Non-traditional family leads Ryan Murphy’s comedic plot 
Ryan Murphy is taking over television.
The “Glee” creator, who also writes and directs FX’s miniseries “American Horror Story,” is the man behind “The New Normal,” NBC’s new comedy about a gay couple trying to have a baby and a woman trying to make a better life for her daughter while going after her dreams.
The show’s pilot dominated the network this week; it premiered after “The Voice” on Monday and its second episode aired in its regularly scheduled 9:30 p.m. Tuesday time slot. But the comedy was definitely worthy of a multi-night premiere.
The sitcom stars Justin Bartha (Doug in “The Hangover” and “The Hangover Part II”) and Andrew Rannells (best known for his Tony-nominated turn as Elder Price in Broadway’s “The Book of Mormon” and as Elijah on HBO’s “Girls”) as David and Bryan, a gay couple in a long-term relationship looking to start a family.
Georgia King plays Goldie, a young mother who chooses to act as a surrogate mother for David and Bryan to earn money to follow her dream of going to law school.
The show’s plot is a believable one and it’s proof that network television can keep up with modern times. While the subject matter may be a bit controversial (an NBC station in Utah announced plans to boycott the show earlier this month), it’s nice to see a nontraditional family on prime time. “The New Normal” has done a good job of showing the ups and downs of being different and will likely continue to show the struggles David, Bryan and Goldie face as they come together to start a new kind of family.
The casting of the show is pitch perfect. The chemistry between Bartha and Rannells is undeniable and it’s hard not to smile at the two actors’ romantic banter and loving gestures. A flashback to the night David and Bryan first meet is particularly adorable. King brings a fresh spirit to Goldie and makes her into a character audiences will want to root for.
The show is truly an ensemble piece, though, as the supporting cast doesn’t fade into the background on “The New Normal.” Ellen Barkin brings biting wit and the evil nature of Disney’s best female villains (think Cruella De Vil or Maleficent) as Goldie’s conservative grandmother who does everything in her power to stop her granddaughter from helping David and Bryan. “The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s” NeNe Leakes shines as Rocky, Ryan’s sassy fashion-addicted assistant who is always in need of a raise. Relative newcomer Bebe Wood is a marvel as Goldie’s daughter Shania, a misfit who just wants to make friends and make her mother’s dreams come true.
With Murphy at the helm, it’s hard not make comparisons to “Glee.” Before “The New Normal” premiered, critics and bloggers were saying that David and Bryan seemed like a grown-up version of “Glee’s” Kurt and Blaine. Like “Glee,” “The New Normal” stays on top of pop culture, with references to Lance Bass and “Grey Gardens.” The show’s realistic depiction of a homosexual couple mirrors the relationships seen in the halls of “Glee’s” fictional William McKinley high school, too, but so far, none of the characters have burst into song. Rannells did get his big break on Broadway, though, so maybe a song and dance number is in the cards?
“The New Normal” is a breath of fresh air for network television, a nice break from cop dramas, workplace comedies and reality television. Let’s hope Murphy continues to give his characters genuine material to work with and that it ends with a “happily ever after.”