I was really looking forward to this one. I enjoyed Rob Lowe tremendously in West Wing (too bad the show got away from him) and Fred Savage in Wonder Years. The segments of the fictional "Grinder" TV show were wonderfully over-acted and perfectly lampooned many of the cheesy overly dramatic moments from some of my favourite shows of the past decade or two. In the end, however, the writers just ended up presenting us with the same joke over and over. Add to that the blatant abuse of Fred Savage's family's hospitality to a point that nobody would tolerate and the show just became annoying. Watching people being abused is not comedy. Even the occasional treat of Timothy Olyphant in a comedic role is not enough to keep me watching.

There seems to be a trend at the moment for comedy shows (particularly those from out cousins across the pond) to show situations that are painfully embarrassing for the protagonist, and then dragging those moments out far too long to remain interesting or even amusing - they're just painful and sad.This show is different. Sure, there're similar moments, but they remain funny by not being overly laboured and they're mixed in with other types of humour - I have a smile on my face throughout, and genuinely laugh out loud frequently - that's not typical for me; I'm really enjoying this show.The basic premise is, of course, utterly ridiculous, and is both ridiculed and legitimised by other characters in the show. It's predictable, but in the most delightful way, doesn't demand too much of the viewer, but still doesn't come across as dumb, or that it expects the viewer lacks the intelligence for more sophisticated humour. It just works, and after watching an episode I feel entertained, happier, more upbeat; it does everything a comedy show should, and I can't wait for the show's return in the new year.

The premise of the Grinder is the courtroom comedy-drama equivalent of "Galaxy Quest". In "Galaxy Quest", a group of actors playing in a Star Trek-like show are solicited for aid by real aliens to help in a galactic cause because the aliens don't understand that the television show is entertainment and the actors are not real space heroes. In a similar vein, Rob Lowe plays Dean Sanderson, an actor who has played a lawyer in a courtroom drama for 8 seasons in a show called, you guessed it, "The Grinder". The pilot episode begins with Sanderson watching the final episode of his show on cable television with his brother Stewart Sanderson (Fred Savage) and his family. Dean's character is simply called "Grinder" I guess because he "grinds" his way through tough cases. At the close of the episode and the show's run, Dean is now uncertain what he wants to do next. Part of the premise is a "show within a show" as we see scenes from the television series. Strangely I found some of the scenes of the "fictional show" more interesting than the "real life" scenes.His brother Stewart is in fact a real plaintiff lawyer who represents clients in small cases. However, unlike the charismatic television star Dean, Stewart is a stutterer when it comes to presenting cases in courtrooms. He acts like a deer caught in the headlights when he's making his statements to the court, and he relies on note-cards to aid him in remembering not only his arguments but what the case is all about. As the events play out we learn, poor Stewart is not just lousy at making his courtroom presentations, he gives his clients terrible advice often failing to support their side.Television star and brother Dean then asks Stewart if he can accompany him to court since his television show having ended he has nothing better to do. While in the hallway, Dean overhears his brother giving mediocre legal advice to one of his clients who are in small claims court fighting with their landlord. The clients, a wrongfully evicted couple, want to keep their apartment, but Stewart wants them to settle with a lousy offering from the defense which would still entail them having to move out from their home.Dean, sitting on a bench, then asks if he might intervene, and Stewart says it would be inappropriate. However, Dean having confidence in spades while his brother wasn't dealt a good charismatic hand, interrupts his brother and explains they should fight for the rights. The clients recognize Dean as the star of the hit television show and title character of the Grinder and immediately are star-struck and want him to present their case in court. Of course, Stewart is flabbergasted because his brother isn't a real lawyer and has never passed the bar exam. He's only played a lawyer on a scripted television show for 8 seasons.When Dean appears as the attorney representing the plaintiffs, the courtroom becomes kangaroo. The defense objects because Dean does not have a law license not having gone to law school. However the judge is also enthralled recognizing "the Grinder" so she wants to play along. The courtroom scene of the pilot episode was just too unbelievable. The judge and audience are star-struck and the whole affair becomes a giant entertainment for all involved except for the defense. And you can probably guess the outcome.While the premise of The Grinder is an interesting one, actor-playing-a-lawyer becomes a real one, I don't know if the show's writing is strong enough to meet the demands of audience believability. I could almost imagine the writers first were contemplating a courtroom drama show starring Rob Lowe, which since Law and Order, Boston Legal, and LA Law have become a dime a dozen these days. Then they thought what if the main counsel was in fact an actor who plays a lawyer who decides to become a real lawyer. The weakest link is Dean's brother Stewart who is portrayed as such an inept and goofy lawyer I never bought he was good enough to attract clients. I understand the idea is the real-life lawyer brother needs the help of his charismatic brother-turned-television-star to help him out, but he's almost too mediocre for his own good. Lowe's acting also comes off just a bit too idealized. No, he doesn't really know anything about the law but having played a character he knows much more having been in a virtual law school on television. Overall not bad but it doesn't quite take itself seriously enough and therefore it comes off as closer to farce.

Grinder is a show about a fictional show of the same name starring Rob Lowe as a star lawyer. After the show's end he moves in with his family and jams himself in the family law firm. The basic plot is a bit far-fetched but the writers are doing fair job not letting it slip too far from reality. Everything stands or falls with Rob Lowe (and partially Fred Savage) and his amazingly pathetic way of dramatizing everything. It feels like a TV character living amongst normal people leaving them baffled and confused after each interaction. That I do like. The rest of the cast is so so, I don't like the kids too much but I never do so I can't judge that I guess :-) There is still plenty of room for improvement. There isn't much going on professionally and the show focuses more on the family which I don't see as a good direction. I also demand more screen time and better writing for Steve Little, who was mesmerizing on Eastbound.