From Deseret News archives:

'Family' is weird

Published: Monday, April 19, 2004 3:40 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
HOLLYWOOD — A&E's new series "Family Plots" follows the adventures of three average American sisters who just happen to work in an average American funeral home.

Well, maybe not so average.

The latest entry in reality genre, which premieres tonight with a pair of episodes at 7 and 7:30 (repeated at 11 and 11:30), is, well, sort of weird.

These really are people who really do work at a real funeral home in Southern California. And, while it's not exactly HBO's "Six Feet Under," this is also a colorful family.

"It's a part of American life that I think has always been shrouded — no pun intended — from everyday view," said Rick Sadler, the general manager of the Poway Bernardo Mortuary in San Diego. "There really isn't any reason for that. I think that we want to give you an insight into what it is that we do to care for these families and make this funeral happen in a way that they want it to happen."

Sadler hired Shonna Smith as his head mortician. She brought her younger sister, Emily Vigney, as office manager and mortician-in-training. And their older sister, Melissa Wissmiller, became the assistant funeral director.

Then there's the sisters' father, Chuck Wissmiller, who transports the bodies when he isn't teaching boxing.

Story continues below
Throw in the overbearing Sadler; funeral director John Greeney, who quickly bonds with abrasive Chuck; and funeral director David Moravee, whose obsessiveness earns him the nickname "Rainman," and "Family Plots" becomes, well, weird.

Not that the bickering that goes on is any different than families or co-workers anywhere else. Or not greatly different, anyway.

But the fact that all of this is taking place behind the scenes of a funeral home makes it, well, weird.

Not that the people are any weirder than anybody else. It's just that, well, this is a weird situation. Although the people do come across as committed to their, well, customers.

"I've been in this business since I was 18 years old, and my goal in everything that I do on a daily basis is to serve a family like it was my own family. I'm passionate about that," Smith said.

"I also think it's going to humanize the people who work, particularly at Poway Bernardo Mortuary, but hopefully across the board for independent, family-owned and operated funeral homes around the country," Sadler said. "This show is really about three beautiful and intelligent and amazing young women that make this happen on a daily basis, and never lose energy and never lose sight of their integrity and their focus and their professionalism."

Well, never may be a bit strong. Their interactions are what "Family Plots" is all about. And, while the job always gets done, it's how it gets done that creates the stories.

Weird stories, in a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction way.


E-mail: pierce@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Hugh Kretschmer, A\\\\&E

David Moravee, Emily Vigney, Rick Sadler, Chuck Wissmiller, John Greeney, Melissa Wissmiller and Shonna Smith of "Family Plots."

previousnext

Latest comments

BSU is inferior simply because they play in the WAC. They don't play anybody...

I find it silly to sit here & pass judgement on a man based upon your own...

Letters: Test proof of warming

"If CO2 is a green house gas and keeping in or trapping the radiant heat from...

Sources: Josh Powell hires attorney

This is all very suspicious.

U. seniors looking for win No. 40

Go Utes! That is awesome for your Seniors. I think you should have no problem...

read my lips: NO NEW TAXES OR THROW THEM OUT ! !!! They can deal with...

Jazz will have full lineup tonight

Korver is more than just a 3 point shooter. If you are playing the Jazz with...

Look to see who is on the floor at the END of the next three games. Tonight...

I think this was such a great program to implement in this community at...

Not the best intro. Please stop with the Max Hall stuff. He said...

Advertisements