Wow. Got a surprise today – of the pleasant kind. Okay, I figured TNT’s new show, Trust Me, would be at least watchable. However, I did not expect it to be un-raunchy as it was. And Nickelodeon’s new series for pre-schoolers, Olivia, was absolutely delightful.
There’s a reason you don’t see a lot of kid shows reviewed here. That’s because most of them are… Well, this being a family-oriented blog, let’s just say they defy the use of polite language. My beloved husband, The Grinch, would argue that most television falls into the same category – and he does have a point. But even he was charmed by Olivia, premiering today at 11:00 a.m., and running on weekdays.
Olivia, based on the books by Ian Falconer, is about a pig and her family. Very humanoid pigs. They walk around on two legs and talk and basically do all the sorts of things that we do. Which is why I think this show works. Olivia is not only your average 6 and 3/4 year old kid, she acts like it. She’s sweet and curious and sometimes acts like a brat. She’s not so bratty you can’t stand her, but thank heavens, she’s not so perfect you want to barf, either. And they do some really fun visual gags at the beginning and end of the episodes. We also really liked the early jazz-style soundtrack. It’s one of the very few shows that you can watch with your pre-schooler and enjoy yourself.
Trust Me, airing tonight at 10 p.m., stars Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanagh as two advertising executives and friends who find their relationship challenged when one of them gets promoted over the other. It’s not the most family-friendly show in terms of the story. But, aside from a few language issues, it is relatively family-safe. I suspect sex will rear its head from time to time, but given the pilot, it was remarkably restrained in that department. It’s also nicely written with some genuine wit, not to mention excellent performances across the board. 
Because it’s about the world of advertising, it might be tempting to compare it to AMC’s uber-hot Mad Men, about advertising executives in the early 1960s. Besides being set in the modern world, Trust Me is also a lot lighter than the dark, brooding Mad Men. And, frankly, Mad Men is uncomfortable for me to watch. Yes, I know that sexism and racism were all but considered normal in the 1960s, but sometimes I get the feeling that the show plays into it, getting away with it because that’s true to the time. Trust Me has no such issues – at least not yet. With Monica Potter as the hot shot copywriter Sarah, those issues might arise. Then again, they might not.
Anne Louise Bannon
Your Family Viewer
