Country Comfort features a very talented cast and an interesting concept that includes frequent musical performances - currently a popular theme in many shows, from Glee to Zoey's Incredible Playlist.
The problem is that it goes all out for schlock and schmaltz rather than trying to have any edge or layers of humour. It's syrup.
Compared to The Nanny, ostensibly a similar concept, it falls flat. (Ditzy glamorous brunette non-qualified nanny. Hot widower. Blonde Other Woman. Houseful of cute kids including precocious youngest girl. Etc). Many reviewers have described Country Comfort as "heartwarming" - but so is the Nanny. But The Nanny has Niles - a figure that Country Comfort desperately needs to save it from drowning in glurge.
There are also some particularly painful elements. The son lusting over the nanny is initially awkward, ultimately creepy. The guest star appearance by Leanne Rimes (Cibrian's real life wife - they even make an in-joke about this) is cringemaking. Not so much Rimes' performance but all the "Leann freaking Rimes" adulation leading up to it. The religiosity of the second episode is also execrable. I found myself wondering if I was watching Touched By An Angel at times.
Ultimately it does a disservice to Southern American folk, who are surely more intelligent, edgy, interesting and multifaceted than this.
The problem is that it goes all out for schlock and schmaltz rather than trying to have any edge or layers of humour. It's syrup.
Compared to The Nanny, ostensibly a similar concept, it falls flat. (Ditzy glamorous brunette non-qualified nanny. Hot widower. Blonde Other Woman. Houseful of cute kids including precocious youngest girl. Etc). Many reviewers have described Country Comfort as "heartwarming" - but so is the Nanny. But The Nanny has Niles - a figure that Country Comfort desperately needs to save it from drowning in glurge.
There are also some particularly painful elements. The son lusting over the nanny is initially awkward, ultimately creepy. The guest star appearance by Leanne Rimes (Cibrian's real life wife - they even make an in-joke about this) is cringemaking. Not so much Rimes' performance but all the "Leann freaking Rimes" adulation leading up to it. The religiosity of the second episode is also execrable. I found myself wondering if I was watching Touched By An Angel at times.
Ultimately it does a disservice to Southern American folk, who are surely more intelligent, edgy, interesting and multifaceted than this.