PILOT REVIEW: The Goodwin Games

THE GOODWIN GAMES

Starring: Becki Newton, Scott Foley, TJ Miller, Melissa Tang, Kat Foster

Created by Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, & Chris Harris
Written by Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, & Chris Harris, Directed by Peyton Reed

The Goodwin Games is a summer burnoff sitcom from FOX that was originally slated as a midseason replacement. When eccentric millionaire Benjamin Goodwin (guest star Beau Bridges) dies, his last will makes his children duke it out for the inheritance in "The Goodwin Games" and become closer in the process. Estranged from their father and each other, the children return home to play the games. Oldest child Henry (Scott Foley) is a successful doctor, middle child Chloe (Becki Newton) has never quite lived up to her potential, and youngest Jimmy (TJ Miller) is just getting out of jail. Rounding out the main cast is Henry's ex and now a minister Lucinda (Kat Foster), and the estate executor April (Melissa Tang), who is running the games and a former friend then foe of Chloe's.

THE GOOD: I actually think this is a really interesting premise for a show. It's something completely different for a sitcom so it feels fresh in that way. Both Scott Foley and Becki Newton are solid in their roles and play their "types" well. In a recurring role, Beau Bridges was a standout as their eccentric father and the show had some funny moments between the tape and the children. While I don't always like flashbacks, they work for this show and the child actors were good. Finally, I think the handmade trivial pursuit game is a really cool idea for families!

THE BAD: The biggest question is why did TJ Miller replace Jake Lacy as the younger brother? I went back and watched the trailer from last May with Lacy and he was FAR better. Lacy was charming and silly much like he was in the failed 2010-11 ABC sitcom Better With You. TJ Miller has absolutely horrible delivery and nothing he says is believable. I really don't understand what FOX was thinking with this move but it's ok because this show never made it on the air during the season and Lacy had a nice arc in the final season of The Office. This re-casting made absolutely no sense to me.

BOTTOM LINE: I'm not sure why FOX didn't give The Goodwin Games a chance when its Tuesday comedy lineup was cratering. I'm not saying it would have been a success because that would have been a tall order for a mediocre show on a tough night, but it deserved a chance. It was a good and unique premise that could have been executed better and I'll say it one more time, why did TJ Miller replace Jake Lacy?