Sunday, March 11, 2007

'October Road' Pilot Review; Details on 'Three's Company' Janet DVD Set

Today is when we would usually give you the weekly ratings report, but it will not be seen today because we don't have final numbers for Wednesday and Thursday yet. No big deal really since we were primarily in repeats this week. I hope we can bring you a report for next Sunday. So, instead of the ratings, I thought I will share my thoughts on a new show I received to view called October Road.


October Road premieres this Thursday (March 15) at 10/9 central on ABC, after an all-new Grey's Anatomy.

Info/Plot/Cast:
October Road is a new drama that centers on the young, popular author, Nick Garrett, who is at a crossroads in his life. To get over his writer's block, he goes back to his hometown and must now face the family and friends he has avoided for the past ten years. Once back home on October Road, he quickly discovers that the circle of friends whose teenaged lives he wrote about have trouble forgiving him for leaving them behind, and that his ex-girlfriend, Hannah Daniels, may have had his child.
The show stars Bryan Greenberg as Nick Garrett, Laura Prepon as Hannah Daniels, Tom Berenger as The Commander, Warren Christie as Ray "Big Cat" Cataldo, Brad William Henke as Owen Rowan, Evan Jones as Ikey, Jay Paulson as Physical Phil, Slade Pearce as Sam Daniels, Geoff Stults as Eddie Latekka and Odette Yustman as Aubrey. Recurring characters include Jonathan Murphy as Ronny, Rebecca Field as Janet "The Planet" Meadows, Elizabeth Bogush as Alison Rowan, and Bo Mitchell as Doodie.

My Thoughts/Description:
I had the pleasure in watching the first four episodes. And I was very pleased. ABC has brought us so many good dramas over the last few seasons, and once again they bring another good one. The show starts off with a flashback from 1997 where Nick and Hannah are in bed for the last time, as Nick prepares to go to Europe for six weeks. Hannah and Nick's friends say goodbye to him, and then the show brings us 10 years later in New York City where Nick has a hard time coming with something for a new book. So, eventually Nick decides to go back home in Knights Ridge, Massachusetts (to teach a one day seminar at a local school) to not really come up with new things for a new book, but to make peace with his past. His best friend Eddie, who he was supposed to go into business with, is the one that is most upset, besides Hannah of course. Nick finds out that Hannah has a son, that is 10 years old. Hmm...could he be his? The question is not really answered, but Hannah has denied it. There are many things that make us think that he is Nick's son. I won't give it away, but in the first two episodes alone, we see a lot.
All the characters are very good. Nick's old friends are very interesting. One of his friends named Physical Phil has never been outside since 9/11. Another friend named Ikey who is sort of crazy. Another friend named Owen Rowan, who is now married to a woman named Allison, who seems to be having an affair with...Ikey! As for Hannah, she is now seeing the school bully Ray "Big Cat" Cataldo and has a son named Sam, who is very charming. His best friend Eddie seems like a ladies man and tough guy. Back at home Nick's brother (Ronny) and father (The Commander) basically just watch sports all day. The other characters include the co-ed Nick meets named Aubrey, is very interested in Nick...but Eddie wants a little payback on Nick, so he decides to pursue her. I love Aubrey! Then there is the bar owner, a heavy-set but likable woman named Janet "The Planet" Meadows.

Analysis/Final Thoughts:
This show should do very well after Grey's Anatomy. The fans of Men in Trees will like this show even because it seems very similar to it. The show is much younger than that show, so maybe this show can hold more of the Grey's Anatomy audience. Laura Prepon of That '70s Show is in this and that show had a huge young audience, and I'm sure most of them will join in on this show. If the show passes its six-episode test, I think the show should air at 8pm next season. 10pm seems a bit too late for this show, but with Grey's Anatomy as its lead-in, the sky is the limit. Personally, I would like to see this show Wednesdays at 8 next fall, followed by the Grey's Anatomy spin-off, then maybe a returning show that skews young adult like What About Brian, or a new drama. Lost would return to that 10pm slot in January. ABC is likely to go a different route on Thursdays at 10 next season unless, October Road is a massive hit, and even then they would still move it to help another night.
Anyway, this show has it all. Great characters, a great plot, some mysteries, and even a scandal (Ikey and Allison??). You will need some time getting used to all the characters. It took me about the end of the pilot or beginning of the second episode to know everyone. They all look different in the opening flashback, so that might have confused me. Still, great characters and stories. It is as charming as Men in Trees and as young and hip as Grey's Anatomy, which makes it a perfect fit on ABC. Dying to see the final two episodes...and I'm sure you all are dying to see all six! So, this Thursday watch at 10/9 central only on ABC!
(4/5 stars)


Also, we have the cover art and episodes now for the Three's Company DVD Set titled Capturing the Laughter: Janet's Favorites. As we mentioned before, the set will street on May 1 and has six episodes hand-picked by Joyce DeWitt herself. The six episodes are: "The Case of the Missing Blonde," "Two Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Chrissy's Hospitality," "Janet's Secret," "Jack's Tattoo," and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do." It would have been cool if Anchor Bay had her do intros for each episode stating why she liked the episode. Oh well. For more details on this set and Three's Company head on over to Jack's Bistro.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Saturday, March 25

Act Your Age - "The Cupid Shuffle" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Angela, Bernadette and Keisha get set up by a celebrity matchmaker; Jacob commits to telling Olivia his true feelings.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 20)

Friday, March 24

  • Kieran Culkin (Go Fish) - Watch Kieran on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Method Man (Method & Red) - Method Man appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Skylar Astin (Ground Floor) - Skylar is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Woody Harrelson (Cheers) - Woody appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Michael Urie (Shrinking/Partners) - Michael appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Toni Collette (United States of Tara) - Toni will be on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
  • Mario Cantone (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Mario is joining Drew in the kitchen to make a sweet potato pie and dish on behind-the-scenes details from Sex and the City on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local lisitngs.
  • Kym Whitley (Act Your Age/Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) - Kym joins Sherri on the couch to talk about their NAACP Image Award-winning podcast Two Funny Mamas and her sitcom Act Your Age on Bounce TV on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Chyler Leigh (That '80s Show) - Chyler talks about Hallmark's The Way Home on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (November-March)

Frasier - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Ghosts - Season One Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Ten Growing Pains - The Complete Series

11/08 - Frasier - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/08 - Young Rock - Season Two (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/15 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Seven / The Complete Season Eight
11/22 - That '70s Show - The Complete Series (Mill Creek)
11/29 - Ghosts - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/06 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - 70th Anniversary Ultimate Christmas Collection
12/13 - And Just Like That... - The Complete First Season
12/13 - Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


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