Don’t you think TV executives should make all their programming decisions using a steel-cage-match format? The PopWatch Steel Cage that is. Here’s six new pilots the networks are kickin’ around:
-Tony winner Harvey Fierstein (Hairspray, Torch Song Trilogy) is — ahem — dragging a sitcom project over to Fox, in which he’ll play a Roseanne-esque mother of two.
-British funnyman Eddie Izzard has signed on for FX’s Low Life, about a shady character who tries to change his ways through suburban living.
-The WB has signed singer Brandy to play an entertainment journalist in a new sitcom from Girlfriends creator Mara Brock Akil.
-The folks behind Ed have cooked up a series for Donal Logue (Grounded for Life), in which he’ll play a working class guy who teams up with his friends to rob a celebrity. (Wha?)
-Courteney Cox and hubby David Arquette are producing Dirt, an FX series about a celebrity tabloid editor, and the Friends star hasn’t ruled out giving herself the starring role.
-And the Rev. Al Sharpton has plans for a CBS sitcom called Al in the Family, built loosely around his life. One word of warning, Al: Emeril. ‘Nuff said.
I don’t know what you guys think, but while the Brandy and Cox projects sound pretty promising, I’m kind of over seeing shows set in the world of entertainment journalism. That’s why, as someone who still loves him some Roseanne, I’m voting for the Fierstein project.
How about you?
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I was never a Roseanne fan, so I’ll go with the Eddie Izzard project.
In my opinion, great entertainments are made by the vision. Not what the story is, but how the story’s told. So I have to go with the guys who made TV I’ve enjoyed in the past: if the guys behind “Ed” are behing Donal Logue, then so am I.
Plus, how could you not want to see a show that is built around a premise that would only fill one episode of any other sitcom. That’s why the robbing a celebrity show will by far be the most fun to watch. Like a deadly car wreck – so horrible and yet I can’t look away.
Eddie Izzard! He’s got to be the funniest man alive (forget about Chris Rock). Whether the sitcom does well or not, he’s still extremely talented, and I imagine it’ll earn critical praise due to his comedic skills.
I can safely safe I don’t plan to watch any of those shows. They all sound pretty awful.
Fierstein? The heir of Arrested Development? Terrible.
Can we give up all of these to keep ‘Arrested Development’ on?
(otherwise I go with Cox, simply because I’m a fan of hers, though the premise is nothing new)
Anything, and I mean ANYTHING that has Eddie Izzard in it is totally and completely worth the price of admission! Get him on television, and I’ll be a VERY happy camper!
I think that they’re all real dark horses, with Donal Logue possibly having the most appeal (to tap into the working class vibe.) Izzard is not very well known, and along with Fierstien would have to overcome America’s fear of “chicks with dicks.” Brandy isn’t young anymore, so I can’t say anyone particularly cares about her now. Al Sharpton is a cartoon. Courtney Cox, a show about tabloids? What, did you run out of houses to re-furbish?
None of these excite me very much, but if I had to choose one, it would be the Courtney Cox-Arquette project, Dirt.
Eddie Izzard always cracks me up, so I’ll have to go with his show. Especially if he’s allowed to play a transvestite shady character…
Courtney Cox one I would watch if she stars in. The others..mmmmm..nothing sounds like must see T.V.!
They all sound rather bland.
From the makers of Ed? Are you kidding me? That’s it, I’m there. Ed is the best thing NBC has done in the last 10 years.
i adore Eddie Izzard… but still, that project sounds way too much like My Name is Earl for my taste. I wouldn’t watch Fierstein even with someone else’s eyes, so I guess the ones i’m most rooting for would be Izzard (hope its better than it sounds) and Donal Logue, because he’s funny and needs more success than he’s had.
I like Courteney Cox so I’ll go with her show, but I’ve liked Donal Logue since The Tao of Steve and Eddie Izzard is a total original, so I’d watch their shows, too. The others? I’m sorry, but I’ve hated Harvey Fierstein ever since he took Divine’s role in Hairspray. Al Sharpton? Are you kidding me? And Brandy? Well…her last series was okay so maybe.
Here ARE six shows.
Donal never really proved his worth or mettle after the promise he showed in The Tao of Steve…someone prove me wrong on this, please…BUT…I have to agree that in its prime, Ed was a fantastic piece of TV…I’m going with the heist show…and not just because Dane Cook would expect me to.
Al Sharpton could present a whole new paradigm for TV: One actor (even when he’s off-screen) does it all; he will be the star of the show, do the commercials, follow-up with news & weather, offer political commetary and, lest we forget his divine calling, be a televangelist.
However, I suspect his show will have repeat guest appearences by members of various law enforcement community, mostly the IRS.
I simply can’t wait to miss his show.
I love Eddie Izzard. Maybe they could put him on the pilot with Donal Logue. They could team up to rob a celebrity. What a weird buddy show that would make.
Anything that could get me to watch an Al Sharpton sitcom has been outlawed by the Geneva Convention.
Eddie Izzard is the funniest guy on this list, and I think the idea has the most long-term potential. Gotta go with Low Life.
who cares??????? there is not that much on good any way.
but earl and Chris Rock Show
who cares??????? there is not that much on good any way.
but earl and Chris Rock Show
i think cameron diaz as maria in sound of music remake would be the biggest comedy of them all….if that is not an option i would go with harvey firestien because he reminds me of my mother although i don’t think the masses will go for it
i think cameron diaz as maria in sound of music remake would be the biggest comedy of them all….if that is not an option i would go with harvey firestien because he reminds me of my mother although i don’t think the masses will go for it
another vote for Eddie! and agree the Donal Louge working with the creators of Ed would be worth watching as well…
If this is the best hollywood has to offer, then I’m buying more books to read.
Better idea: bring back the entire cast of In Living Color (Wayans family, Tommy Davidson, Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, maybe add a little Chris Rock, DL Hugley, Cedric, Bernie Mac, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Aries Spears, Will Farrell, Michael McDonald, Dave Foley, Joe Rogan) and make it and hour…it should easily beat out what SNL has degenerated into. Just keep it off UPN or WB…you want to get people to actually watch it.
I say if this is the best that the Big Networks have to offer, then I won’t be watching them during 2005-2006, either.
Thank God for Turner Classic Movies and TV-to-DVD box sets. For some classic TV comedy, get MARY TYLER MOORE seasons 1-3 and the complete DICK VAN DYKE SHOW.
I would rather watch reruns of great shows such as Seinfeld, Raymond, and Home Improvement.