Grounded for Life - Season One
Grounded for Life was the indie film version of the family sitcom. Donal Logue, Kevin Corrigan, and Richard Riehle had all done time in plenty of independent productions before making the move to network TV. Sean Finnerty (Logue, The Tao of Steve) is a subway worker and wife Claudia (Megyn Price, Lateline) is a restaurant hostess. Their favorite band is the Ramones. The Staten Island-based couple started having children just out of high school (they?re both 32). They aren't bad parents, but they're still just kids themselves. Aside from 14-year-old Lily (Lynsey Bartilson) and grade schoolers Jimmy (Griffin Frazen) and Henry (Jake Burbage), the Finnertys are joined by Sean's slacker brother, Eddie (Corrigan, Walking and Talking), and old school dad, Walt (Riehle, Office Space). Recurring characters include Brad O'Keefe (Bret Harrison), the boy next door (who harbors a not-so-secret crush on Lily), and Sister Helen (Miriam Flynn), St. Finian's take-no-prisoners principal. Standout episodes include "Jimmy Was Kung Fu Fighting" in which Jimmy makes like a pint-sized Jet Li--in his dreams (Grounded for Life makes frequent use of flashbacks and fantasy sequences)--and the Emmy-nominated "Mrs. Finnerty, You've Got a Lovely Daughter," in which Sean attempts to bribe Sister Helen on Lily's behalf. First year guests include The O.C.'s Adam Brody ("Action Mountain High") and That '70s Show's Danny Masterson ("Baby, You Can't Drive My Car"). Grounded for Life, which began life on Fox before moving to the WB, was created by 3rd Rock veterans Bill Martin and Mike Schiff, featured music by Ween, and was renewed for four more seasons. Fun fact: Every one of the 91 episodes, including the 20 on this collection, is named after a pop song ("In My Room," Devil's Haircut," "Dream On," etc.). --Kathleen C. Fennessy
