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The TV Set (Review)

posted 15 years ago by coldsteel7
2 replies | jump to latest

How are television programs created? That is the question writer and director Jake Kasdan answers in his quirky film, The TV Set. Kasdan has written some decent comedies. The TV Set is pretty average in almost every aspect. But the film does provide some actual insight into the process of creating new television programs.

The TV Set begins with a silly set of graphics with captions that explain the process of and statistics associated with pilot television programs. After watching the close to boring presentation, we are introduced to a character, Zach Harper (Fran Kranz). Zach seems like a likeable kid who has made the final cut to play the male lead in a television pilot called The Wexler Chronicles. As we follow Zach through the process, we eventually meet the creative mind behind the television pilot, Mike Klein (David Duchovny). Klein seems to be torn between navigating his pilot through the gauntlet to prime time and maintaining his creative integrity. The process appears to be a minefield of obstacles.

For more:

http://flickrater.blogspot.com/2009/04/tv-set.html

[–] don-lockwood 15 years ago

I completely agree with your review. If the brilliant, telling, and well-paced satire Network is a 10/10, this is 5/10. It had its moments, and I always enjoy Sigourney Weaver, but the pacing was too slow.

I was interested in the premise, but the script offered few surprises and bland characters. For example, there were some legitimate and interesting problems the characters had to face, such as whether to make the show a lighthearted comedy or a drama about suicide. But the film just bounced around these simple ideas and didn't offer any new ideas or a fresh take on the old ones.

[–] MelCooley2 12 years ago

This "review" is...well, you're kidding, right? I don't know where to start...

"Zach seems like a likeable kid..."
> Umm...and you would be friends with this "likeable kid?"

"...we follow Zach through the process..."
> No, we don't "follow Zach." He's just one of the problems forced on Mike Klein by the network. The movie is not about Zach. Wait...is that what you think? That the movie is about Zach?

"...we eventually meet the creative mind behind the television pilot, Mike Klein (David Duchovny)."
> EVENTUALLY? He's the main character! We meet him in the first 90 seconds of the film!

"...Klein seems to be torn between navigating his pilot through the gauntlet to prime time and maintaining his creative integrity."
> "SEEMS" to be torn? Ya THINK?!

Did the "reviewer" who wrote this even see this movie or just hear about it from a friend of a friend? If this is a serious review, then the author of it is precisely the target audience the non-creative network executives in the film are aiming for. Maybe they're right...maybe people aren't really paying attention and are only watching for the next fart joke.