Entertainment

All in the family

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First the bad news:

The traditional TV family formula — mom+dad+kids+house = chaos and fun! — is back.

Now the good news: The traditional TV family formula — mom+dad+kids+house = chaos and fun! — is back.

Tonight, the “quality” family drama “Parenthood” returns for Season 3 focusing on the joys and miseries of the multi-generational Bravermans — the family everyone wishes they had but that no one really does.

“Parenthood” works because the show has kept up with the times. Drugs, sex and unemployment are enough to make it all seem real.

In the season opener, Adam (Peter Krause) remains unemployed, while his very pregnant wife, Kristina (Monica Potter), remains the sole support of the family.

Out of money and trying to keep their heads above water, they’re dealing with their youngest child who has Asperger’s and their oldest child, who is ready to go off to college at the same time a new baby is on the way. Adam has to decide between diving into a risky, creative enterprise or taking a guaranteed (boring) middle management job that will put food on the table. Bad.

Meantime, Julia (Erika Christensen) and Joel (Sam Jaeger) can’t conceive, even though they can more than afford a new baby. Julia’s so desperate, she’s thinking of asking the pregnant coffee-cart girl who is not planning to keep her baby, if she can buy it. Very bad.

Meantime, Sarah’s (Lauren Graham) endless tribulations with her troubled daughter, Amber (Mae Whitman), make you wonder why anyone has kids. The worst.

Best line of the night: Sarah to Julia: “Hmmm, she sells coffee, so yes, she’d probably sell her baby!”

New tomorrow night is the premiere of “Up All N
ight,” a sitcom about a couple of new parents, Reagan and Chris (Christina Applegate and Will Arnett).

This could easily have been (and was) a cloying sit-no-com.

Originally, in a pilot version reporters saw last summer, Maya Rudolph played an over-the-top p.r. titan — and it didn’t work.

In the revamp, she’s an Oprah-type TV guru (a la her “Saturday Night Live” character). And it really works.

The makeover has helped morph the series from unwatchable and unfunny into a witty sitcom about people who are desperate not to turn into TV sitcom parents.

It still has its flaws. The whole idea of lawyer-husband Chris becoming a stay-at-home dad just so that mom Reagan can continue working is ridiculous.

Has no one ever heard of nannies in their world?

Buy the premise, buy the package.

“Parenthood” season 3 premiere, Monday night at 8 on NBC. 3 stars.

“Up All Night,” Wednesday night at 10 on NBC. 2 1/2 stars.