"Speechless:" Prime Time TV Show ~ Teen with CP and His Family

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

A Prime Time Comedy about a teenage boy, who has Cerebral Palsy? Hard to believe? Believe it!

On Wednesday, September 21, ABC will premiere a new situation comedy, “Speechless,” which focuses on a family with three children, one of whom, JJ, is a teenager with Cerebral Palsy. JJ is nonverbal and uses a computer to communicate. Micah Fowler, who portrays JJ, has CP. One of Micah’s differences from JJ is that Micah communicates verbally. Minnie Driver is cast as the fearless and fierce matriarch.

Here’s a review, written by a mom of a nonverbal child with special needs:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/18/ar...hild.html?_r=1

Here is the official trailer for “Speechless:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u55WK6AbaM

The pilot episode is available for FREE on ABC on line:

http://abc.go.com/shows/speechless

After watching the “Speechless” pilot, I am impressed. It is rare when a series establishes characters and relationships in the pilot. Typically that kind of development takes several episodes, if not a season to accomplish. This pilot delivered a clear picture of each cast member, the dynamics of the family, and the challenges they’ve faced and will continue to encounter.

I related to Minnie’s performance as the loving and often controlling Mom. I guarantee that there were many times in the last 46 years, when , upon seeing me, professionals whispered to each other, “Here she comes. Give her whatever she wants.” And I wear that like a badge of honor, because we have to fight for our children’s rights. We have to be relentless and determined. And JJ’s Mom is all of that and more.

There aren’t non-stop laughs in “Speechless.” The humor is subtle in places and in your face in other places. Moments of brutal honesty, and moments of poignancy.

This is the first prime time show featuring a child with disabilities since “Life Goes On,” (1989-1993), and it’s astounding that it has taken nearly a quarter of a century to create another show with a similar theme.

I’m going to keep my eye on “Speechless” hoping that it stays the course, and that viewers will respond positively to it. My concern is that there are many TV viewers, who would rather not see a person with a disability or his mom fighting for his needs and rights. Add humorous situations that those viewers might not understand, and it could be difficult for “Speechless” to reach them.

I hope that I am wrong.

Please share your thoughts about “Speechless.”

Love & Light,

Rose

[funnylegs4]

Thank you so much for posting this Rose!! BRILLIANT IDEA FOR A SERIES! And it even has a disabled actor! Cerebral Palsy RULES! So glad to see more CP characters besides my own. This series almost seems like something I would write. My concern with this however is the same as yours. Caretakers and disabled people will love this but I fear regular viewers will not be interested not because the fighting for one's rights is not interesting but because it will get too repetitive and boring too quickly because it doesn't seem to have plot points beyond the disability rights stuff so far in how it is marketed. I find myself wanting to see characters having relationships with each other and regular conflicts with the disability rights stuff as more of an important backdrop that helps the other plots move forward in the trailer. I can also see some disabled people complaining about character stuff and the fact that the mom is the main character instead of the guy with CP as I keep taps on these things for my own work, but I have no problem with the mom being the main character and I like that it shows the reality of access issues which I'm trying to write more about myself.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((funnylegs4)))))) ~

In addition to watching the trailer, did you watch the Free pilot episode on ABC's on line link:

http://abc.go.com/shows/speechless

Since Minnie Driver is a well known actress, she's the "star attraction" for viewers. And while her role is prominent, I think the show is striving for an ensemble cast.

In the pilot episode, the story arcs around JJ's younger brother's angst, his desire to fit in, his need for his parents' attention (as a middle child), and validation of what he wants and needs as an awkward adolescent.

Every character participates in this episode to give us a better idea of their connections. Mom is running the show, because, well, in real life, Moms do run the show. In the pilot, it's clear that all of her children accept that aspect of Mom, but aren't afraid to let Mom know that they need more or something different than what she's delivering. This allows us to see Mom digging deeper into how she can be the best Mom to all three of her children.

This is a story about a family, with a family member, who has CP and needs a "voice" to speak for him. That voice may be his brother, sister, Mom, Dad, or the janitor JJ hired. They don't put words in his mouth. They speak the words he writes/indicates. Based upon the pilot, I sense that JJ will be a core character, because of his interactions with the other characters.

I think “Speechless” has good possibilities, if done well, and I’m just thrilled and grateful to see a prime time show about a family with a disabled family member. That’s a modicum of progress.

Let’s watch it this season and discuss it here!

Love & Light,

Rose

[funnylegs4]

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((((((funnylegs4)))))) ~

In addition to watching the trailer, did you watch the Free pilot episode on ABC's on line link:

http://abc.go.com/shows/speechless

Since Minnie Driver is a well known actress, she's the "star attraction" for viewers. And while her role is prominent, I think the show is striving for an ensemble cast.

In the pilot episode, the story arcs around JJ's younger brother's angst, his desire to fit in, his need for his parents' attention (as a middle child), and validation of what he wants and needs as an awkward adolescent.

Every character participates in this episode to give us a better idea of their connections. Mom is running the show, because, well, in real life, Moms do run the show. In the pilot, it's clear that all of her children accept that aspect of Mom, but aren't afraid to let Mom know that they need more or something different than what she's delivering. This allows us to see Mom digging deeper into how she can be the best Mom to all three of her children.

This is a story about a family, with a family member, who has CP and needs a "voice" to speak for him. That voice may be his brother, sister, Mom, Dad, or the janitor JJ hired. They don't put words in his mouth. They speak the words he writes/indicates. Based upon the pilot, I sense that JJ will be a core character, because of his interactions with the other characters.

I think “Speechless” has good possibilities, if done well, and I’m just thrilled and grateful to see a prime time show about a family with a disabled family member. That’s a modicum of progress.

Let’s watch it this season and discuss it here!

Love & Light,

Rose

Hi Rose, I didn't have time to get through the whole episode last time,sorry, if you notice I only referenced the trailer earlier, but now I have seen the episode and I agree. I see more character development,and the characters are likable in the episode itself. I think if they continue in this direction it will work. They just need to maybe fine tune some things but that's typical of any new show. I still think they might need to market a bit better and be sure to have the civil rights stuff as a backdrop. Some of my family members and I plan to watch this series and I will report back on all our reviews! The black guy was a riot!

[funnylegs4]

Here's a great review of "Speechless"! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kJk58ALPz4

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((funnylegs4)))))) ~

Thank you for sharing that video review of "Speechless." I agree with everything the vlogger said, and I'm glad that she has a great relationship with her mom and recognizes that her mom's advocacy contributed to her achievements.

"Speechless" has been heavily promoted recently, with Minnie Driver appearing on various talk shows, and with frequent commercials on ABC, along with the rest of the new fall line up. It has an excellent time slot, at 8:30, and is sandwiched between "The Goldbergs," and "Modern Family" and Black-ish" (both of which were nominated for several Emmys). From a marketing standpoint, that is all golden.

Fingers crossed it does well!

Love & Light,

Rose

[funnylegs4]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

((((((funnylegs4)))))) ~

Thank you for sharing that video review of "Speechless." I agree with everything the vlogger said, and I'm glad that she has a great relationship with her mom and recognizes that her mom's advocacy contributed to her achievements.

"Speechless" has been heavily promoted recently, with Minnie Driver appearing on various talk shows, and with frequent commercials on ABC, along with the rest of the new fall line up. It has an excellent time slot, at 8:30, and is sandwiched between "The Goldbergs," and "Modern Family" and Black-ish" (both of which were nominated for several Emmys). From a marketing standpoint, that is all golden.

Fingers crossed it does well!

Love & Light,

Rose

You're welcome Rose! Yes I have seen promotion for this everywhere and I'm glad to see them marketing this way. Is that 8:30 ET ??? I missed episode 1 airing on TV by accident and do not want to miss episode 2!! Let me know?

If I manage to catch the episodes I'll review as much of it as I can here. Like I said this show is similar to my films in TV form and I love that! My family is much like the reviewers family and the family in "Speechless" and I give them loads of credit! Hoping to write a bit about my family advocating for my rights someday too. They did a damn good job. They gave me a life that was like that of an able bodied person of the same age while still embracing my disability with complete honesty and love. Nothing about my disability was ever kept from me and I think that helped me gain the confidence I have now. That reviewer did some other great videos on her channel. I suggest watching her videos.

[funnylegs4]

Here's a good written review I just found https://toniasays.blogspot.com/2016/...x01-pilot.html

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((funnylegs4)))))) ~

Yes, "Speechless" airs at 8:30 ET (and PT) on Wednesdays. You can watch the first episode on ABC's website:

http://abc.go.com/shows/speechless

I forgot to watch the pilot on Weds, since I don't generally watch TV in the evenings. I watch movies and concerts with Jon. So, I'll have to remember next week to schedule Jon's viewing to include "Speechless," which I think he will also enjoy.

I appreciated Tonia's thoughts and opinions on the show and agree with her observations. Thanks for sharing her blog.

For you, I'm extremely happy that you have a loving and caring family, who advocated for your rights. It's wonderful that you are realizing your dreams and achieving your goals. May it always continue to be so for you.

Love & Light,

Rose

[funnylegs4]

Here’s some good reviews of “Speechless” (my review below)

https://thatcrazycrippledchick.blogs...ew-i-aide.html

https://toniasays.blogspot.com/2016/...2-n-e-new.html

SPOILER ALERT! I also finally figured out how to watch episode 2. I think the lines are really clever in certain scenes and I like that the disabled character with CP does naughty things and has some sass on him LOL. The mom’s overbearingness is spot on. I know people who caretake my non verbal friends who are like that. The scenes where the CP character looks at the females is pretty much every disabled guy I know in a nutshell LOL. I like how they show the caretaker relationship. The PT stuff is my entire life haha, too rich! The subplot with the “idiots” seems kinda shoe horned in and very forced so I wasn’t that into it. I also think there are moments where the show tries to be a little too smart for it’s own good and the pacing seems really rushed like a Disney Channel show at times. In this episode the CP character seems the most developed out of all the characters so I have to say I like the show very much. I want to see them structure some of the dialogue a bit better and have some scenes of the CP character having PT himself as well as have some episodes that do not deal with disability so directly to become more relatable for able bodied.