"Sitcom trope" is basically what would have been known centuries ago to the commedia dell'arte as lazzi. It's not whether you enact a situation, but how you do it, and I think this was done well. Just the Howard University line made it worthwhile.

Totally agree, Confess Your Sins. Those ballad montages can be powerful if deployed carefully, but they're utterly overused on this show. They add nothing but easy storytelling and cheap emotion.

Totally agree, Confess Your Sins. Those ballad montages can be powerful if deployed carefully, but they're utterly overused on this show. They add nothing but easy storytelling and cheap emotion.

Oh darnit, Archbishop. I think you're right. Oh well.

Oh darnit, Archbishop. I think you're right. Oh well.

This is what drives me nuts about the character of Tara. She seems to retain nothing of what she's learned from episode to episode. They substitute a lot of posturing and exclamations of "But *I'm* his real mother!" for having her actually act like a mother. For example, she comes to the perfectly reasonable…

This is what drives me nuts about the character of Tara. She seems to retain nothing of what she's learned from episode to episode. They substitute a lot of posturing and exclamations of "But *I'm* his real mother!" for having her actually act like a mother. For example, she comes to the perfectly reasonable…

Yeah, but the difference is that Katey Sagal is a really good actor. She deserves better writing.

Yeah, but the difference is that Katey Sagal is a really good actor. She deserves better writing.

All the kids are pawns on this show. Just plot contrivances, really.

All the kids are pawns on this show. Just plot contrivances, really.

So much on this show is the opposite of fan service. It's actor service, or something. They love Ryan Hurst, so they want to give Opie a big send-off. That's fine, but it's always a tip-off when you do a montage and ballad sequence that you don't have much to communicate other than "it's time to feel some emotions,…

So much on this show is the opposite of fan service. It's actor service, or something. They love Ryan Hurst, so they want to give Opie a big send-off. That's fine, but it's always a tip-off when you do a montage and ballad sequence that you don't have much to communicate other than "it's time to feel some emotions,…

Until today I didn't think it was possible for me to be less interested in watching the Oscars, but this announcement proves I was very wrong.

Until today I didn't think it was possible for me to be less interested in watching the Oscars, but this announcement proves I was very wrong.

I tried watching this, and didn't get hooked. I am also one of the few people, apparentlty, resistant to the alleged charms of Sherlock.

I tried watching this, and didn't get hooked. I am also one of the few people, apparentlty, resistant to the alleged charms of Sherlock.

My favorite part of this was the toddler sang-froid as she trashed the house.

My favorite part of this was the toddler sang-froid as she trashed the house.

I agree with this entirely. It's a very well-made sitcom, in the sense of the "well-made play" use of the term. It dosen't always feel fresh, but it always works, and sometimes it really earns its laughs or its sentimentality.