Monster in-Laws

Robbins means business, calmly prodding family members--and not just the apparent aggressors--to truly comprehend where others are coming from. She calls people on their bull, eliciting not just tears from stress but tears of realization.

There's no shortage of problems on Monster In-Laws, and the explosive promos for the show would lead you to believe that it will turn out to be little more than a Basketball Wives scream-fest in family form. Instead, producers Brent Montgomery (Pawn Stars) and Courtney Montgomery (What the Sell?!) have mercifully opted for the therapy model of reality television.

Think "Kitchen Nightmares" for dysfunctional relatives with the relationship experts coming in and making things work better in two minutes.

Monster In-Laws seems unlikely to offer any real solutions to people with nightmarish in-laws. Its highest function might be simply to enable them to say, "Well, I'm glad it's not just me."

Without sounding disrespectful, it feels pretty routine.