NBC and quality programming have been synonymous in television for decades. But after the departure of mainstays like ‘Friends,’ ‘The West Wing’ and ‘Frasier,’ NBC has been unable to maintain its esteemed reputation. In past week the drama ‘Parenthood,’ the comedy-reality show ‘The Marriage Ref’ and the documentary series ‘Who Do you Think You Are?’ have all debuted on the network. They are NBC’s attempt at bringing quality programs back to the once-legendary prime time lineup, as well as filling the time gap left by ‘The Tonight Show.’ Based on the pilots, these three shows have the potential to help NBC on the good side of critics and audiences alike.

‘Parenthood’ Tuesdays, 10 p.m.

‘Parenthood’ is by far the best effort out of NBC’s three debuts. In its second NBC incarnation, director Ron Howard — who made a movie with the same name in 1989 — is taking on the effort. Howard, also the executive producer of the show, has found the right mix of actors and the right tone to make this show a success.

‘Parenthood’ follows the relationships of the siblings in the Braverman family, and the cast has a chemistry that makes the family dynamics believable. Actress Lauren Graham brings a great comedic aspect to the show, while Adam (Peter Krause) and Crosby (Dax Shepard) display a great big brother, little brother bond. Yet, the show’s large cast is one of its biggest downfalls. Viewers don’t know enough about the matriarch of the family, Camille (Bonnie Bedelia), and don’t get to fully explore the youngest adult daughter, Julia (Erika Christensen), as she struggles maintaining her family life while also being a high-powered lawyer. As this show delves deeper into the family members’ lives, ‘Parenthood’ should help NBC draw in more viewers.

‘The Marriage Ref’ Thursdays, 10 p.m.

While ‘Parenthood’ is quality programming in the making, ‘The Marriage Ref’ doesn’t make the cut. It is surprising that a comedian like Jerry Seinfeld can create, executive produce and occasionally appear on a show that is not funny.

The plot is basic. Couples with a marital problem consult the celebrity panelists who, in the show, are allotted the title ‘marriage experts.’ Some of these ‘experts’ include not only Seinfeld, but Alec Baldwin, Madonna, Matt Lauer and Larry David. The celebrities offer funny insight on the couples’ problems, however the validity of their relationship advice is questionable: namely, the fact that all of these celebrities have been divorced from their significant others.

‘The Marriage Ref’ doesn’t deserve the 10 p.m. Thursday time slot. The caliber of this show doesn’t compare to its predecessor, ‘ER.’ The time slot would have been better suited for ‘Parenthood,’ or a program that actually improves NBC’s image as a network.

‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ Fridays, 8 p.m.

Lisa Kudrow, the executive producer of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ has brought quality television back to NBC with this surprisingly good documentary series. The show chronicles the quest of celebrities to unveil their true selves through their family histories.

Sarah Jessica Parker was the first celebrity to track her roots, visiting libraries, talking to historians and traveling to sites on which her ancestors stepped foot. She discovered that her family history traces back to the Salem witch trials of the 1600s and the gold rush of 1849.

Upcoming episodes will feature Emmitt Smith, Brooke Shields and Spike Lee. ‘Who Do you Think You Are?’ is not a groundbreaking idea, nor will it have viewers sitting on the end of their seats. But it is interesting to see ‘A’-list stars going on a journey of a lifetime and learning about their family history.

jawalk05@syr.edu

Published on March 7, 2010 at 12:00 pm