The ads they've been showing for this keep repeating one critic's quote - "The WB has perfected the family drama." And that's really all this is - a pretty good family drama. The political aspects end up serving very little more than Lorelai Gilmore's pop-culture references on "Gilmore Girls" - i.e. they define a particular character quite nicely, but don't really define the show at all. More important -- surprise, surprise -- are Jack's relationships with girls and Bobby's trouble with bullies. I'm not political, myself, but the image that was used to promote the series -- the two brothers lying head to head on the American flag -- as well as the title and the presence of Thomas Schlamme ("Sports Night"), suggested to me something very new and different. Beyond the "future documentary" conceit, though (which, to be fair, represents a greater innovation than most shows), there's just nothing new here at all. That's not to say it isn't worth watching. Just know what you're in for.
Review of Jack & Bobby
