Pilot Buzz Central
2007-2008 Season
The Latest Scoop on Network Schedules
That's right -- reviews and inside info on many shows headed to your screen for the fall... and some that didn't make it, too!
Capsule Pilot Reviews
Below are mini-reviews that have been supplied from those who have seen the 2007-2008 pilots. After the reviews see how you can contribute your own reviews if you've seen a pilot!
ABC
Big Shots -- 1) "The opening scene really makes the show high stakes. Too bad the rest of the episode couldn't keep up to pace with that momentum. The cast looks nice." 2) "This show looks like fun. I'm sure it will be a hit, especially if it has a good lead-in." 3) "This show is kind of fun, like a more mature version of Entourage. One of the lead actors is the funniest guy on an ABC show in a long time."
Carpoolers -- 1) "You think it would be smarter with all of the stuff it has going on in it. There are like five subplots. I don't think it will get on the air because it is about the same as In Case of Emergency. It is like that show but with more men." 2) "The whole damn show is set in a car. And the guys laugh at the jokes they make, and when they do it seems awkward and fake. Like one of the guys makes a joke, and then they all laugh real hard even though you can tell none of them think it is funny. This is so bad."
Cashmere Mafia -- 1) "You can totally tell they are going for a Sex and the City vibe. Lucy Liu comes off as cold, but overall the show is funny and should appeal to ABC viewers." 2) "Sometimes the show was very funny and sometimes it was very serious. Whether it ends up being a comedy or a drama, I hope it goes all the way. The pilot felt restrained."
Cavemen -- 1) "Not as bad as I thought it would be. I actually laughed out loud a few times. I do wonder how they'll keep finding storylines." 2) "I know a lot of people like the Geico commercials but I hate them. That is probably part of why I hate this show. I think the other reason is that you can tell they are trying to make the characters look like fish out of water and it just doesn't work because you know there really wouldn't be cavemen around." 3) "Don't shoot me, but I really like this show. It is pretty funny. I was expecting it to be dumb but it wasn't." 4) "I think this show wasn't the best I've ever seen, but it is probably one of the best comedies I've seen in a long time. You really care about the characters and that says a lot since this was an insurance commercial. I bet it gets even better."
Dirty Sexy Money -- "This was so boring. They were a little campy with it, but even that wasn't entertaining. I guess you can't win them all."
Eli Stone -- "I don't think this will be a hit. It is really smart and funny, but I can see people not buying into it because it hits a little deeper than most ABC shows. It is kind of like Six Degrees, but it isn't as stuck up and it has more of a sense of humor."
Football Wives -- 1) "I swear the only thing good about the show is Gabrielle Union. Most of it was a big mess where they would do something and then you could tell the actors thought it was funny but most people just sat there. One lady even started complaining to her husband that it was too raunchy and then they left. I don't think this one is going to make it too far." 2) "I saw the pilot and simply loved it. It was fun, juicy and totally fun. I really hope this show makes it. I think ABC will have a big hit on its hands."
Private Practice -- 1) "The people in the audience with me kept cracking up, but then when we talked about it afterwards they kept saying they were laughing because it was so dumb. And the characters were all stupid." 2) "I heard lots of complaints that Addison was not at all like on Grey's. I also think they need to get rid of all of the people crying all of the time. It was either depressing or rediculous [sic]."
Pushing Daisies -- 1) "This one was so weird at the start it didn't seem like something I would like. It was more like something that people who like the weird stuff get into. But I think I will watch it. I was surprised at how funny it was. I think it will work." 2) "This is easily one of the best new series I've seen in a long time. I think it reminds me of the first season of Lost -- you know, the show is a little odd, but you don't seem to notice it because you are lost in that world? I bet this one will make it." 3) "I was soooo [sic] happy I got to see this one. It is right up my ally all unique and different adn [sic] stuff. This is ABC's next Lost I bet."
Samantha Be Good -- 1) "Christina Applegate shines in this. I'm not sure where the story is going, but I guess that isn't a bad thing." 2) I was surprised at how dramatic it was. The jokes are sometimes kind of forced, but the relationships they build in the pilot are pretty good. I don't see this as a huge hit probably one that'll last two or three years." 3) "The cast has awesome chemistry. If they can get the writing under control (some of the jokes were goofy) then I think they have it made."
CBS
Cane -- 1) "Sometimes slow, but the acting was really good. I would watch it again, but I think that a lot of people aren't going to get it. The main woman looks familiar. I bet she wins a lot of acting awards." 2) "It was powerful and it really drew the audience in. One guy was asking if they could see another episode and give feedback because he wanted to see what happened next." 3) "This was so boring. I hate crap like this."
The Man -- "LL Cool J seems a bit uncomfortable in this role, but the story is great and you really end up caring for the family."
Swingtown -- 1) "Way too impressed with itself. It isn't as edgy as it would like to think." 2) "I couldn't help but like it. It was like watching an art movie. I really like how it made you think about how we judge others. The characters were relatable even though I'm not a swinger." 3) "This is immoral trash. I hope it gets canceled fast. I also hope they bring back Jericho."
Viva Laughlin -- 1) "It is different, but very good. I think this will surprise people." 2) "When we watched it we all felt awkward. I have to admit it made me smile in places but the show is weird."
The CW
Aliens in America -- "It was funny. The bad thing was the version I watched had a laugh track and it didn't match up with the show most of the time."
Gossip Girl -- 1) "I think people will be a little surprised by this. It isn't as dumb as you would think, although right now the characters are very cookie cutter. I suspect with time we will love it if they can keep the plots fresh. I didn't recognize any of the actors, but their acting was good. It wasn't melodramatic like on One Tree Hill where everyone overacts but it wasn't wooden like on other shows where they can't act at all. I think it will be the first hit for the CW." 2) "I watched this with my daughters. They loved it, I thought it came off as contrived and overwritten."
Reaper -- 1) "I was expecting some kind of Supernatural knock off when they sat us down and told us about the show but it wasn't at all. It was funny and a little bit scary (the audience jumped a couple of times and one girl screamed) and I think this will get people talking. A couple of times I sat there and got really bored, but it was worth it to see the rest and so I will definitely watch again." 2) "If this doesn't make it I'm going to be so pissed. I loved it. Every bit of it was good. It was funny and had good adventure and the quality of it came off good. I think this will do good."
The World According to Barnes -- 1) "This was so boring and poorly acted. I didn't like any of the characters, even the girl from the OC came off annoying. If this makes it its [sic] bad sing [sic] for CW." 2) We saw this with an audience and everyone sat there kind of quiet and looking bored. The plot was kind of fun but really no one could act in it."
Fox
Back to You -- 1) "Hilarious! They really have a good rapport going with the cast. Patricia Heaton proves her comic timing." 2) "Parts of it were so funny, but then other parts were kind of clever. The twist really got everyone who was watching."
Jezebel James -- 1) "I thought it was pretty funny. Parker Posey overacts quite a bit, but it kind of works because Loren Ambros [sic] is so low key. The plot is rushed but I think people will come back. I can tell you it is NOT like Gilmore Grils [sic]." 2) "This show was awful. Maybe it is because I am a guy, but it seemed like they were to [sic] touchy feely and whiny."
K-Ville -- 1) "Scary." 2) "I don't think this one is going to make it. It felt creepy to watch the show, and I guess that's the point, but a lot of the time it was just uncomfortable. Maybe in the future it won't be, but I won't be finding out." 3) "I told them I would never watch this series on principle. It is disgusting."
New Amsterdam -- 1) "This will never make it. I almost fell asleep twice, and I just had a cup of coffee." 2) "It was sort of interesting. I guess I would watch it if nothing else was on."
Sarah Connor Chronicles -- "This looks great. The pacing is good, the pilot is strong, the actors are all great for their parts. I wasn't sure where the writing could take the characters, and the people told us they were thinking about a new nemesis each week. That could work. I am exciting to watch this, and I wasn't even a fan of the Terminator movies."
Them -- "This thing looked like they didn't have much of a budget. I think they could probably do some digital work to make it look better."
NBC
Chuck -- 1) "The funniest nerd show I've ever seen. I think this one will go places." 2) "When I got paid to watch this, I was pretty happy. To tell you the truth, it was pretty good and I thought it was a good deal. I will watch it in the fall."
The I.T. Crowd -- 1) "I don't think this will make it far. It is too much like 30 Rock. I like that, but I bet other viewers won't"
Journeyman -- "Very good show. I think it would be a good fit with just about anything on NBC. It has the kind of quality. When they asked if I would watch again, I said yes I would."
Life -- "The story was okay, but no one in the group liked the lead guy that much. I thought that was kind of the point like he was like House, but they didn't seem to care."
Lipstick Jungle -- 1) "I thought it was dorky. I like all three of the leads. They are appealing. But I felt like something was off the whole time, and the more I thought about it I started to realize these women are just plain dorky." 2) "I think I would watch, but I hope they make it snappier. It seemed to drag sometimes."
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