Did you watch the debut of Viva Laughlin?
Or as it shall be known in these parts, “The show that sent the Reverend Boyfriend to Malaysia.”
I had all good intentions of watching Eric Winter’s new show last night, and reporting back on it here in detail. Really, I meant to. But then I got a late start watching Grey’s Anatomy, and by the time I finished the DVR playback on that and started flipping around, Viva Laughlin was already half over. Nothing that I saw in the ensuing half-hour made me feel the least bit motivated to watch the online playback and see what I missed. (Though you certainly can, on CBS’s Innertube player.)
From what I did see, I’m making the following, possibly unfair judgments:
- The lead character is terrifically unlikeable. Are we supposed to be rooting for him?
- Melanie Griffith should contract to make public service announcements about the dangers of cosmetic surgery.
- Eric Winter is just as adorable here as he was in Brothers & Sisters. He’ll come out of this without embarrassing himself, anyway. Though he hasn’t actually had to sing yet, so it may be too soon to tell.
- That kid playing Unlikeable Lead Character’s son? Adorable, too. Do we need an extra teen character somewhere on B&S? Maybe Winter can bring him along when he comes back.
And it seems awfully likely that he’ll be coming back soon. Doesn’t it? Did anybody here watch this and love it?
I’m not totally immune to the charms of outlandish, over-ambitious, quirky entertainments. I’m one of about, what, three people who actually loved Cop Rock many a year ago. I was a Twin Peaks fan, at least until the writers realized that even they didn’t know what was going on. I’m enjoying Pushing Daisies this season, and I was obsessed with John from Cincinnatti before that. I’m not a hard-sell for weirdness. But nothing in the bit I saw last night gave me that, “I can’t believe I’m seeing this on TV, but I love it” feeling that’s kind of a necessity with this stuff.
Judging from the ratings — which, according to TV Guide, started out bad and got worse as the hour went on — a lot of folks felt the same. But what did you think of Viva Laughlin? Share your own impressions in the comments, and if anybody is in for the long haul, do report in on future episodes, as well.
For Kevin’s sake, I’m hoping that haul’s not too long.
Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Viva Laughlin, CBS, commentary
October 19th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
I watched it! Can I have that hour of my life back? Please?
My problems are twofold.
1) This show (as you so eloquently put it) took away the Reverend Boyfriend.
2) I tend to hate 95% of American remakes and this is possibly the worst (I loved Blackpool)
Eric Winter was adorable, but he’s wasted here and he doesn’t deserve to have this turkey on his resume. Back to B&S soon I hope!
October 19th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
I recorded the show. It wasn’t great, but I will give it a try again. My problem with TV shows today, is that they give it one or two viewings and if it isn’t a hit, they take it off. There are a lot of shows I don’t watch that stay on. I also don’t watch a show for how the actors look. Beauty is only skin deep and acting does count.