Topic: Tom's TV Pilots marathon

[Tom]

Series 3 came out in the UK a couple of weeks back.

Thanks!

Personally, I think it's one of the worst comedies to grace British television in a long time.

Yeah, it's not really great. But I enjoyed the episodes I have seen so far, as far as I remember. It has been awhile.

[addicted2dvd]

I have the first two seasons... and I always enjoyed them enough to make it worth the watch... wouldn't mind getting some more seasons.

[Tom]

Moonlighting (1985/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (Germany) Director: Robert Butler Writing: Glenn Gordon Caron (Writer) Length: 93 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, English: Dolby Digital 1 Subtitles:

Stars:
Cybill Shepherd as Madelyn "Maddie" Hayes
Bruce Willis as David Addison
Allyce Beasley as Agnes DiPesto
Robert Ellenstein as Heinz
Jim MacKrell as Plastic Surgeon

Plot:
Die erfolgreiche Schönheit Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) wurde von ihrem Manager nach Strich und Faden betrogen. Nun steht sie kurz vor dem Bankrott. Als sie eine kleine Detektei, die sich in ihrem Besitz befindet, verkaufen möchte, stößt Maddie bei Agenturleiter David Addison (Bruce Willis) auf heftige Gegenwehr.
Obwohl in der "Blue-Moon"-Detektei noch kein einziger Fall gelöst wurde, geht Maddie auf Davids Vorschlag ein, den Laden gemeinsam in Schwung zu bringen. Während sich das blonde Model und der sprücheklopfende Detektiv witzige Wortgefechte liefern, erweist sich das ungleiche Paar nach einigen Anlaufschwierigkeiten doch als erfolgreiches Team.

Awards:
Won:

Golden Globe (1986)		Actor in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy Series (Bruce Willis)
Golden Globe (1985)		Actress in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy Series (Cybill Shepherd)
Golden Globe (1986)		Actress in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy Series (Cybill Shepherd)

Nominated:

Golden Globe (1985)		Actor in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy Series (Bruce Willis)
Golden Globe (1987)		Actor in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy Series (Bruce Willis)
Golden Globe (1987)		Actress in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy Series (Cybill Shepherd)
Golden Globe (1987)		Actress in a Supporting Role - Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie (Allyce Beasley)
Golden Globe (1985)		Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Golden Globe (1986)		Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Golden Globe (1987)		Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Extras:

• Production Notes
• Scene Access
• Trailers

My Thoughts:

I just stumbled across this one in my collection. I overlooked it because I had forgotten to tag this as a TV series. This is the pilot TV movie for the series "Moonlighting".
This is the only episode I have ever seen of this series. I enjoyed it. I am almost tempted to buy the series.

Rating:

[Tom]

My Name Is Earl: Season One (2005/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 526 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 1 Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Plot:
Earl (Jason Lee) is learning the hard way that when you do something bad, it has a way of coming back and biting you in the butt! Hoping to turn his life around, Earl's got a lengthy list of detestable deeds to make up for, from stealing a one-legged girl's car to avoiding a nasty break-up by faking his own death. Nominated for two Golden Globes and winner of the People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy, My Name is Earl is wildly offbeat and hilariously irreverent - the #1 new comedy of the season!

My Name Is Earl
1.01 Pilot (2005-09-20)
Writer: Greg Garcia (Writer)
Director: Marc Buckland
Cast: Jason Lee (Earl), Ethan Suplee (Randy), Jaime Pressly (Joy), Nadine Velazquez (Catalina), Eddie Steeples (Darnell), Leo Fitzpatrick (Sonny), Gregg Binkley (Kenny), Dale Dickey (Patty), Carson Daly (Himself), Trace Adkins (Himself), Laura Gardner (Kenny's Mom), Frank Collison (Kenny's Dad), Noah Crawford (Young Earl), Andy Pessoa (Young Kenny), Patrick McCarthy (Teacher), William Belli (D.J.), Deborah Cresswell (Wanda), Louis T. Moyle (Dodge), Trey Carlisle (Earl Jr.)

A great first episode to a great series. All the important elements are already here. Even little things like Earl always having is eyes closed in photos.
Towards the end the series grew tired though. So I was not sad that it when it was cancelled. To bad though that it didn't get a proper closure.

Rating:

[addicted2dvd]

I seen a few episodes here and there of My Name is Earl... but for some reason it is one I never care for... maybe because I didn't see it from the beginning?

[Tom]

Maybe if you watch at least the very first episode. It may make the difference.

[Piffi]

I dont know what it is with My Name Is Earl. I've given it alot of chances. Dunno why. But there is something with "Earl" Something with that actor. Not a very big fan of his work. Unfortunatly.

[addicted2dvd]

Maybe if you watch at least the very first episode. It may make the difference.

Definitely possible... there has been other series where this is the case. Didn't care for it when just catching a random episode... but enjoyed it when I got the chance to watch from the beginning.

[Tom]

My So-Called Life: The Complete Series (1994/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 904 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
All 19 episodes of the critically-acclaimed television series "My So-Called Life," starring Claire Danes, in one DVD box set! Danes' portrayal of Angela Chase, the angst-ridden, introspective teen, earned her a Golden Globe. Even today, after being off the air since early 1995, the show has thousands of fans all around the world.


My So-Called Life
1.01 Pilot
Writer: Winnie Holzman (Writer)
Director: Scott Winant
Cast: Bess Armstrong (Patty), Wilson Cruz (Rickie), Claire Danes (Angela), Devon Gummersall (Brian), A. J. Langer (Rayanne), Jared Leto (Jordan), Devon Odessa (Sharon), Lisa Wilhoit (Danielle), Tom Irwin (Graham), Nada Despotovich (Ms. Mayhew), Francine Riber (First Bathroom Girl), Amy Leland (Second Bathroom Girl), Bianca Lawson (Third Bathroom Girl), Stanley De Santis (Social Studies Teacher), Margaret Nagle (Science Teacher), Shane Powers (Guy #1), Tim Williams (Guy #2), Cameron Arnett (Cop), Devin Kamienny (Jordan's Buddy), Animalbag (Party Band)

Probably ahead of its time. A good series which was cut short too soon.

Rating:

[Tom]

This finishes of Ms. Halfway through the alphabet now.

[Tom]

The Nanny: Season One (1993/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (Canada) Length: 515 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: French, Portuguese, Spanish

Plot:
Fran Drescher, Charles Shaughnessy, Daniel Davis, Lauren Lane, Nicholle Tom, Benjamin Salisbury, Madeline Zima, and Renee Taylor star in this hilarious sitcom about the nanny with the face from Vogue and the voice from Queens. This DVD collection includes all 22 episodes from the first season of this hilarious show. Fran Drescher stars in her defining role as street-smart Fran Fine, a diva down-on-her-luck who finds herself hired for a job she never even applied for! Now, she's the nanny for a rich, sophisticated family in Manhattan, and when this blue-collar girl from the block moves in with the blue blood, widowed Broadway producer and his three children, comedy is red hot!


The Nanny
1.01 Pilot
Writer: Peter Marc Jacobson (Original Characters By), Fran Drescher (Original Characters By), Peter Marc Jacobson (Screenwriter), Robert Sternin (Screenwriter), Prudence Fraser (Screenwriter), Fran Drescher (Original Material By), Peter Marc Jacobson (Original Material By)
Director: Lee Shallat
Cast: Fran Drescher (Fran Fine), Charles Shaughnessy (Maxwell Sheffield), Daniel Davis (Niles), Lauren Lane (C.C. Babcock), Nicholle Tom (Maggie Sheffield), Benjamin Salisbury (Brighton Sheffield), Madeline Zima (Grace Sheffield), Renée Taylor (Sylvia), Rachel Chagall (Val), Jonathan Penner (Danny Imperiali), Dee Dee Rescher (Dottie), Jimmy Marsden (Eddie), Ray Johnson (Piano Player), Curtis Hood (Investor Man)

This series was never a favorite of mine. But I did watch it when I caught it on TV. I especially liked the banter between Niles and C.C.
I only have the first season on DVD and never got past the second disc.
The pilot is a good introduction to the series. Watching it now I noticed a guy who looked awfully like a very young James Marsden. And I was right. He is credited as "Jimmy Marsden" though.

Rating:

[Tom]

The New Adventures of He-Man: Volume One (1989/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 710 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
A NEW CHAPTER OF ADVENTURE AND EXCITEMENT BEGINS FOR HE-MAN!

By the power of Eternia! He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe, is summoned to the future by the inhabitants of an endangered planet, Primus. Its people are being attacked by Flogg and his band of Mutants, who are soon joined by Skeletor, the lord of destruction, who also travels to the future! In this exciting continuation of the HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE® storyline. He-Man and his new allies, the Galactic Guardians, struggle against the forces of darkness! With the power of the good and the way of the magic, the battle begins anew!

The New Adventures of He-Man
1.01 A New Beginning
Writer: Jack Olesker (Writer), Jean Chalopin (Created By)
Director: Kazuo Terada
Cast: Don Brown), Gary Chalk), Ted Cole), Tracy Eisner), Mark Hildreth), Anthony Holland), Campbell Lane), Scott McNeil), Doug Parker), Alvin Sanders), Venus Terzo)

I always loved to watch the classic He-Man series. But I never liked the new adventures. Even as a kid I thought the series was stupid, as was the toyline.
The dialog is just horrible in this episode. And the characters are all so stupid. The only thing I found good was, that they showed Adam revealing himself as He-Man to his parents. But even that was handled badly.

Rating:

[Tom]

NewsRadio: Seasons One and Two (1995/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 658 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: Portuguese

Plot:
Off the airwaves and into your living room, Emmy®-winning NEWSRADIO arrives on DVD for the first time! Airing for five highly rated seasons (1995-1999), this audience favorite is a hilarious take on office politics at New York City's WNYX station. Spotlighting a stellar comic cast, including Phil Hartman ("Saturday Night Live"), Dave Foley ("Kids In The Hall"), and MTV's Andy Dick, NEWSRADIO is one of the most sharp-witted sitcoms ever, staffing its no-holds-barred station with a gallery of wildly memorable characters: on-air host Bill (Phil Hartman), anchor Catherine (Khandi Alexander, "C.S.I."), supervising producer Lisa (Maura Tierney, "ER"), and handyman Joe (Joe Rogan, "Fear Factor").

Digitally remastered, this three-disc set includes all seven episodes from the outrageous debut season, as well as all 22 episodes from the show's sophomore season.

Packed with enough laugh-out-loud moments to please long-time fans and new ones alike, NEWSRADIO: THE COMPLETE FIRST AND SECOND SEASONS, from Brad Grey and Bernie Brillstein, is still the talk of the town!


NewsRadio
1.01 The Pilot
Writer: Paul Simms (Created By), Paul Simms (Writer)
Director: James Burrows
Cast: Dave Foley (Dave Nelson), Stephen Root (Jimmy James), Andy Dick (Matthew Brock), Maura Tierney (Lisa Miller), Vicki Lewis (Beth), Ella Joyce (Catherine Duke), Phil Hartman (Bill McNeal), Kurt Fuller (Ed), Greg Lee (Rick), Wallace Langham (Jeff), Beau Billingslea (The Security Guard)

A fun series with the great late Phil Hartman. Another great actor in this series is Stephen Root (Milton from Office Space) who plays the boss.

Rating:

[Tom]

No Heroics: Series One (2008/United Kingdom) IMDb | Wikipedia 2 entertain Video (United Kingdom) Length: 132 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
No Heroics is a six-part comedy series about four old friends who just happen to be off-duty superheroes.

The show focuses on their day-to-day lives, which turn out to be pretty much the same as everyone else's. In fact, superheroics seem far from their minds behind relationships, sex lives, and a constant desperation for success and fame.

Instead, this group of B-listers would rather get drunk and commiserate their lack of superiority in their local superheroes-only pub, The Fortress...

No Heroics is an ground-breaking comedy featuring stellar Britcom talent. The show has garnered much critical praise and a nomination for Best New Comedy at the British Comedy Awards 2008.


No Heroics
1.01 Episode 1
Writer: Drew Pearce (Created By), Drew Pearce (Writer)
Director: Ben Gregor
Cast: Patrick Baladi (Excelsor), Nicholas Burns (The Hotness), Claire Keelan (Electroclash), James Lance (Timebomb), Rebekah Staton (She-Force), Steve Speirs (Norse Dave), Jim Howick (Thundermonkey), Josef Altin (Robber), Delroy Atkinson (Newspaper Vendor), Allun Corduner (Shopkeeper), Joe Cornish (The Voice of Power Hour (voice)), Ginny Holder (TV Reporter), Andrea Lowe (Vicci), Oliver Maltman (Doomball)

A good episode, but sadly overall this series wasn't as fun as I hoped it to be. The concept is similar to the movie "The Specials". I preferred the movie though.

Rating:

[Tom]

Next up would be "No Ordinary Family", but I already reviewed it for this marathon.