Topic: Ellen Barkin

The NBC sitcom "The New Normal" features Ellen Barkin as a bigoted grandmother reacting to a gay couple using her granddaughter as a surrogate. While the show relies on heavy stereotyping of homosexual relationships, it attempts to use Archie Bunker-style humor to address social dynamics. Critics note the production's reliance on exaggerated tropes common in network television comedies.

NBC is premiering a new sitcom titled "The New Normal," created by the producers of Glee. The show is criticized for pushing specific social memes regarding non-traditional family structures and surrogacy. The program's marketing uses the phrase "different is the new normal" to frame its narrative on modern cultural shifts.