"Back to You"
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back (2008)

Director:

James Burrows

Writers:

Christopher Lloyd (creator) &
Steven Levitan (creator) ...

TV Series:

"Back to You" (2007)

Original Air Date:

30 April 2008 (Season 1, Episode 12)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Kelly's revelation to Gracie that Chuck is her father makes things uncomfortable for all three, and the night of Gracie's conception is detailed. |

Plot Keywords:

News Anchor | Pittsburgh Pennsylvania | Sitcom | Television News

Cast

Kelsey Grammer	...	Chuck Darling
Patricia Heaton	...	Kelly Carr
Josh Gad	...	Ryan Church
Lily Jackson	...	Gracie Carr
Ty Burrell	...	Gary Crezyzewski
Fred Willard	...	Marsh McGinley
Ian Reed Kesler	...	Dennis

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back is an accurate episode description of this "Back to You" one

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Gracie has found out from mom Kelly that Chuck is her father with him in her presence and she's not too happy about it. This leads to many disastrous attempts by Chuck to assure her of his devotion to her such as when he accidentally breaks a doll's head that was a gift from her grandma in France. We also flash back to New Year's Eve 1997, when Kelly and Chuck attempt a tryst in Kelly's home after the party ends but not without Gary popping in for some advice about a potential girlfriend who eventually becomes his wife. Back at Present Day, Ryan comes with a friend to pick up something but the friend keeps saying inappropriate things to Kelly making Ryan admonishing him to no avail. Just when it seems Gracie won't warm to Chuck and he has given up hope, he gets her a puppy that cheers her up while Kelly embraces him and reluctantly warms up to the pet herself especially after he scares Ryan's friend away...With this episode, things get a little predictable with the back and forth of emotions between Gracie, Chuck, and Kelly and threatens to turn maudlin as a result. Also, the attempts at laughs really feels sitcomy during much of this episode with jokes about getting people out of the house during New Year's so the leads can have sex and Ryan's friend being so out there in his openness about his feelings for Kelly. I'm not saying what transpired wasn't funny, just not hilarious or certainly as entertaining as a classic episode of "Frasier" or "Everybody Loves Raymond". This show is at it's most creative when it concentrates on the newsroom and while I don't mind the Gracie stories, I do wish they didn't seem so shopworn. And I definitely wish they didn't change her portrayer from Laura Marano to Lily Jackson. Ms. Jackson isn't so bad, just not as sharp as Ms. Marano. Hope the remaining two eps that air for the season are improvements. Until then...