Home Economics - What We Know So Far
Monopoly strikes hard and fast from its innocuous position on the living room floor, like it was specifically designed to pit siblings against one another. ABC's new family comedy Home Economics is taking those uncomfortable moments where one sibling's wealth far outweighs the other's off the board and into the real world of income inequality in the Bay Area.
Except it's more heartwarming than ruthlessly demanding pay for landing on a hotel space: The three adult siblings of Home Economics, sweetly named after the original adulting class, may be in wildly different tax brackets, but they still care about each other. Co-writers John Aboud and Michael Colton, known for Leverage and Penguins of Madagascar, are eager to explore differing financial situations between siblings in the family drama genre they're fans of.
Since WandaVision got everyone excited about family sitcoms again, here's everything we know about the newest entry to the genre.
When will Home Economics premiere?
While it was delayed from the original 2020 release due to the pandemic, via Variety, the premiere date for Home Economics is right around the corner: April 7. It will air on ABC, Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c, perfect for some post-dinner watching.
Its spiritual predecessor Modern Family wrapped last year around the same time, so Home Economics is here to fill that hole with its trio of siblings, their spouses, and several kids. "We've been fans of Modern Family forever," Aboud said at a Television Critics Association panel, according to IndieWire. "But when you look at those three families and how those stories intersect, you look at their houses, all those guys are rich. They are not dealing with financial troubles."
ABC has already released a pair of trailers for the show: A typical one setting up the plot and characters as well as a parody one that imagines Home Economics as other classic series, like The Bachelor and So You Think You Can Dance.
Who is in Home Economics?
There's a familiar face for comedy lovers in the leading role of the eldest sibling Tom. He's played by Topher Grace, most well known as Eric Forman on That '70s Show, but who's been in several other roles, including in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 as Eddie Brock/Venom. Karla Souza (Laurel on How to Get Away with Murder) plays his wife, Marina.
In the role of his sister, Sarah, is Caitlin McGee of Bluff City Law and a few episodes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Grey's Anatomy. Her wife Denise is played by Saturday Night Live's Sasheer Zamata, while Jimmy Tatro of Modern Family and 22 Jump Street is the last sibling, Connor.
Along with the several children, it's an expansive cast. "I was nervous the first day we started shooting and about 48 hours into it, I became overconfident," Grace said, according to Deadline. "The reason is because of these actors that are up here. This is like a dream team." With any luck, that chemistry will make Home Economics a new favorite.
What is the plot of Home Economics?
ABC's official log line for the show reads: "Home Economics takes a look at the heartwarming yet super uncomfortable and sometimes frustrating relationship between three adult siblings: one in the 1 percent, one middle-class and one barely holding on." The central financial dynamic of Home Economics is actually inspired by the life of co-creator Colton. However, there's more going on than just that.
On a completely meta level, the middle-class Tom is writing a book about his family, though he's keeping it a secret as best as he can. The trailer also teases that he must ask his younger, absurdly rich brother Connor for money, but the family discovers that Connor's got his own problems — his wife is cheating on him. Meanwhile, Sarah, who already lives in a tiny apartment with her wife Denise and their kids, loses her job working with low-income kids.
It's set up for maximum conflict, of course, but there's plenty of love within the family to keep it from getting too dark.