Why Aren't You Watching: Trophy Wife

Although typically a comedy requires several episodes before it can establish the most effective dynamic for its characters and storylines (like with the just-not-quite-there-yet Brooklyn Nine-Nine), occasionally a sitcom will come along that is fully realized that right away in the pilot you know what the show can and will be (think Modern Family). While ABC's new comedy Trophy Wife (currently airing Tuesdays at 930p, even though it should really be on after Modern Family on Wednesdays) isn't quite on the same level as that hit show, it does set up its own modern family dynamic exceptionally well right from the onset (despite recasting the stepdaughter after the pilot, which was actually a marked improvement). Similar to the riotous Cougar Town, Trophy Wife is another victim of a poor name choice (and ABC's non-existent marketing efforts), as a more accurate title could just be Third Wife, or perhaps even better, Instant Family.

The series centers on Malin Akerman's Kate, the third wife of lawyer Pete Harrison (the always enjoyable Bradley Whitford), picking up one year after the two first met and fell in love (after she injured him at bar). However, Kate soon found out that marrying Pete meant inheriting three children and two eccentric ex-wives. Pete's first ex-wife, Diane (played with calm precision by Marcia Gay Harden), is a controlling and intimidating surgeon who uses her strong personality to get what she wants from Pete and Kate. Diane also exerts near-perfect control over her teenage children, the overachieving Hillary (Bailee Madison) who looks down on Kate, constantly rebuffing her attempted friendship, and the simple-but-enthusiastic Warren (Ryan Lee) who seems to lack any self-consciousness and just loves hanging out with his family. An early episode even sees Diane employing ridiculous psychological tactics to punish her children for secretly spilling salsa on her pristine white couch, making them increasingly uncomfortable and paranoid as she encourages them to join her dance to salsa music (and a later episode reveals that she created a fictional teenage girl to spy on them through social media). After divorcing Diane, Pete went in the complete opposite direction and married the free-spirited Jackie (the always hilariously cooky Michaela Watkins). With Jackie, Pete adopted Bert (Albert Tsai), a delightfully hyperactive and wide-eyed eight year-old whose innocent curiosity results in wonderfully ridiculous situations like fearing for the security of his uterus. The cast is rounded out by Kate's BFF and former party partner Meg (Natalie Morales) who, aside from one episode, has been been more of a supporting character thus far as the series focuses on the central family first.

Like Modern Family, a large part of what makes Trophy Wife work so well is the great chemistry among the cast, as Kate and Pete's relationship is shown early on to be about much more than just her looks. This probably thanks to series creator Sarah Haskins (creator of the hilariously spot-on Target Women segments found online) who based the show on her own experience of marrying into a complicated family. Kate is the perfect balance between his polar-opposite ex-wives and the two of them also function like the best friends every couple strives for. Despite the stressfulness of their complicated family dynamic, the two of them find ample opportunity to share laughs, even though its the rest of the family that are the true characters. So if you're a fan of Modern Family, skip the uneven Super Fun Night and instead pair it with Trophy Wife, you'll be glad you did.