In September 2012, ‘The Neighbors’ premiered like many other new shows as the official TV season begins. It was originally on ABC’s ‘Comedy Wednesday’, which contains hit shows like The Middle and Modern Family. But this new show was very different from the others. The Neighbors storyline is about a family who moves into a gated community in suburban New Jersey, a place we all know very well. But instead of being a community full of wealthy and successful snobs, a pack of extraterrestrial beings live within the gates. Sounds a little outrageous and corny for a show on such an acclaimed network right? Well, that’s what most critics originally said.
The series premiere was very strange and confusing, sending people’s thoughts and opinions in many different directions. Every alien in “The Neighborhood” has a name combining famous people in sports, like “Larry Bird” and “Dick Butkus.” The aliens are usually in human form, but can change back to their natural bodies by clapping their hands above their heads. They don’t eat either, using their kitchen as a library. I think that this was a very misleading series premiere, and should have been a bit calmer and more organized. The Huffington Post called it “An Abomination” along with countless other reporters. But what began to change these critics’ minds?
As the season went on, I found the show beginning to charm me. The ‘humans’ of the neighborhood, including actors like Lenny Venito and Jami Gertz, had to begin helping their alien friends live on Earth. They taught them about how school works, about holidays like Halloween and Christmas, and also how to dress like a proper human. With the humans’ perspective on things and the alien’s witty remarks, I found the show to be extremely funny, and it apparently it wasn’t just me. By the end of the first season, the show had earned an Emmy nomination! It seemed as though we shouldn’t judge a TV show off its first few episodes.
Overall, I think The Neighbors is a good show that can be relatable for all types of people, kids, teenagers, even families. I think that people were just shocked at how different the show was compared to other comedies on the network, but in the end I think it turned out to be a good thing. People seem to enjoy something different rather than your average primetime sitcom. The Neighbors is on ABC every Friday night at 8:30 PM, give it a chance and it will probably be your new favorite show.
