I had an inner battle over admitting this, but I’ve finally decided to come clean: yes, I have been watching ABC Family’s new show, Make It or Break It. The ridicule may now begin.
Ah, the shame of admitting that we enjoy something that seems so unlike us. But, I’m taking a page out of Ivey’s book, who has come clean about his love affair with Gossip Girl (I had to, Ivey!). This is simply something I needed to get off my chest.
The truth, however, is that Greek wasn’t necessarily in my wheelhouse, either. When I first heard about it, it seemed very much like any other teen-sensation show that generally doesn’t appeal to me. Yet, while it certainly is built for a younger crowd (not to say that I’m old), Greek still speaks to something inside of me, and I really love it.
While I’m not prepared to go that far with Make It or Break It at this point, I can say that the show has definite merits. First of all, it co-stars Erik Palladino (as Coach Marty Walsh), a manly man if there ever was one. The guy has been popping up everywhere, lately, and it’s nice to see his talent get some appreciation with a steady gig (although he was noticeably absent in episode three).
While it’s true that the show is like a serialized version of the movie Stick It, that’s not necessarily a bad thing (the jury’s still out on 10 Things I Hate About You). When used properly as a jumping-off point, the stand-alone premise of a movie (note: Make It or Break It is NOT based on Stick It at all) can become a great way to enter the world of an ensemble cast that inhabits the same universe that the movie does. In the case of Make It or Break It, that universe is competitive gymnastics, and its home is The Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Training Center in Colorado, known simply as “the Rock.”
There’s a certain formula that ABC Family seems to be working from in order to craft their shows. I see a lot of similarities between characters on Greek and characters on Make It or Break It; the one that sticks out most clearly is the Frannie/Lauren Tanner (Cassie Scerbo) connection. And Lauren, like Frannie, is an anchor around the neck of the other characters on the show, and not in an interesting way. Unfortunately, her role as the reason for Marty leaving the Rock means that she’s likely not going anywhere anytime soon, and even more so now that she seems to have returned to the gym. But, like with Frannie on the season two finale of Greek, anything can happen.
Besides Lauren, the main cast is filled out by Emily Kmetko (Chelsea Hobbs), Payson Keeler (Ayla Kell), and Kaylie Cruz (Josie Loren). Emily’s the scholarship girl who bumped Lauren out of the top three ranking at the Rock. Payson’s the number one gymnast, dedicated and focused on Nationals, and the Olympics beyond. She reminds me of Julia Stiles in Save the Last Dance.
Kaylie is talented, but she’s also exploring life as an ordinary teenager, trying to jam a boyfriend (Zachary Abel, as Carter Anderson, another gymnast at the Rock) into her already overburdened life, and partying with “normal” kids. Meanwhile, Emily’s caught the eye of both Kaylie’s older brother Leo (Marcus Coloma), as well as her co-worker, Razor (Nico Tortorella). So far, your typical teen fare.
And yet, since the show involves teen athletes, parents play a large role as well, and the adults that make up the cast are just as strong as Palladino is. Emily’s mom, Chloe (Susan Ward), is struggling to fit in, find a job, and manage her wheelchair-bound son (Wyatt Smith as Brian), along with her athletic daughter. She’s an irresponsible dreamer who needs regular lectures from Emily. Payson’s mother, Kim, is the fantastic Peri Gilpin (Frasier), who joins a long list of stars from successful series who are now returning to television. Her husband, Mark, is played by Brett Cullen, of memorable stints on shows like The West Wing, Friday Night Lights, Lost, and Damages.
Lauren’s dad, Steve, is played by Anthony Starke, another bounder who has made some significant stops in his career. His love interest? The all-grown-up Candace Cameron (Bure), who plays Summer, Steve’s assistant and girlfriend. Maybe she’ll end up being a “Tanner” all over again! (Plus, another “Steve” for her? She’s married to a “Valeri” … she can do exotic!) Kaylie’s parents are Ronnie (Rosa Blasi) and Alex (Jason Manuel Olazabal) … the former is having an affair with Marty, the blackmail Steve used to muscle him out of the Rock after Lauren failed to make the top three for Nationals. The latter is trying to seize control of the gym, before its reputation spirals out of control. He seems to be fighting a losing battle, as episode three saw Steve and Lauren return with world-class gymnast and coach, Sasha Beloff (Neil Jackson), in tow. How is the character British, and not Russian? Can the actor not hide his accent?
There’s something pleasant and enjoyable about this show, something that few teen series succeed in providing an adult audience. I think that the second episode had a lot to do with that, exploring the parents behind the teen athlete sensations a lot more than the pilot did. What’s lacking is a male population, but I have a feeling that, other than as love interests and fathers or coaches, that’s not likely to change. The few guys we have seen at the Rock (besides Carter) have had little to do, and even less to say. Which is just as well, because as uninterested as I am in women’s gymnastics, I feel even less enthusiasm for men’s.
I think a strong balance of parents, and the athletics and politics of gymnastics, combined with the girls’ personal lives, can keep Make It or Break It from veering too far into adolescent girl territory. I hope that ABC Family understands the importance of this, because, on the whole, they need to broaden their demographics. Episode three left me a bit uncertain of their intent.
But, all in all, not a bad filler between seasons of Greek. A couple of things could use a fine-tune, but nothing stands out right now screaming danger. Will it stay that way? We shall see. Hopefully the answer is yes, in which case, the show will make it. If not?
Yup, you guessed it … it’ll break it!
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jul 09, 2009 @ 13:00 EST5EDT
You’re not alone … I am enjoying it, too.
*POST AUTHOR*
Thank God! I thought this was going to hit like a tree falling in a forest. :-)
I finally watched the pilot for this show, then spoiled myself a bit because I didn’t realize this post covered the first few episodes until it was too late. Whoops.
There’s just something aggravating about most ABC Family shows I’ve watched that makes me prefer even Disney Channel programming. I’ve seen a few episodes of Greek from various seasons, as well as the first two season recap specials, and strongly disliked it, even with Clark Duke. Frankly, I’ve been bewildered why you write about it so often. But I enjoyed Stick It, so gave this a shot.
I was worried that this would be all about boyfriend and family melodrama, but was pleasantly surprised by how they dialed it down a notch and focused on the competitors themselves. I was not expecting the switchup at the end of the pilot, and the gym in peril storyline has me hooked for at least half this season.
I agree with pretty much everything you’ve written here. The only thing I can’t get over so far is the thinness of Hobbs’s arms. The other three actresses I can buy as National gymnasts, but every time they switch to Emily’s stunt double, she’s noticeably more muscular, especially in the arms, and I’m thrown out of the scene.
*POST AUTHOR*
“I agree with pretty much everything you’ve written here.”
:-)
Sorry about the “spoilers”. I actually almost didn’t have episode three in there, but I wrote this the day it was airing, so I figured I should hold it, and include anything that might make some of my points moot, or incorrect.
ABC Family stuff is way outside my comfort zone, and “10 Things I Hate About You” hit the nail on the head as to what I generally dislike about their series. But, there’s just something different about Greek that I’m just really enjoying. As in many cases, I think the characters really “Make it or Break it” (nice!), and the male lineup on Greek rocks. I totally can accept most people not liking it (thus, the ratings), but, anyway, it works for me.
“Make it or Break it” definitely took me by surprise as well. It’s exactly as you say: it’s NOT all about the melodrama, which is why it works for me.
I haven’t noticed the arms thing, but will keep an eye out for it this coming week. Enjoy the next few episodes!
Well, Kyle XY season 1 and The Middleman were phenomenal, but the writing really shone on those.
I think of 10 Things I Hate About You as pure satire, in a so bad it’s good type of way. If I took it at all seriously, I’m sure I would hate it, even though I love Larry David and the original movie.
I don’t think it helps that whenever I see Rusty, I’m inescapably reminded of Undeclared and Greek always comes off worse in the comparison.
Actually, I actively noted that Hobbs’s arms were much less distracting after the pilot. Perhaps there was a time gap between pilot and series and the actor worked to build a little more muscle, or it’s the darker coloring they’ve given her (I swear she was fishbelly white in the pilot), but it works for me.