Amazon has unveiled only three pilots for this pilot season. While I’d like to see more, all three were good and at least one seems binge worthy.
“The Tick” is a third version of the superhero take off that began with a cartoon on FOX back in the 1990s. The version in the pilot seems closer in spirit to that version than the live action version starring Patrick Warburton. At least based on my vague memory. Much of it is a parody of superhero comics, with “The Tick” suffering through a kind of dimwitted angst. As “Deadpool” showed, the country is ripe for superhero parodies. There were no real laugh-out loud moments, but I liked the overall tone and pacing. I’d watch a series. Next up is “Jean-Claude Van Johnson.” Van Damme’s career has taken such a dive he’s willing to be the butt of 22 minutes worth of Jean-Claude Van Damme jokes. Many of them are great. Like when he is in disguise and he has to subdue someone who thinks “Time Cop” (starring Van Damme) is better than “Looper” with Bruce Willis. Another scene has him talking sweetly to a woman he is trying to seduce over his smartphone headset while he chokes out a bad guy and his lips are actually close to the bad guy’s ear. This pilot has for me several laugh-out loud moments, but I’m a sucker for this kind of goofy humor. Van Damme still can’t act but he’s good enough to deadpan the jokes here. Phylicia Rashad gives an uncharacteristic high-energy comic performance as Van Damme/Van Johnson’s handler. She seems more cool jazz. I loved the pilot of “Jean-Claude Van Johnson,” but I wonder how they could stretch it into an entire season. Of course, I’m also the same guy who, in an earlier version of this discussion group, predicted Stephen Colbert wouldn’t be able to keep it up when he started “The Colbert Report.” Finally, there’s “I Love Dick,” from “Transparent” creator Jill Solway. I read a glowing review of the pilot on “The Guardian,” but Amazon viewers were less charitable. Because of the middling reviews, I saved it for last. I liked it best. Solway and everyone else does a great job of melding hugely flawed characters. Kevin Bacon plays Dick, a charismatic teacher of some sort. I’m not sure of what. Maybe he’s a Tony Robbins kind of guy. Griffin Dunne plays a writer who moves from New York to a Texas town where Dick teaches to accept a fellowship. God when was the last time I saw Griffin Dunne? Kathyrn Hahn plays Dunne’s wife, who begins writing letters to Dick and serves as the center of a love triangle. The dialogue is intelligent as all three main characters trip over their flaws. There’s lots of subtle, sublime moments. Screw Amazon reviewers. Except that Amazon may base its decision to pick up the series based on their reviews. "I Love Dick" was my favorite of the three pilots. -- -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to tvornottv@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tvornottv-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TVorNotTV" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tvornottv+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
