"Parenthood" in the hood...

Seems NBC's pilot season is making its way all over the Bay Area these days.

Following on the heels of the filming of the NBC pilot Trauma, comes Parenthood, based on the 1989 Ron Howard film of the same name. Seems they're filming the pilot right here in town. And not just anywhere, but literally half a block away from where I live. Well, here and all across the East Bay.

If you'll recall (or not, actually), the TV honchos tried this before, but with failed results. Of course that was before Brothers & Sisters, and let's be honest, couldn't we use another iteration of that concept? I'll admit that I'm a bit of a sucker for the Walker clan and wouldn't be opposed to following the family shenanigans of another brood, especially if they're basing it out of my neighborhood. Plus, this time around the Buckmans feature the likes of Peter Krause, Maura Tierney and is being directed by Thomas Schlamme (TV's The West Wing and the underrated Jack & Bobby). The plot remains relatively the same; following the lives of the Buckman family, which includes four siblings -- played by Krause, Tierney, Erika Christensen, and Dax Shepard -- and their parents -- played by Craig T. Nelson and, likely, Bonnie Bedella.

OK, so the film crew was merely on my block to shoot some exterior shots for the show, but I couldn't help but feel a little giddy when I caught the line of trailers underneath the freeway. I mean, it's like waking up and finding the circus has blown into your backyard. No? Sorry, I recently caught an afternoon showing of Big Top Pee Wee (which I unabashedly point out. Pee Wee is good times...).

Anyway, if the Buckmans manage to pull off half as many drink fests and drama as the Walker clan does over on ABC, I'm in.


TRAGIC UPDATE: From the Contra Costa Times.