Behave!

Dear producers of ‘Parenthood’ on NBC:

When I first heard that this movie remake was coming to television — and that Ron Howard was attached — I was pretty excited.  Visions of  ‘Arrested Development’ started swirling in my brain.

Heady stuffy.

Then you guys had a bad break when actress Maura Tierney became ill, and you were forced to re-cast and delay the series to mid-season.  Now you are the ‘other family show;’  the brilliant “Modern Family” has already captured the imagination and allegiance of the American audience and the critics.

Admittedly, you have started in a hole.  But now your writers are digging you an even deeper one.

With all the talent you have in place — Lauren Graham, Craig T. Nelson, Peter Krause, Monica Potter and Dax Shepherd —  you are wasting them on tired storylines and family conflict we have seen time and time again.  Sure, a diagnosis of Asperger’s is unique to network television, but your treatment of the issue isn’t.

Your actors are better than this.  And if you loosen the reins a bit, I’ll bet your writers are, too.

Your parents are watching.  Make them proud.