Pilot Review: Impastor

Impastor (TV Land)
Premiered July 15 at 10:30pm

I remember reading about this show on The Futon Critic a while ago, and I nearly forgot that it was premiering this week. My main reason for wanting to see this show since this network isn't one I typically make sure to tune into every time it airs a show primarily aired at a much older generation was Michael Rosenbaum, who spent a few terrific years reimagining Lex Luthor on “Smallville,” and then after not doing much showed up in a hilarious guest spot that won him an AFT Award on “Breaking In.” I haven't seen him since then, and it's great to see him take on a goofy role like this in a show that's essentially a looser version of “The Riches” that's infinitely more ridiculous. The premise doesn't suggest that it will be a fantastic show, but I do like the cast assembled here. The only one I don't know is Mike Kosinski, who plays the overeager gay member of the church. I don't remember ever watching “Less Than Perfect,” but I remember Sara Rue from plenty of other things, and she seems to be playing the most sensible and intelligent character. I love Mircea Monroe from her work on “Episodes,” and it's great to see her playing a more normative but equally eager character. David Rasche is an Armando Iannucci regular capable of insanely funny deadpan, and I hope this role is worthy of his talents. And Aimee Garcia, who was great in both “Dexter” and “Vegas,” is holding down the fort in Buddy's former world, which it seems has caught up with him all too quickly. This show is stupid but much more vile than I had expected it to be, and I think it's worth checking out for a week or two to see if it gets funnier or if it stalls right away.

How will it work as a series? I'm surprised by how quickly Buddy's old life caught up to him, especially since he managed to ease into the role of revered without much difficulty, and it's going to prove challenging to stay alive and keep his identity a secret from his congregation. That journey could either be fun or dumb.
How long will it last? That I'm not so sure about. I don't think many were charmed by the pilot of this show, and TVLand isn't consistent with which shows it decides to keep around and which ones it abandons after just a season. My prediction for this one is that it won't make it to a second year.

Pilot grade: C+