8195 replies to this topic

[rage6839]

Timothy Hutton has a new gig on TNT. Just saw the the preair episode and loved it. Got a lot BBC's Hustle in it (guess that is why I like it). The cast was good and although some of the back stories were out there, it was a fun ride. I am a sucker for cons and high-tech toys so I hope it lives up to the pilot.

Edited by rage6839, Jun 24, 2008 @ 4:01 PM.

[Mongi]

Love the title of the thread. It's exactly what I was thinking. I went into this one blind, not even knowing where it would air, but immediately guessed it was a TNT show. It definitely has their stamp. It reminded me a bit of Smith too with more of the tone of Hustle. I'm afraid the fun heist stuff won't mesh very well with the dead kid story, those were the only parts that didn't really work for me. Love Parker though. Too much of her might be annoying, but I thought she was cute with her toys.

I don't know why this bugs me so much, but Christian Kane has got to cut his hair. Just can't stand it.

[rage6839]

There is such a madness to Parker that I have to love her. During the warehouse scene, she was the only one I was truly scared of, as was Nate. Although Spencer had proven himself to be a damn good retrieval specialists, I have no fear Parker could take him. The show provides enough comedic juice, especially Hardison, to offset the seriousness of Nate's dead son. This is one fall show I am definitely looking forward to.

[Huntley]

Am I the only one who thought this was the shittest script in a long time?

Yeah, the production values are respectable and the acting averages up to quite good but, wow... it just felt like every other turn I'd turn to my invisible friend and go of course that's what happened.

When the show started of I was impressed that they jumped straight into the story with no delay, like "here are the basics - go!" I liked that. But then plot point after plot point it just started disappointing me repeatedly.

Like, of course he has a dead kid, and of course "he's not a thief" and of course they trust him, and of course Parker blew up her parents and of course Elliot can take out a bar-full of armed goons and four security guards before Alec's bag hits the ground! And naturally that's exactly how the FBI would treat a suspect... let him have a stroll! Of fucking course!

Gah! Sorry to be so agressive. I usually shy away from being so outwardly negative about a show. I try to look for the saving graces but here... Though things did improve once Gina Bellman showed up, I don't think either she, Hutton or Kane can save Leverage for me - especially with the latter's haircut.

And what's with Beth Riesgraf? She seems a lovely woman and, while I've seen her on My Name Is Earl and How I Met Your Mother and thought she was fine acting wise, watching this pilot I felt like a haven't heard line readings that off in long time. Bad direction? Bad fit for the role? Something's off.

Though really, are there many actors out there who could save dialogue this cliched and corny? Plus, for me, the "comic" elements of the script like the various flashbacks just seemed ridiculous rather than funny - bringing down the verisimilitude without furthering the enjoyment.

Poor Leverage... trying to be Hustle and failing so spectacularly.

[Bluelise]

My husband asked me to watch this the other night. He watched it after it was recommended by a friend.

To me, it felt like a pilot from ten years ago, or perhaps something you'd watch on a no-name cable channel on a Sunday afternoon. I didn't think it was terrible, but I don't have any desire to watch any more episodes. On the other hand, my husband loved it. So, it could find a fanbase, though I don't think I'll be one of them.

[Mongi]

I'll totally agree that the plot was predictable and the actors certainly deserve better dialogue. The cast is the main draw. They had a rapport that felt less like the cast of a pilot and more like one with a season worth of working together. I liked the flashbacks though Parker's felt a little odd. Everyone else's seemed to highlight what they did best and Parker didn't seem to have anything to do with explosives aside from her flashback. I really wish we'd gotten a chance to see a young Parker rigging a harness or something.

[Spy Idol]

I actually really enjoyed this one. Suspension of disbelief and some elements of predictability are a given with any kind of heisty/spy show, but I thought the cast was awesome and I laughed quite a bit, was entertained fully throughout. I was most impressed by the kid who played Voodoo from Friday Night Lights, because he was pretty damn funny in this. I'm looking forward to it in the fall.

[JonBidinger]

I rather liked the pilot for Leverage. Which fits with the love it or hate it vibe I have found in other reviews. Though so far TNT hasn't got a good followup to The Closer and Saving Grace.

[Toga88]

Loved it. I watched it three times, and I plan to watch it again and again. And maybe again.

[rage6839]

Leverage has an official release time:2010?! I was hoping for 2009. Maybe it will get bumped up. Really liked the cast

[JonBidinger]

Try Dec 08.

[Spy Idol]

I liked the flashbacks though Parker's felt a little odd. Everyone else's seemed to highlight what they did best and Parker didn't seem to have anything to do with explosives aside from her flashback. I really wish we'd gotten a chance to see a young Parker rigging a harness or something.

This struck me as odd about her flashback as well, but at least it sort of helped characterize her as being batshit crazy, which was kind of awesome.

The one thing that happened that didn't work for me was when they were all sitting around discussing how to get revenge, when Parker was eating the popcorn. At one point Parker let out this high-pitched laugh...thing, and everyone looked at her, and then kept talking. I didn't get the reference, or if it was supposed to be funny, or what she was "laughing" at? It was just a very odd little touch but I didn't find it amusing, more confusing than anything. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

[Toga88]

The one thing that happened that didn't work for me was when they were...

I think it was just supposed to show how she is, indeed, batshit crazy. That's what I got out of that.

[PreviouslyOnTV]

I think it was just supposed to show how she is, indeed, batshit crazy. That's what I got out of that.

Hey, she did name her son Pilot Inspektor. I think it's earned.

[mandigirl]

I loved this pilot. Yeah, it was predictable, but it was also a lot of fun. I actually would have expected to see something like this on USA and not on TNT so I'm a little surprised. For those of you who have never seen Hustle, this is EXACTLY like Hustle. In fact, I hope they're paying the Hustle creators royalties.

My only problems were with the actress playing Parker who was horrible. I can think of five actresses off the top of my head who could do better. Ok, so one of them is Summer Glau who's already doing a show, but still.

My other problem is Kane's hair. He's a really attractive guy (see: Angel) but that haircut has got to go. It makes him look like a hippie and with his whole badass persona going on, its kind of ridiculous. Otherwise, liked everyone else, and the chemistry was fantastic. I laughed out loud a couple of times and I could believe them as a team. Nicely done and can't wait for the show to air!

[workworkwork]

My wife and I both enjoyed this a lot. Yes, it's a LOT like Hustle, but we really enjoy Hustle as well. (Through series 3, anyway).

Great to see Christian Kane and Gina Bellman on our screen again. I think I realized that Gina could act when I saw her in Jekyll but she was utterly delightful in this.

When Parker was pretending to be the tech support operator, was that a shout-out to I.T. Crowd? Specifically when she asked "Did you try turning it on and off again?"

Yes, it's pretty formula but it's also fun, light entertainment.

[Dym]

I really liked this show, though if it becomes purely a series of heists week to week it might get boring for me, and so I'm not sure if it's something I'd watch regularly. Would definitely give it a shot.

One thing I don't get, and hopefully the more financially literate of you can explain it to me, is how they ended up making money off the heist. How exactly do you make money off the fact the stock has dropped?

workworkwork: That's a pretty standard tech support question. Doubt it's a shout-out.

Edited by Dym, Oct 10, 2008 @ 11:39 AM.

[ciscokidinsf]

The previews look made from the guys who do the 'Burn Notice' ones. I got that feeling a lot more than the BBC's 'Hustle'.

They seem to be more like the drama series based on 'teams of thieves' that cratered back in 2006 all over network and cable (the awesome 'Thief', stupid 'Heist' and the very slow 'Smith')

[rage6839]

One thing I don't get, and hopefully the more financially literate of you can explain it to me, is how they ended up making money off the heist. How exactly do you make money off the fact the stock has dropped?

When you "short" a stock, you count on it losing money instead of gaining. Very topical nowadays. The bad publicity caused the stock to tank which is what they predicted. They shorted aerodyne when the price was at $130. When the FBI raided the company and it was on all the cable news shows, the stock dropped to $30 a share. Net gain of $100 a share. 10000 shares gives you one million and then he worked some overseas magic. Age of the Geek!!

Edited by rage6839, Oct 17, 2008 @ 8:22 PM.

[mandigirl]

Thanks rage6839. All I know about the stock market I learned from Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd in Trading Places: 'Buy low, sell high.' So shorting of stock didn't fit in there.

Do we know when this show is getting on the air? Early next year? I hope they give it a good lead-in like Saving Grace or the Closer.

To be honest, I wish the show was on USA-- I really think it would fit in perfectly with their line-up of Burn Notice, Psych and Monk. I mean, TNT's tagline is 'We know drama.' Problem is, if this show takes itself too seriously, it will be a disaster. I just don't see where such a light, fun show is going to fit in to the TNT schedule.

[Paul O Regan]

I think it's starting on Dec 1st.

Just watched the pilot and really enjoyed it.

[Loandbehold]

Watching TNT this morning, an ad said it would be premiering Sunday, 12/7 at 10 PM.

[DEM]

Just saw the pilot and I really, really liked it. I was very surprised at how well the cast gelled. Of course, my favourite was Parker because she's batshit crazy and she made a harness joke, but truly there wasn't a bad one in the bunch (excepting the main guest star, who sets my teeth on edge on a good day). The only thing I'd recommend is making the tone a bit more 10:00-ish (rather than 9-ish). I'll be watching come December.

[mswyrr]

Not original, but fun. I think I'll enjoy seeing amusing people stick it to corporations once a week. I really liked how,at the same time one of the crew's female members was off vamping the target, Christian Kane was playing Buff Geek on the cute secretary. They had nice chemistry.

It felt a little dour compared to Hustle, though; seemed like they had to hammer in how good and pure the lead was for the American audience in a rather unpleasantly blunt way. 'Twas a bit of a drag. I'd have preferred it if they referenced his grief as character motivation it less often and less obviously.

On the positive front, I liked that this show has two women in it, one femme and one more tomboyish, instead of the single femme chick of Hustle. And a Geek of Color! Coolness.

Edited by mswyrr, Nov 1, 2008 @ 2:24 AM.

[Elais]

Just watched Leverage. If they keep up the twistiness and humor, I think this will be a pleasant diversion every week.

I like crazy Parker, she might prove to be my favorite.

[wolfschild]

I did like this; I'll certainly be tuning in next time.

[tootles86]

I didn't catch the beginning, but I'm hoping that TNT plays it again.

I really liked that latter part of the episode that I did catch....I'll be watching the show again too. I liked the ending where they all split apart and then instantly wanted to still work together again.

[IntoTheMystic]

I rather enjoyed this. Yes, it's a clone of Hustle, but since Hustle is seemingly off the air (or at least it appears there will never be another season with the entire cast intact), I like having something to compensate for the lack of supercool con artists in my life.

This did suffer heavily from pilot syndrome though. Waaaaaaaay too much talking about everyone's main characteristics. Specifically with crazygirl, who was clearly batshit and so I didn't need someone saying she was batshit every five seconds, Timothy Hutton's character (again, Hutton is a capable actor and we can see the character's grief over the his son without being told very much about it), and the attraction between Hutton's and Gina Bellman's characters. Gee, do you think they have a history?

Still, plenty to enjoy so I'll will gladly watch more of them. The fun of a show like this, the same as with Hustle, is that you know there's going to be some twist at the end with exactly how they con the mark, but you don't (or at least I usually don't) know exactly what it'll be.

Edited by IntoTheMystic, Dec 7, 2008 @ 11:15 PM.

[voiceofreason]

Great series opener. I originally tuned in because I'm a Timothy Hutton fan (and because of Lindsey from Angel) but the entire cast has such great chemistry that it felt like they have been working together for years. The computer guy's one-liners were funny. He's good comic relief w/o being over-the-top. Crazy Parker is fun to watch.

I look forward to Tuesday's episode.

[devans00]

Saw the Nigerian Scam episode. Loved it. Nice mix of characters who are all smart, so far.

Corporations = bad guys. Regular people being aided by alternative revenue streams, instead of connected up fat cats. Subversive and entertaining. What's not to like?

This kind of show is right up my alley. Hope it makes it for the long run.