Wait’ll Mom Gets Home

Last week's  GOP presidential debate looked, on the surface, like a trashy dysfunctional family talk show. But I’ve discovered, on reflection, that it was actually the pilot for a new (but very retro) sitcom: Wait’ll Mom Gets Home. Donald Trump is Grandpa, an irascible comedian who traces his lineage back to Archie Bunker on All In The Family. His biting put-downs of everyone around him are the highlight of the series. Jeb Bush is Grandma, ditzy and basically sweet-tempered, but totally disappointed with the whole family. She tries to give as good as she gets, but her zingers fall hilariously flat. Ben Carson is the stoner uncle parked on a corner of the couch, occasionally launching goofy, incomprehensible riffs. Then there are the two constantly bickering kids, Ted Cruz, the “smart” one (not), and Marco Rubio, the “hot” one (not). Finally, there’s John Kasich as Dad, good-natured, peppy but inept, trying with no success to hold everything together. And here’s the kicker—wait for it—they’re all running for President of the United States!