CBS buys Friday Night Dinner as put pilot

CBS is looking to expand its footprint in the family comedy genre with Friday Night Dinner. Based on the Channel 4 series created by Robert Popper, the project, from Warner Bros. TV and 3 Arts Entertainment, has received a put pilot.

DVD review: Friday Night Dinner Series 2

A truly classic comedy, this has taken its time getting to DVD.

Friday Night Dinner review

It is hard to single out any other stand out actors in this programme because they are all undeniably outstanding.

Radio Times review

"Try and find your mother some heroin." That's Martin's plea to his bambinos as Jackie starts to fray at the edges. It's the day of Grandma's wedding and nobody is looking forward to it, least of all Jackie, who still hopes her mum might come to her senses.

Given the levels of clattering farce the Goodman household can attain on a regular Friday, you'd think a wedding would cause things to go nuclear, but instead writer Robert Popper keeps things (relatively) relaxed and brings out the warmth that underlies the family madness. Even so, Martin's attempts to give his impression of a pimp are not to be missed.

Lou (Harry Landis) - the elderly "gentleman" who grandma (Frances Cuka) dated in series two - inexplicably reappeared in churlish fashion a few episodes back to berate her "punk rocker" grandsons among others. Now the purpose for his return is clear, with the pair's wedding providing the ideal excuse for full-blown shambles as series three comes to a close. Joyous cries of Mazel Tov seem unlikely as the couple head up the aisle, much to the dismay of Jackie and Martin (Tamsin Greig and Paul Ritter).

Perhaps mindful of the escapades which seem to disrupt every domestic pre-weekend feast, the Goodmans venture out for a Chinese meal. Of course, it could just be something to do with the house containing expensively cleansed carpeting, and a piano being fixed by a laconic tuner (played by Liam O'Carroll of Father Ted's "Mr Bean audiobook" fame). Still, surely nothing will prevent Martin from achieving his dream of crispy duck deliciousness - not familial infidelity, not blazing bathtubs, nothing. Will it?

Radio Times review

A gem of an episode. Each episode the Goodman gathering ends in a domestic meltdown of some sort, and each time the seeds of disaster are carefully sown in the foibles of family members. Here, Jackie has had the downstairs carpets cleaned and Martin has bought a piano on a whim (he expects Johnny to teach him to play) - two plausible developments that interact and escalate to deliver comedy gold, starting when a relentlessly sarcastic piano tuner turns up late, and with dirty shoes.

It builds beautifully from there, via a visit to a Chinese restaurant (it's Jackie's night off), Martin's love of fish paste and the comic possibilities of the word "elm".

Radio Times review

They're the words no grown-up child likes to hear: "Ah, your mother and I were just making love..." As delivered by Martin with a giggling Jackie in the background, they're enough to send Adam and Jonny back out to sit in their car for 20 minutes until the coast is clear.

So, a flying start to the anniversary celebration night, which only gets better when Martin presents a picture he has painted of Jackie, and Jonny reluctantly unveils his new tattoo. For a moment, it looks as if the Goodmans won't need outside help to ruin their evening. Then neighbour Jim rings the doorbell and we're cantering into the realms of surreal farce where FND is at its best.

This week's helping of domestic disorder comes with a side order of déjà vu. Grandma (Frances Cuka) brought boorish suitor Lou (Harry Landis) to dinner back in series two, and now he returns for another excruciating meal with the Goodmans. Once again he manages to offend the whole family as well as creepy neighbour Jim. FND continues to entertain, but the rehash element of this episode highlights its limited mileage.

A third season of warm and deeply silly sitcommery has reached its midpoint, with the odious Mr Morris making a return to the dinner table this week. Those whose Fridays are booked up for the foreseeable, meanwhile, can catch up with the full series on 4oD.