women 18-34 demographic and 1.2 to 1.6 with women 18-49. The show also has a healthy 97% clearance, airing on 228 stations nationally.
Twentieth Television president and chief operating officer Bob Cook professes to be "really pleased with what we've seen from 'Yes, Dear.' Our feeling from the get-go was that this show would always do a little bit better than people anticipated in syndication."
Newman says that from the first episode, this was a comedy that delivered. "We often use 'Yes, Dear' as an example of how to construct a great comedy pilot. It had one of the funniest moments in pilot history."
That moment, Kirschenbaum and Garcia agree, probably was the difference in CBS originally picking the show up. "Without it, we would never have gotten on the air," Garcia believes.
For those who missed it, the scene found Greg (Clark) and Jimmy (O'Malley) -- who were supposed to be home watching their young kids -- taking the children to an Indian casino, where Greg toted along a video camera. While in the casino, Greg's infant son, Sam, takes his first steps and begins walking, which Greg captures on tape. The only problem was, Greg couldn't very well show his wife because she would then know they were out at the casino.
So, Jimmy enlists a friend who works in postproduction to change the background on the tape to make it appear as though they were all together in a park rather than near card tables and slot machines. We see them all on a grassy area. But then just as Sam is taking his first steps and Greg is saying to his wife, "Wait until you see this, he's amazing," the background switches from grass to a lake, and the baby is shown walking on water.
Quips Greg, "I told you he was amazing."
"The laugh we got on that was long and rolling," Kirschenbaum recalls. "Even the critics who hated us felt honor-bound to praise what was the single best sitcom joke of the year."
Wendi Trilling, executive vp comedy development at CBS and who championed "Dear" from its inception, maintains that "it wasn't just that scene but the pitch and script that we loved; that faith has been justified. It has been a really solid performer for us throughout its entire run as a very straightforward family comedy."
As for the chance of "Dear" returning beyond the current order of 13, Tellem says only, "Never say never. There is a very good chance it could come back in September. Greg and Alan are wonderful producers, and the stories remain strong. A really broad segment of society still relates to this show. So, you never know."
Published March 09, 2005
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