I was going to write about TNT's
"Trust Me" as today's column, but something else got in the way, and I didn't care enough about the show to argue for it. Instead, here's the little blurb I wrote for our daily guide to notable primetime programming (which is usually print-only):
No one smokes, drinks Old Fashioneds or wears fedoras, but a lack of resemblance to "Mad Men" is the least of the problems for "Trust Me," a bland new drama set in the world of modern advertising. Eric McCormack from "Will & Grace" and Tom Cavanagh from "Ed" play partners at a Chicago ad firm who spend most of tonight's premiere trying to come up with a slogan for a cell phone campaign. The dialogue is flat and the characters are mostly forgettable -- except for the one played by Monica Potter, who's as annoying as every other Monica Potter character. (Though, in fairness, this one seems to be intentionally annoying.) Definitely skippable.
Haven't decided yet whether I'll do a separate review of the pilot tonight. If you don't see something new here around 11, just use this post to comment, if anyone cares.
I was going to write about TNT's "Trust Me" as today's column, but something else got in the way, and I didn't care enough about the show to argue for it. Instead, here's the little blurb I wrote for our daily guide to notable primetime programming (which is usually print-only):
I've seen the first two episodes of Trust Me and I have to disagree with your assessment. I believe Trust Me is worth watching. While the writing could use some work and most of the secondary characters are worthless, I think Tom Cavanagh and Eric McCormack do a good enough job in the lead roles that it is worth giving Trust Me a chance to improve.
ReplyDeleteIm gonna watch, probably alone because i find the ad agency setting fascinating.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm totally going to watch...having been in advertising for the past decade, it's been fascinating to watch people be fascinated by Mad Men and the industry (that is slowly but surely sucking the life out of me).
ReplyDeleteThough, this Eric McCormack quote from somewhere scares the hell out of me: "If 'Mad Men's sort of the beginning of the golden age of advertising, this show is kind of about the end of it."
For what it's worth, what I hear from people who actually work in advertising and have seen the show is that they love it and think the show nails the verisimilitude. So if you just want to see your own work life reflected, you'll probably get a lot more out of it than I have so far.
ReplyDeleteWell, they do say misery loves company.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know...I'm not gonna lie, it's already on series record at home. Just call me Misery. :-)
Well, they do say misery loves company.
ReplyDeleteGreat, now I have Soul Asylum's "Misery" stuck in my head.
"Frustrated... Incorporated..."
Is that better or worse than having Kathy Bates with a sledgehammer stuck in your head?
ReplyDeleteAs for Trust Me, hmm, I like the guys...wait, Monica Potter? Run away! Run away!
Hahahah. I have to confess...for the longest time, I thought Monica Potter was a long-lost Julia Roberts relative who was blackmailing folks for parts.
ReplyDeleteI actually like her, but she's totally not who I will be watching. I'm betting Tom and Eric will be insanely great Creatives.
Will TNT ever put a show together that extends beyond mere comfort food appeal.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to tune in. Believe it I'd not, I'm a fan of Griffen Dunne.
ReplyDeleteThe wife and I have followed Tom Cavanaugh through many a bad show, and this one will be no exception.
ReplyDeleteHopefully it will be bad but well-meaning (Eli Stone), instead of bad with nearly no redeeming qualities (Love Monkey)
Having now watched the pilot, I'm intrigued, but not sold. McCormack and Cavanaugh are a likable pairing, and they're using Potter's sometimes annoyingness well, but there's no there there from a dramatic perspective, and while they're clearly trying for witty repartee, the writing isn't strong enough. Given that the alternatives at 10 PM on Mondays are "David Caruso Takes Off His Shades," "True Beauty," and "Medium," it's a servicable option, at least until "Castle" starts up.
ReplyDeleteI thought the pilot was vacuous, trite, overly broad, absurdly cliched ... and I really enjoyed watching it. I've been looking for a new "guilty pleasure" show since they canceled "Dirty Sexy Money," and I think I've found it.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually attracted to much heavier, more daring fare (Mad Men, Dexter, Battlestar Galactica), so it's nice to have at least one show that keeps me reasonably entertained yet requires no thinking on my part whatsoever.
I agree with Matt - they're going for witty repartee, but the writing's just not quite strong enough for Sorkin-esque patter. Which is what I think they need to keep it up, especially in this slickster industry.
ReplyDeleteAs Alan said upthread, "...if you just want to see your own work life reflected, you'll probably get a lot more out of it than I have so far." And it's true - I spent half the episode likening each character (caricature?) to someone I work with - and that was half the fun of watching.
Totally sucked in. Which isn't surprising.
However. Monica Potter needs to just get. off. my. screen. asap.
I fell asleep about halfway through it.
ReplyDeleteI always thought Monica Potter and Kyra Sedgwick would be the perfect movie siblings for Julia Roberts. (Then Sedgwick played her sister in "Something to Talk About" so I wasn't the only one.)
ReplyDeleteMy dream sibling casting: Rachel Griffiths, Juliette Lewis (I read an interview where even Griffiths sees that resemblance), and John Cameron Mitchell (especially as Hedwig.)
Re: Joy's comment, Studio 60 was Sorkin and it only lasted one season. (Sob!) I thought the repartee in Trust Me was lively and realistic, and I really enjoyed the premiere. Looking forward to more.
ReplyDeleteWe watched it last night ... big fans of Cavanaugh. I liked it and will keep giving it a shot, but if they keep doing things like Dunne's soliloquy on cartilage, I might take a dimmer view.
ReplyDelete