Man Up!
Man Up!: The Quest for Masculinity is a 2017 book authored by Jeffrey Hemmer, a Lutheran pastor, which defines biblical manhood as rooted in sacrificial love modeled by Jesus Christ's crucifixion, urging men to pursue servant-leadership rather than conforming to secular ideals of dominance or emotional suppression.[1][2] Published by Concordia Publishing House, the work spans 315 pages and draws directly from Scripture to delineate distinct roles for men and women as ordained by God, emphasizing sacrifice as the core of manliness.[1][3] Hemmer, who serves in pastoral ministry, structures the book to address cultural distortions of masculinity, using theological reasoning and personal illustrations to guide readers toward embodying Christ's example in fatherhood, marriage, and community responsibilities.[4] The text critiques vague or performative notions of "being a man" prevalent in modern society, instead privileging scriptural imperatives for humility, provision, and protection grounded in divine design.[2][4] Receiving positive reception within Christian audiences for its clarity and applicability, it has been praised for redirecting men's focus from self-centered achievement to Christ-centered service, with endorsements highlighting its potential to strengthen family dynamics.[5][6] No major controversies surround the publication, though its unapologetic affirmation of complementary gender roles contrasts with progressive academic narratives that often frame traditional masculinity as inherently problematic.[2]Premise and Themes
Plot Overview
"Man Up!" is an American sitcom that follows three male friends in their thirties and forties navigating the tensions between traditional masculinity and contemporary societal norms. The central characters—Will Keen, a married father struggling to embody the toughness of prior generations; Craig Griffith, a recently divorced and immature salesman; and Kenny Slade, a video game-obsessed bachelor avoiding adult responsibilities—attempt to reclaim a sense of "tough guy" identity amid modern life's perceived emasculation. Set in Gahanna, Ohio, the series contrasts their 1980s-influenced upbringing with the experiences of forebears like Will's World War II veteran grandfather, highlighting generational shifts in male roles.[7][8] Each episode depicts the protagonists confronting personal and relational challenges through comedic efforts to assert manhood, such as Will's fixation on securing the ideal birthday gift for his son or Craig's disruptive attendance at his ex-girlfriend's wedding in the pilot. The narrative arc underscores their frustrations with evolving gender expectations, including sensitivity to female partners and children, while poking fun at attempts to revive rugged self-reliance. Recurring themes involve family dynamics, failed bravado, and reflections on whether modern men have become overly "evolved" or effete compared to historical standards.[9][10][11] The show premiered on ABC on October 27, 2011, and aired eight episodes before cancellation, with plots consistently revolving around the trio's quests for validation in a world they view as diminishing male agency. Supporting characters, including wives and children, amplify the humor by exposing the men's insecurities and half-hearted machismo. Critics noted the premise's focus on "manxiety" over lost masculinity, though execution varied in subtlety.[12][13]Depiction of Modern Masculinity
The sitcom Man Up! depicts modern masculinity as a state of cultural disconnection from historical ideals of stoicism and physical prowess, exemplified by the protagonists' forefathers who endured wartime hardships, in contrast to their own immersion in suburban domesticity and emotional vulnerability. The narrative frames contemporary men as softened by progressive gender norms, pop culture influences, and equitable partnerships, leading to "manxiety"—a pervasive unease over failing to embody "real" manhood.[13] This portrayal manifests through the three lead characters, lifelong friends who navigate marriage, career stagnation, and singledom by attempting to revive "inner tough guys" via exaggerated acts of bravado, such as confrontations or risk-taking, which frequently unravel into farce.[14][15] Central to the show's thesis is the tension between generational legacies and modern exigencies: protagonist Will reflects on his grandfather's World War II combat and father's Vietnam service against his routine skirmishes with technology and spousal negotiations, symbolizing a broader erosion of male agency in a feminized societal structure.[16] Craig, the analytical underachiever, and Kenny, the impulsive philanderer, complement this by representing intellectual overreach and primal excess, respectively, yet both defer to female partners or societal expectations that prioritize consensus over dominance.[14] The series critiques this dynamic as emasculating, positing that reliance on women for validation and decision-making has rendered men "lily-livered" and codependent, prompting remedial efforts to reclaim autonomy through male bonding and nostalgic toughness.[14][13] Creator Christopher Moynihan drew from observed shifts in male socialization—such as diminished roughhousing among boys and heightened emotional expressiveness—to illustrate survival strategies for 21st-century men amid evolving family roles and workplace demands.[17] While the comedic lens amplifies stereotypes for humor, the underlying depiction aligns with contemporaneous sitcom trends addressing male identity crises, including Last Man Standing and Men of a Certain Age, by highlighting causal links between cultural permissiveness and male disorientation without endorsing resolution through conformity to either extreme.[15][17]Cast and Characters
Principal Cast
The principal cast of Man Up!, an ABC sitcom that aired in 2011, featured Mather Zickel as Will Keen, a lawyer navigating the challenges of contemporary fatherhood and masculinity.[10] Dan Fogler played Kenny Hayden, Will's best friend and a stay-at-home father dealing with emasculation in his role.[10] Christopher Moynihan portrayed Craig Griffith, the group's more sensitive member and a blogger questioning traditional male norms.[10] Teri Polo starred as Theresa Hayden Keen, Will's wife and a no-nonsense professional.[11] Amanda Detmer appeared as Brenda Hayden, Kenny's wife and a supportive but exasperated partner.[10] These actors formed the core ensemble across the series' eight aired episodes out of 13 produced, with each principal character appearing in multiple episodes to depict the interplay of modern male identities and relationships.[18]Character Analysis
The primary characters in Man Up! revolve around three middle-aged friends grappling with perceived declines in traditional masculinity amid contemporary societal shifts. Will Keen, portrayed by Mather Zickel, serves as the protagonist: a sensitive, white-collar family man married to Theresa and father to a young son, whose evolved nature attracted his wife but now leaves him questioning his adequacy compared to his forebears—his grandfather who fought in World War II and his father who served in Vietnam—while he spends time playing Call of Duty on his PlayStation.[13][19] Will's anxieties manifest in everyday pressures, such as obsessing over the ideal birthday gift for his son's 13th milestone to affirm his paternal role.[20] Kenny Hayden, played by Dan Fogler, is Will's snarky, divorced brother-in-law and friend, embodying a defensive bravado that masks insecurities about his post-separation life, including discomfort with his ex-wife's new, physically imposing boyfriend attending family events.[20][13] His character highlights reactive masculinity, often mocking more introspective peers while navigating personal failures that underscore a broader sense of emasculation in a world favoring emotional vulnerability over stoicism.[13] Craig Griffith, enacted by series creator Christopher Moynihan, represents the most emotionally attuned of the trio: an introspective single man fretting over his ex-girlfriend's impending marriage, who suggests gentle solutions like journaling for Will's son rather than rugged alternatives, further illustrating the group's collective drift from historical male archetypes toward modern sensitivity.[20][13] Supporting figures like the muscular Grant Sweet (Henry Simmons), a hyper-masculine foil, amplify the protagonists' self-doubts by exemplifying physical prowess absent in their own lives.[13] Through these portrayals, the characters collectively probe the tension between inherited toughness and present-day "softness," though critics noted the show's overt hammering of this theme limited nuanced development.[13]Production
Development and Writing
"Man Up!" was created by Christopher Moynihan, an actor and writer who drew inspiration from the evolving societal expectations of masculinity in the early 21st century.[17] Moynihan, who also portrayed the character Craig Griffith—a sensitive blogger navigating modern manhood—conceived the series as an exploration of three friends grappling with traditional versus contemporary male roles, reflecting what he described as a generational shift where men question inherited ideals of toughness amid demands for emotional openness.[21] He positioned the show within a broader 2011 television trend of "manxiety" comedies, attributing it to men feeling "lost" in balancing stoic paternal legacies with modern sensitivities required for family life.[17] The pilot episode was written by Moynihan himself, establishing the single-camera format focused on the protagonists' attempts to channel "inner toughness" through everyday challenges like parenting and relationships.[16] Executive producers included Moynihan alongside Victor Fresco, Lisa McQuillan, and Matt Tarses, who contributed to the writing staff responsible for the 13-episode order.[22] Additional writers such as Shawn Simmons handled story editing and scripting for subsequent episodes, emphasizing comedic scenarios derived from the characters' insecurities about perceived emasculation in a feminized cultural landscape.[22] The writing process prioritized relatable, observational humor over broad farce, though critics later noted its heavy-handed messaging on male identity.[13] Development aligned with ABC's 2011 upfront strategy to counterbalance female-led sitcoms, greenlighting the project for a fall premiere on October 18, 2011.[10]Filming and Technical Aspects
The series was filmed in Los Angeles, California, utilizing a multi-camera setup common to network sitcoms of the era, which allowed for live audience taping and efficient production of its 13 episodes.[10] Episodes were directed by a rotation of television veterans, with the pilot helmed by Beth McCarthy-Miller, known for her work on 30 Rock.[23] Cinematography was handled by Levie Isaacks across all episodes, contributing to the show's standard half-hour comedy visual style.[24] Technical specifications included a runtime of approximately 22 minutes per episode, Dolby Digital sound mix, color grading, and a 16:9 HD aspect ratio, aligning with ABC's broadcast standards for prime-time programming in 2011.[25] Production was managed by Bicycle Path Productions and Tagline Television in association with ABC Studios, emphasizing studio-based interiors to depict the characters' suburban Ohio lives without extensive on-location shoots.[10] No notable innovations in filming techniques were reported, reflecting the conventional approach to single-camera alternatives or experimental formats at the time.Broadcast History
Episode List
The first season of Man Up! consists of 13 episodes, with episodes 1–8 broadcast on ABC and episodes 9–13 released online via the network's website on December 13, 2011.[26][12]| No. | Title | Original release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot | October 18, 2011 |
| 2 | Finessing the Bromance | October 25, 2011 |
| 3 | Digging Deeper | November 1, 2011 |
| 4 | Wingmen | November 8, 2011 |
| 5 | Acceptance | November 15, 2011 |
| 6 | Buying Guy | November 22, 2011 |
| 7 | Weekend at Craig's | November 29, 2011 |
| 8 | Hot Foot | December 6, 2011 |
| 9 | The Finger | December 13, 2011 (online) |
| 10 | Put Him on the Table | December 13, 2011 (online) |
| 11 | Take the Field | December 13, 2011 (online) |
| 12 | Man of the House | December 13, 2011 (online) |
| 13 | Trap Door | December 13, 2011 (online) |