What is it ? :
It's a drama written by Stephen Gaghan (Traffic, Syriana), set in the world of crime, law enforcements and politics in Los Angeles.
Good/Bad :
What an impressive script. S.I.L.A has nothing to do with Southland, it is actually like nothing you've ever seen before. It moves fast, it's shocking, compelling, brilliantly written, thought-provoking and above all, absorbing. SILA has a wide ensemble of characters that interweave along the pilot, each and every one of them being as appealing as it can get. Unlike most shows, S.I.L.A. does not take sides, it just shows every dark layer of cops, politicians and criminals. Some of the characters such as Max or Mullins (for those who've read it) are stunning while the twists surrounding them are unexpected and will make it hard to miss one episode.
If S.I.L.A hits the screen next September, it will be setting new standards for quality network television. It is as good as it gets.
And yes, we find out what S.I.L.A. means.
Will it make it ?
S.I.L.A looks very expensive and tough to broadcast at 8 or 9pm but it is what NBC needs to prove it can still make the right choice.
Will it work ?
It might be good enough to appeal to a wide enough audience, some will like it because NCIS is not on and others will root for it (the way it should be) like no other show on tv.
Should it make it ?
Hands down my favorite script of the new season, I really hope it will, I do.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Smothered (ABC) by Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen
What is it ? :
It's a comedy about a couple who's being smothered by their respective parents who desperately want to spend some time with their only grand child. Smothered is in contention at ABC and has been written by Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen (producer and writer for Romantically Challenged, Worst Week, Three, Welcome to the Captain and Friends).
Good/Bad :
The snooze fest continues with yet another 50 pages of unfunny jokes with Smothered where two grand parents are fighting over their only grand child. There is nothing new in this pilot and it feels drained out by page 20. On one side we have the pretentious and wealthy grand parents who are trying hard to be snobs and on the other side, the complete opposite. I can't understand how anyone could consider seeing this show making it past five episodes plot-wise nor how anyone would greenlight it. It is incredebly cliche, disorganised while the whole concept of the show is uninteresting. Once again, I have nothing good to say about this script, Smothered is purely and simply bad.
Will it make it ?
Not by a long shot.
Will it work ?
I doubt it.
Should it make it ?
Let's just say Smothered is almost as bad as I Hate My Teenage Daughter.
It's a comedy about a couple who's being smothered by their respective parents who desperately want to spend some time with their only grand child. Smothered is in contention at ABC and has been written by Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen (producer and writer for Romantically Challenged, Worst Week, Three, Welcome to the Captain and Friends).
Good/Bad :
The snooze fest continues with yet another 50 pages of unfunny jokes with Smothered where two grand parents are fighting over their only grand child. There is nothing new in this pilot and it feels drained out by page 20. On one side we have the pretentious and wealthy grand parents who are trying hard to be snobs and on the other side, the complete opposite. I can't understand how anyone could consider seeing this show making it past five episodes plot-wise nor how anyone would greenlight it. It is incredebly cliche, disorganised while the whole concept of the show is uninteresting. Once again, I have nothing good to say about this script, Smothered is purely and simply bad.
Will it make it ?
Not by a long shot.
Will it work ?
I doubt it.
Should it make it ?
Let's just say Smothered is almost as bad as I Hate My Teenage Daughter.
I Hate My Teenage Daughter (FOX) by Sherry Bilsing-Graham and Ellen Kreamer
What is it ? :
It's a comedy about two mothers who are being mistreated by their teenage daughters. It was written by Sherry Bilsing and Ellen Kreamer, two Old Christine alums.
Good/Bad :
Will it make it ?
I seriously doubt it.
Will it work ?
Probably not.
Should it make it ?
Easily the worst pilot I've read this season.
It's a comedy about two mothers who are being mistreated by their teenage daughters. It was written by Sherry Bilsing and Ellen Kreamer, two Old Christine alums.
Good/Bad :
I Hate My Teenage Daughter is plain awful. Aside the fact that I didn't even smile once during these 52 pages, I despised each character more than the other. I don't have a teenage daughter but I'm pretty sure that I would lock her up if she turned out that bad. While the plot of the pilot is incredibly predictable, I Hate my Teenage Daughter does make a decent job at showing how tough raising teenagers can be but the show is more of a terrifying look at what our youth is turning out than a comedy. It scared me a hell of a lot more than it made me laugh (because it didn't) and the only thing I liked about it was that the comedy is only half an hour because another 50 pages of this poor excuse for a comedy would have probably put me asleep. I sincerely don't have one good thing to say about this new comedy and I hope none of you get the misfortune of seeing it. I Hate My Teenage Daughter is plain awful.
Will it make it ?
I seriously doubt it.
Will it work ?
Probably not.
Should it make it ?
Easily the worst pilot I've read this season.
Man Up ! (ABC) by Christopher Moynihan
What is it ? :
Supposedly a comedy about what it takes to survive as a modern man. But it is really a comedy aimed at no one in particular about some guys who couldn't act manly if their lives depended on it (which is also the exact same pitch that another pilot at ABC has, accidentally that other pilot is called Man Up).
Good/Bad :
Well, Man Up ! has about three funny jokes and they all include the word vagina or hooker. I doubt any women will manage to stick past the opening where three dudes exchange silly comments over headsets and I doubt further that any one will take any interest in this show. The pilot centers on a father looking for the perfect gift for his son who is turning thirteen. The lead, Will, might be on some level lovable but the whole concept of the show seems very narrow and unsustainable (like, say, Raising Hope). He's like Phil on Modern Family, awkwardly funny; relentlessly trying to act like his wife isn't the actual husband in their relationship. That makes Man Up an early and unnecessary spin-off of Modern Family. Coming back to the humor, it seems a lot of scenes won't translate well on the screen while most of them seem like they can't be aired on a network. All in all, knowing that the show was written by an actor (Christopher Moynihan) is hardly a surprise and unless the show finds itself some supporting character, a lead that shouldn't be a supporting character, some heart, some humor, Man Up smells like a failure.
Will it make it ?
Nope.
Will it work ?
I can't see why it would.
Should it make it ?
ABC needs to move on from the success of Modern Family and explore something new before it returns to being terrible with comedies.
Supposedly a comedy about what it takes to survive as a modern man. But it is really a comedy aimed at no one in particular about some guys who couldn't act manly if their lives depended on it (which is also the exact same pitch that another pilot at ABC has, accidentally that other pilot is called Man Up).
Good/Bad :
Well, Man Up ! has about three funny jokes and they all include the word vagina or hooker. I doubt any women will manage to stick past the opening where three dudes exchange silly comments over headsets and I doubt further that any one will take any interest in this show. The pilot centers on a father looking for the perfect gift for his son who is turning thirteen. The lead, Will, might be on some level lovable but the whole concept of the show seems very narrow and unsustainable (like, say, Raising Hope). He's like Phil on Modern Family, awkwardly funny; relentlessly trying to act like his wife isn't the actual husband in their relationship. That makes Man Up an early and unnecessary spin-off of Modern Family. Coming back to the humor, it seems a lot of scenes won't translate well on the screen while most of them seem like they can't be aired on a network. All in all, knowing that the show was written by an actor (Christopher Moynihan) is hardly a surprise and unless the show finds itself some supporting character, a lead that shouldn't be a supporting character, some heart, some humor, Man Up smells like a failure.
Will it make it ?
Nope.
Will it work ?
I can't see why it would.
Should it make it ?
ABC needs to move on from the success of Modern Family and explore something new before it returns to being terrible with comedies.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
A few months later...
Almost a year has gone by since my last review, Terriers, Rubicon and Lone Star were cancelled and Shit My Dad Says is still on tv. I wish I could take back what I said about 2010 being a good year for tv.
Harry's Law would make a decent lead-in for the young and the reckless, The Cape's pilot is, and that's a shocker, worse than its script, Mr Sunshine has been softened and once the laugh track is officially added, I will finally be able to call it a CBS show without feeling bad for the good script that the comedy is sort of based on. The only thing deserving your attention this winter is The Chicago Code because anything Shawn Ryan writes is gold but I will lose a few bets if the show stays on the air for more than a few weeks.
I've put my hands on a few scripts that were given pilot orders for next season and they are not all bad. Don't hold your breath, we are still a long way from September 2011 and there is plenty of time for them to turn to shit. Besides, we all know what the cancellation of Lone Star and My Generation is going to be very tough for original ideas on the major networks (and NBC).
Also, hello SAG Awards, we know America loves Betty White but is Hot in Cleveland really in contention for best comedy ? I mean I could see how some of them could have been confused into putting The Good Wife in the best drama category, but Hot in Cleveland ? And who the hell is Mariska Hargitay anyway ? Moving on... Golden Globes. I can't see Breaking Bad in that list and that beautiful lady from Covert Affairs seems to be nominated for ... Wait a minute ! Katey Sagal and Piper Perabo are on the same list for the same award ? And by the way, thanks for throwing at our faces the fact that nothing happened in tv comedy for the past three years. No writers with actual talent (should) cares about any of these awards but it is a real shame that people such as Vince Gilligan, Shawn Ryan or Kurt Sutter (although I could see why no one would want him at a fancy ceremony) are not rewarded for their amazing work.
I'm still open to receive any scripts that I'm willing to discuss here on the blog or via emails, don't hesitate.
Harry's Law would make a decent lead-in for the young and the reckless, The Cape's pilot is, and that's a shocker, worse than its script, Mr Sunshine has been softened and once the laugh track is officially added, I will finally be able to call it a CBS show without feeling bad for the good script that the comedy is sort of based on. The only thing deserving your attention this winter is The Chicago Code because anything Shawn Ryan writes is gold but I will lose a few bets if the show stays on the air for more than a few weeks.
I've put my hands on a few scripts that were given pilot orders for next season and they are not all bad. Don't hold your breath, we are still a long way from September 2011 and there is plenty of time for them to turn to shit. Besides, we all know what the cancellation of Lone Star and My Generation is going to be very tough for original ideas on the major networks (and NBC).
Also, hello SAG Awards, we know America loves Betty White but is Hot in Cleveland really in contention for best comedy ? I mean I could see how some of them could have been confused into putting The Good Wife in the best drama category, but Hot in Cleveland ? And who the hell is Mariska Hargitay anyway ? Moving on... Golden Globes. I can't see Breaking Bad in that list and that beautiful lady from Covert Affairs seems to be nominated for ... Wait a minute ! Katey Sagal and Piper Perabo are on the same list for the same award ? And by the way, thanks for throwing at our faces the fact that nothing happened in tv comedy for the past three years. No writers with actual talent (should) cares about any of these awards but it is a real shame that people such as Vince Gilligan, Shawn Ryan or Kurt Sutter (although I could see why no one would want him at a fancy ceremony) are not rewarded for their amazing work.
I'm still open to receive any scripts that I'm willing to discuss here on the blog or via emails, don't hesitate.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Review : The Rockford Files (NBC) by David Shore
What is it ? :
It's a cop show (pretending it's not one) written by House's David Shore. Just like in the original, it follows Jim Rockford, a "roguish" private detective.
Good/Bad :
Angela Bromstad [NBC's President of Primetime Entertainment] said this script was the best christmas present she's had in a long time ; and I can't help it but pity her a little bit. Rockford is not what you would expect from David Shore. Jim Rockford is a cynical unpleasant man who just happens to be very good at his job (Hello ? Greg House on the phone... Yea... Please give me back my personality...) except that, unlike House, I couldn't come to care about this guy, no matter how big is heart turns out to be (cool cliffhanger, huh ?). I wasn't entertained by The Rockford Files, not by the case, not by any of the characters. On top of that, The Rockford Files is not clever, these are things we've already seen quite a few times without the added value (e.g. a girl with large breasts, a talking dog or some young people dancing). I seriously had a hard time finishing the script and I get to read a lot of bad ones at work (meaning I'm usually quite good with reading things that bore me.)
Will it make it ?
NBC needs new shows and they are excited about having David Shore new project...
Will it work ?
The only problem is, The Rockford Files will disappoint because they will feel they already watched that show before (even for those who haven't seen the original).
Should it make it ?
This is definitely not what NBC should be getting into right now, we don't need another ordinary cop show on the air, CBS already has plenty. I'm tired of bad remakes and I'll probably get really drunk if I have to sit through the pilot.
It's a cop show (pretending it's not one) written by House's David Shore. Just like in the original, it follows Jim Rockford, a "roguish" private detective.
Good/Bad :
Angela Bromstad [NBC's President of Primetime Entertainment] said this script was the best christmas present she's had in a long time ; and I can't help it but pity her a little bit. Rockford is not what you would expect from David Shore. Jim Rockford is a cynical unpleasant man who just happens to be very good at his job (Hello ? Greg House on the phone... Yea... Please give me back my personality...) except that, unlike House, I couldn't come to care about this guy, no matter how big is heart turns out to be (cool cliffhanger, huh ?). I wasn't entertained by The Rockford Files, not by the case, not by any of the characters. On top of that, The Rockford Files is not clever, these are things we've already seen quite a few times without the added value (e.g. a girl with large breasts, a talking dog or some young people dancing). I seriously had a hard time finishing the script and I get to read a lot of bad ones at work (meaning I'm usually quite good with reading things that bore me.)
Will it make it ?
NBC needs new shows and they are excited about having David Shore new project...
Will it work ?
The only problem is, The Rockford Files will disappoint because they will feel they already watched that show before (even for those who haven't seen the original).
Should it make it ?
This is definitely not what NBC should be getting into right now, we don't need another ordinary cop show on the air, CBS already has plenty. I'm tired of bad remakes and I'll probably get really drunk if I have to sit through the pilot.
Review : Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid (ABC) by Howard J. Morris and Jenny Lee
What is it ? :
It's a romantic comedy written by Howard J. Morris and Jenny Lee just passed on by ABC. Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid follows a couple who just moved in together (Howard and Jenny if you wanted to know).
Good/Bad :
Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid dares to take us into the quirkiness of a relationship. The comedy explores couples like no others have done it before. You know the conversations women will have about things that appeared random to us, men (like wondering if somebody sounds too enthusiastic on a voice mail message)... You know ... The conversations we like to pretend don't really exist. Well, this comedy showed both sides of an argument between a couple. Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid is flawed, maybe not enough of a "proper" comedy and probably isn't network material but I certainly find it better, more original, than Livin' On A Prayer, How I Met Your Mother creators project that has been ordered to pilot at CBS (they both have the exact same plot). I can definitely understand why ABC didn't go through the pilot even though it would have made a decent show.
Will it make it ?
It didn't.
Will it work ?
I don't think it would have.
Should it make it ?
I would have been happy to sit through a few hours of Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid in the hope it would make me a little less stupid.
It's a romantic comedy written by Howard J. Morris and Jenny Lee just passed on by ABC. Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid follows a couple who just moved in together (Howard and Jenny if you wanted to know).
Good/Bad :
Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid dares to take us into the quirkiness of a relationship. The comedy explores couples like no others have done it before. You know the conversations women will have about things that appeared random to us, men (like wondering if somebody sounds too enthusiastic on a voice mail message)... You know ... The conversations we like to pretend don't really exist. Well, this comedy showed both sides of an argument between a couple. Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid is flawed, maybe not enough of a "proper" comedy and probably isn't network material but I certainly find it better, more original, than Livin' On A Prayer, How I Met Your Mother creators project that has been ordered to pilot at CBS (they both have the exact same plot). I can definitely understand why ABC didn't go through the pilot even though it would have made a decent show.
Will it make it ?
It didn't.
Will it work ?
I don't think it would have.
Should it make it ?
I would have been happy to sit through a few hours of Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid in the hope it would make me a little less stupid.
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