Baby Daddy Review: A Real Winner, But Is It a New “Friends”?

From left clockwise: Chelsea Kane, Derek Theler, Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Melissa Peterman, and Tahj Mowry. Center: Twins Ali and Suzy Hartman

Baby Daddy is a rambunctious sitcom on ABC Family that aired first on June 20, 2012. It stars Jean-Luc Bilodeau as Ben Wheeler, a playboy who gets dumped with his daughter by his ex-girlfriend, and has to cope with raising her with help from his mother Bonnie (Melissa Peterman), his brother Danny (Derek Theler), his best friend Riley (Chelsea Kane), and his roommate Tucker (Tahj Mowry).

The relationships between all of the characters are believable, and hilarious. Peterman is comedy gold, and I am thoroughly surprised she hasn’t been given her own sitcom yet. Kane is so cute, the audience can’t help but just adore her and her character. We have previously seen Kane on Disney Channel, on the shows Jonas and Jonas L.A., and the movies Minutemen and Starstruck. She has also guest appeared on TV shows like The Big Engvall Show and Wizards of Waverly Place. Chelsea Kane was the star of the ABC Family musical Lovestruck: The Musical. Kane isn’t the only member of this cast that started out on Disney Channel. Bilodeau was Debby Ryan’s costar in the movie 16 Wishes in 2010. I find Bilodeau very attractive and charming, which helps with his womanizer role in Baby Daddy. I loved Tahj Mowry since I was a little girl and watched him as a little boy on Sister, Sister and Seventeen Again, in which he appeared with his older sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry. He also appeared in Full House, and my favorite cartoon to date, Kim Possible. The writers of never cease with the jokes involving Mowry’s height, and I quite enjoy that. I for one, am quite ‘vertically challenged’ also, and never get tired of creative ways to involve height related jokes into dialogue.

All in all I think Baby Daddy is a real winner. I find it much more enjoyable and gratifying than Melissa & Joey, a show that grows old quite fast. Baby Daddy is already renewed for another 10 episode season, which I am grateful for, but I believe it is quite natural that I ask for a normal length, 26 episode season. The cast is relatable, and realistic to their characters. Is Baby Daddy the new Friends? No, but it sure is enjoyable to pass 30 minutes of time with. I give this rambunctious sitcom about a dad and his baby girl 9 out of 10 stars. The census stating: “While this comedy is a real winner, and all of the characters are spot on, one can only wish that the network would more than 10 episodes a season.”