David Cassidy on the Web
Pop Ballads and a Dose of Cassidy Nostalgia
July 20, 2009
By Mike Hale
The New York Times
If you're old enough to remember "The Partridge Family" and young enough to remember it fondly - which means you're in your mid-40s and can recite the Echo Valley phone number - then you might enjoy Tuesday night's pilot episode of "Ruby & the Rockits" on ABC Family.
It stars the half brothers David and Patrick Cassidy as the brothers David and Patrick Gallagher, former rock stars who are now a suburban car-dealer dad (Patrick) and an oldies act in a casino lounge (David, spoofing his own "Partridge Family" persona). Patrick's brothers, Shaun (executive producer) and Ryan (set designer), are also involved. The United Auto Workers could learn something from the Cassidy family.
"Ruby & the Rockits" is technically a vehicle for the 20-year-old Alexa Vega of the "Spy Kids" movies, who plays Ruby, the 15-year-old daughter David Gallagher didn't know he had. Her sudden appearance, and David's fobbing off of her on Patrick - who already has a perky-sarcastic wife (Katie Amanda Keane) and two sons (Austin Butler, as a dopey emo heartthrob, and Kurt Doss, as the cynical younger child, both fairly funny) - sets the stage for an '80s-style sitcom in the great tradition of "My Two Dads" and "Full House."
But the reason to watch, if there is one, is Cassidy nostalgia. Their performances aren't much more than competent - Patrick, a Broadway and television veteran, hits his marks; David exhibits an ability to time a joke, though the tightness of his face hurts his delivery. The show's best moments are the brothers' old Rockits videos (sample title: "Chunnel of Love"), for which the two don spandex and huge blond wigs. "Ruby" is clearly meant to be a showcase for Ms. Vega's own singing, but she needs to talk to her manager: the Rockits songs are far more fun than the anemic pop ballads she is given.
The first episode has some verve, most likely the contribution of the show's other executive producer, Marsh McCall ("Just Shoot Me"); it's certainly better than " 'Til Death," to mention one show that's returning to a network schedule this fall. Episodes 2 and 3 sag considerably, though. (They also carry on an icky subplot in which Mr. Butler's character has a crush on his cousin Ruby, which needs to be resolved soon.)
One thing that could liven up the series seems too obvious to mention: an appearance by Shirley Jones, "Partridge Family" star, stepmother of David and mother of the other three Cassidys. Based on her recent guest spot on "The Cleaner," in which she played an alcoholic who bares her 75-year-old breasts in public, she's still going strong.
RUBY & THE ROCKITS
ABC Family, Tuesday nights at 8:30, Eastern and Pacific times; 7:30, Central time.
Story by Shaun Cassidy and Ed Yeager; teleplay by Mr. Yeager and Marsh McCall; Mr. Cassidy and Mr. McCall, executive producers; Al Lowenstein, producer; music produced by Eve Nelson and Jay Gruska; Jim Roberson, director of photography; Michael Hynes, production designer; edited by Peter Beyt; casting by Barbara Stordahl and Angela Terry.
WITH: Alexa Vega (Ruby Gallagher), Patrick Cassidy (Patrick Gallagher), Katie Amanda Keane (Audie Gallagher), Austin Butler (Jordan Gallagher), Kurt Doss (Ben Gallagher) and David Cassidy (David Gallagher).
