Will Arnett Keeps 'Up All Night' Humming

The second season premiere of NBC’s Up All Night shows the Brinkley family going through extreme transitions, both in their home and in their lives. The first change seems bearable, if unpleasant. Reagan’s (Christina Applegate) brother Scott (Luka Jones) is remodeling her bathroom, much to her concern. It is only after Reagan has taken a sledgehammer to her bathroom wall, however, that the big changes hit her.

Reagan learns that her producing job is gone because Ava’s (Maya Rudolph) show has been canceled. As a result, Chris (Will Arnett) returns to his old law firm to ask for his job back. However, he soon realizes that his old job is not what he wants out of life and makes a decision that will no doubt impact himself and his family.

The strongest link is, as always, Arnett. Those who are used to him as Gob Bluth on Arrested Development may be taken aback by his ability to be the straight man that allows Applegate and Rudolph to run wild. It’s also refreshing to see a dad who is not some lazy bonehead resembling Ray Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond), but a gentle soul with a level head.

The premiere sets up several storylines to follow this season: How will Ava get back onto television? How will Reagan deal with being a stay-at-home mom? Will Chris and Scott make their new business venture work? The twists should make for a compelling second season.