Sicilian Culture: The News & Views: "That's Life" Involves Evolvement UPDATED

Sicilian Culture

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The News & Views
CBS-TV 'That's Life'
"That's Life" 10/26 Episode moved up a couple notches to # 66 in the Nielsons, last week and drew 7.6 Million Viewers.
Competition "Dateline" slipped to #41, and "Reba" was still weak at # 93.
"Ellen" at # 81, and "The King of Queens at # 69" are the lead ins, and "48 Hours," the follow on only registered at #65.
Interesting enough, it seems like Friday Nite is a tough TV Nite, because the "King of Queens" rates a # 19 on Monday, even against Monday Nite Football, but could only garner a #69 on Friday Nite.
"Thats Life" clocked in at # 71 in last week's Nielsons with 6.77 Million viewers.
It was up against a STRONG "Dateline" ( NBC) that registered # 26 with 13 Million viewers, but beat out "Thieves" (ABC) at # 73.
"That's Life" had a weak "lead in" with the "Ellen Show" at # 77, and will have even a weaker lead in this week with the " Ellen Show", and "Danny".
"Thats Life" has a very moderate "followon" with "48 Hours" at # 55, whereas "Law and Order; Special Victims Unit" (NBC) followon to "Dateline" registered in at a very impressive # 11.
Therefore, NBC with "Providence" at 8 PM at # 27, "Dateline" at 9 PM at # 26, and "Special Victims Unit" at 10 PM at # 11 is VERY FORMIDABLE Opposition.
ABC is Limping along with "Mole II" at 8 PM at # 81, "Thieves" at 9 PM at # 73, and "Once and Again" at 10 PM at # 87.

For those who were unfortunately missed the first three Episodes:
Ist Episode: Lydia (Heather Paige Kent) thinks Paulie (Kevin Dillon) has become a dirty cop after he produces enough money to help Frank (Paul Sorvino), his dad, buy Joe's ( Joe Campenella) Luncheonette. Turns out that Paulie's again is a hero, and was working "Under Cover".
2nd Episode: Victor (the Pyscology Professor) "rides up on a white horse" to gallantly profess his love for Lydia's sassy friend, Jackie (Deddie Mazur) [who became pregnant], and Victor is killed when the horse bolts.Lydia, now in her sophomore year in college, switches from Psycology to Sports Medicine, which combines her two favorite things:"sports and interfering in people's lives."
3rd Episode: Paulie and Plum (Danielle Harris) secretly "elope", but later gets Lydia's Mom's, Dolly (Ellen Burstyn) Blessing, but have to keep up the pretense for an upcoming "real" wedding. Lydia, at her new job at a Sports Clinic, exposes the dangerous over medicating of "jocks" then cleverly saves" her Mentor's (TitusWelliver) ["Falcone," "Brooklyn South"] job from the vengeful unethical medical aide.
Tonite:Dolly runs for City Council, and Lydia helps a dancer who has a severe heart condition.
===============================
As most of you know, Diane Ruggiero, creator, went from writing at night while waiting tables in New Jersey to landing a series on the network's prime-time schedule.
But unlike some series set in the Garden State, "That's Life" viewers will never see a mafia storyline, Ruggiero said, for a simple reason: "My father would kill me."
Last year CBS introduced the drama series "That's Life" with the fairy tale story of how its creator, Diane Ruggiero, went from writing at night while waiting tables at the Park & Orchard Restaurant in East Rutherford, N.J. to landing a series on the network's prime-time schedule.
"That's Life" premiered last fall to decent ratings, but then viewers began to tune out, feeling that though Ruggiero created an interesting family of characters, but the stories she was telling were too much alike from week to week.
So midway through last season "Thats Life"got a new executive producer: Lynn Marie Latham, who created "Homefront" with her husband, Bernard Lechowick, also spent several years on "Knots Landing".
Set in Ruggiero's native New Jersey, "That's Life" tells the stories of the De Lucca family from the point of view of thirtysomething daughter Lydia. The initial idea for the show was based on Ruggiero's own experiences.
Ruggiero praised Latham's instruction and attributes the show's surprising renewal to her efforts and the confidence CBS has in her abilities. "If Lynn wasn't on the show, we wouldn't be back on," Ruggiero said.
But she also acknowledges "That's Life" is no longer the series she set out to create. "That show ended at episode 11. It's a different show. This is what CBS wanted. It's getting better ratings. It tested better than the pilot did.
"If I wanted to go back to waitressing and live in my parents' basement, I could complain about it and tell them, `No, you're wrong, that's not my vision' and be an idiot, or defer to Lynn who Diane considers brilliant.
She's doing exactly what CBS wants her to and I think she's done it with a lot of compassion and heart and respect. She's just aces in my book."
Ruggiero said Latham is an expert at outlining and story structure. "I'm like the paprika," Ruggiero said. "I'll come in with the New Jersey perspective."
If she had her druthers, Ruggiero said she'd still be making "That's Life" her way, but she acknowledged, "That's not what other people wanted. It would be self-righteous to think what I want is the best way ... It still has the heart, it still has the characters, but I guess it had to be more mainstream."
Incidentally, NIAF NEWS... in mid-august had a feature article on Diane Ruggiero, the creator of "THAT'S LIFE".
====================================
"That's Life" is a show with an Italian flavor, that many of us can identify with, and it is NOT filled with mafioso, brutes, & buffoons, and will NOT project a Negative I-A Stereotype, but Likeable, Lovable, Italian Americans, and therefore a Positive.
(1) The Father is not a dominant, fiery tempered brute, but a very likable, loving,
level headed, strong but gentle, and even admirable character, who completely emotionally supports his family, EVEN his daughter's choice Not to get married to her long time boyfriend, and GO BACK TO SCHOOL, in spite of his preferences otherwise.
(2) The Daughter is likeable, loving, bright, and wanting to "spread her intellectual wings", but frequently "conflicted" by whether she made the right choice.
(3) The Mother is a little more shrill than I would like, and often "harps" on her daughter to get married instead of going to school (so she could have grandkids), and is not as loving and affectionate toward her husband, as he is toward her.
(4) The brother is no great intellect, but he is a Cop, and was a life saving hero in one episode. He treats his dates, and current girlfriend in only a loving and thoughtful fashion.
(5) The boyfriend is not a "sorehead", because of being rejected after 7 year relationship, but is "confused, by Lydia's goals. He owns his own small business, and still treats Lydia with respect, and concern, and care.
(6) Lydia's best (Italian looking) girl friend while chewing entirely too much gum, owns her own beauty salon, is a GOOD friend, and shows in practically every episode, a very basic common sense, missing in many "bookworms", to the extent that a Psychology professor is enamored of her.
(7) Lydia's other best girl friend (not Italian looking) is very superficial, vain and shallow.
Sure, I would rather have the Italian American equivalent of the I-A "Prince of Belair", with every one being lawyers and doctors, but while this is a middle class family, it is not low class, and its striving, and loving, and close, and supportive, and THERE for each other.
I don't see much you can say negative about the De Luca family.
It's a step in the right direction, and I'll take it over "Friends" with stupid Joey Tribianni.
"Everyone loves Raymond" has very little Italian Flavor (by design according to the Producer). You can easily forget, and think he was of any ethnicity.
My concern is that if we don't support a heavily flavored well done Italian TV series, that the Studio heads will say, "See, the public will accept Italians only as mafioso, or buffoons".

"That's Life" Involves Evolvement
By Mario Laurino, The New York Times
letters@nytimes.com
MIDWAY through the third episode of the new CBS series ''That's Life,'' the story of an Italian-American bartender who shocks (shocks!) her family by breaking off her engagement and enrolling at a local New Jersey college, a friend poses a key question. The college-bound Lydia DeLucca (Heather Paige Kent) regularly gossips with her pals Jackie and Candy at the beauty shop run by Jackie. Amid light banter and serious hair spray, Lydia teases Candy about a yoga class she is taking. Candy, who sells cars for a living, responds, ''Are you the only one who's allowed to evolve?''
'That's Life,'' based on the life of the writer Diane Ruggiero, Lydia DeLucca's reflects her frustrations and class aspirations as she pours hard liquor and announces, '' I want to be self-actualized and I want to know what the hell that means.''
That's Life normally airs Saturdays on CBS at 8 p.m. Eastern Time
(check your local listings from the correct time in other parts of the country.)

THAT'S LIFE'
A life-affirming, one-hour family show that is neither cloying nor idiotic, but actually joyful and funny. ...This is a happy, gentle show - no heavy lifting.
That's Life has more in common with Providence, Once and Again, even Ally McBeal. The karate crowd may be disappointed, but for fans of those shows, That's Life should provide plenty of kicks.
Lydia DeLucca is a bartender whose boyfriend is Louis Buttafucco, whom she has been seeing since the Reagan administration, realizes that she want's a College Education rather than Marriage to a reluctant bridegoom.
Older, working-class gal goes back to school. It's NOT a tired canard used in "Pearl" or "Educating Rita", but immensely fresh and fun, helped by the spunky (and cute) Heather Paige Kent as Lydia
Paul Sorvino as the supportive Dad, and and Ellen Burstyn is the Mom who is more interested in a grandchild than her daughter's happiness Like a rash, Louis sticks around. He has been part of the family for years and years, and just because Lydia doesn't want him anymore, that doesn't mean he isn't good company Sunday afternoons watching the football game with her father and brother.
Debi Mazar, who played Denise Iannello, the queen of Queens, in L.A. Law and Civil Wars, is a good buddy and proprietor of Jackie's Beauteria. Cast members like those are hard to land. They were attracted by the authentic and optimistic world-view of Diane Ruggiero, who a little more than a year ago was waiting tables at the Park & Orchard Restaurant in East Rutherford, N.J.
Ruggiero's the creator of That's Life, and she says that in so many ways it's about her, a working-class Jersey girl who took a shot and wound up in Hollywood. No wonder she's optimistic.

"That's Life" is a show with an Italian flavor, that many of us can identify with, and it is NOT filled with mafioso, brutes, & buffoons, and will NOT project a Negative Stereotype, but Likeable, Lovable, Italian Americans, and therefore a Positive.
(1) The Father is not a dominant, fiery tempered brute, but a very likable, loving, level headed, strong but gentle, and even admirable character, who completely emotionally supports his family, EVEN his daughter's choice Not to get married to her long time boyfriend, and GO BACK TO SCHOOL, in spite of his preferences otherwise.
(2) The Daughter is likeable, loving, bright, and wanting to "spread her intellectual wings", but frequently "conflicted" by whether she made the right choice.
(3) The Mother is a little more shrill than I would like, and often "harps" on her daughter to get married instead of going to school (so she could have grandkids), and is not as loving and affectionate toward her husband, as he is toward her.
(4) The brother is no great intellect, but he is a Cop, and was a life saving hero in one episode. He treats his dates, and current girlfriend in only a loving and thoughtful fashion.
(5) The boyfriend is not a "sorehead", because of being rejected after 7 year relationship, but is "confused, by Lydia's goals. He owns his own small business, and still treats Lydia with respect, and concern, and care.
(6) Lydia's best (Italian looking) girl friend while chewing entirely too much gum, owns her own beauty salon, is a GOOD friend, and shows in practically every episode, a very basic common sense, missing in many "bookworms", to the extent that a Psychology professor is enamored of her.
(7) Lydia's other best girl friend (not Italian looking) is very superficial, vain and shallow.
Sure, I would rather have the Italian American equivalent of the I-A "Prince of Belair", with every one being lawyers and doctors, but while this is a middle class family, it is not low class, and its striving, and loving, and close, and supportive, and THERE for each other.
I don't see much you can say negative about the De Luca family.
It's a step in the right direction, and I'll take it over "Friends" with stupid Joey Tribianni.
"Everyone loves Raymond" has very little Italian Flavor (by design according to the Producer). You can easily forget, and think he was of any ethnicity.
My concern is that if we don't support a heavily flavored well done Italian TV series, that the Studio heads will say, "See, the public will accept Italians only as mafioso, or buffoons".

Rick Simeone's <Emailme@MrRickSimeone.com> says:
"That's Life" is about a family of Italian decent living in an older established neighborhood and their everyday lives.
"That's Life" is real, a family you can feel part, or if not a bit of home sickness.
Everyone I speak too says it is like real life to those of us who grew up Italian in close knit families and neighborhoods. The actors, all excellent, seem not to be acting. They are so natural.

CHANGE IS GOOD. SHOW'S CREATOR STICKS WITH RENEWED `THAT'S LIFE'
Rob Owen, Post- Gazette TV Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
08/31/2001 Region, Page A-1,Arts and Entertainment - - Last year CBS introduced the drama series "That's Life" with the fairy tale story of how its creator, Diane Ruggiero, went from writing at night while waiting tables in New Jersey to landing a series on the network's prime-time schedule.
The fairy tale didn't last.
"That's Life" premiered last fall to decent ratings, but then viewers began to tune out. With that came behind-the-scenes turmoil and the feeling that though Ruggiero created an interesting family of characters, the stories she was telling were too much alike from week to week.
"It was very difficult," Ruggiero said at a CBS party last month. "We've switched producers so many times, I felt like a foster child. Nobody wants me." Midway through last season, Ruggiero said she even considered quitting. "The whole reason I wanted to do this with my life was that [writing] was my boy," she said. "I'd waitress and come home and write. That's where my heart was and it was the greatest ... When it started to [come apart last season],
I started to be like, I'd rather go back to [New Jersey] and have it be good again. I don't feel that way anymore ... I'm not ready to walk away from it. Last year I thought I'd get to that point, but then I'd see little glimpses of Lydia or a moment between Frank and Dolly and realized, that's what I want to be a part of."
Set in Ruggiero's native New Jersey, "That's Life" tells the stories of the De Lucca family from the point of view of thirtysomething daughter Lydia (Heather Paige Kent). The initial idea for the show was based on Ruggiero's own experiences. Paul Sorvino plays the family patriarch, Frank, and Ellen Burstyn is his wife, Dolly.
"That's Life" has moved to a new time slot, 9 p.m. Fridays, and midway through last season got a new executive producer: Lynn Marie Latham, who created "Homefront" with her husband, Bernard Lechowick.
Though Ruggiero created "That's Life" and is now co-executive producer, Latham's experience (she spent several years on "Knots Landing") means she's in the driver's seat. This is typical for network television where a more experienced show runner is often paired with a novice.
Ruggiero praised Latham's instruction and attributes the show's surprising renewal to her efforts and the confidence CBS has in her abilities. "If Lynn wasn't on the show, we wouldn't be back on," Ruggiero said.
But she also acknowledges "That's Life" is no longer the series she set out to create. "That show ended at episode 11. It's a different show. This is what CBS wanted. It's getting better ratings. It tested better than the pilot did.
"If I wanted to go back to waitressing and live in my parents' basement, I could complain about it and tell them, `No, you're wrong, that's not my vision' and be an idiot, or I could sink or swim, and I'm swimming. Lynn is brilliant. She's doing exactly what CBS wants her to and I think she's done it with a lot of compassion and heart and respect. She's just aces in my book."
Ruggiero said Latham is an expert at outlining and story structure. "I'm like the paprika," Ruggiero said. "I'll come in with the New Jersey perspective."
But unlike some series set in the Garden State, "That's Life" viewers will never see a mafia storyline, Ruggiero said, for a simple reason: "My father would kill me."
When "That's Life" returns with original episodes Sept. 21, more changes are in store for the series, including the death of a regular recurring character and a pregnancy.
The new season will mark Lydia's sophomore year in college and she picks a major: sports medicine, which Latham said combines her two favorite things: "sports and interfering in people's lives."
Titus Welliver ("Falcone," "Brooklyn South") joins "That's Life" as a series regular, playing Lydia's mentor at a clinic where she works. And Lydia will move in with her sassy friend, Jackie (Debi Mazar).
Lydia's brother, Paulie (Kevin Dillon), wants to marry her classmate, Plum (Danielle Harris), which doesn't go over well with Dolly.
The diner Dolly and Frank own has been renovated and Dolly will run for city council.
If she had her druthers, Ruggiero said she'd still be making "That's Life" her way, but she acknowledged, "That's not what other people wanted. It would be self-righteous to think what I want is the best way ... It still has the heart, it still has the characters, but I guess it had to be more mainstream."
`THAT'S LIFE'
WHEN: 9 tonight on CBS.(Check Local Listings)
STARRING: Heather Paige Kent, Ellen Burstyn, Paul Sorvino
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - A & E - TV/Radio www.post-gazette.com/tv
You can reach Rob Owen at rowen@post-gazette.com

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