My Big Fat Greek Life - The Entire Series
In the wake of the phenomenal success ofMy Big Fat Greek Wedding,  it seemed an obvious choice to build a sitcom around writer-star Nia  Vardalos's family life. But the sitcom was cancelled after half a  seaon--which is too bad, because thoughMy Big Fat Greek Lifedoesn't capture the same relaxed, storytelling rhythm of the movie,  almost the entire acting ensemble returns (Andrea Martin, Michael  Constantine, Lainie Kazan, Gia Carides, and Louis Mandylor; only John  Corbett, due to other obligations, was ably replaced by Steve Eckholdt as  Nia's non-Greek husband), and their skilled interplay makesMy Big Fat  Greek Lifean entirely satisfying show. Most of the episodes stay  strongly entrenched with family issues, playing with the contrasting tugs  of family obligation and the desire for independence, all anchored by  Vardalos's smart, engaging presence.--Bret Fetzer