Skip to main content

PILOT REVIEW: Mixology

MIXOLOGY












Starring: Sarah Bolger, Adam Campbell, Adan Canto, Alexis Carra, Craig Frank, Ginger Gonzaga, Blake Lee, Vanessa Lengies, Andrew Santino, Kate Simses

Created by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore
Written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, Directed by Larry Charles

Mixology is a new high concept series that takes place over the course of one night at a swanky Manhattan bar called "Mix." Each episode will deal with a couple regulars (six women and five men) who meet each other at the bar while the season finale will take place when the night ends and the pieces fall into place. The pilot episode focused on Tom (Blake Lee), who was recently dumped by his fiance, and Maya (Ginger Gonzaga), an attorney who's as tough in life as the courtroom. The other characters were sprinkled throughout but each will have their own episode.

THE GOOD: I admit that when I read the log line last spring, I barely could understand how this show would even work. After watching the pilot, I understand a little bit more. And I guess it's kind of cool.

THE BAD: Even if the concept is good, the execution was terrible. I didn't laugh once during the pilot, which is a big problem with a sitcom. The show was all too self-aware that it was being dubbed as a high concept, edgy series but it came across lame. No one in the cast made any sort of impression on me and I felt like it dragged longer than several hour-long pilots have this season. I'm not sure if this is just not the type of crowd I run with, but I just don't think people talk that way to each other. I didn't buy a group of friends in a bar or even strangers in a bar, everything just felt scripted and stylized. That might work if it was intriguing or interesting, but it wasn't. Despite being "high concept," I just don't feel like I could get too connected to any characters after seeing them interact with at least 10 others on one night at a bar. The flashback scenes did nothing to add to the plot or characters.

BOTTOM LINE: ABC seems to be moving in the wrong direction with these post-Modern Family sitcoms, and they have had a lot of clunkers over the last several years. This one is arguably the worst one yet as there's just nothing appealing about this show. I don't understand why ABC puts shows like this on the night but won't give The Goldbergs a chance with the post-Modern Family slot.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SEASON IN REVIEW: 2017-18 Miscellaneous Awards

As usual, I am ending the season with a few miscellaneous awards. The blog will be quiet this summer but I will continue to do the week ahead posts with broadcast TV news as it happens this summer. Then I'll be back for previews, pilot reviews, and more in the fall! BEST RETURNING COMEDY Superstore (NBC) - Superstore was awarded my "Best Returning Comedy" last year, but it only got better in season three. The funniest ensemble on TV took another step forward with some truly hilarious moments (the season premiere, the Golden Globes party, and the Christmas episode to name a few) and some major plot points moving forward. It also has the potential to be surprisingly sentimental at times. I think back to the first year of the show and how I felt like it had so many funny elements but didn't always bring it completely together. Well now it does on a weekly basis and it is one of those shows that just seems to be in the sweet spot of what will hopefully be a long run. ...

EPISODE GUIDES: Happy Days Season Five (Part 1)

On Thursdays, I take a detailed and critical look at a TV show by season. Today I am looking at Season 5 (Part 1) of  Happy Days ! HAPPY DAYS: SEASON FIVE 1977-1978 27 episodes Season Five is the year where Fonzie infamously jumps the shark. It happens at the beginning of the season and while  Happy Days  does eventually decline in quality, it is not this season. In fact, this season graded out slightly higher than the previous season even though it doesn't feel as strong. I think that's because there's not a lot of outright stinkers in this season. It's a very solid season with the show continuing to hum along. There are some signs of the troubles to come but it doesn't happen on a regular basis in the fifth season. Starring Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham  (27 episodes) Henry Winkler as Arthur Fonzarelli  (27 episodes) Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham  (27 episodes) Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham  (27 episodes) Anson Williams as Potsie Webber  ...

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...