Still Standing (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Still Standing


caption = Title Screen
format = Sitcom
camera = Multi-camera
picture_format =
runtime = 30 minutes
(21 min. 30 sec.)
creator = Diane Burroughs
Joey Gutierrez
developer =
executive_producer =
starring = Mark Addy
Jami Gertz
Jennifer Irwin
Taylor Ball
Renee Olstead
Soleil Borda
Joel Murray (2004-2006)
narrated =
opentheme = "You Make Me Happy" by Will Hoge
endtheme =
country = USA
network = CBS
first_aired = September 30, 2002
last_aired = March 8, 2006
num_seasons = 4
num_episodes = 88
imdb_id = 0320970
tv_com_id = 10855

Still Standing is an American comedy television series. It debuted on CBS on September 30, 2002, and ended March 8, 2006. Lifetime obtained the U.S. syndication rights to the show in February 2005 and now airs every weekday on Lifetime and in syndication on cable networks and various broadcast stations. "Still Standing" aired for four seasons and won three awards over that time. Will Hoge sang the show's theme song.

Plot

A working class couple in Chicago try to instill good values in their three kids, but their own past experiences often conflict with the lessons they try to teach to their children. Judy Miller is the attractive wife who was wooed by Bill when he duplicitously dated Judy's less attractive friend. Judy and Bill were both popular in high school, and they never outgrew that teenage mentality. Neither has the level of maturity to teach their kids right and wrong, often causing a role reversal between the parents and the children.

Episodes

All of the episode titles have the word "still" at the beginning, with the exception of the pilot.

Main Characters

*Bill Miller (Mark Addy): The want-to-be cool father of the Miller family, he is often perceived as an overweight, lazy, Homer Simpson-like character. Bill has a tendency to take part in "macho" activities such as watching sports, drinking beer, and working on carpentry projects. Bill isn't the most intelligent person in the bunch and only spent six weeks in college, but he does well working at a Sears-like department store's toilet department. He tends to play the "good cop" when parenting his kids.

*Judy Miller (Jami Gertz): The mother of the Miller family, she is a good-looking woman in her late 30s, trying not to lose touch with her younger self and trying to be the "cool mom." Judy works as a dental assistant. She is more intelligent than Bill (marginally) and often joins in his schemes after seemingly having foiled them.

*Brian Hops Miller (Taylor Ball): Eldest offspring and only son of the Miller family, Brian is a gifted (he is the valedictorian) but relatively unpopular high-school student; widely regarded as a geek, nerd, or lame (usually by his parents). Although he is straight, Brian's sexual orientation has been questioned several times by his parents because he reads "Vogue" magazine (he justifies this by saying that "sometimes those models wear see-through clothes, and it gets cold in those studios"), twirls a baton, and is a school cheerleader (ultimately revealed as his way to meet cute girls). In later seasons he is neglected and even ignored by his parents. This is ironic when one considers the amount of times the two parents mention their future reliance on Brian's success due to his intelligence. At the end of the series, Brian is admitted to Northwestern University, his top choice. He is called "Bri-Bri" by his mother, much to his chagrin.
*Lauren Barley Miller (Renee Olstead): The hormonal, spoiled teenage older daughter of the Miller family, Lauren is one of the popular girls at school. She gets in trouble for breaking her parents' and the school's rules. She is smart, but doesn't apply herself as much as her brother does. Lauren is shown to have a talent for the arts; in one episode she is found to be a gifted singer, and in another she stars in the school play (although she doesn't seem to be any good at clarinet, making her parents hide it from her). She is called "Pumpkin" by her father, much to her chagrin.

*Tina Kathleen Miller (Soleil Borda): The youngest child and mismatched daughter of the Miller family, Tina could be described as an obnoxious second grader. Tina's family sees her as clueless, but viewers see that she is one of the cleverest in her family. In a few episodes, Tina is also portrayed being unafraid to take a practical joke to the next level.

*Linda Michaels (Jennifer Irwin): Judy's younger sister, Linda spends much of her time hanging around the Miller house, much to Bill's chagrin. She suffers from low self-esteem and high self-pity. Eventually she marries Perry, a singer in a Foghat cover band.

*Daniel "Fitz" Fitzsimmons (Joel Murray): Bill's best friend, credited as so for seasons 3 and 4. He works with Bill as a salesman and has a gay son.

Guest / Recurring Roles

*Perry (James Patrick Stuart): Linda's husband, a musician who performs in Reno, NV.
*Marion Fitzsimmons (Kerri Kenney): Danny's wife. In one episode, she plays Mary Simms, a volunteer at Tina's school.
*Gene Michaels (Steven Gilborn): Judy's father.
*Helen Michaels (Janet Carroll during seasons 1-2; Swoosie Kurtz during seasons 3-4): Judy's mother.
*Al Miller (Paul Sorvino): Bill's father, a retired steelworker.
*Louise Miller (Sally Struthers): Bill's manipulative mother who moved to Chicago after her divorce.
*Johnny (Clyde Kusatsu): Louise Miller's new love interest and eventual husband.
*Bonnie (Ashley Tisdale): Brian's girlfriend.
*Becca (Lauren Schaffel): Lauren's best friend. She is also very afraid of Judy. In one episode, Lauren reveals that Becca's parents went to a marriage counselor, but unfortunately the counseling soon lead to group therapy, which soon turned into a cult that partook in perverted sexual acts of group orgies and wife-swapping.
*Ted Halverson (Kevin Nealon): The Millers' religious neighbor. He can be competitive.
*Matt Halverson (Shawn Pyfrom): Ted's son and one of Lauren's boyfriends.
*Shelly (Julia Campbell) and Terry (Justine Bateman): The Millers' lesbian neighbors.
*Chris (Sean Marquette): Lauren's boyfriend in several episodes; Shelly and Terry's son. Also has good handyman skills.
*Kyle Polsky (Todd Stashwick): Bill's irresponsible, immature neighbor who has a large collection of toys and is related to the (fictional) famous and wealthy Polsky beer family.
*Carl (David Koechner): Bill's best friend during seasons 1 & 2. Works with Bill at the Department store.
*Maxwell "Mack" McDaniel (John Marshall Jones): Bill and Fitz's friend during seasons 2 & 3 (6 episodes). Mack works with Bill and Fitz at the department store and is the only recurring African-American character.
*Jeff Hackman (Chris Elliot): Also works with Bill. Sometimes called Jeff Hackman "Never-Pay-Ya-Backman".

Critical reception

A 2002 "Entertainment Weekly" review gave "Still Standing" a "D" grade, calling it an "a pathetic" show that "does zip to freshen the Fatty-Gets-a-Family formula." [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,609650,00.html Still Standing review] , Gillian Flynn, "Entertainment Weekly", September 2002]

References

* [http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA504907.html "Lifetime Adds "Still Standing" (Variety)]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-03-07-still-standing_x.htm "Still Standing" Readies for its Final Bow" (USA Today)]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2002-07-31-still-standing_x.htm "Still Standing" Survives Critical Mass" (USA Today)]
* [http://www.tvacres.com/char_miller_bill.htm "Still Standing" TV Character Biographies at TVacres.com]
* [http://www.cbssc.com/past-prod.htm List of productions at CBS Studio Center]
* [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/newswire.aspx?id=6052 "July 7th Development Update" (TheFutonCritic.com)]

External links

*imdb title|id=0320970|title=Still Standing
* [http://www.lifetimetv.com/shows/stillstanding/index.html "Still Standing" on Lifetimetv.com]
* [http://www.cbs.com/primetime/still_standing/ "Still Standing" on CBS.com]
* [http://www.creativescreenwriting.com/csdaily/trenches/04_19_04.html Hooking the Showrunner: Ari Eisner, "Still Standing" writers' assistant, shares the story of "Still the Man", his first episode ever produced]
* [http://www.cbssc.com/stages/stage_20.htm Floorplan for Stage 20, "Still Standing"'s home at CBS Studio Center]
* [http://www.myspace.com/stillstanding_sitcom Official Myspace page]