Life In Pieces - General Discussion

[ShannaB]

I wanted to watch at least one episode of this sitcom because of Diane Wiest and received a most pleasant surprise!!  Love this show.  All the actors are great and I even like the kid/teenager actors.  It is such a good feeling to laugh my way through an entire episode and have one specific story make me 'bark laugh'  **blushes**..  This week had the 'boobs' reactions (especially the ENT dad) and then the Scram Trapper using the bathroom.  Too too funny.  Last week was great with the way Pop Pop figured out how to win the golf game.

 

It's nice to see Betsy Brandt out of her BREAKING BAD purple fixation but I am expecting a purple episode soon.  Hope so.  It took a while for me to realize that it was Martin Starr as the Scram Trooper.

[metalchik]

I can't say enough about this show.  I love love love it!  My favorites are Colin Hanks and his wife - I love her dry personality. I hope it sticks around for a long time.

[htomsirveaux]

It's been renewed for a full season.

[mansonlamps]

Yay!  This is one of the very few shows that a lot of people I know watch, but there has been very little activity in the forum, so I wasn't sure about the general public's response.  It is one of my favorites, so very glad to see the full season pickup.

[roughing it]

Good!!  So very often the shows I really like are the ones that get cancelled.  This seems like the type of show that will attract viewers by word of mouth, kind of like how Seinfeld got its start.  I'm hoping, anyway.

[metalchik]

Yay!  This show is awesome!

[CinAZ]

Matt and Colleen catch Chad in the act of dognapping Princess; Jen and Greg try to be intimate for the first time since having a baby; Heather leaves her longtime hairstylist; and Tim ruins Samantha's birthday party.

This show makes me laugh out loud every time I watch it.

 

The hand sanitizer cracked me up. 

[Morgalisa]

I'm a fan, but thought this episode wasn't the funniest. It still gives me at least one laugh per episode. Dont like the story line of the creepy exboyfriend.

[possibilities]

It does pain me to see Jordan Peele reduced to playing this pathetic role. He's got a lot more to offer.

[ae2]

Not my favorite episode so far, but still good for a lot of laughs. I'm torn between this and the Grinder for my favorite new sitcom.

 

The daughter's party was my favorite story. Dan Bakkedahl nails every scene. Begging his son to come out and back him up. Eating in the bathroom. Excited to tell Greg's hand sanitizer incident (just like he was about the peanut last week!)

 

I love that this show lets in some understated jokes. The youngest daughter going in for a kiss and the dad's reaction was hilarious.

 

I don't know how these episodes are only the standard 21-22 minutes long. They seem to have SO many fewer commercials and pack in more content than the Big Bang Theory.

[joanne3482]

I don't know how these episodes are only the standard 21-22 minutes long. They seem to have SO many fewer commercials and pack in more content than the Big Bang Theory.

 

According to those in the BBT thread, BBT is currently running only 17 - 18 minutes long so the full 22 minutes seems like so much more in comparison. 

[roughing it]

My daughter had a friend stay over one night a long time ago, I think they were about 11-12 yo - I let them watch The Sixth Sense.  Bad idea.

 

Looks like next week they'll have an all-guys scene.  I think those are the funniest.

[Browncoat]

I missed the last few seconds (after the daughter climbed in the bounce house with the dad) -- can anyone please fill me in on what happened?

[AnnaRose]

I missed the last few seconds (after the daughter climbed in the bounce house with the dad) -- can anyone please fill me in on what happened?

 

Me too.  My DVR always cuts it off since it runs over.

[mansonlamps]

Dad and daughter have a heart to heart where she makes him feel better and tells him among other things that she thought the movie was cool. Then she asks if they can bounce together for a while and they continue their talk and he starts telling her about The Shining comparing the twin girls in the movie to two Sofias. End. Then there's the preview.

I love this show more and more each week. And I'm one of the few who likes the Jordan Peele character stories I think. I love when he and Matt have conversations and Jordan's character completely revises the truth to suit his agenda and Matt corrects him with utter disbelief. The Ponzi scheme skin cream scene was gold. "It's not a pyramid scheme." "But the container is actually in the shape of a pyramid. The product is actually named Ponzi."

Edited November 7, 2015 by mansonlamps

[Browncoat]

Thanks, mansonlamps!  I'm going to have to reset my DVR to get those last little bits of this show.  I can probably miss a few seconds of Sleepy Hollow.

[LucyEth]

I just really like this show.  The only thing I don't care for is the ex finance always being around.  I hope this show sticks around.  

[Chas411]

Just catching up on the show and it's really growing on me. Love the two sons though I'm confused as to who is the oldest?

 

I'm relieved that the raunchiness has died down a bit as well.

[Slade347]

The one living with the parents is the middle child. The Colin Hanks character is the youngest, and the sister is the oldest.

[Slade347]

I just about lost it when I saw Tim eating the pizza in the bathroom. This show does those little throw away gags brilliantly.

[whatsatool]

This seems like a wackier version of Parenthood to me.

[Mrs OldManBalls]

The tent scenes were hilarious! Who goes free balling when camping with extended family?!?!?!

 

Cheeto was carved from nightmares. 

[possibilities]

Were they implying at the end that the grandparents were together pranking the kids/grandkids with Cheeto, i.e. that they knew he was creepy and were enjoying freaking out the progeny and forcing them to accept him?

[Browncoat]

Another winner of an episode!  I thought the Cheeto segment was the best, especially the bits when Cheeto was in the refrigerator.

[BusyOctober]

Colin Hanks needs an Emmy- for this or for his contributions to "Drunk History", I don't care which.  His comic timing is great.  His non-verbal acting during his  'loss of depth perception due to eye injury' was really funny.  I also liked when he was trying to tell his wife the "hot nanny" was hitting on him.

 

Diane Weist is growing on me.  I wasn't a big fan before but she is really funny in this.

[Perfect Xero]

Were they implying at the end that the grandparents were together pranking the kids/grandkids with Cheeto, i.e. that they knew he was creepy and were enjoying freaking out the progeny and forcing them to accept him?

 

I thought they just decided that the pranking was fun and got in on the act.

[leighdear]

I LITERALLY laughed out loud several times.  This is absolutely becoming one of my favorite comedies ever.  Every single cast member plays off the others beautifully.  And I can honestly say that there's not a single character that annoys me or that I don't like.   I also think Colin Hanks stands out with his subtle goofiness.  The eye patch & aiming for the bowl of Doritos was hysterical!

 

Of course, it's still the first season.  I just hope the writers don't screw this up!   ;-)

[leighdear]

 Who goes free balling when camping with extended family?!?!?!

Oh good lord. They saw Tom Petty. Who had a major hit with the song "Free Fallin'"......But if you change the last word to what YOU posted........

[whatsatool]

Don't make me laugh

[roughing it]

OMG I laughed so hard at the thanksgiving dinner I almost wet myself!!

[mansonlamps]

I'm not one for bathroom humor, but I loved seeing the family laughing together, it seemed very genuine.

Also loved both little girls tonight, especially the littlest one putting makeup on her uncle and him leading her to consider an alternate career path.

[random chance]

I liked this episode too - it wasn't overly bathroomy and the stories were all fun.  I'll put this back on a Season Pass.

[Jodithgrace]

I am really enjoying this show. I love the concept and everybody is quirky without being cloyingly so.

Favorite part of this episode, "Your gays or my gays?" "Yours. Mine are still pretending to be 'room mates'"  Then they find out that the chosen gay couple is already God-parenting six children! Just seems really true.

Also loved the Spanish market.

[Browncoat]

I nearly fell off my couch laughing when the turkey (a gorgeous Royal Palm!) came out at the end, and Martin Mull's character said, "Well, that explains the smell."

[MaryMitch]

I nearly fell off my couch laughing when the turkey (a gorgeous Royal Palm!) came out at the end, and Martin Mull's character said, "Well, that explains the smell."

 

That was a beautiful bird, wasn't it?

 

Ok, have to ask - when did "godparent" become "responsible for the kid if both parents die"?  My experience is the godparent is responsible for mentoring the religious upbringing, and the "responsible if the parents die" part is a separate conversation entirely.

[random chance]

That was a beautiful bird, wasn't it?

 

Ok, have to ask - when did "godparent" become "responsible for the kid if both parents die"?  My experience is the godparent is responsible for mentoring the religious upbringing, and the "responsible if the parents die" part is a separate conversation entirely.

I think Godparents being responsible for the kid is a TV-specific thing, like saying "speak now or forever hold your peace" at a wedding. 

[roughing it]

Colin Hanks does have some great expressions. I am really liking all of the family members.

[mansonlamps]

I think Godparents being responsible for the kid is a TV-specific thing, like saying "speak now or forever hold your peace" at a wedding.

I am a Godmother who was asked to be responsible for the kid, luckily he is over 18 now, haha.

Also loved the Spanish market.

Tiny nitpick, it was a Mexican market.

[random chance]

In real life though it's not automatic like it is on TV.  Godparent is often a religious thing only - it has nothing to do with being responsible for raising the kid.  And even then the responsibilities differ amongst the religions.  But on TV it almost always means you raise the kids. 

[mansonlamps]

Oh I know and agree with you about TV godparents. I was just marveling at how lucky my Godson is that his parents lived past his 18th birthday in light of their specific request.

[Jodithgrace]

I meant Mexican market. i think my brain may have enjoyed too much cauliflower rice.

[ProudMary]

I've watched every episode of this show and truthfully I was ready to give up on it.  IMO, a few of the previous stories were cringe-worthy.   I find several of the characters unlikeable (Jen in particular, but also Heather and IMO there's a creepy factor to Tim.  If we never see Chad again, I'll be happy.)  But, I really like both brothers, and of course, Grandma and Grandpa.  The kids are great.  

 

But this 8th episode was very good.  Each of the four short stories was funny and touching and hit all the right notes.  If the writers can keep this up, I may just stick around.  

Edited November 21, 2015 by ProudMary

[possibilities]

The only context in which I have ever heard of anyone being a godparent in real life is that it means they are the ones who take on the kid if the parents die.

 

I think this show has been improving week by week, and I really like it now.

 

LOVED that what made them choose the brother to be godparent was his anti-sexist approach and that he was willing to engage with the child on her level and seemed to enjoy just being with her and really listened to what she had to say. Also loved that they weren't interested in godparents who were closeted-- not because they objected to them being gay, but because they objected to them not being out. On the other hand, I just fully took in that they have named their child "Lark"-- I am actually all for creative naming, but somehow this seems out of character for everything they've shown of this couple so far. They just don't seem like the types to pick a name that's sounds so much like a hippy dippy choice.

 

If you know your cauliflower rice disagrees with people, bringing it seems like a deliberate sabotage.

[Mrs OldManBalls]

I died when the little girl hoped she wouldn't get pinkeye from everyone coming over to fart at the kiddie table. 

[CinAZ]

I have really enjoyed this show. I look forward to it every week and I now have it on my DVR to record every new episode, just in case!

Not one character annoys me, and that is saying a lot!

[leighdear]

I loved when Pop Pop was freaking out in the corn maze.  James Brolin does a lot better with comedy than I ever thought he could.  

[NYGirl]

I watched the pilot and hated it.  I watched the episode by accident and all I did was laugh out loud.  I need to give it a second chance.

[whatsatool]

I laughed the hardest at the sexy calendar piece.

[mansonlamps]

This one wasn't as laugh out loud funny as some of the others but still very enjoyable. I wish they would give the teenage boy more stories, I think he's very funny.

I loved Mom Mom saying that when the girls first took her to that vegan restaurant she learned to carry bacon in her purse, Lol! Also Matt passing out and throwing up over the blood was some pretty good physical humor.

And not that I think this is why there are no posts here, but the episode is titled "Hospital Boudoir Time-Out Namaste" if someone can fix that.

Edited November 28, 2015 by mansonlamps

[leighdear]

My mom & brother watched this with me for the first time, and both are going to go back and watch all the previous episodes, they liked it that much. 

 

I tried to explain to them the Cheeto episode, but was laughing so hard at my mental picture of Cheeto in the fridge, I made very little sense!

 

Sofia is my favorite.  I loved when she worked the word "asinine" into the conversation with Heather.  Subtle, but smart.