'The Mysteries of Laura' Review: Grace Adler with Twins and a Gun?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Grace Adler dialed back her neurosis, joined the New York Police Department, and became married with children? No? It may be due to the inescapable glut of “Will & Grace” reruns, but Laura Diamond seems like a slightly more mature version of Grace. They are both unapologetic gluttons who get into bizarre predicaments thanks to a puzzling combination of talent and ineptitude.

It is Debra Messing’s comedic skills and willingness to humiliate herself that make for some of best moments in “The Mysteries of Laura,” but the pilot definitely has some rough spots. Only one episode in, it is too soon to tell if the show is rushing to establish background by exposing viewers to the various quirks of Laura’s home and work lives or making a scattered effort to meld a dramatic police procedural with a sitcom family. Either way, this show needs to tweak its own balancing act.

Problem Children

Laura’s twin boys are supposed to be rambunctious preschoolers, but the actors portraying them appear to be 6 or 7 years old. That makes it difficult to tolerate much less laugh when they terrorize their teacher or take a tinkle on each other in the middle of the park. These boys skipped precocious, lingered at juvenile delinquents, and advanced to sociopaths-in-training.

Quick Fix: Adjust their antics to make them suitable for their age. Make them energetic and resourceful, show them decorating a room with graffiti instead of smearing it with paint like toddlers.

The Mom Bomb

Laura’s a working mother who’s separated from her irresponsible husband. She is a top notch detective, but motherhood keeps creeping into her worklife. Watching her instinctively use a wet wipe to clean a shrieking victim’s face is awkward but organic. Her multiple mentions of shopping at Target feel forced and cheesey.

Quick Fix: Unless Target is a sponsor, quit joking about the chic alternative to Walmart. The mom jokes need to mesh with Laura’s full personality. If viewers are to believe that she’s in total control at work in her demanding role as detective and at loss in wrangling two little boys at home, the overlap needs thoughtful handling.

The Dumb Dad

Okay, the dad can’t be too dumb since he manages his own prestigious career, but viewers only know him as the thorn in Laura’s side. Jake (Josh Lucas) revels in his kids’ rowdy behavior with a trite “boys will be boys” attitude. He is unreliable and irresponsible, making it hard to understand why he and Laura were a couple. (Why is she still wearing her wedding ring?) Maybe he is supposed to be a carefree, fun guy with a streak of dumb luck, but he comes across as an unlikeable, selfish oaf.

Quick Fix: Show Jake’s charm. Make his parenting philosophy carefree, not careless.

“The Mysteries of Laura” airs Wednesdays at 8/7 central on NBC.