Happy Town: Season 1, Episode 2 “I Came to Haplin for the Waters” (F)
A second go at this show confirms everything I thought last week. The font and accompanying music of the opening credits suggest that this really is a sequel series to “Eastwick,” which, as I stated last week, is the worst thing imaginable. The dialogue is so unbelievably horrendous, and I’m shocked by how incredibly classic movie quotes from “Casablanca” can be butchered when uttered by Lauren German and Sam Neill, by placing far too little and far too much emphasis on articulating them, respectively. While I thought that a pointless and unhelpful scene in “V” was the worst flashback of the week, I’ve proven wrong, as Chloe narrates that she knew the old lady was protective of the attic, but she never expected it to be….locked!!!! There’s absolutely no need for that line of dialogue, and certainly not for a flashback. Clearly this show is pandering to a rather unintelligent audience. It’s also intent on pegging its characters as dumb folk also. Tommy ripped into his old friend Big Dave, calling him a “stupid fat moron” and “a stupid pathetic idiot.” What kind of police work is that? I was appalled by the fact that he actually said things like that and this show is expected to be taken seriously. It’s hard to decide what was more lamentable: Tommy’s botched quoting of “Jaws” or the ridiculous hallucinations in the elevator complimented by the line “did you put something in my milk?” The reason I stuck around for a second installment, besides having the pleasure of relentlessly picking on a show I don’t like, is Frances Conroy. She’s great as usual, though this show obviously can’t give her anywhere near the kind of role she had on “Six Feet Under,” but at least it’s a step up, part-wise, from “Desperate Housewives.” Is anyone watching this show? Do you think week three will be even worse?
Showing posts with label Happy Town. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Happy Town. Show all posts
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Pilot Review: Happy Town
Happy Town (ABC)
Premiered April 28 at 10pm
If it were to be compared to any other show that has premiered over the past year, this show would definitely be lumped with the dismal “Eastwick.” Like that show, it’s obsessed with magic and bizarre, unexplained occurrences, and all of the characters are dubiously mysterious for no real reason other than to create intrigue and suspense. The small-town feel only helps to increase the uncertainty of events and amp up the danger because it could be anyone killing off the residents of the town. The token new girl in town, played by a bumbling Lauren German, is actually there for malicious purposes to unearth some big secret for her definitely not dead mom. The fact that she is picked up by the town’s perkiest resident who feels the need to narrate the history of the town at a high-pitched octave doesn’t help matters, and makes this show immediately more annoying that it might otherwise have been. Apparently they don’t have barbershops in Happy Town, because Steven Weber’s John Haplin is badly in need of a haircut and doesn’t seem likely to ever get one. Abraham Benrubi has been transplanted from his job as a friendly bartender on “Men in Trees” a few years ago and has landed in the exact same role here, albeit minus the beard. M.C. Gainey finally managed to escape the pull of the island after playing Mr. Friendly on “Lost,” but if he keeps chopping off his own limbs here, he’ll have to stick to only one father-of-the-more-prominent character role, likely in his newly started stint on “Justified.” Amy Acker is completely wasted as a baker here, and she should definitely go back to kicking ass on “Dollhouse” instead of this. For the moment, Sam Neill is just being evil and chewing scenery, while the marvelous Frances Conroy doesn’t even appear in this episode, making that the only possible reason to tune in to episode two next week. There’s plenty of intrigue here, but none of it is remotely interesting. The way the pilot episode ends is telling, since a guy chopping off his hand after uttering the name “Chloe” a dozen times doesn’t exactly mean much, and a goofy shot of the Magic Man isn’t too impressive either. At least this show is a bit more serious than “Eastwick,” but that’s pretty much the only compliment it deserves.
How will it work as a series? It’s likely designed to explore a self-contained arc in its first season and go from there, sort of like “Twin Peaks.” Apparently seeking to combat frustrating patterns on shows like “Flash Forward” and “Lost,” the star has mentioned that mysteries will be solved in each episode. That means a whole lot of mysteries and not much room for character development, and I can’t imagine it will be a smooth ride.
How long will it last? Oh, not long at all. I’m not sure what else ABC will have to replace it with, but this is essentially a repeat of the “Eastwick” scenario from earlier this season, in exactly the same time slot! Reviews were scathing, and finding an audience for this show will be just as hard as it was twenty years ago to find anyone to watch “Twin Peaks” – and this show is nowhere near as good as that one. Eight episodes have been ordered, and it will be a miracle if they’re all shown.
Pilot grade: F
Premiered April 28 at 10pm
If it were to be compared to any other show that has premiered over the past year, this show would definitely be lumped with the dismal “Eastwick.” Like that show, it’s obsessed with magic and bizarre, unexplained occurrences, and all of the characters are dubiously mysterious for no real reason other than to create intrigue and suspense. The small-town feel only helps to increase the uncertainty of events and amp up the danger because it could be anyone killing off the residents of the town. The token new girl in town, played by a bumbling Lauren German, is actually there for malicious purposes to unearth some big secret for her definitely not dead mom. The fact that she is picked up by the town’s perkiest resident who feels the need to narrate the history of the town at a high-pitched octave doesn’t help matters, and makes this show immediately more annoying that it might otherwise have been. Apparently they don’t have barbershops in Happy Town, because Steven Weber’s John Haplin is badly in need of a haircut and doesn’t seem likely to ever get one. Abraham Benrubi has been transplanted from his job as a friendly bartender on “Men in Trees” a few years ago and has landed in the exact same role here, albeit minus the beard. M.C. Gainey finally managed to escape the pull of the island after playing Mr. Friendly on “Lost,” but if he keeps chopping off his own limbs here, he’ll have to stick to only one father-of-the-more-prominent character role, likely in his newly started stint on “Justified.” Amy Acker is completely wasted as a baker here, and she should definitely go back to kicking ass on “Dollhouse” instead of this. For the moment, Sam Neill is just being evil and chewing scenery, while the marvelous Frances Conroy doesn’t even appear in this episode, making that the only possible reason to tune in to episode two next week. There’s plenty of intrigue here, but none of it is remotely interesting. The way the pilot episode ends is telling, since a guy chopping off his hand after uttering the name “Chloe” a dozen times doesn’t exactly mean much, and a goofy shot of the Magic Man isn’t too impressive either. At least this show is a bit more serious than “Eastwick,” but that’s pretty much the only compliment it deserves.
How will it work as a series? It’s likely designed to explore a self-contained arc in its first season and go from there, sort of like “Twin Peaks.” Apparently seeking to combat frustrating patterns on shows like “Flash Forward” and “Lost,” the star has mentioned that mysteries will be solved in each episode. That means a whole lot of mysteries and not much room for character development, and I can’t imagine it will be a smooth ride.
How long will it last? Oh, not long at all. I’m not sure what else ABC will have to replace it with, but this is essentially a repeat of the “Eastwick” scenario from earlier this season, in exactly the same time slot! Reviews were scathing, and finding an audience for this show will be just as hard as it was twenty years ago to find anyone to watch “Twin Peaks” – and this show is nowhere near as good as that one. Eight episodes have been ordered, and it will be a miracle if they’re all shown.
Pilot grade: F
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