I hope people are offended by it. Hopefully it will be a conversation piece. There will be families that love it for a what it is—a story about families. And the people who offend by it will talk about why their offended with other people, and maybe they’ll realize they’re bigots and that they’re ignorant. Our show can maybe help usher in a little acceptance.
I don’t expect it to change anyone’s lives—I don’t think it’s that earth-shattering. But one of the wonderful things about TV, and hopefully our show will bring that back, is that it can be a conversation starter.”
The New Normal star Justin Bartha, discussing the show’s impact, with Queerty. The New Normal pilot airs tonight at 10pm on NBC, followed by the series premiere September 11 at 9:30pm.
In the lead-up to The New Normal premiere Queerty is launching a new series of features, Our New Normal, where we’ll introduce you to LGBT families of all different stripes—be they same-sex couples raising kids, straight parents raising gay kids, or close-knit groups who view themselves s family.And we want to meet your family, too: Share your story—whether you’re related by blood or linked by love—by uploading photos, videos or notes on our special Our New Normal platform. You could win a family vacation for four courtesy of American Airlines and Kimpton hotels—not to mention some serious bragging rights!
BJ McFrisky
The premise of this show sounds interesting, but I don’t think Bartha understands the simple truth that, if people are indeed offended, they won’t watch his show and he’ll be out of a job.
Jack E. Jett
I have never been so excited about a new series since seeing the pilot.
wippleton
I’m offended by just how terrible the show looks.
willybilly
check out showcasefreedom.com
goofyjoemoore
@BJ McFrisky: That’s not always the case. Look at Howard Stern. People hated him, but still tuned in to see what he’d say next. Perhaps this will have a similar affect.
JonahEastCoast
Offended by his awful acting, he means.
marc sfe
I’m offended by Qeerty’s continuing inability to spell and use proper grammar. Please kids, it should be THEY’RE, not their, in the sentence talking about being offended. Come on, you’re supposed to be journalists, I think.
kayakriver
Just saw the show and I love it, great characters. The first show on tv that has its main characters a gay couple, you all should be happy and not be bitching.
How can bigots watch the show and cheer for the homophobic grandma and go like ‘yeah ruin their happiness’ when even the little girl is against her. I think this show is such a big step for gay-kind.
CM79
Nonsensical. Who watches a TV show that they find offensive? I found the Sopranos offensive and never watched it a second time. He’s just trying to antagonize anti-gay people into watching, because hey…numbers and numbers. But I doubt too many people who are put off by gay couples would bother.
JDJase
@BJ McFrisky @CM79: Both of you COMPLETELY missed the point. He’s not saying anything about wanting people who are offended to keep watching anyway. He’s talking about people being offended by the show and bitching and moaning about it so that they sound ridiculous in what they are whining about. Look at how pathetic Victoria Jackson looks in her rants about Glee. News flash: You don’t have to watch a show every week to be offended by it. Do you think all the conservatives who constantly complain about Glee tune in to it every week?
You guys pointing out that “people who are offended won’t watch it” is like pointing out that the sky is blue…thanks for the analysis! Critical thinking skills…try em out.
Bob LaBlah
I watched the first episode of it last night and absolutely LOVED it. What a refreshing new show. It sure ain’t Will and Grace.
Tom
I watched the pilot last week, dreadful. I did not enjoy it at all. I will give episode 2 a go perhaps the pilot was a fluke. Did the couple have to be so damn air headed?
Bienclar
Am I the only one who noticed the misuse of “their”?
BJ McFrisky
@JDJase: Gosh, JD, if it weren’t for you and your superior intellect to guide us simpletons to absolute truths, I’d still be believing everything that people say. Thank you for existing and enlightening us all.
Elmwoodmac
He should be concerned about whether or not it’s going to be an entertaining show with a bunch of laughs. So far the new tv season is a bore, case in point the very unfunny new Mathew Perry disaster.
DuMaurier
@goofyjoemoore: Especially with TV as fragmented as it is now with hundreds and hundreds of channels, even a top show like The Big Bang Theory only pulls in a fraction of the total viewing audience. A LOT of people might be offended by the The New Normal and it could still be a hit.
mpwaite
WATCHED THE PILOT AND FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.. The writing is fantastic; the Mother is A SCREAM!!! She will have the best one-liners (Gay and black soup LOL) and the line from one of the gay dads “Do I look like Mary Tyler Moore in these pants?” “YES YOU DO..” “GREAT…………….I’LL TAKE THEM!!” H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!!! One can already see how this fiasco of a family will soon mold into a loving, caring, family………………THAT’S FASHIONABLE!!! LOL
jmmartin
@ wippleton My sentiments exactly. What I see from promo clips and the publicity campaign is a sitcom, probably with canned laughter, and stereotypical characters. By “stereotypical” I do not mean that the two leads will lisp, work in beauty salons, have little statuettes of Michelangelo’s “David” among the bric-a-brac, and so forth. I mean, assimilator types who do all they can to mimic the appearance of “normalcy” (for want of a proper word) as found in the straight community. @ Tom They are air-headed because they emulate air heads.
Patrick
Saw the pilot…..I get the fact it is a sit com but I am little concerned that the sterotypes will be reinforced…double income, successful men with plenty of extra cash and little to no common sense
el polacko
i’m offended by the invidious stereotype of butch/femme gay couples in imitation of hetero couples. what is a more tired and insulting question from str8 folks than “which one of you is the girl/guy?” and yet, this sitcom shows us a butch dad who watches sports on the couch and a femme dad who shops, shops, shops. the butch dad has a tender moment with the woman who is the prospective mom while the femme dad flutters his weak wrists and talks fashion out in the waiting room. BLECH !!! grandma gets to make ‘fag jokes’ while other characters supply the p.c. lecturing. we haven’t come any futher than this?? if they were hoping to be offensive, they have succeeded but, apparently, not in the way they thought.