Last night was the 2-episode series premiere of the new ABC single-camera comedy, Uncle Buck (based on the 1989 John Candy film). The lead character, Buck Russell, is played by Mike Epps (Next Friday, Survivor's Remorse). The pilot begins with Buck being jobless and living with his fiance Jackie King (Regina Hall), but by the end of the episode Jackie dumps Buck and leaves him both jobless and homeless. Luckily, he had been reluctantly enlisted by his sister-in-law, Cindy Russell (Nia Long), and not-so-relunctant brother, Will Russell (James Lesure) to babysit their three kids Tia Russell (Iman Benson), Miles Russell (Sayeed Sahini, baby brother to Yara Sahidi from Black-ish), and Maizy Russell (Aalyrah Caldwell), after the younger two scared off the new nanny. Despite dragging the kids with him to the bar after realizing they cannot be trusted alone, and losing the oldest who snuck off to a party, Uncle Buck seemed to have a positive impact on the kids. Noticing the change, Cindy has a change of heart and offers to move forward with the kids' suggestion of letting Uncle Buck move-in to be their "manny."
While I celebrate gaining another Black family on network tv, I have to be honest...there weren't a lot of LOL moments. The laughs just weren't there, and unfortunately, after watching the show I learned critics have been saying the same thing. I am more intrigued by the core family, than Uncle Buck, and would be somewhat interested in watching them navigate their new lives in Chicago after moving from Atlanta. How will the somewhat nerdy high-school daughter adjust to her new city and high school? In the first episode she's already getting grounded for tutoring the popular guy in her bedroom and letting him talk her into sending him a topless pic, sneaking out with him to his party, and going up to the room with him at the party. But then she's able to defend herself against his advances, and according to her more importantly against him calling her "nerd." How will Cindy deal with the pressures of having little time for her children and husband because of her work and any potential guilt of being the reason they moved to Chicago? But without Uncle Buck added to the mix, it's pretty much a not-so-funny version of Black-ish.
I'll continue to support with the hope that the show will improve over the next few episodes. I love Nia Long and have enjoyed James Lesure in Men at Work (that show was hilarious!), For Your Love, and even as Kalvin Kani on Martin (LOL). I liked the concept better as a 1989 movie, but I'm open to the show changing my mind.