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'New Normal' prizes humor, heart over politics By John Crook © Zap2it bring back musicals with his freak-and-geek-tastic Fox series "Glee," and his "American Horror Story" simultaneously scared the wits out of its viewers while making sly observations about the nuclear family at its core. But "The New Normal," Ryan Murphy helped the NBC Tuesday comedy premiering Sept. 11, may be Murphy's most surpris- ing and subversive series yet, finding humor and heart in a decidedly shop- worn premise: a couple pursuing their dream of becoming parents. The couple in question len Barkin) in hot pursuit. Desperate and broke, with few immediate career prospects, Goldie sees the hefty financial bonus Bryan and David are offering their surrogate as her ticket to a new life. Even before the show has premiered, it already has drawn the ire of one conservative group that has called for a boycott, sight unseen. Bartha says he's aware of that develop- ment, but he hopes people will watch the show and discover that it really isn't overtly political. "We are aware that it's here is gay: Bryan (Andrew Rannells from Broadway's "The Book of Mormon"), a successful television pro- ducer, and David (Justin Bartha, Nicolas Cage's sidekick from the "Na- tional Treasure" movies), a sweet-natured gyne- cologist. Happily in a stable and committed relation- ship, they desperately want a child to share their lives but become disheartened by the obstacles they face. Enter Goldie (Scottish newcomer Georgia King), a waitress who has fled a dead-end marriage in Ohio to make a fresh start in California with her preco- cious 8-year-old daughter, Shania (Bebe Wood), with Goldie's conservative and bigoted grandmother (El- conference with TV report- ers, Murphy — who creat- ed "The New Normal" with fellow executive producer Ali Adler — professed to being surprised by the kerfuffle. "I think all the characters During a summer press something that will be looked at, but it's also an issue that is, in my opin- ion, well past its expiration date," Bartha says. "I just think it's ridiculous that this still an issue, and if you kept addressing that, it would become overbear- ing. It's about how every- one relates to each other and how hard it is to have a family, and that also has to do with straight people, white people, black people, old people, young people, everything. "This show really is, are lovable, and I think everybody has people in their family who are rep- resentative, hopefully, of these characters," says Ryan, who adds that he fondly remembers watch- ing "All in the Family" as a child. "I certainly think the most controversial character probably will be Ellen Barkin's character. But I remember Thanksgiv- ings when I was growing up when my grandmother would actually say these jaw-dropping things, and we would call her out on it." Rannells, like Murphy, first and foremost, a show about family, just as 'All in the Family' was. The fact that the central characters are gay is not the talking point of every single scene, which is one of the things I love most about the show. It's just another character- istic of these people." happens to be openly gay, so he's vividly aware that the issues the show ad- dresses are important to many of its potential view- ers, particularly during a volatile election year, but the actor insists that he can't really allow himself to become too focused on that at work. "I think you have to kind universal, becomes about families and relationships in general. I can't really think in terms of how it's going to be received or whether it means something larger. We're just focused on making it a good and funny show right now, and I am very optimistic that it will find our audience." Murphy created the semiautobiographical show with Rannells in mind to play Bryan (read: Ryan), but Bartha was quick to get on board after he read the pilot script. "I thought it was great of put that aside," Rannells says. "The writing is very smart and very funny, and it's very heartfelt. Yes, it is about this gay couple and their journey with surrogacy, but the way that it is written is so specific that it becomes strangely and seemed important in a weird way, so I wanted to be involved," he explains. "When I do watch televi- sion, a lot of the things I see while I am flipping around look disposable, whether it's scripted or unscripted. The cast that we have assembled — and I am not talking about myself here — are all just indelible in the way they are creating lovable and representative characters. There are so many people in this country who iden- tify with a single mother's perspective, and then it's interesting to see these issues through the eyes of a little girl, then at the opposite end of the spec- trum, to see it from Ellen's character's conservative white woman's eyes. That's why this is such a fascinat- ing show." Catch the Craze & Save! Save on Rentals • Breakfast Get Free Glass Cleaner Save on a Quilt Find these great savings plus more on Coupon Craze! In The Goshen News every Monday, Online everyday! Nobody covers your hometown better 114 S. Main St., Goshen 574-533-2151 www.goshennews.com Employment Ad Today! Place Your Over 3,500 resumes are posted on monster.com in The Goshen News readership areas. 574-533-2151 ext. 398 goshennews.com / 574.522.4475 www.GurleyLeepHonda.com Ellen Barkin, Andrew Rannells, Georgia King, Bebe Wood and Justin Bartha (from left) star in "The New Normal," premiering Tuesday on NBC. 2 The Goshen News • Viewer's Choice • Sunday, September 9, 2012-Saturday, September 15, 2012 EVERY MONDAY IN FIND A VARIETY OF GREAT RECIPES PLUS GROCERY STORE ADVERTISEMENTS

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