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# ‘Back to You’ appeals to the over-30 crowd
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/back-to-you-appeals-to-the-over-30-crowd/
- Published: 2007-11-09T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T01:14:46.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Montana, #archive-import

*By BYJACKNEWORTH CHANNELSURFING*

During the radical 1960s there was an expression in the youth culture, “Don’t trust anyone over 30,” coined by longhaired Anti- Vietnam war activist Jerry Rubin. (Not to be confused with no-haired Jerry Rubin, the Santa Monica Treesavers activist). But when Rubin the hippie hit 30 he suddenly changed his politics and became an entrepreneur. (An early investor in Apple Computer!) I mention this having just viewed the pilot for Fox’s new sitcom, “Back to You” which has comedy talent whose work dates back to the ‘60s. “Back to You” is predictable and middle-of-the-road, but it’s also very funny. Especially if you’re over 30.

“Back” is an old fashioned sit-com, which makes sense given the players. Actually it’s heartening that, in this youth culture, old pros are still playing the game. (I hope the ratings prove me out, and I also hope it’s a harbinger of a trend away from reality TV.) The executive producers, Steve Levitan, Christopher Lloyd and James Burrows, have credits that would fill this entire column, ranging from “Mary Tyler Moore” to “Taxi” to “The Larry Sanders Show.” The stars, Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, are also veterans of classic sitcoms including “Cheers,” “Frasier,” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.” That’s some pedigree. The two work so well together they make up for some of the show’s deficiencies.

The story takes place in a newsroom in Pittsburgh, WURG- TV News 9\. I like the locale because I’m bored with L.A.- or New York-based shows. (Many are filmed in Burbank anyway.) Grammer plays Chuck Darling, an egocentric, preening news anchor who climbed the market ladder from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles by way of Denver, Minneapolis and Dallas. His career came to a crashing halt when his obscenity-laced tirade he thought was off the air, wasn’t, and wound up on YouTube. (His “Macaca moment?”) Out of work, Chuck winds up back at his old anchor job at WURG, although he’s not exactly welcomed with open arms. He’s reunited with co-anchor Kelly Carr (Heaton), with whom he had a onetime fling. When the two catch up, Carr informs Darling that she’s a single mom with an eight-year old daughter named Gracie. Only later do we (and he) find out that Gracie is 10 and he’s the father!

The other characters are also well cast. Fred Willard (who always kills me) is Marsh McGinley the friendly, politically incorrect sports anchor. Gary Crezyzewski (Ty Burrell) is the field reporter who dreams of being an anchor but always gets the loser assignments. (A police taser demonstration from which he’s still shaking hours later.) Ryan Church (Josh Gad) is the overweight, but affable 26-year-old news director who is smitten with Montana Diaz-Herrera (Ayda Field) the sexy Latina weatherwoman. Montana exaggerates both her ethnicity (trilling her r’s) and her cleavage as she continually flirts with men in power.

Gracie is bright and delightful as played by Laura Marano whom I recognized from the “Sarah Silverman Program” where she played Sarah’s adopted daughter, if only for a day. It one episode it was also fun seeing Bill Macy (Arthur on “Maude”1972-1978) in a guest appearance as a geriatric intern. In his eighties, Macy looks great and hasn’t lost his comic touch.

At moments Grammer’s easy style suggests he could be our generation’s Jack Benny. While the material may not be groundbreak-ing, his and Heaton’s chemistry and timing are impeccable, indicative of good direction. (James Burrows.) So, is “Back to You” worth watching? I definitely think so but keep in mind, I’ve been over 30 for quite a while. “Back to You” airs again on Fox next Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Due to the writer’s strike, remaining episodes are in doubt.

JACK NEWORTH also writes “Laughing Matters” which appears every Friday. He

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/110907-23_01.jpg)

THIS JUST IN: (From left) Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton and Fred Willard star in ‘Back to You.’ The cast makes up for some of the show’s shortcomings. (Photo: Photo courtesy Fox)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 9, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/110907.pdf?ref=smdp.com)