Growing Up Fisher - Bringing in the ratings!



Growing Up Fisher
Review Summary Update - By: DeAlan Wilson Posted on www.ComedyE.com
  Photo Courtesy: NBC Television Studios

J.K. Simmons (“The Closer,” “Law & Order”), stars as Mel Fisher in NBC’s new  family comedy “Growing Up Fisher.”  A new original sitcom centered around the family-life of what would otherwise be a typical American family except for the fact that the dad is blind and mom  acts like a teenaged daughter.

(l-r) Peyton as Elvis, Eli Baker as Henry, Ava Deluca-Verley as Katie,
 Jenna Elfman as Joyce, J.K. Simmons as Mel
 Photo Courtesy: NBC Television Studios

Now that we’ve got that out of the way… let’s face it, the Fishers are anything but   your  “typical” family.  Take the father, Mel, for example.  Mel does all the typical household and  fatherly chores such as yard work including chopping down trees plus teaching his daughter how to drive a car and playing football with his son.

Then there’s Joyce (Jenna Elfman- “Dharma and Greg”, “My Name Is Earl”) Mom.  She’s your typical teenager, really.  She’s into fashion, music and busy with school.  The problem here is that Mom’s behavior makes it difficult for her real-life teenage daughter, Katie (Ava Deluca-Verley, “Southland”), whose advice (and clothes) Mom is always seeking.

Caught in the middle of all of this is Henry (Eli Baker), the Fisher’s 11-year-old son who is having his own issues accepting Dad’s new guide dog Elvis.  Having always been Dad’s eyes as well as his “right-hand-man” Henry is at first reluctant to accepting Elvis and the changes that Elvis brings.  But, upon reflection, the adult Henry (voice of Jason Bateman), realizes that his parent’s split finally allows the Fishers to become one happy (divorced) family.

(l-r) Eli Baker as Henry Fisher, J.K. Simmons as Mel Fisher  
Photo Courtesy: NBC Television Studios

Now in its premiere season, “Growing Up Fisher” has begun to pick-up steam bringing in over  *6.5 million viewers  when it aired on Tuesday night, March 18, 2014.  This grand  total surpassed old prime-time favorites including “Glee” on FOX which captured 2.8 million viewers and  other newer series including “Trophy Wife” on ABC with 3.15 million viewers.


With seasoned comic actors Elfman and Simmons leading the cast, we think this show is off to a really good start.  Should it continue on the path of attracting large audiences each week, it may have long-term staying power. The story for the show is based upon the life of executive producer, DJ Nash (“Up All Night,” “Bent” - see trailer ) is co-produced by Jason Bateman, Jim Garavente (“Identity Thief”) and Tucker Cawley (“Up All Night,” “Everybody Loves Raymond”). “Growing Up Fisher” is produced by Universal Television and Aggregate Films.