TNT's drama about three aging men, appropriately enough titled Men of a Certain Age, returns for a second season tomorrow (Monday) night. After a ten episode season last winter, many people may not remember the show, and I think that will probably hurt it. Unlike other dramas, it's not must-see TV, or exciting enough to warrant an event. Though that sounds like an insult, it's not meant to be. Instead, it's a really nice, tonally calm story of three men and how they deal with getting older. Which, unfortunately, is not something I would expect to do well after taking nine months off between seasons.
As season two begins, all three of the main characters are dealing with the effects of decisions made at the end of season one. Owen (Andre Braugher) has taken over his father's car dealership, and as you might expect, he's having a rough time of it. Sales are down, which isn't surprising, considering our current economy, although that is never mentioned on screen as a reason for the down turn. In the first new episode, Owen's father, Owen Sr. (Richard Gant), tells Owen he must woo back old rival (and top seller) Marcus (Brian J. White). If you watched the show, you'll remember that Owen and Marcus don't have much affection for each other, and that's putting it nicely. As such, their meeting is not exactly warm, though I won't reveal the result. In episode two, Owen is dealing with Jesse (Patrick Gallagher, Glee), a new character who runs the repair shop
at the dealership. Let's just say that the service guys and the sales guys don't play nicely with one another.
Terry (Scott Bakula) took a job from Owen, and is now trying to make a go of it as a car salesman. As the first episode plays out, Terry has had not a single sale, and things aren't going too well. It's not from lack of effort; Terry is taking the work schedule seriously and really trying his best. He just can't get over the fact that he feels like he's taking advantage of people if he pushes a sale. While no easy solution to this issue is in sight, Owen Sr. is encouraging. Things aren't made any easier by the rest of the staff, who haze Terry pretty good, dredging up his past online. Owen stays out of it, thinking that the boss jumping in to defend his friend would probably only make things worse. He's likely right.





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