When I first saw the ads to this one, I was overly excited. Then, I realized my sound button wasn't on. The announcer lost me when he called 1991 a "90s" year. The 90s were broken up into different parts really. You had the early 90s (most like the 80s) which lasted from 1989/1990 to 1993. Most people of that time think of 1990-1993 as "the late 80's". The mid 90s were the true 90s years (1993-1996). 1996 onward was much closer to the 2000s with its plasticized pop stars, digital toys, and dramedies. With Surviving Jack, they completely missed that and gave you a hackneyed description of the 1990s. The costume designer understood how the early 90s were an extension to 1989. Unfortunately, there was no neon, high top fades, or oversized clothing to be found anywhere. Was it set in late '91? The theme by Social Distortion is very misleading for this show. I guess Fox thought they had another "Malcolm in the Middle" on their hands. Jack was supposed to be the ultimate asshole, right? It didn't appear that way for the most part. Tyler Foden's character wasn't needed for this show. Did the costume designer have to dress him in stereotypical 90s clothing? He looked as if he were on his way to a 90s theme party. This was supposed to be set in 1991, not 1994. Mikey sported the No Fear shirt wayyy too early. Guys at my school wore them in late '92 and well into the mid 1990's. My point is that they just threw anything together to give you the idea that it was the 90s, including the Social Distortion opening. I wanted to like it because they got somethings right too. The Arachnophobia, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Super Mario Bros. 3, American Gladiators mention and Carson/Seinfeld showings were right on the money. For some episodes, the feeling of the early 90s was well in tact. I'm looking at you, Pilot. During other times, I thought I was watching "Party of Five" (I hate that program) or some other mid 90's dreck. The lead reminded me of that ham from the movie "Airborne". I'll just stick with "The Wonder Years", that show got the period piece right. I do long for the day when another young gun who's coming up watches "Home Improvement" while clenching his Super Soaker 100 and wearing a pair of British Knights or Reebok Pumps. Hey, a boy can dream it's February in 1992.

Finally something that is absolutely funny and completely identifiable, and they decide to cancel it! I loved this show...it took me back to my HUMMMMM parenting days where i thought I was doing a great job,,,First time I laughed out loud while watching great TV in a long time. What a shame. I guess not enough blood and gore for the TV decisions makers.... Totally believable, Frankie's friends are kids that I grew up (or like the ones I grew up with) OR were friends of my children's (scary but true) . The writers are in total tune with the era and I am very sad to see it go. The cast of characters worked perfectly together and I could not wait for the next plot to see how Jack would instill a life lesson in his family.

NOTE: This review is based solely on the pilot episode.The basic formula for the show seems to be that you take the wistful 'looking backwards at my youth' narrator from 60's nostalgia show The Wonder Years and the family that was at the center of That 70's Show, and then set them down in the 1990's with a Top 20 period soundtrack. Then you cast Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU and Oz) as Red Forman and force him to step up his parenting of his son (the narrator) and daughter while his wife goes to law school.Surviving Jack is based on the book, I Suck at Girls, by Justin Halpern, so the titular Jack wasn't actually inspired by the character Kurtwood Smith (currently starring in Resurrection) played on That 70's Show. Of course, that wouldn't have been a bad thing, given that he was one of the best things about the show and was woefully underutilized in the early seasons. No, the character of Jack Dunlevy is based on the real life Samuel Halpern, M.D., who is Justin Halpern's father.This is the second time that the relationship between Justin Halpern and his father has been adapted for the small screen. $#*! My Dad Says cast William Shatner (Star Trek and Boston Legal) as the father, and depicted the time when the adult Halpern was forced to move back into his father's home. Surviving Jack focuses on Halpern's high school years.As Frankie Dunlevy, the Topher Grace role, Connor Buckley is appealing, but as with $#*! My Dad Says, it's really the father's show. Meloni's turn as Jack is closer to Smith's deadpan than Shatner's over the top hamminess, and that bodes well for the series. The writing is crisp and pretty funny. The supporting roles are all played adequately, with Rachael Harris doing an excellent job as the mother. It looks good so far, and I'm planning to watch again next week.

I just got through watching the Pilot episode and I must say WAY better than I thought it was going to be. I loved it. I liked it. I want some more of it. Totally got cheesy right there, but oh well. It was funny and totally not played out like most shows now-a-days. A good comedy show that has the camera angles you like, the dialogue you can laugh at and the entire feel of the show is just way better than what you thought it was going to be. I really hope this show last. I am scared this show might not last because of viewers but I promise that if you at least give this show one episode you won't regret it in the least bit, it's that show that reminds you of the older days of your youth while at the same time keeping a good comedy feel of modern age.