Should You Watch: The Goode Family

This is why I haven't done one of these posts in a while: Each time I sample a new show and think I might write about it, it gets canceled, or all but canceled, before I finish. "The Goode Family," Mike Judge's new ABC animated sitcom, has been exiled to Friday nights as punishment for its poor ratings, but though it may now be moot, I will attempt to answer the question, "Should you watch The Goode Family"?

I know I'm watching it, even if it's playing out the string right now. I like the Mike Judge style, and while this comedy isn't his best work, it's goode enough if not greate. The show is about an ultraliberal couple finding all sorts of obstacles as it tries to live the politically correct life as a family.

You should watch this show if:

*You'll give Mike Judge at least a shot on any of his projects (this should include most of you).
*You really miss David Van Driessen from "Beavis and Butt-head." See, Judge's voice for main character Gerald Goode is an awful lot like that of Mr. V.D., and their behavior and attitudes aren't that dissimilar, either. This is a good thing, as that was one of the great cartoon characters of all time.
*You believe that deep down, liberals are, if not outright hypocrites, naive types who don't understand how impractical their ideas are in the real world. I don't agree with that, but the show does mock extreme liberal ideas more than extreme conservative ones. You could argue whether or not the show is mocking or not of the Goode's basic world views.
*Hey, there's another reason to watch: You enjoy arguing whether or not sitcoms or conservative or liberal in their ideology.
*You resent the idea of Fox having a prime time animation monopoly.
*You have been hungering for a return to weekly TV of Brian Doyle Murray, who is outstanding as Helen Goode's crude, unsupportive father.