Skip to main content

PILOT REVIEW: Running Wilde

RUNNING WILDE










Starring: Will Arnett, Keri Russell, Robert Michael Morris, Mel Rodriguez, Stefania Lavie Owen
Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, and Will Arnett
Written by Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, and Will Arnett
Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

Running Wilde is a new comedy from part of the team that created cult comedy classic Arrested Development. This show focuses on childhood friends and teenage loves who have gone in very different directions. Steve Wilde (Will Arnett) is a wealthy playboy who has never had to work for anything in his life while Emmy Kadubic (Keri Russell) has spent her life trying to change the world, most recently living in a rainforest trying to preserve an ancient tribe. However, her daughter Puddle (Stefania Lavie Owen), the narrator of the show, desperately wants to be a normal kid and tricks her mother into visiting Steve and then staying there, living in the treehouse Steve and Emmy used to spend much time in. Rounding out the cast are assistants to Steve, his butler Mr. Lunt (Robert Michael Morris) and his driver Migo (Mel Rodriguez).

Arrested Development it's not. The weirdness that made Arrested so popular was endearing. Here it is not. There is nothing likable about any of the characters. Wilde is not a protagonist that you root for and Emmy is not all that believable as a great humanitarian. It doesn't help that there is little to no chemistry between Arnett and Russell. They're following the time-tested pattern of being annoyed with each other only to (inevitably) fall for each other again, but it just isn't working yet. The supporting cast is not any stronger - Mr. Lunt and Migo are annoying and Puddle not speaking was a strange gimmick in a strange show. The pilot was just a big trainwreck and the number of funny moment is countable on one hand - eh maybe one finger (the piano scene). The scene with the "doctor" was painfully unfunny.

It seems that the writers and producers got just a little too niche this time around to the point that it's not enjoyable anymore. The high-brow humor will not appeal to the general public and the show is not likely to be a hit. Arnett can be funny but he too often goes over the top and Russell is a good actress but not a good fit for this role. All in all, it's one to avoid. And one that probably won't be around very long.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

EPISODE GUIDES: That 70s Show Season Seven

On Thursdays, I go through classic series with a critical look at each season. Today I am looking at Season Seven of  That 70s Show ! THAT 70s SHOW: SEASON SEVEN 2004-2005 25 episodes The seventh season of  That 70s Show  is the final season with Topher Grace as a series regular and also the final full season for Ashton Kutcher. Despite still having both of those cast member, the show finds itself flailing especially with Topher Grace's Eric, who is stuck in a terrible arc for most of the season. The show also brings many characters back at one point or another but everything just feels tired. This season actually graded out the worst for me. Even worse than the often maligned final season (more on that next week). Every title this season is named for a Rolling Stones song. Starring Topher Grace as Eric Forman  (25 episodes) Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart  (25 episodes) Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso  (25 episodes) Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde  (25 e...

EPISODE GUIDES: Rhoda Season Five

On Thursdays, I go through classic series with a critical look at each season. Today I am looking at Season Five (the final season) of  Rhoda ! RHODA: SEASON FIVE 1978 13 episodes Rhoda' s final season was a truncated one as the show was cancelled in December 1978 after only 13 episodes had been produced (and only nine had aired). This feels like a continuation from season four in many ways except with the ill-advised split between Ida and Martin (more on that below). While  Rhoda  has an occasional good moment and even a couple decent episodes, it is a show that seems so wildly different from season one and not in a good way.  Rhoda  could never figure out what it fully wanted to be and only made it four and a half seasons as a result. Starring Valerie Harper as Rhoda Morgenstern  (13 episodes) Julie Kavner as Brenda Morgenstern  (13 episodes) Ray Buktenica as Benny Goodwin  (11 episodes) Kenneth McMillan as Jack Doyle  (9 episodes) Nancy Wa...

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1995-1996 Thursdays

On Tuesdays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Thursdays in the 1995-96 season! ABC 8:00 8:30 9:00 10:00 Sep Charlie Grace The Monroes Various Programs Oct Murder One Nov Various Programs Dec Various Programs Thursday Night Movie Jan Feb World’s Funniest Videos Before They Were Stars! Mar Apr May NBC was the powerhouse on Thursday nights but ABC still gave it the old college try in the Fall of 1995 with a trio of new dramas that they hoped would help them cut into the Peacock's dominance. Headlining their night was Murder One , a high profile new show from Steven Bochco that received much of the network's attention before the season started. The series focused on one murder case for an entire season, whi...