TELEVISION SHOWS: Jack and Bobby

(Previously on air in: 2004-2005)

Starring: Christine Lahti, Matt Long, Logan Lerman, Jessica Pare and John Slattery

It's 2005, Jack (Long) and Bobby (Lerman) McCallister are gearing for their new year in high school. Jack's a track star and Bobby's an eager eighth grader trying to gain members for space club. In the McCallister household it about pushing yourself - or in Grace McCallister's (Lahti) case, it's about being better than the rest. Although she can keep her own house old in order (most of the time), work is a whole different story.

As an democratic activist and a feminist, Grace likes to express her mind in a very vocal manner - especially when it comes to changes in her previously perfect work space. When Peter Benedict (Slattery) and his family move into town to take the President role in the university, Grace is hysteric. His changes are absolutely "unethical", in other words, "He's a money grabbing whore."

Though the Benedicts' presence at the university is not welcomed by the great Grace McCallister, her son Jack has other plans. The aim was simple: talk to her. Courtney Benedict (Pare) was a block of ice before Jack made his move (with unwanted help from Bobby). But things stay on "friendship mode" until Courtney finds her feet in her new town and her new companionship, much like Bobby's experience with high school.

Bobby finds that ending middle school and entering high school is not an easy transition. You have to go through so many initiations where the ultimate goal is to become "cool". Meaning: smoking, holding awesome parties and getting a girlfriend - that's a lot of pressure for a fourteen year old.

But this show is not only about high school and mum's bad day/s at work. Jack and Bobby is the story behind modern day (i.e. 2041) President Robert McCallister - 36 years after these experiences.

***

This is a really good show. And no I don't mean that because it has Bradley Cooper in it (although I will admit that it is an added bonus). No, it's a great show because it combines politics with reality. What I mean is, it's a great balance of "mock-documentary" and classic television dramas - but it is of course a drama series. I tip my hat off to the screen writers, Steven A. Cohen, Erik Oleson, Barbie Kligman, Brad Meltzer, Greg Berlanti and Vanessa Taylor. I also clap my hands in order the give to the directors, David Petrarca, Perry Lang, Michael Schultz, Peter Markle and David Nutter, a standing ovation. Without these people Jack and Bobby would not have brilliantly displyed the delicate balance between past, present and future.

In terms of casting, Liz Dean did an incredible job. Christine Lahti does is a a brilliant job playing a marijuana addicted University professor, with a lie that hovers over her home. Lahti brings that intellectual bite into her character, but beautifully "tones-down" her character with a mother's touch. Her performance showed the hardship of what it means to be a single mother and a successful woman as well. John Slattery supports Lahti in his counter role of a successful single father of two girls. Dealing with the death of his wife, Peter buries his feelings along with his wife. Slattery understands his character well as he portrays Peter as a confident President on the outside, but a tortured widow on the inside. Jessica Pare is the beautiful ice-queen, Courtney. Pare plays against her male counter part, Matt Long, brilliantly in her display of both iciness and later, a thawed loving heart. She encapsulated the difficulty of being a teenager and a mother-sister persona well through her beautiful balance of maturity and "child-likeness".

But the show hangs on the success of those who play Jack and Bobby.

Matt Long's scree presence displays a clear understanding of his character. Jack is a popular jock who is beloved by his friends, but at home his a brother as well as a father-figure. Long gives Jack an enigmatic quality that allows viewers to identify with and empathise with Jack. One particular feature that Long has is the ability to speak with his facial expressions rather with the dialogue written. In saying that though, he's not afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to heated moments between Grace and Jack, almost to the point where you forget that he's the child and she's the adult. Kudos to Mr. Long, he really knows how to deliver a believable performance.

Logan Lerman on the other hand beautifully plays out the awkwardness of 14-year-old Bobby. Bobby is Grace's crowning glory, groomed to be different and to be the best intellectually, he is that easily manipulated child that needs to get out of mum's arms and into reality. Lerman perfectly adds mannerisms, such as occasional stuttering and an over-the-top grin to Bobby. I love it when Jack says, "You get too excited about things," because it completely describes Lerman's portrayal of Bobby. Lerman is not afraid to add that flavour of annoyance into the scene or innocence either. Since he was only 13 when he shot these series, Lerman understood Bobby's struggles at school, but even he, like Long, wasn't afraid to push it when it came to heated moments with whomsoever. My applause to Mr. Lerman for creating a lovable and resonating character.

Overall, it was an excellent television series that gripped the heart and added a great outlook on the initial journey of a man who goes from the ordinary to the Presidency.

Token Line: "'Cause you're my littler brother. No matter how big you get, you'll always be smaller than me."

sL Star Rating: 5 Stars

Next on sL: Black Swan: A Warning