this is brilliant writing.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/left-field,84895/ By Todd VanDerWerff September 18, 2012 B+

I like to imagine that Jason Katims has a vault, a vault that only he knows the combination to. It’s deep beneath the NBC Universal compound, and to get to it, he has to go through a procedure very similar to the opening credits for Get Smart. He spins the big wheel to open it, and then, as a failsafe, he has to insert a key that he carries around his neck into the lock. Inside the vault there are many boxes, and on all of them are detailed breakdowns of plots from old family dramas, plots that he can break down into component parts and build back up until they are stronger, faster. He does this with the help of a supercomputer dedicated solely to the analysis of old episodes of thirtysomething and Party Of Five. As season four of Parenthood began, Katims made his way down to talk with his supercomputer. “Jason,” it said. “It’s season four. Time for a cancer arc.”

One of the hallmarks of a good show, I think, is whether the guest characters—no matter how insignificant—seem as if they’ve wandered in from another show we could be watching that would be almost as interesting. And in terms of that challenge, the golden retriever breeders that Adam, Kristina, and Max visit are pretty much top of the charts. x. not just "radio with pictures" Something I found on the “List Of Parenthood Characters” Wikipedia page that I found amusing: The page describes Nora, a baby, thusly: “It is yet to be determined what gifts or challenges she will obtain.” Indeed, Wikipedia. Indeed. http://www.avclub.com/articles/family-portrait,84781/ kphisch Collapse This will slowly become a live-action serialized extended-family version of The Incredibles, based upon the description of Nora. It will turn out that Drew is The Heartcrusher! As he becomes stronger, the less his significant other will be able to love him!