Oh man, no sooner do I write a story about a previously mediocre show now doing well (see my article on NUMB3RS) than I turn my browser toward TVWeek.com and see James Hibberd’s post on what I consider the most mediocre show on TV: Back To You.

Fox has ordered a full season and then some of its Kelsey Grammar newsroom comedy “Back to You,” the network confirmed. Fox picked up 11 episodes from 20th Century Fox Television, a couple more than the usual back nine, for a total of 24 shows this season

Rarely has there ever been a show that showed all the promise and had all the potential to be an instant hit that Back To You. Kelsey Grammar (Frasier), Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond) a great set of background actors led by Fred Willard, most of the writing and production crew from Frasier reunited all should have added up to a sure thing!

But it didn’t.

Back To You is a solid well polished show about a Pittsburgh local TV Newsroom. But solid and polished doesn’t always mean it’s a good show, and Back To You rarely ever shows signs of its potential. The writing is so hodge podge as it jumps from one important character arc to another when the early episodes really need to concentrate on laying a foundation in the shows main setting, the Newsroom. Grammar is essentially delivering his lines like he still thinks he’s on Frasier and Heaton plays her character sympathetic one week and bitchy the next never giving us a chance to understand who she is. Fred Willard is the best thing about this show, which was the big surprise for me as I expected his character to be little more than a recycled Ted Baxter (if you don’t get the reference, then go ask anyone over 40 years old!) Willard is surprisingly sharp and has a strong handle on the sportscaster character. The rest of the cast are unknowns but already show an ability to get a laugh.

Again, it comes down to the writing. Grammar and Heaton can deliver the cheap zinger all day long and get a chuckle, but there’s a lot of talent behind this show and I demand and deserve better for my thirty minutes. So why do I keep tuning in? Because the potential is there! Now that they have earned a full season order, let’s hope they make good use of the opportunity. Back To You airs Wednesdays on FOX.

This post was Authored by Rob Walley, Guest Writing for Back to You