Penelope Ann Miller | pinartarhan.com

Men of a Certain Age starring Ray Romano, Scott Bakula & , Andre Braugher.

Joe (Ray Romano), Terry (Scott Bakula) and Owen (Andre Braugher) have been friends for a long time. Now pushing 50, they are at different crossroads in their lives:

Joe’s wife Sonia (Penelope Ann Miller) has left him and taken their two kids Lucy (Brittany Curran) and Albert (Braeden Lemasters). Joe stays in a hotel and is not exactly over his wife, so he likes to pretend that they might eventually get back together. His party-supplies shop is doing well, despite his fondness for betting on sports games.

Terry is an actor who hasn’t quite made it, so he is working at an office job. He is living the bachelor life – he keeps fit, dates 25-year-olds and can’t get around his head around Owen’s problems, who seems to detest his job as a car salesman.

Owen is working for his father (Richard Gant)’s car dealership company and he is miserable. Forget any nepotism. His father is being the hardest on him and the sales numbers come before family. Owen doesn’t like his working conditions but there’s not much he can do since he and his wife Melissa (Lisa Gay Hamilton) have three kids and just renovated the house.

These men meet quite often, chat about their lives, problems and relationships, while also trying to go hiking in the morning.

Men of a Certain Age was created by Ray Romano and Mike Royce. Romano is no stranger to our TV screens. His sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond – went on for 9 successful seasons (1996-2005). I had first found Everybody Loves Raymond a little too familiar and a little too ordinary at first. But as I watched more episodes, it grew on me. And there were some very hilarious episodes.

Men of a Certain Age takes a different turn. It is not a 20-minute sitcom but a 40-minute comedy/drama. There are some laughs, but the show is more concerned about putting a smile on your face with bittersweet moments rather than consequent hilarity.

It’s refreshing to see Romano in a more lifelike role. OK, so his Ray Barone from Everybody Loves Raymond was very real but it was all laughs and the characters in Men of a Certain Age have more problems than just crazy parents and in-laws.

I enjoyed watching the first couple of episodes, despite not exactly being in the target audience. And while not being a guy of a certain age is won’t necessarily stop you from enjoying the show, it might make you relate much less.

If you are not a big fan of Ray Romano, bittersweet comedy or too life-like situations, I’d suggest watching this show in the background. It is a little slow, but has some very decent moments. Frankly, I’d rather watch this show than Ed O’Neill’s hit comedy Modern Family.

Men of a Certain Age is currently rated 8.2 on IMDB. 6.5 from me.

I am really jealous of these people. They get to do the most fun jobs on the planet – at least in my opinion. There are actors who are in bands and musicians who act. Of course whatever profession they have gotten into later, doesn’t usually provide them as much fame and credibility as the first one. Sometimes the second profession might become more prominent, but still, one is always going to get more credit. Let’s go.

Dogstar vs BON JOVI & KEANU REEVES vs Jon Bon Jovi

Do you know Dogstar? Keanu Reeves played the bass and toured with the band for 11 years. The band was founded in 1991 and broke up in 2002. But Keanu has been in movies since 1985.

_360900_dogstar300 — Dogstar. First from the right, Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves in Matrix — Keanu Reeves became even more popular with the Matrix Trilogy. Dogstar what?

Dogstar even has a picture with Bon Jovi, at the backstage of a concert where the band performed as the supporting act. And how many of you think Jon Bon Jovi as an actor? Sure, he has done some interesting films like The Leading Man and Little City but to most people, he is a rocker, a musician, the frontman of his band Bon Jovi. Keanu Reeves always remained as an actor who liked to play bass and play rocker in his free time to his fans and the name Jon Bon Jovi can sell shitloads of concert tickets but it ain’t that strong when it comes to box office.

Bon Jovi: Jon Bon Jovi, Tico Torres, David Bryan and Richie Sambora — Bon Jovi have been together for about 25 years.

Jon Bon Jovi in Little City: Starring Annabella Sciorra, Jon Bon Jovi, Penelope Ann Miller and Josh Charles — One of the many movies Jon has starred in. Little City is one very funny and poignant little film. The characters are complicated and well...not so predictable.

KEVIN BACON vs The Bacon Brothers

Kevin Bacon has a band called The Bacon Brothers where he plays with his brother Michael. They have 3 albums but I didn’t even have a clue before I watched a special on the actor’s life. His movies? His movies are good. He is a theater trained actor who can play the good guys (Footloose, a classic dance movie) but thanks to Hollywood, he made a name for himself as the actor who best plays the bad guys. He has played good guys (Footloose, She’s Having a Baby, wrongly convicted and/or sexually molested prisoners (Murder in the First, Sleepers), kidnappers , murderers…the list goes on. You probably heard of Mystic River, JFK, A Few Good Men, Flatliners, Stir of Echoes… Did you by any chance get a hold of his albums? I actually heard him play during that show about his life. He sings and he is good. But it is OK. I know quite a lot of singers with great voices. But I think Kevin Bacon is a uniquely talented actor. I for one am glad he stuck with his acting career.