'Grandfathered' Review: John Stamos' Fox Comedy Is More Than Just a Pretty Face

Can you make an entire sitcom out of the fact that John Stamos looks really, really good for a man in his 50s? As it turns out, yes.

With Daniel Chun (“The Office,” “Hello Ladies” and “Happy Endings”) penning a quick-witted script, “Grandfathered” subverts every hokey cliche that it nearly crashes into by maintaining a savvy self-awareness.

Stamos plays Jimmy Martino, a successful Los Angeles restaurateur who’s a fixture in the dining room at Jimmy’s every night, delivering the same flattering line to every female who walks through the door. He’s always found at the center of a glamorous coterie of models and tastemakers, claiming with practiced wistfulness that he wishes he had a family with whom he could share his success.

Also Read: John Stamos Says the Olsen Twins Are 'Always Welcome' to Appear on 'Fuller House' (Video)

It’s only when the adult son Martino didn’t know he had pops up at the restaurant with a toddler in tow that his bluff is called. Shocked and horrified that he is, at 50, a grandfather — a word he can barely utter without gagging — Stamos’ vain character goes through the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

It’s hard to make a sitcom feel fresh, but what helps here is that the creators of this show know that their audience has seen it all. Whenever it seems as though a character has spoken a line you may have heard before, they correct course. Example: when the mother of Martino’s son (Paget Brewster) threatens that she’ll kill him if he hurts her child and grandchild, she pulls back, “Dammit! Stop making me say things like that. I’m cool. I watch ‘Portlandia.'”

Also Read: John Stamos, Jimmy Kimmel Create Hilarious Fake Sitcom Openings (Video)

The brand of humor will remind viewers of “The Mindy Project” and the short-lived “Ben and Kate” with one-liners delivered so quick you could almost miss them. The supporting characters — the ‘back of the house’ kitchen staff and the new family Martino falls into — are largely believable and charming. Martino’s son Gerald (Josh Peck), as a goofy, sensitive 3D print designer, is perfectly calibrated. His reason for reaching out to the father he never knew? “I came across a Buzzfeed listsicle, 28 Reasons Why Having a Dad is the Best. By number 12 I was crying so hard I was dehydrated.”

It won’t be lost on most that Stamos’ role in “Grandfathered” is an echo of the character that brought him sitcom success, playing a cad who finds himself thrust into a paternal role, despite his wild, ladykiller predilections. But who cares? The women (and girls) who loved Uncle Jesse on “Full House” will find that this typecasting works for him. Have mercy!

Fall TV Preview: 126 New and Returning Shows Premiere Dates

“The Awesomes” (Hulu) Tuesday, Sept. 8
Hulu
“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 11:35 p.m.
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“The League” (FXX) Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10 p.m.
FXX
“You’re the Worst” (FXX) Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10:30 p.m.
FXX
“Longmire” (Netflix) Thursday, Sept. 10
Netflix
“Z Nation” (Syfy) Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 p.m.
Syfy
“Continuum” (Syfy) Friday, Sept. 11 at 11 p.m.
Syfy
“Project Greenlight” (HBO) Sunday, Sept. 13 at 10 p.m.
HBO
“Doll & Em” (HBO) Sunday, Sept. 13 at 10:40 p.m.
HBO
“Dancing With the Stars” (ABC) Monday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m.
ABC
“The Mindy Project” (Hulu) Tuesday, Sept. 15
Hulu
“Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris” (NBC) Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 10 p.m.
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“The Bastard Executioner” (FX) Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 10 p.m.
FX
“South Park” (Comedy Central) Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 10 p.m.
Comedy Central
“Moonbeam City” (Comedy Central) Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 10:30 p.m.
Comedy Central
“Doctor Who” (BBC America) Saturday, Sept. 19
BBC America
“The Voice” (NBC) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.
NBC
“Gotham” (Fox) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“Life in Pieces” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:30 p.m.
CBS
“Minority Report” (Fox) Monday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m.
Fox
“Scorpion” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“Castle” (ABC) Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“Blindspot” (NBC) Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.
NBC
“Scream Queens” (Fox) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“NCIS” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“The Muppets” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.
ABC
“Fresh off the Boat” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8:30 p.m.
ABC
“NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“Limitless” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“Survivor” (CBS) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“Rosewood” (Fox) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“The Mysteries of Laura” (NBC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
NBC
“The Middle” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
ABC
“The Goldbergs” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8:30 p.m.
ABC
“Empire” (Fox) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.
Fox
“Law & Order: SVU” (NBC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.
NBC
“Modern Family” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.
ABC
“black-ish” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9:30 p.m.
ABC
“Nashville” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“Heroes Reborn” (NBC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m.
NBC
“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m.
ABC
“Scandal” (ABC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 9 p.m.
ABC
“The Player” (NBC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m.
NBC
“How to Get Away With Murder” (ABC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“Last Man Standing” (ABC) Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.
ABC
“The Amazing Race” (CBS) Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“Hawaii Five-0” (CBS) Friday, Sept. 25 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“Shark Tank” (ABC) Friday, Sept. 25 at 9 p.m.
“Blue Bloods” (CBS) Friday, Sept. 25 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“Bob’s Burgers” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Fox
“The Simpsons” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“Once Upon a Time” (ABC) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.
ABC
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” Finale (CBS) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8:30 p.m.
Fox
“Family Guy” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m.
Fox
“Blood & Oil” (ABC) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m.
ABC
“The Last Man on Earth” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 9:30 p.m.
Fox
“Quantico” (ABC) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central) Monday, Sept. 28 at 11 p.m.
Comedy Central
“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.
ABC
“Grandfathered” (Fox) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“The Grinder” (Fox) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8:30 p.m.
Fox
“Beyond the Tank” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“Criminal Minds” (CBS) Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“Code Black” (CBS) Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“Chicago PD” (NBC) Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 10 p.m.
NBC
“Bones” (Fox) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“The Blacklist” (NBC) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m.
NBC
“Sleepy Hollow” (Fox) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m.
Fox
“Benders” (IFC) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 10 p.m.
IFC
“Dr. Ken” (ABC) Friday, Oct. 2 at 8:30 p.m.
ABC
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC) Saturday, Oct. 3 at 11:30 p.m.
NBC
“Madam Secretary” (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“The Leftovers” (HBO) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m.
HBO
“Homeland” (Showtime) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m.
Showtime
“The Good Wife” (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“CSI: Cyber” (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“The Affair” (Showtime) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m.
Showtime
“The Flash” (CW) Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m.
CW
“iZombie” (CW) Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 9 p.m.
CW
“Finding Carter” (MTV) Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 10 p.m.
MTV
"Casual" (Hulu) Wednesday, Oct. 7
Hulu
“Arrow” (CW) Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m.
CW
“Supernatural” (CW) Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 9 p.m.
CW
“American Horror Story: Hotel” (FX) Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 10 p.m.
FX
“The Vampire Diaries” (CW) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m.
CW
“The Originals” (CW) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 9 p.m.
CW
“Haven” (Syfy) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 10 p.m.
Syfy
“Funny or Die’s Billy on the Street” (truTV) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 10:30 p.m.
truTV
“Red Oaks” (Amazon) Friday, Oct. 9
Amazon
“Reign” (CW) Friday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m.
CW
“Undateable” (NBC) Friday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m.
NBC
“The Last Kingdom” (BBC America) Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10 p.m.
BBC America
“The Walking Dead” (AMC) Sunday, Oct. 11 at 9 p.m.
AMC
“The Talking Dead” (AMC) Sunday, Oct. 11 at 10:30 p.m.
AMC
“Crazy Ex-Girlfrind” (CW) Monday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m.
CW
“Jane the Virgin” (CW) Monday, Oct. 12 at 9 p.m.
CW
“Fargo” (FX) Monday, Oct. 12 at 10 p.m.
FX
“Manhattan” (WGN) Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 9 p.m.
WGN
“Chicago Fire” (NBC) Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 10 p.m.
NBC
“Kingdom” (DirecTV) Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 9 p.m.
DirecTV
“Nathan for You” (Comedy Central) Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10 p.m.
Comedy Central
“The Knick” (Cinemax) Friday, Oct. 16
Cinemax
“Truth Be Told” (NBC) Friday, Oct. 16 at 8:30 p.m.
NBC
“Satisfaction” (USA) Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 p.m.
USA
“Please Like Me” (Pivot) Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 p.m.
Pivot
“RocketJump: The Show” (Hulu) Wednesday, Oct. 21
Getty Images
“Hemlock Grove” (Netflix) Friday, Oct. 23
Netflix
“Da Vinci’s Demons” (Starz) Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m.
Starz
“Supergirl” (CBS) Monday, Oct. 26 at 8:30 p.m.
CBS
“Wicked City” (ABC) Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“Grimm” (NBC) Friday, Oct. 30 at 10 p.m.
NBC
“Ash vs. Evil Dead” (Starz) Saturday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m.
Starz
“Major Crimes” (TNT) Monday, Nov. 2 at 9 p.m.
TNT
“Legends” (TNT) Monday, Nov. 2 at 10 p.m.
TNT
“Angel From Hell” (CBS) Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9:30 p.m.
CBS
“Mom” (CBS) Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“Elementary” (CBS) Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“Master of None” (Netflix) Friday, Nov. 6
Getty Images
“MasterChef Junior” (Fox) Friday, Nov. 6 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“Flesh and Bone” (Starz) Sunday, Nov. 8
Starz
“Chicago Med” (NBC) Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 10 p.m.
NBC
“Donny!” (USA) Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 10:30 p.m.
USA
“Into the Badlands” (AMC) Sunday, Nov. 15 at 10 p.m.
AMC
“The Man in the High Castle” (Amazon) Friday, Nov. 20
Amazon