PILOT REVIEW: 666 Park Avenue

666 PARK AVENUE

Starring: Rachael Taylor, Dave Annable, Robert Buckley, Samantha Logan, Mercedes Masohn, Helena Matteson, with Vanessa L. Williams, and Terry O'Quinn

Based on the Book by Gabriella Pierce, Developed by David Wilcox
Written by David Wilcox, Directed by Alex Graves

666 Park Avenue is a creepy new drama from ABC about an upscale apartment building (The Drake) and the demonic forces that may be at work within the building. Young couple Henry Martin (Dave Annable) and Jane Van Veen (Rachael Taylor) become the new managers at the building which is owned by the mysterious Gavin Doran (Terry O'Quinn) and his wife Olivia (Vanessa L. Williams). Rounding out the main cast is another couple, Brian and Louise (Robert Buckley and Mercedes Masohn), a beautiful woman across the street, Alexis (Helena Matteson) who has her eyes on Brian, and a mysterious girl Nona (Samantha Logan).

THE GOOD: Well, I love the ambiance of a classic, old hotel in upscale Manhattan. The idea of this beautiful building hosting some dark secrets is an intriguing one for sure and at times throughout the episode (but not consistently), the mood was really felt. There were a few good moments of spookiness - the elevator scene towards the end in particular. I actually found myself most interested in the Brian and Louise characters rather than the main one because I think the story with the woman across the street has the potential to be a good one.

THE BAD: This show could have been really, really good. All the pieces are there for it to be a really creepy yet well done show. But instead it seems to half heartedly commit to spooks and didn't do a great job of making me want to keep finding out the story. Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams were both a little disappointing in the pilot because I think their characters could be written and played better. They actually both seemed a little bored in their roles. I wanted this show to be better, creepier, more interesting, etc.

BOTTOM LINE: I don't know if you could quite call this a horror show like last year's The River but there's a reason that spooky shows don't often work on TV. It can try to provide some thrills but it's nothing we haven't seen in many movies over the years. It also wants to be really sensual and risque but seems to be confined by broadcast TV standards. It's a valiant attempt but I just don't see this show becoming the next buzzy show like the two dramas that precede it on Sunday night.