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Parenthood: Mixed Reviews, Cancel or Keep It?

Published:March 3, 2010

ParenthoodAfter endless commercials during the Olympics and lots of print ads, NBC’s Parenthood has debuted. The show has experienced several bumps on its journey to primetime but now it’s finally here and NBC has high hopes for the series. Will it be a hit?

Parenthood revolves around the extended and very colorful Braverman family of Northern California. The large cast includes Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, Craig T. Nelson, Bonnie Bedelia, Mae Whitman, Miles Heizer, Erika Christensen, Sam Jaeger, Dax Shepard, Joy Bryant, Monica Potter, Sarah Ramos, and Max Burkholder.

Last night’s premiere debuted to an average of 8.1 million viewers with a 3.1 rating in the coveted 18-49 demographic. That put Parenthood in second place in total viewers (behind The Good Wife) but in first place in the demo. There was also very little erosion of the audience during the course of the episode.

While it’s positive that Parenthood won its timeslot in the demo, the numbers are surely not as good as NBC was hoping for, especially considering all of the promotion. Still, considering the state of the rest on NBC’s schedule, this should be considered a victory for the ailing peacock network.

As per usual, we’ll have to see how many viewers return week after week to know if Parenthood has a real chance at survival. For now, things look positive.

What do you think? Is Parenthood worth watching or are you changing the channel? Cancel or keep it?


Image courtesy NBC.

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{ 271 comments… read them below or add one }

Heather Needham May 13, 2010 at 6:14 am

I love this show!! It is nice to see a show that has real life situations that I can relate to! I would be so sad if it was cancelled!!

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Joyce May 12, 2010 at 12:02 pm

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the show…I don’t get at all where someone would think it’s poorly written or acted….the actors are great…and what about the kid’s acting?? They are very dramatic and cry on cue. Oh btw, one of those great kid actors, the one who plays Amber (Lauren Grahams tv daughter) did you all know she is that little Bernice from Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock?? Yuppers, Birdie and Bernice. I agree with Lauren being the perfect actress for this part, she and “Amber” even look alike. The show to me shows ALL aspects of parenting and it also relatable to teens as to how they react to their parents, even though it’s not always a positive reaction, but hello neither is is in real life. There is dysfunction in it, but most families nowadays are, I come from one…but the core of the show is that family stick & fights together. PLEASE PLEASE keep it!

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Bradlee LaDaugheg May 8, 2010 at 6:21 pm

KEEP IT – PLEASE !!
I know it’s an old thread, but I seriously hope this one runs for 10 years. Lauren Graham has turned out to be a much better choice IMO – she is perfect for this role. Maura is also fantastic of course, but it would have been too close to ER – she would have been typecast (which would have weakened the sh0w) and the Parenthood role is too small for her at this point in her career. It would have been a step backwards from “Abby” (or was it Abbie?) Get well Maura – we love you, but something else will be there for you.
Of course that said – Peter Krause and Craig T have managed to step out of one ensemble cast and into another – so it can be done. But I’m still happier with Lauren. And, it’s more believable that she is the mom of her daughter. Just my .02

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Kal May 4, 2010 at 7:37 pm

I say axe it. It’s insipid, poorly written, and poorly acted. The characters are all yuppies, and the plot is basically every cliche the writers could dredge up jammed into an hour of sap.

I bet it gets 5 more seasons.

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jill April 26, 2010 at 7:30 pm

Loving parenthood. it gets better every week. i happy that Lauren Graham is back on the air… please bring this show back. love the parent dynamic!

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diane April 25, 2010 at 2:50 pm

my favorite new show!! LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!! Please keep it on!

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Janet April 24, 2010 at 4:45 pm

I love this show. I look forward to watching it every week. It gets better and better.

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Sally April 22, 2010 at 2:42 pm

This show is one of the best new serials of the season the character depth is great and the story just gets better each week. I say keep it

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Sally April 22, 2010 at 2:41 pm

This show is one of this seasons best new serials of the season the character depth is great and the story just gets better each week. I say keep it

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Sally April 22, 2010 at 2:38 pm

This show is one of this seasons best new shows the character depth is great and the story just gets better each week. I say keep it

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Kentucky Konnoisseur April 21, 2010 at 5:46 pm

Seriously, Beverly, if you can’t handle “Parenthood” what do you do when you have to go to the mall and see the scantily clad girls hanging all over their boyfriends? What about on public transportation where there is far more sexually oriented material (ads) at eye level as you stand on a bus or subway or light rail. Your comments are surely welcome; I just suggest you get a schedule for The Children’s Television Workshop to try to avoid these issues.

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Kelly April 22, 2010 at 7:14 am

Love that!!!! Children’s Television Workshop – - – Right On!!!!

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Kelly April 21, 2010 at 1:57 pm

Beverly – Sorry to hear that you are so against the show. Apparently you were one of a dying breed that grew up in a home, that was picture perfect, no dysfunctions whatsoever, with the same mother and father, and as an adult, you provide a home for your own children in that same manner. Cheers to you – - -have you not noticed that unfortunately, these days, families are made up of more broken homes and dysfunctions, that perhaps seeing other families in the same boat, makes us not feel so crappy about our own situations. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoy this show and I love the entire case. Keep it going!!!!

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Beverly April 21, 2010 at 12:41 pm

This show is disgusting to say the least. The show is nothing but sex. Been beaten to death in everything from The Simpsons to Brothers & Sisters over the past two decades. And the only thing the new Parenthood brings to the table is a peculiarly depressing sensibility. My family doesn’t watch it and I sure wouldn’t let my children. This is nothing short of dysfunctional families. Don’t we have enough of this in the world today!

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Kelly April 21, 2010 at 7:54 am

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!!! Keep it going!!!!! The entire cast is great – Perfect casting by producers!! Love it Love it Love it!!!!

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Thad April 19, 2010 at 7:55 am

Great show that just keeps getting better! Keep it on until all the kids are grown.

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