ABC Tuesdays @ 9:30pm ET
They say the third time's the charm, and reformed party girl Kate is hoping that's true when she becomes the third wife of a slightly older man, Pete. They fell into each others' arms (literally) at a karaoke bar; just a year later, Kate has found herself with an instafamily complete with three stepchildren and two ex-wives. But Kate is determined to make this work and become a part of the family no matter what.
"Trophy Wife" boasts one of the strongest ensemble casts of the season...and then saddles them with an occasionally-funny story about a beautiful young woman's efforts to be the perfect wife and mother to a twice-divorced older man and his unruly stepchildren. It's not the most original idea for a show, but the pilot is thankfully not without its charms, due mostly to the admirable efforts of star Malin Akerman.
Akerman ("Watchmen") is Kate, who is instantly labeled a "trophy wife" merely by being young, blonde, beautiful, and married to an older man -- but she's actually smart and earnest and wants to be a good mom. Her life is made even more complicated by her husband's two ex-wives. This situation could be the foundation for a string of mean-spirited, lowest-common-denominator jokes, but the writing and Akerman's portrayal are both deft enough to avoid that trap. Instead, "Trophy Wife" is a surprisingly sweet, sincere show.
Beyond being drop-dead gorgeous, Akerman also gets to show off some great comedic timing. She's surprisingly good at physical comedy, especially in a scene involving a water bottle filled with vodka. Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing") plays her new husband Pete -- a typical middle aged, slightly-schlubby lawyer who doesn't marry Kate just for her looks, but due to a genuine connection. Both of his first two marriages were unmitigated disasters. First, he went with ball-busting Type-A surgeon Diane, portrayed with dry wit by the superb Marcia Gay Harden (most recently of "The Newsroom"). Harden's serious face and dry deliveries are the perfect counterpoint to Akerman's puppy dog cuteness. A scene between these two ladies at a school conference is among the pilot's best. For his second wife, Peter went in the exact opposite direction, marrying eccentric New-Age-y Jackie (Michaela Watkins, "Enlightened"). She's an unpredictable wild card and a constant thorn in Peter's side. So for Peter, smart and down-to-earth Kate is a welcome middle road and seemingly perfect match.
Add in three kids and a best friend for Kate (played by Natalie Morales of "Parks And Recreation" and "The Newsroom"), plots about crushes and Model UNs and gerbils and vodka, and you've got an overstuffed 22 minutes. The entire pilot proceeds at a hectic pace that does the show no favors. There's also the danger that Kate is the least eccentric and therefore inherently the least interesting of the show's ladies. But as long as the writers can continue to make Kate a unique, compelling character and slow down the pace, "Trophy Wife" could become a fun, breezy way to pass a half hour every Tuesday night.
What did you think of "Trophy Wife"? Are you already married to it? Or are you divorcing it from your DVR? Share your opinions @StageBuddy!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChWtLDLFSuo[/youtube]
