Topic: Tom's TV Pilots marathon

[Tom]

Spin City: Season One (1996/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Shout! Factory (United States) Length: 537 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
Spin City is a smart, sophisticated ABC sitcom about the behind-the-scenes workings of City Hall in the biggest city in America. Workaholic Mike Flaherty (Michael J. Fox) is the Deputy Mayor of New York City, serving as Mayor Randall Winston's (Barry Bostwick, Rocky Horror Picture Show) key strategist and much-needed handler.

Mike runs the city with the help of his oddball staff: an anxious and insecure press secretary (Richard Kind, Mad About You); a sexist, boorish chief of staff (Alan Ruck, Ferris Bueller's Day Off); an impeccably groomed gay activist running minority affairs (Michael Boatman, Arliss); a sharp and efficient, man-crazy accountant (Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights); and an idealistic young speechwriter (Alexander Chaplin). Like Mike, they are all professionally capable but personally challenged.

Spin City was an immediate hit when it debuted in 1996. The series reunited Fox with Family Ties executive producer and creator Gary David Goldberg and proved that the magic of their creative partnership was enduring.


Spin City
1.01 Pilot
Writer: Gary David Goldberg (Created By), Bill Lawrence (Created By), Gary David Goldberg (Writer), Bill Lawrence (Writer)
Director: Thomas Schlamme
Cast: Michael J. Fox (Mike Flaherty), Carla Gugino (Ashley Schaeffer), Richard Kind (Paul Lassiter), Alan Ruck (Stuart Bondek), Michael Boatman (Carter Heywood), Connie Britton (Nikki Faber), Alexander Gaberman (James Hobert), Barry Bostwick (The Mayor), Victoria Dillard (Janelle), Taylor Stanley (Karen)

Even though I haven't watched the complete series yet, I always enjoyed it when I watched an episode. Michael J. Fox is great in it.

Rating:

[Tom]

Sports Night: The Complete Series (1998/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Buena Vista Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 1065 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
Sports Night, a three-time Emmy Award-winning series, turned avid audiences on their ears and eyes for two captivating seasons. Electricfying performances from a stellar ensemble cast that included Peter Krause (Six Feet Under), Josh Charles (Dead Poets Society) and Felicity Huffman (Magnolia) propelled this innovative "dramedy" to high critical praise.

Now with this first-time-ever DVD collection, you can experience all the behind-the-scenes bedlam of a nightly cable sports new show that proves the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat aren't always in front of the camera - and aren't always about sports!


Sports Night
1.01 Pilot
Writer: Aaron Sorkin (Writer)
Director: Thomas Schlamme
Cast: Josh Charles (Dan Rydell), Peter Krause (Casey McCall), Felicity Huffman (Dana Whitaker), Joshua Malina (Jeremy Goodwin), Sabrina Lloyd (Natalie Hurley), Robert Guillaume (Isaac Jaffe), Kayla Blake (Kim), Robert Mailhouse (J.J.), Greg Baker (Elliott), Timothy Davis-Reed (Chris), Bernard Hocke (Dave), Ron Ostrow (Will), Nina Jane Barry (Claire)

A nice fast paced comedy series. I first came attention to it, because it star Sabrina Lloyd. She did this series just after she left Sliders.

Rating:

[Tom]

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season One (1993/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Paramount Home Entertainment (Germany) Length: 871 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1.01+02 Emissary
Writer: Gene Roddenberry (Original Characters By), Michael Piller (Screenwriter), Rick Berman (Original Material By), Michael Piller (Original Material By)
Director: David Carson
Cast: Avery Brooks (Commander Sisko), Rene Auberjonois (Odo), Siddig El Fadil (Doctor Bashir), Terry Farrell (Lieutenant Dax), Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko), Colm Meaney (Chief O'Brien), Armin Shimerman (Quark), Nana Visitor (Major Kira), Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard/Locutus), Camille Saviola (Kai Opaka), Felecia M. Bell (Jennifer Sisko), Marc Alaimo (Gul Dukat), Joel Swetow (Gul Jasad), Aron Eisenberg (Nog), Stephen Davies (Tactical Officer), Max Grodénchik (Ferengi Pit Boss), Steve Rankin (Cardassian Officer), Lily Mariye (Ops Officer), Cassandra Byram (Conn Officer), John Noah Hertzler (Vulcan Captain), April Grace (Transporter Chief), Kevin McDermott (Alien Batter), Parker Whitman (Cardassian Officer), William Powell-Blair (Cardassian Officer), Frank Owen Smith (Curzon), Lynnda Ferguson (Doran), Megan Butler (Lieutenant), Stephen Rowe (Chanting Monk), Thomas Hobson (Young Jake), Donald Hotton (Monk #1), Gene Armor (Bajoran Bureaucrat), Diana Cignoni (Dabo Girl), Judi Durand (Computer Voice), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice)

Deep Space Nine had it hard in the beginning. Mostly because the fans weren't used to have a darker Star Trek series. But later on it became really great. Probably the best Star Trek series to date.
I like the pilot. Some of the characters are a bit out of character compared with later seasons. Like Bashir and Dax. I am not sure if it was a great idea to have the commander butt heads with Picard, a fan favorite. This makes it hard to have him likable.

Rating:

[Tom]

Enterprise: Season One (2001/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Paramount Home Entertainment (Germany) Length: 1107 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: Commentary, Danish, English, German, Norwegian, Swedish

Enterprise
1.01+02 Broken Bow
Cast: Scott Bakula (Jonathan Archer), John Billingsley (Phlox), Jolene Blalock (T'Pol), Dominic Keating (Malcolm Reed), Anthony Montgomery (Travis Mayweather), Linda Park (Hoshi Sato), Connor Trinneer (Charles "Trip" Tucker III), John Fleck (Silik), Melinda Clarke (Sarin), Tommy 'Tiny' Lister, Jr. (Klaang), Vaughn Armstrong (Admiral Forrest), Jim Beaver (Admiral Daniel Leonard), Mark Moses (Henry Archer), Gary Graham (Ambassador Soval), Thomas Kopache (Tos), Jim Fitzpatrick (Commander Williams), James Horan (Humanoid Figure), Joseph Ruskin (Suliban Doctor), Marty Davis (Young Archer), Van Epperson (Alien Man), Ron King (Farmer), Peter Henry Schroeder (Klingon Chancellor), Matt Williamson (Klingon Council Member), Byron Thames (Crewman), Ricky Luna (Carlos), Jason Grant Smith (Crewman Fletcher), Chelsea Bond (Alien Mother), Ethan Dampf (Alien Child), Diane Klimaszewski (Dancer), Elaine Klimaszewski (Dancer), James Cromwell (Zefram Cochrane (uncredited))

It took a long time, that Enterprise found its footing. Shortly before it was cancelled it became worth watching. All modern Star Trek shows only starting becoming as great as what they are remembered for beginning with their third or fourth season. For Enterprise though this was too late.
The pilot is rather weak and not really engaging.

Rating:

[Tom]

I decided to skip the pilot of "Star Trek: The Next Generation". But here a repost of my review of from my Random Star Trek episodes thread:

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season One (1987/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (Germany) Length: 1134 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 1, French: Dolby Digital 1, Italian: Dolby Digital 1 Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish

Star Trek: The Next Generation
1.01 Encounter at Farpoint
Writer: D. C. Fontana (Writer), Gene Roddenberry (Writer)
Director: Corey Allen
Cast: Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Geordi La Forge), Denise Crosby (Lt. Tasha Yar), Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf), Gates McFadden (Doctor Beverly Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher), John de Lancie (Q), Michael Bell (Zorn), DeForest Kelley (Admiral McCoy), Colm Meaney (Battle Bridge Conn), Cary-Hiroyuki (Mandarin Bailiff), Timothy Dang (Main Bridge Security), David Erskine (Bandi Shopkeeper), Evelyn Guerrero (Young Female Ensign), Chuck Hicks (Military Officer), Jimmy Ortega (Torres)

I decided to do a Q marathon next. The start makes the pilot episode of Star Trek TNG.
This episode introduces the crew, which in retrospect it fails at, as the characters are very different compared to later on in this series. Picard is a grumpy old man. Tasha Yar is portrayed as a very incompetent security chief. Worf is really stupid (he even almost destroyed the view screen, because he wanted to shoot something appearing on it ).

I find it strange that the crew obviously came together without knowing who else will be on that ship. Even the captain didn't know. Riker and Troi are surprised to meet each other again. Picard even asks Crusher to leave again after he finds out that she has now the position of the chief medical officer.

Q is ultimately what gives this episode somewhat of a rewatch value. Especially because his storyline will bookend this series in the final episode of TNG. What I have read, he only was integrated into the story, after the pilot had be padded when the studio asked to make a 90 minute pilot movie instead of the planned 45 minute pilot episode.

Rating:

[Tom]

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Paramount Home Entertainment (Germany) Length: 507 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 1, French: Dolby Digital 1, Italian: Dolby Digital 1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: Commentary, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish

Star Trek: The Animated Series
1.01 Beyond the Farthest Star
Writer: Gene Roddenberry (Original Characters By), Samuel A. Peeples (Writer)
Director: Hal Sutherland
Cast: William Shatner (Capt. Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), DeForest Kelley (Dr. McCoy), George Takei (Mr. Sulu), Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), Majel Barrett (Nurse Chapel), James Doohan (Scotty)

I never watched this series when it aired on German television. I only saw a few minutes of one or two episodes. This series was heavily cut (I think from 25 minutes down to 15 minutes) and made children-friendly. Even the voice dubbing wasn't done be the original German voices of the characters.
Luckily it was released uncut on home video in the nineties and redubbed with the original voice actors.
This first episode was okay. But I can see why they thought they had to cut it down to make it more appealing to children. It was quite lenghty, especially in the beginning.

Rating:

[Tom]

Star Trek: The Original Series: Season One (1966/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Paramount Home Entertainment (Germany) Length: 1170 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 1, Italian: Dolby Digital 1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 1 Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish

Star Trek
1.03 Where No Man Has Gone Before
Writer: Samuel A. Peeples (Writer), Gene Roddenberry (Original Characters By)
Director: James Goldstone
Cast: William Shatner (Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), Gary Lockwood (Lt. Comdr. Gary Mitchell), Sally Kellerman (Dr.Elizabeth Dehner), George Takei (Sulu), James Doohan (Scott), Lloyd Haynes (Alden), Andrea Dromm (Yeoman Smith), Paul Carr (Lt. Lee Kelso), Paul Fix (Doctor Piper)

Instead of watching the (at the time) unaired pilot with a different crew, or watching the first episode ever aired, I decided to watch the episode which is the second pilot after the crew has been recast with the now familiar crew. Even though this episode is the third episode aired.
This episode has the crew still wearing the uniforms from the first pilot instead of the familiar gold, red and blue uniforms. Also McCoy is still missing. Instead we got another doctor.
I enjoyed this episode. It already shows the potential of the series.

Rating:

[Jimmy]

Hey you wrote in some mysterious language I don't understand

But Google did the job... kind of, as usual

Go with the crew of the original U.S.S. Enterprise on their intrepid five year mission in which they go where no man has gone before. Included are episodes like "Balance of Terror", "whole new dimension," "Devil in the Dark," and the critically acclaimed series "The City on the story". Now you can experience the first season of the show that sparked a worldwide phenomenon, in unprecedented quality.

The history of the future has never looked better ...

[Tom]

Yeah, I was too lazy to look for an English overview and just let the German overviews stand which are part of the profiles. Maybe I just should delete them in those cases.

[Jimmy]

I was joking, I would probably do the same if I would review a french DVD.

[Tom]

Star Trek: Voyager: Season One (1995/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Paramount Home Entertainment (Germany) Length: 802 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish

Star Trek: Voyager
1.01 Caretaker
Writer: Michael Piller (Screenwriter), Jeri Taylor (Screenwriter), Rick Berman (Original Material By), Michael Piller (Original Material By), Jeri Taylor (Original Material By)
Director: Winrich Kolbe
Cast: Kate Mulgrew (Captain Kathryn Janeway), Robert Beltran (Chakotay), Roxann Biggs-Dawson (B'Elanna Torres), Jennifer Lien (Kes), Robert Duncan McNeill (Tom Paris), Ethan Phillips (Neelix), Robert Picardo (The Doctor), Tim Russ (Tuvok), Garrett Wang (Harry Kim), Basil Langton (The Caretaker), Gavan O'Herlihy (Maje Jabin), Angela Paton (Aunt Adah), Armin Shimerman (Quark), Alicia Coppola (Lieutenant Stadi), Bruce French (Ocampa Doctor), Jennifer Parsons (Ocampa Nurse), David Selburg (Toscar), Jeff McCarthy (Human Doctor), Stan Ivar (Mark), Scott MacDonald (Rollins), Josh Clark (Carey), Richard Poe (Gul Evek), Keely Sims (Farmer's Daughter), Eric David Johnson (Daggin), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice (voice))

The first two seasons of Voyagers suffered a lot by poor writing and bad villains. But it picked up for me in season 3 and 4. But this may be because I became a fan of the Paris/Torres relationship (as you may know when you followed my Random Star Trek Episode Review thread). I was only mildly interested in the series during the fifth and sixth season though. My interest picked up again in season seven. A friend at the university was a Voyager fan and we started to watch the new episodes together.
The pilot is okay. The quality is about the same as for other early episodes. Too bad the beautiful original pilot had to die. I would have been interested to see her as a regular. Even though she would have replaced Tom Paris. But I wouldn't have minded if she instead of Paris started a relationship with B'Elanna

Rating:

[Tom]

Star Wars: Clone Wars: Volume One (2003/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (Canada) Length: 69 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
The Saga continues with the Emmy-winning 'Star Wars: Clone Wars', available for the first time on DVD. This animated micro-series, directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, captures George Lucas' vision in a dynamic animated style that is a visual delight for all ages. 'Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume One' reveals the epic adventures that bridge the story arc between 'Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones' and 'Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith'. Follow the valiant Jedi Knights and the brave soldiers of the Republic's clone army as they battle againts the droid forces of the Separatists, led by the evil Sith Lord, Count Dooku. Witness the battles that made galactic heroes out of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and along the way get a first look at the new menace from 'Episode III', General Grievous. This is a must-have for any 'Star Wars' DVD collection.




Star Wars: The Clone Wars
1.01 Chapter 1

This is the first Clone Wars TV series. Never saw the newer one. This series put me off completely from the modern Star Wars. There is only one true Star Wars, and that is the original trilogy.

Rating:

[Tom]

Step by Step (1991/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United States) Length: 138 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: French, Spanish

Plot:
When Frank met Carol, sparks flew. And when J.T., Al and Brendan (Frank's kids) met Dana, Karen and Mark (Carol's kids), more sparks flew - the kind that could send Frank and Carol's romance up in smoke. Can two parents who love each other and six kids who don't ever become one big, happy family?

Patrick Duffy and Suzanne Somers star in the sprightly, big-hearted comedy that proves there's only one way to make a blended family work: take it Step by Step. Enjoy six memorable episodes, including the pilot (nothin' says lovin' like a food fight), two holiday-perfect Christmas shows and lots of wacky mischief as the kids grow up...and family bonds grow strong.

Step by Step
1.01 Pilot

I never really followed this series, but I watched it from time to time when I happened to catch it on TV. I especially enjoyed the building romance between Dana and her step-brother's best friend (I don't remember his name now), which happened towards the end of the series.
I enjoyed the pilot. It is a good introduction to the series.

Rating:

[Tom]

The Street: Series One (2006/United Kingdom) IMDb | Wikipedia (United Kingdom) Length: 355 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
This gripping six part drama, marks the return of award winning writer Jimmy McGovern to the small screen, delving into the extraordinary lives of ordinary people at momentous points in their lives.
With an all star cast, including Oscar winning Jim Broadbent (The Chronicles of Narnia and Moulin Rouge) Jane Horrocks (Little Voice), Timothy Spall (Harry Potter) and Sue Johnston (Waking the Dead), the series explores the powerful passions, emotions and disappointments of life.

Written so that each episode is a unique and independent portrayal whilst remaining linked by the sense of community, shared experience and an indomitable sense of humour, The Street indulges in unconventional love stories from the back streets of a city up north.


The Street
1.01 The Accident
Writer: Jimmy McGovern (Writer)
Director: David Blair
Cast: Jane Horrocks (Angela Quinn), Daniel Ryan (Arthur Quinn), Alexandra Pearson (Katy Quinn), Dean McGonagle (Jamie Quinn), Shaun Dooley (Peter Harper), Liz White (Eileen Harper), Katy Clayton (Joanne Harper), Penny Deakin (Nicky Harper), Joshua Thurston (Jimmy Harper), Lee Ingleby (Sean O'Neill), Christine Bottomley (Yvonne O'Neill), Timothy Spall (Eddie McEvoy), Jim Broadbent (Stan McDermott), Eamonn Riley (P.C. Jones), William Lewis (P.C. Lewis), Neil Dudgeon (Brian Peterson), Steve Edge (Malcolm McKenzie), Parvez Qadir (Defence Solicitor), Mary Cunningham (Magistrate)

This series was recommended here in this forum. I can see that it is a good series, but it just never really caught my interest. I still haven't finished watching it yet. I have seen the first two episodes so far.

Rating:

[Tom]

Stromberg: Staffel 1 (2004/Germany) IMDb | Wikipedia Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Germany) Length: 194 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Stromberg
1.01 Der Parkplatz (2004-10-11)
Writer: Ralf Husmann (Writer)
Director: Arne Feldhusen
Cast: Christoph Maria Herbst (Bernd Stromberg), Oliver Wnuk (Ulf Steinke), Bjarne Mädel (Berthold "Ernie" Heisterkamp), Diana Staehly (Tanja Seifert), Martina Eitner-Acheampong (Erika Burstedt), Tatjana Alexander (Tatjana Berkel), Sinan Akkus (Sinan Turculu), Alexandra von Schwerin (Frau Hilpers), Jan Viethen (IT-Fachmann), Lorenz Claussen (Claus Hilpers (uncredited))

Stromberg is the German version of The Office. It had a better start than the US version. It didn't start with 1:1 remake of the first episode. The characters are different than just a copy of the original The Office. The series relies heavily on Christoph Maria Herbst as Stromberg. He does a great job. My favorite character after him is Ernie.

Rating: