I read on one of the television related sites I frequent the other day that every man and his grandmother's cat are getting in on making original television content for online distribution. An odd analogy, yes, but also most definitely an apt one, which makes it a very exciting time for the production of television. Last month, Amazon, best known as being an online shopping website, released eight comedy pilots and six children's pilots on Amazon Instant Video in an attempt to gauge viewers thoughts on the programs, which will in turn help Amazon Studio decide which shows they will produce into series. As a situation like this is the first of its kind it is unknown at this stage how much audiences' feedback will dictate what Amazon Studios does next, but its exciting nonetheless, and as an avid TV fan I couldn't wait to view the pilots for myself, and of course, give my own feedback. Below are my thoughts on Amazon's six comedy pilots (I doubt my views of children's television are of any importance), in order of which I liked the most, to the least, as well as there loglines and what I thought did and didn't work for them.
Betas
Logline: Set in the land of Silicon Valley start-ups follows four friends as they attempt to strike it rich with a new mobile social networking app.
My Take: The show looks and feels great. The glitz and glamour of Silicon Valley is contrasted well with the hardship the main characters are enduring trying to make it big. For a comedy it was quite serious, which may be a turn off for some, but I think it works perfectly here. The four male leads are all well and the relationship between Trey (Joe Dinicol) and Nash (Karan Soni), is a highlight. They're all likable characters, although I'd hope more would be done with Mitchell (Charlie Saxton)and Hobbes (Jonathan C. Daly) if the pilot went to series, rather then have them involved is a comic subplot every week. And despite being about 'nerds' nothing felt too similar or stereotypical, but actually quite fresh, and if the show makes it to series I will be watching.
Browsers
Logline: A musical comedy set in contemporary Manhattan that follows four young people as they start their first jobs at a news website.
My Take: Again, the acting is rather strong, and the characters are very appealing and funny too. However, the lead Kate (Brigette Davidovici) is the very generic bubbly small town girl who annoys me easily, and some of the other characters are borderline stereotypical, especially Prudence (Constance Wu). As for the musical aspect of the show, I'm still undecided. Musical comedies can work well, but majority of the time characters seemed to be singing about what was happening and their thoughts and feelings on the matter. Some were catchy, some were slightly funny, but others fell flat and felt misplaced. The question is whether or not the show needs the singing. It might be fine without it, but then again the singing makes it a whole lot more memorable. I'll continue to watch if it makes it to series, but more out of curiosity of how the show will handle itself then for anything else.
Zombieland
Logline: Based on the hit Columbia Pictures movie of the same name, and finds four survivors outwitting zombies and searching for a place to call home.
My Take: Kirk Ward does a great job at replacing Woody Harrelson as Tallahassee from the film version as does
Maiara Walsh as Wichita. Tyler Ross isn't able to capture the same adorkableness that Jesse Eisenberg put was able to into Columbus though, and this makes the character a little jarring to emphasise with. Most of the episode's humour came from irony, and while it worked well, obviously you would want the comedy to go beyond this if it were picked up. The main problem
Zombieland has is one it shares with
The Walking Dead. Watching the show almost feels like a futile attempt because naturally a show that based in a post-apocalyptic works is going to have a bleak ending. That's why character development is important here, and that can most definitely be built on with the characters the show has, but the problem is one of plot. While it was fun watching the characters in the episode with little narrative drive (a comedy show's dream) because of the nature of the show plot is necessary to keep audiences interested, and I'm wondering if this can be done in a comedy. I'll play this one by ear if more episodes are made, and if I hear good things about the production I'll keep watching.
Dark Minions
Logline: An animated workplace series about two slackers just trying to make a paycheck, working on an intergalactic warship.
My Take: I absolutely loved the concept, despite the fact it's relevance to everyday life was not at all played subtly in the pilot. This show has so much potential not only as a serialised science-fiction animation, but also a compelling love story between Mel
(John Ross Bowie) and Carly
(Jamie Denbo). The other characters, however, were very much caricatures and need a lot of work. It also wasn't particularly funny. I could see it trying to be funny, but it was although it was trying too hard. Everything was played straight, and as I said, it was all very obvious. I can't help but think it would be better as a drama, but it's a stop motion animation so there goes that idea. It was also quite annoying that only parts of the animation were complete. While I understand how this makes sense on the money making side of things, it was a very jarring experience for me as a viewer. I'll probably try and check it out if more episodes are made, but only if I've got nothing else to watch.
Those Who Can't
Logline: is a comedy about three juvenile, misfit teachers who are just as immature, if not more so, than the students they teach.
My Take: The premise is likable, and although the main characters are little more than immature adolescents they are understandably all very relatable, Loren (
Adam Cayton-Holland) being the stand out. Andy (
Andrew Orvedahl) could use a little work. watching these friends talk crap and follow through with their ridiculous plans make make you nostalgic, unlike the lack of plot problem that poses
Zombieland, the humour of the show just can't carry it alone because it's all to familiar or, at least to me, seems a little bit juvenile (then again, that's probably the point). The show needs more from it's three characters it terms of audiences becoming immersed in their lives and wanting to follow their story, whatever that may turn out to be. As with
Zombieland, I'll play this one by the ear, but I doubt I'll be tuning in again.
Onion News Empire
Logline: Set behind the scenes of The Onion News Network that shows just how far journalists will go to stay at the top of their game.
My Take: the show looks amazing, and once again the acting is great, but it's the three older cast members whose characters, Ed (William Sadler), Helena (
Laila Robins) and David (Jeffrey Tambor), really stand out. While I'm generally a fan of satire, particularly of news and current affairs, everything is played so straight in the show. The problem with this is that everything that happens in the show tries to be so ridiculous, and again, not subtle, that it just makes the feel of the show awkward. It had its moments, but majority of the time I felt I was being bombarded with fake news headlines that were supposed to be funny, but weren't. If more episodes are made and are of similar quality, I won't be watching.
Alpha House
Logline: Follows four senators who live together in a rented house in Washington DC.
My Take: Again, the show looks amazing, and the premise always holds promise even if it is a little tried. Unfortunately, the idea of four senators living together doesn't feel realistic, and of the four male leads, only Clark Johnson as Robert seems interesting. John Goodman always acts well, but his character Gil painful and overplayed, as is his assistant Tammy (Alicia Sable) and his unseen wife Julie (Brooke Bloom). Matt Malloy's Louis is played for a one gag joke and
Mark Consuelos' Andy only seems to be the arrogant up and comer new guy that'll cause trouble. That's not to say there's not potential here, but from what I've seen, I'm not interested is pursuing the story of these characters.
Supanatural
Logline: An animated comedy series about two outspoken divas who are humanity's last line of defence against the supernatural, when they're not working at the mall.
My Take: The show certainly had an interesting premise when I first heard of it, but having seen it I'm not so sure. The main characters, especially Hezbah (Lily Sparks), are not likable, and despite their middle class friendship appeal, aren't exactly relatable either. As with
Those Who Can't, audiences are expected to sit through the pair of adult friends talk crap while being inept at their jobs, a part from a major part of their jobs it to save the world from supernatural beings. It's a weird concept trying to be paired with the banality (or familiarity) of the everyday lives of two friends, and unfortunatley neither aspect hits the mark.
So that's my take on Amazon Studios eight comedy pilots. Not all of them hit the mark for me, but nonetheless it's exciting to witness, and potentially even be apart of, a new way of television production. Did anyone else watch the pilots? What did you think? Are Amazon on to something here, or should they stick to what they know?
