Trophy Wife: Don't Let the Title Fool You

You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover. However, the name of a TV show can often dictate whether or not it gets viewers. That was the trouble with Cougar Town, a quirky and fun show that couldn't build an audience since everyone assumed they knew what it would be about and wouldn't like it. Now, ABC might have the same problem with Trophy Wife, a show whose cliched title doesn't reflect the heart and humor it contains.

The "Trophy Wife" in question, is Kate Harrison (Malin Akerman), a fun-loving woman who marries a charming lawyer named Pete (Bradley Whitford). The twist is that Pete has been married twice before: first to Dr. Diane Buckley (Marcia Gay Harden), who is an intimidating surgeon and mother to his two kids, Hillary and Warren; and second to Jackie Fisher (Michaela Watkins), a flighty woman who tries her hand at assorted business ventures but is mostly just committed to their young adopted son, Bert. It's a lot for Kate to take on, especially as she has never had kids or many responsibilities. But she is a kind and loving woman, and strives to find her place in this chaotic family.

Early episodes have focused on Kate's struggles to act as a parent. She makes the common mistake of trying to relate to the kids as a friend, but despite her relative youth, she quickly realizes that a generation gap still exists and she needs to act as the responsible adult. She also has a tough time dealing with the other ex-wives, who are obviously a lot more experienced with kids and sometimes get exasperated by her naivete. However, the show never gets mean. Yes, Kate is young and blonde, but it is obvious that she and Pete genuinely love each other and want to make this marriage work. She is certainly not a "trophy wife," and as the season continues, she will continue to carve a niche for herself in this bizarre family.

The cast is full of talented actors who play wonderfully off each other and have impeccable comic timing. The ex-wives are perfectly decent people and it's nice to see a show featuring women who can get by happily post-divorce rather than resort to snide comments and backstabbing. Each episode is insightful and sweet, and the entire show is a joy to watch. So ignore the title and check out Trophy Wife. It's so much more than what you're expecting.