Showing posts with label Truth Be Told. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Truth Be Told. Show all posts
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Pilot Review: Truth Be Told
I'm trying something new with my pilot reviews, so from now on, check out video takes on each new series, which I'll embed below and you can also watch by subscribing to movieswithabe on YouTube.
Monday, May 23, 2016
What I’m Watching: Person of Interest
Person of Interest: Season 5, Episode 3 “Truth Be Told” (B+)
I suppose it’s not crazy to expect that there’s still plenty to learn about Reese’s past. What’s more impressive is that, so many years into this show, actors like Annie Parisse are still up for an occasional guest spot as a long-dead recurring character. In the previous episode, we were reminded of the many people that Reese has killed and the notion that he didn’t always save people. Shooting a suspect point-blank before he knew for a fact that he was guilty was a cutthroat and brutal decision, and neither he nor Kara seemed remotely disturbed about it. The fact that he told Brent’s brother that he was innocent and that he was killed in action is a sign of a more compassionate and caring person. What I liked most was that Keith David’s Terence Beale didn’t let the CIA know that Reese is still alive since he likes the idea of him being out there. I didn’t realize that Iris was still in the picture, though unfortunately the end of the episode indicates that she’s moving on since Reese can’t fully let her in. Root installing the malware in a not-networked computer was a bold move, but she and Finch do make a great team who should be able to figure out how Samaritan works and help use the machine to take it down and save the world. As Root keeps mentioning, hopefully they’ll find Shaw in the process and bring the much-missed Sarah Shahi back to the show.
I suppose it’s not crazy to expect that there’s still plenty to learn about Reese’s past. What’s more impressive is that, so many years into this show, actors like Annie Parisse are still up for an occasional guest spot as a long-dead recurring character. In the previous episode, we were reminded of the many people that Reese has killed and the notion that he didn’t always save people. Shooting a suspect point-blank before he knew for a fact that he was guilty was a cutthroat and brutal decision, and neither he nor Kara seemed remotely disturbed about it. The fact that he told Brent’s brother that he was innocent and that he was killed in action is a sign of a more compassionate and caring person. What I liked most was that Keith David’s Terence Beale didn’t let the CIA know that Reese is still alive since he likes the idea of him being out there. I didn’t realize that Iris was still in the picture, though unfortunately the end of the episode indicates that she’s moving on since Reese can’t fully let her in. Root installing the malware in a not-networked computer was a bold move, but she and Finch do make a great team who should be able to figure out how Samaritan works and help use the machine to take it down and save the world. As Root keeps mentioning, hopefully they’ll find Shaw in the process and bring the much-missed Sarah Shahi back to the show.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Pilot Review: Truth Be Told
Truth Be Told (NBC)
Premiered October 16 at 8:30pm
Every season, there are creative, fresh offerings on each network, as well as some reboots, remakes, and reimaginings that feel familiar for a number of reasons. And then there are those shows that have different characters but feel like every single show that have come before them. “Truth Be Told” definitely falls into that category, presenting two couples who are neighbors whose husbands constantly get themselves into trouble while the wives laugh at them for thinking that they can get away with whatever they’re scheming about or secretly thinking. This pilot presents the conventional plot of one couple hiring a babysitter who, shockingly, is very attractive, and who sets off a red flag for Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s Mitch, since he knows that being attracted to her can’t end well for him. Predictably, his wife Tracy laughs off the idea of his being a threat, but then Mitch’s best bud Russell recognizes the babysitter from porn. Nothing about that is new, and while this show isn’t nearly as grating as some of the awful sitcoms that have come before it, it has nothing fresh or enjoyable to offer either. Epguides.com’s description explains the premise as “a black couple and a white couple, who are neighbors and best friends, vigorously discuss the issues of the day.” That’s pretty accurate, and very little of that sounds remotely appealing. I preferred Gosselaar in “Franklin and Bash” in full-on ridiculous mode to his awkward, subdued husband trying not to fall into a trap every moment that he’s not protesting class or racial injustice.
How will it work as a series? The premise leaves the door open for a million different storylines, since these friends can talk about or fight about anything that piques their interest. It seems like Mitch and Russell will be the focus of the show while their wives will be there mostly to chastise them, but I assume that switching it up could prove interesting and creative, two adjectives I doubt will frequently apply to this show.
How long will it last? It’s not as if Friday nights were a promising place to start new shows, let alone comedies, but ABC did it pretty well, which means that NBC is almost guaranteed to fail. The pilot performed worse than the inexplicably popular “Undateable,” which itself didn’t score a home run. I think this one won’t last too long; certainly not past its initial order.
Pilot grade: D
Premiered October 16 at 8:30pm
Every season, there are creative, fresh offerings on each network, as well as some reboots, remakes, and reimaginings that feel familiar for a number of reasons. And then there are those shows that have different characters but feel like every single show that have come before them. “Truth Be Told” definitely falls into that category, presenting two couples who are neighbors whose husbands constantly get themselves into trouble while the wives laugh at them for thinking that they can get away with whatever they’re scheming about or secretly thinking. This pilot presents the conventional plot of one couple hiring a babysitter who, shockingly, is very attractive, and who sets off a red flag for Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s Mitch, since he knows that being attracted to her can’t end well for him. Predictably, his wife Tracy laughs off the idea of his being a threat, but then Mitch’s best bud Russell recognizes the babysitter from porn. Nothing about that is new, and while this show isn’t nearly as grating as some of the awful sitcoms that have come before it, it has nothing fresh or enjoyable to offer either. Epguides.com’s description explains the premise as “a black couple and a white couple, who are neighbors and best friends, vigorously discuss the issues of the day.” That’s pretty accurate, and very little of that sounds remotely appealing. I preferred Gosselaar in “Franklin and Bash” in full-on ridiculous mode to his awkward, subdued husband trying not to fall into a trap every moment that he’s not protesting class or racial injustice.
How will it work as a series? The premise leaves the door open for a million different storylines, since these friends can talk about or fight about anything that piques their interest. It seems like Mitch and Russell will be the focus of the show while their wives will be there mostly to chastise them, but I assume that switching it up could prove interesting and creative, two adjectives I doubt will frequently apply to this show.
How long will it last? It’s not as if Friday nights were a promising place to start new shows, let alone comedies, but ABC did it pretty well, which means that NBC is almost guaranteed to fail. The pilot performed worse than the inexplicably popular “Undateable,” which itself didn’t score a home run. I think this one won’t last too long; certainly not past its initial order.
Pilot grade: D
Monday, March 15, 2010
What I’m Watching: Modern Family
Modern Family: Season 1, Episode 17 “Truth Be Told” (B+)
Once again this show demonstrates that it’s able to use guest actors in a way that doesn’t wreak of stunt casting and doesn’t overshadow the principal cast. In fact, appearances like that of Judy Greer as Phil’s ex-girlfriend hoping for an indiscreet rendezvous with the married man just serve to make the main performers work harder and deliver even more incredibly. Phil’s reaction, coupled with Claire’s jealousy-turned-friendliness, was what made that plotline work extraordinarily well. I loved Haley’s comment of “Ew, Dad, I couldn’t picture you with any woman” and the way that Claire took it. Seeing Mitchell at work was a nice treat, especially as freaked out way too much when he thought his boss overheard his snappy comment. Mitchell’s resignation was a marvelous scene, first defiantly handing his badge and his coffee cup over to his boss before requesting both back because he needed them to operate the elevator and complete his look, respectively. Jay’s desire to inspire confidence in his son was clearly misguided from the start, but the murder cover-up was hilarious. The way Manny said “Jay, I’ve been waiting for you” was terrific, as were the references back to a similar fiasco involving Jay and Mitchell a number of years earlier. Gloria’s frustrated reaction to the whole thing was amazing as well. She’s someone who usually steals scenes and often takes center stage in many of the plotlines, but she’s just as effective when she’s serving as a background buffer between her overly mature son and her overly childish husband.
Once again this show demonstrates that it’s able to use guest actors in a way that doesn’t wreak of stunt casting and doesn’t overshadow the principal cast. In fact, appearances like that of Judy Greer as Phil’s ex-girlfriend hoping for an indiscreet rendezvous with the married man just serve to make the main performers work harder and deliver even more incredibly. Phil’s reaction, coupled with Claire’s jealousy-turned-friendliness, was what made that plotline work extraordinarily well. I loved Haley’s comment of “Ew, Dad, I couldn’t picture you with any woman” and the way that Claire took it. Seeing Mitchell at work was a nice treat, especially as freaked out way too much when he thought his boss overheard his snappy comment. Mitchell’s resignation was a marvelous scene, first defiantly handing his badge and his coffee cup over to his boss before requesting both back because he needed them to operate the elevator and complete his look, respectively. Jay’s desire to inspire confidence in his son was clearly misguided from the start, but the murder cover-up was hilarious. The way Manny said “Jay, I’ve been waiting for you” was terrific, as were the references back to a similar fiasco involving Jay and Mitchell a number of years earlier. Gloria’s frustrated reaction to the whole thing was amazing as well. She’s someone who usually steals scenes and often takes center stage in many of the plotlines, but she’s just as effective when she’s serving as a background buffer between her overly mature son and her overly childish husband.
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