Cool News
Sweeps Day One: Herc Hates Fox
SPOILER ALERT !!
We knew it’d be worse than “Groundhog Day”; what throws us is it's not even as good as “Early Edition.” Overwrought and hampered by relentlessly uninspired characterization, Fox’s “Tru Calling” is likely to find little favor among fans following Eliza Dushku from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” It may, in fact, make more than a few Buffyphiles grateful that the proposed "Faith on a Motorcycle" spinoff never materialized.
It also airs opposite “Survivor,” “Friends,” “Scrubs” and “Smackdown”; were it well-crafted it’d still face a ghastly uphill battle. I held a bit of hope when ace “Buffy” writer-producer Doug Petrie joined “Tru” post-pilot, but now it looks like he’s already moved on to the WB’s proposed “Lost in Space” revival.
My pal Kristin over at E! Online has been raving for months about how great she thinks “Tru” is, so maybe she knows what the Fox execs were thinking. I sure can’t figure it out.
TV Guide says:
My pal Kristin over at E! Online has been raving for months about how great she thinks “Tru” is, so maybe she knows what the Fox execs were thinking. I sure can’t figure it out.
TV Guide says:
Dushku has lost none of the gutsy attitude she displayed on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but this convoluted thriller has at least one too many concepts, stretching logic and our patience. … Even by cult standards, Tru might be DOA.
The Hollywood Reporter says:
… the opener is heavy-handed and fatiguing. … Creator-exec producer Jon Harmon Feldman's script has a couple of interesting plot turns but not enough to distract from the ham-fisted way in which the story gets played out. … Overall, a far more serious problem is that Dushku is not forceful enough to be entirely convincing as a young woman capable of altering the future. Nor is her character drawn with enough texture or idiosyncrasies to make it stand out in scenes in which Tru interacts with others.
Variety says:
Although fraught with silliness, the familiar premise does yield a modicum of suspense and appears destined to go about as far as Eliza Dushku's adorableness can take it. … if this mildly entertaining series faces the executioner's ax, it wouldn't be the kind of unnatural death that merits Tru's heroic measures.
The Los Angeles Times says:
The pilot was directed by Philip Noyce, who has made some very good movies ("The Quiet American") and some less good ones ("The Saint"), and one might say that he is working his full range here. The dialogue is serviceable but does not crackle. Dushku is really the only reason to stay tuned …
USA Today gives it two and a half stars (out of four) and says:
You have a heroine with no official contacts playing Junior G-Man every week, hunting down clues and making intuitive leaps that would make Sherlock Holmes blanch. … The show doesn't overreach: Tru can't solve everyone's problems every time. And the plots, if not always involving, are at least complicated.
Entertainment Weekly gives it an “C” and says:
Dushku as do-gooder doesn't fit with the actress' naturally sour line readings, and the pilot for this thriller, directed by feature-filmer Phillip Noyce (''The Quiet American''), is disappointingly slack.
Herc’s rating for “Tru Calling” 1.1?
*1/2
The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
- ***** better than we deserve
- **** better than most motion pictures
- *** actually worth your valuable time
- ** as horrible as most stuff on TV
- * makes you quietly pray for bulletins
8 p.m. Thursday. Fox.
Looking for bumper stickers, plush toys and girls’ underwear covered with cute cartoon double-amputees? Visit The Herc Store!
-
+ Expand All
-
Man I dont care if this show is the worst thing ever, I'm still gonna watch so I can get my Eliza fix.
-
Is he really this desperate for work? Apparently so.
-
But then again, who didn't?
-
Oct 30, 2003 12:57:20 AM CST
At last, the debut of Tru (excerpted from case files 68,69,70 et
by bodie twisselman
Twisselman here. Undoubtedly my reappearance will bring forth those paranoics who believe I am connected somehow with Fox or Tru Calling itself, when in actuality I am vicariously the love puppy of the luscious Eliza D. This hard-boiled dick stuff is nowhere near as adventurous as Hammett and Spillane would have you believe, lemme tellya. There's no more hard-boiling in my everyday work than there is in my morning eggs (augmented with a good stiff cup of java and a bowl of either Franken Berry or Boo Berry...the monster cereals are sometimes harder to find than my next job). In any case--the show. Why it's drawing so much venom I cannot fathom. Look at what's out there now--purported "reality" tripe that cockroaches could have come up with, so-called "news" programs slanted uncomfortably to the right or left, talk shows, shopping networks, concepts that were stale twenty years ago. Granted, no one tunes into TV expecting Shakespearean wit and creativity--and Tru Calling offers neither, truth be told--but what it DOES offer is a perfectly acceptable way of passing an hour of your time. Before consigning it to the electronic graveyard, I beseech those of you with open minds and yearning hearts to give it a look for the first few episodes...then ask yourself, how is this any less entertainment then the last episode of Extremely Unpleasant Dating or whatever it's called this week?!? (Is that suffcient, Eliza? Now may I have the honor of sampling that which is so carefully hidden...?)
-
Oct 30, 2003 1:06:31 AM CST
"Blu Balling" OR... Yeah, But You Can Still Wack-off to Dushku,
by jollydwarf
I wonder if this show will be on long enough for them to go all "Alias" on us. Meaning, eventually putting out a 'serious' show with a scalding-hot girl in an anthology of fetish/fantasy outfits that really gained its fanbase for the most wank-worthy reasons, as opposed to the pretense of being, well, heh-heh, "gripping" television. Eliza Tush--I mean Dushku--will never rise above being a face and bod that launch a thousand Kleenexes. I'm not saying she's not talented enough to carry a show or film. She (probably) is. It's just her...density. I mean...destiny.
-
Give me a fucking break. And dont freaking tell me that its OK since Douches name is "Tru".
-
At http://www.protej.com/buffy/watch/spin.asp?id=216, they're keeping a tally of TRU reviews. Right now, the goods are being slaughtered by the bads 3:1. Heh.
-
Boy is Dushku gunna regret not going with a Weedon designed BTVS spinoff!
-
Screw the reviews. There are plenty of fans who love this of this show.
Visit http://www.SupportTruCalling.com and find out what's being done to make sure Tru Calling stays on the air. -
plenty of fans, who despite never seeing the show? except for maybe a boot-leg screener copy of the pilot? interesting.
-
There's spoilers for the first ten episodes of the series. Fans have been following them all summer/fall. So fans of TC know exactly what the show is.
-
I like Eliza, so I'll give it a shot but this has reeked like a 'who are we gonna help THIS week/what lesson will we learn THIS week' from the start. Touched by an Early edition on Groundhog day.....yeah....been there done that. I really don't think this has a chance against the competition of the timeslot. Also, I don't think Eliza will be as convincing in a 'wholesome' role. Doesn't really seem to suit her. She needs characters with an edge.
-
You're right for once, Herc. This show is a waste of space, as is Eliza Dushku. I'm glad you still have SOME perspective! Now seriously--- Get away from the Whedon stuff for a while and you'll realize that you've been brainwashed. It really isn't good. It's just that he puts some sort of subliminal message in his shows that forces people to think it's brilliant when it's really crap. Trust me on this. He's like the Colonel- He puts something in it to make you crave it fortnightly!
-
She's such a skeezer. I can't understand why anyone would be attracted to her, Victoria Silvstedt, or Sarah Michelle Gellar. They all look like plastic surgery nightmares... Even if they haven't had any! (that's worse, actually. If they LOOK like a botched procedure without ever having a procedure, then there's something funky in THAT gene pool!)
-
I've been through this already, but to get to the point, Shakespeare was a hack and Oscar Wilde or Dorothy Parker were 10000 times wittier than he was. Hell, Samuel Clemens had more wit in his pinky than Shakespeare had in his entire works! Shakespeare's "wit" was very low comedy, nobility plays, and trite, out-dated social commentary. He sucks. I'm usually the only person in theatre to say it, but DAMN Shakespeare was a mediocre writer! I think the attachment to Shakespeare is habitual. People feel that they HAVE to like his work, but come on..! HE WAS DULL! I've read (and performed) plenty of his crap, and it's all so stale and dry, with light sprinklings of "humor" to keep it from shrivelling up. Geez. Tennesee Williams was possessed of more wit than Shakespeare, and that's pretty telling.
-
when are we going to start taking bets on when this show is canceled? I think it'll get axed in the middle of December.
-
I've kind of swore off talkbacks. For the most part they're just full off elitist wankers spewing shit about how they hate EVERYTHING. God you people are never pleased. Anyway, now we have the ultimate elitist! The guy who thinks Shakespeare is a hack! Whether you're right or wrong, I don't really care, but the fact that you're spewing this shit in a talkback about Tru Calling of all things. Get over yourself man, you sound like a bloated egotistical idiot. Don't bother replying, I have better things to do than sparring with some message board gimp.
-
Oct 30, 2003 10:18:56 AM CST
The only reason David E. Kelly has the dubious honor of having t
by big bad clone
I like Eliza. She's interesting and sexy (I'm not real big on her but I'm still male). I'd watch Faith on a Motorcycle in a heartbeat even though I rather have something closer to slayer academy or an anthology of slayers in the buffyverse (Slayer: Mosaic). The commercials make this look "blah" at best. It looks like a snydication show that play between Andventure Inc. and Mutant X. I'm still going watch this train wreck tonight. I'm sure that I'll be gripping my head the same way when I heard Enterprise's "new" upbeat theme song. Time travel, talking to ghosts, and Elvis-style fung fu don't mix well.
-
Implying "Groundhog Day" was bad? What's wrong with you, Herc? Go watch a Buffy tape.
-
Oct 30, 2003 1:19:38 PM CST
Talk about kicking a dead horse... they'll slander anyone in a
by empyreal0
Lay off the Bard, corpse. Humor is a matter of taste, to be sure, but you have to admit that the guy had a gift for the written word. Yes, he relied an awful lot on conventions, borrowed heavily from other written works, and he most certainly was a product of his time (kissing Elizabeth's and James I/VI's ass through nobility plays), but I think you're only getting half the story if you're slighting the guy for low-brow comedy. (WTF did you mean by outdated social commentary? of course it's outdated! the guy died almost 400 years ago!) I've seen plenty of extraordinarily well-done plays by the Bard (read a dozen or so as well), and frankly, I don't think the fault lies with him. If it comes off as flat and humorless, perhaps this is the fault of the players and directors you've performed with. Nice job on the comparisons, too, dumbass; that's like paying Plato was a moron by comparing him to Kant.
-
Ive seen the pilot episode and to be honest...I thought it was great! Its not Faith on a motorcycle kicking undead booty which Id very much like to see, but still was a very enjoyable hour of television. Id like to see the way the story goes, and how the characters clash together, but alas, up against Scrubs and Friends...ouch...now that is harsh. But I still disagree with Hercs view on this one. Id give it maybe 3 stars from Hercs system! Anyone else seen it?!
-
I watched the first ten minutes of this. Was shocked when I saw Philip Noyce's name attached to it. Really bad stuff. How the hell can a person direct two of 2002's best films (Quiet American and Rabbit-Proof Fence) and then turn out something as bland as this? Okay, it's not entirely his fault, but man, you'd figure he would be able to do better. Then again, he did direct "The Bone Collector" and "Sliver". Shudder. Shudder.
-
. . . that after this gets canned we eventually get Faith on a motorcycle. Hey, it's possible right? right? Then again, it's *possible* that FOX will recognize they made a horrible, awful, terrible mistake and bring back Firefly. Yeah. . . You're right . . .I'm drowning in the half-full glass.
-
Well, we can definately tell from the amount of forum members that there are just tons of people who want to save this show..... (Current Member Count: 7 - SEVEN :-)
btw.. Groundhog Day ruled!! Bill Murray owned in that movie.. -
Oct 30, 2003 9:46:32 PM CST
I'd have preferred Faith on a motorcycle, but this looks solid.
by jules windex
It showed promise for a series, which is all a pilot must do. Overract why don't you. There are WAY worse shows all over TV.
-
Not great, but certainly not the piece of crap some are making it out to be. The worst part of the show is, I don't actually like any of the characters except for Tru and Zach G. The prof seems kind of sleazy (and if they're already going to toy with giving her a different guy so willingly in the second ep the creators can't disagree), the siblings are assholes and the people she's trying to help are just as screwed up. At least it's an original premise. I doubt anyone else thought of combining all this stuff into one package before. I hope it gets better, it has the potential, but if not at least it might bring her closer to submitting to a Faith spin-off. Eliza can carry a show, but she has to have more to work with and M.E. would provide that. Granted, the motorcycle idea was pretty damn lame though.
-
Oct 30, 2003 10:20:56 PM CST
This show didn't last back when it was called EARLY EDITION.
by frankdrebin
But, hey, CSI and SIX FEET UNDER are hits, so morgue-chic sells!
-
You know it wasn't that bad, but I must say that i'm biased because I think Dushku is one of the hottest women in the world. But hopefully the show will get better and if they move it to a different timeslot then it may be around for about the length of Dark Angel.
-
It is always fanboy revision to the cerebral cortext that convinces others that a series lives up to its 'tru' potential out of the gate and this just is rarely so...EVEN FOR BUFFY (sorry folks). It takes a while to work out a show's strengths and weaknesses and how to accentuate or downplay either. Sure the entire 'TRACK STAR OF DEATH' clips were weak and the show's premise is as flimsy as many BUFFY cast-offs chances of stardom but this thing can be refined if sharp writing and network support get behind it early. UNFORTUNATELY FOR TRU, it finds itself on FOX....where they kill good shows aloingside shit shows without second thought at all. TRU might have a shot if they really play with the concepts of faith and redemption and let some of the supporting cast be more than bewildered sidekicks. I noticed that the mortician boss is comedian Zach *something* and having seen the guy from Conan a few years back (as well as in the B-movie OUT COLD)this guy could be the comedic relief/straight aide foil that helps the show find its voice. Also thought the brother's chatacter had potential.One sidepoint unrelated: is it me or is Whedon just using Spike on Angel to test the waters for a SPIKE spin-off? JUST MY THOUGHTS....
-
Oct 31, 2003 7:36:27 PM CST
The show was good. Those other shows that was on this site that
by steal_dragon
Joan of Arcadia, "boring", Karen Sisco, "boring." I haven't seen the end of one episode of Karen Sisco because I kept on falling asleep on it.
-
Eliza is definetly not a MOO. I just thank the tv god that we don't have nothing but sticks with huge heads ala SMG. Just ask yourself this Buffy Season 1 or Buffy Season 7 and then you'll say 1, nuf said.
-
A Spike spinoff would be fantastic, and I hope that is what Joss is doing. I did hear that JM said on the san Diego comicon that he is signed for 2 years on Angel assuming that they get picked up for a 6th season but I guess we'll see.
I'm telling you though a show featuring Spike, Dawn, and Andrew fighting evil on the Cleveland hellmouth would be comedic gold. -
As cliched as that running to graduation was, at least it was an excuse for her not to be wearing a sports bra.---I was surprised that it was a little better than I expected, but tell the truth. Wouldn't you rather just have an hour centered on the Fox b/w promo with Eliza standing in the rain?
-
I definetly thought the show was not up to buffy standards, but it shows potential. Last nights opener was derivitive and had too much exposition. They wanted to introduce to much and it made you wonder about her friend and Boyfriend?(I was a little confused if that was her boyfrind she woke up with after seeing next week fireman previw )becasue the introduce them, but the barley say 2 words. It's too bad it was weak because many will probally tune out. In the End though, I always found that what if possibility very suductive and if done right there is so many interesting possibilities. I think if it survives it will develop into something great. Although I've always been an optimist, oh well heres hoping.
-
Didnt think it was possible but somehow Tru Calling did that. Flat. Thats how I would describe the pilot. Not a single outstanding moment. Especially the opening theme sequence which should be laden with all kinds of cool/sexy imagery but it was lacking even that. Not a good sign. If you cant make the opening sequence interesting, you cant make 45 mins of show interesting. Whoever said the rain promos were better was RIGHT. This actually seems like a great candidate for the time and again failed NBC "Thrillogy"
-
Yup, you're right, we've ALL been blind all these years. I now realize that my enjoyment of Macbeth and Hamlet is entirely self-delusion and a denial of how crap Shakespeare really is. And as for his "out-dated social commentary", spot on! He really should write something a bit mode modern, more "down there with the kids". Maybe he should do a rap version of The Tempest?
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Antepenultimate THRONES!! Lane Pryce Returns To MAD MEN!! Roger Waters On 60 MINUTES!! Plus GIRLS, VEEP, SIMPSONS, BURGERS, KILLING, METALOCALYPSE, SHERLOCK!! THE LAST SUNDAY OF SWEEPS!! -- 102 total posts 95 posts
- Duncan Jones To Tell The Story Of Ian Fleming! -- 64 total posts 64 posts
- SNL Says Goodbye To Kristen Wiig!! -- 56 total posts 56 posts
- Hercules Picks Next Season’s 10 Most Promising New Broadcast Series!! -- 131 total posts 43 posts
- The Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day will traumatize you. -- 37 total posts 37 posts
- "Some Men Are Coming To Kill Us. We're Going To Kill Them First." Teaser To SKYFALL! -- 34 total posts 34 posts
- There Can Be Only One... Ryan Reynolds?! -- 404 total posts 30 posts
- Dan Harmon Done As COMMUNITY Showrunner!! -- 148 total posts 21 posts
- Quint thinks John Hillcoat's prohibition-era flick LAWLESS is violently awesome! Cannes 2012! -- 69 total posts 20 posts
- Adrian Hieatt Gives Us His Second Daily Report From KAPOW! Comic Convention in London! The AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! TOTAL RECALL! DC NEW 52! DAVE GIBBONS! And More! -- 18 total posts 18 posts