Season 1 – Center of the Universe

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Oct 2004

Comedy

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15 Reviews

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Put-upon husband and father John Barnett is always solving problems for his squabbling parents, neurotic sister and no-account brother, leaving little time for his oh-so-patient wife and their son, who's taken to wearing a blazer with the family crest on it to school. Can John keep his sanity?

Critics Consensus

At its core, Center of the Universe is a uncompromisingly bad sitcom that wastes that immense talents of John Goodman and his fellow cast members.

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Bill Goodykoontz

Arizona Republic

06/29/2023

Family sitcom is the worst new show of any network as well as a complete waste of the talents of John Goodman and Ed Asner, among others.

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Matthew Gilbert

Boston Globe

03/12/2020

"The Center of the Universe" is a brilliant success, if the goal is to make some of TV's best look awful.

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Tom Shales

Washington Post

03/12/2020

"Loving your family can be hard work," [John] Goodman says. Loving this family would be just about impossible.

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Scott D. Pierce

Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

03/12/2020

It's not just that it's unfunny, it's painfully unfunny.

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Bruce R. Miller

Sioux City Journal

03/12/2020

Despite a great cast, this "Universe" is off center.

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Alan Pergament

Buffalo News

03/12/2020

The entire cast should be embarrassed by this painfully unfunny show.

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John Goodman

John Barnett

Jean Smart

Kate Barnett

Diedrich Bader

Tommy Barnett

Melinda McGraw

Lily Barnett Manning

Spencer Breslin

Miles Barnett

Ed Asner

Art Barnett

Episode 1

Aired Oct 27, 2004

Pilot

John and Kate are planning a family party to renew their wedding vows, but John's needy family demands his attention.

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Episode 2

Aired Nov 3, 2004

The Lake House

Lily's ex-husband, Gary, invites the Barnetts to a party intended to show off his new girlfriend, offending everyone except Tommy, who decides to accept the invitation.

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Episode 3

Aired Nov 10, 2004

Alarmed and Dangerous

Tommy distinguishes himself at work by volunteering to check on a wealthy and needy divorcee, Sharon (Marilu Henner), a job no one else wants.

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Episode 4

Aired Nov 24, 2004

Good Parent, Bad Parent

John tells his sister that her daughter is too cozy with her boyfriend, only to find out she already knew and resents his interference.

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Episode 5

Aired Dec 1, 2004

Art's Heart

Art's health problems are exposed when Miles asks to stop seeing his grandfather for brunch, and the entire family must convince him to seek medical attention.

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Episode 6

Aired Dec 8, 2004

And the Silver Metal Goes To ...

Kate finds it devastating that John wanted to date her roommate instead of her when they met.

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Episode 7

Aired Dec 15, 2004

Lily's Boyfriend

Lily refuses to go on a date with her new boyfriend, Ted, unless John and Kate come along.

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Episode 8

Aired Jan 5, 2005

The Work of Art

Marge tells John that Art seems depressed since retiring, so John makes up a story to get Art to work with him, but the lies do not stop there.

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Episode 9

Aired Jan 12, 2005

If You Love Something Leave It Alone

John and Kate, determined to find something Miles can excel at, sign him up for a number of different activities.

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Episode 10

Aired Jan 19, 2005

The New Neighbors

When Miles befriends the new kid next door, Kate and John find themselves at rock concerts and staying up late trying to make friends with the boy's young parents.

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Episode 11

Airs undefined

It's the Principal of the Thing