Clip It: Each day, Jon Davis looks at the world of trailers, featurettes, and clips and puts it all in perspective.
On the major networks, law enforcement shows are about nabbing the bad guy. Lawyer shows are about winning the big case. And dramedies are all about… making us cry. That's not a judgment. Perhaps a better way to put it, shows like Parenthood and the upcoming This is Us, which tells the stories of people all born on the same day, are about making us feel something other than disgust.
This trailer is a hit, which bodes well for NBC. It has more than 51 million views on Facebook alone. Perhaps that's because it's a refreshing breath of fresh air. It may be the Golden Age of Television on streaming and cable, but on the networks, we're up to our neck in procedurals, reality TV, and superhero shows. A multi-generation family drama has a place on tv, too.
I know more than a few people who are dying to see a show like this. My parents. My wife. My two-year-old son. Okay, that last one isn't true. He'd hate this but only because Daniel Tiger isn't in it.
This is Us has great moments where Sterling. K Brown tells the dad who abandoned him, “Screw you!” And then invites him to meet his grandkids. There's Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore as a young couple, suffering what looks to be a pretty harrowing day in the hospital as Mandy Moore suffers complications during labor. There's the story of a sexy TV star who is losing interest in the fame game, and a woman struggling with how she feels about her weight. I think the TV star subplot is the least relatable. But, for the most part, it seems like a solid drama. The kind of TV the whole family can watch, which is not as much of a thing anymore.
Will you watch it? Will your mom watch it?