HOLLYWOOD—Comedy is not easy to do, but when its done right it can be hilarious. ABC Family’s “Baby Daddy” is the perfect summer treat for anyone looking for laughs during the week. Let’s face it the title alone will grab your attention, but don’t let it be as misleading as you think it may be. The series follows Ben (Jean Luc-Bilodeau), a young man in his twenties that gets the surprise of his life when his ex-girlfriend drops off his baby daughter at his doorstep.
It’s a wake-up call for Ben, who has been living a free-spirited life. Now that a bigger responsibility is in the mix, he’s forced to make adjustments to his apartment to make it baby proof. That’s just the beginning of his troubles. He best friend and roommate Tucker (Tahj Mowry) has perfect comedic timing. He does some of the oddest things; but trust me the laughs will come a mile a minute with this character. Furthermore, he has some of the best one-liners on the show, next to Ben’s mom Bonnie (Melissa Peterman).
Bonnie is a bit of a boisterous one to say the least. She says what she wants, when she wants and cares little to none what others think about her. She’s that dose of reality that we all need in our lives at times. One thing I love about Peterman’s character is she may not appear responsible, but she’s more responsible than what many would suspect. She’s a great businesswoman and manger to Ben’s older brother Danny (Derek Theler).
Danny could be categorized as a dumb jock, and its partially true to a degree. He might not be the brightest pupil, but he has a huge heart. This is where things become a bit complicated in the series in the love department. Danny has a huge crush on his best friend Riley (Chelsea Kane), who happens to have a huge crush on Ben. Two brothers vying for the same woman; it screams trouble. Riley is tactical, intelligent and the voice of reason at many times for this dysfunctional family. If it’s anyone who knows Ben and Danny exceptionally well besides their mother, it’s Riley.
The first season was more of an exploration of Riley and Ben exploring their feelings. I’ve never seen the two as a couple in my eyes; she has more chemistry with Danny. Danny secretly longs for Riley to be his girlfriend, but he gets tongue tied around her. Riley recently discovered Danny’s feelings for her, but he doesn’t know that she knows.
There’s just one problem in the mix, they’re both in relationships at the moment. The audience is well aware at some point these two will hook-up; imagine the hilarity/drama that may ensue when Ben learns about it. Of course, we can’t forget the star of the series, little Emma. It’s so refreshing to see a comedy that is almost reminiscent of “Three Men and a Baby,” but geared towards a younger generation. Not many men get kudos for being great dads, so this comedy gem sheds a bit of light in a fictional arena, that there are guys out there who take their responsibility of being a father very serious.
The maturity level may come into question from time-to-time with Ben who doesn’t always make the best choices, but its shows his care for his daughter. The group is dysfunctional to say the least, but show me a family that isn’t and I’ll give you a $100 bucks. “Baby Daddy” is the perfect comedy treat for a tough week. It airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC Family.
By LaDale Anderson
