crazyjoeda
June 18th, 2005, 03:44 AM
Follows, McKinney up in Arms
By BILL BRIOUX, Toronto Sun
If you like quirky, anthology dramedies (anybody still reading?), you might like Robson Arms. It premieres tonight on CTV, with back-to-back episodes starting at 10 p.m.
The series, which dates back B.C.G. (before Corner Gas), stars several familiar Canadian faces, including Margot Kidder, John Cassini, William B. Davis, Megan Follows, Mark McKinney and Will Sasso. Corner Gas regulars Gabrielle Miller and Fred Ewanuick also grab some face time.
I vaguely recall doing a phoner with Kidder over a year ago about her episodes; wish I could find that tape (and an analogue machine that could still play it). I do remember her telling me the show was sexy and offbeat and fun.
All true, judging by the pilot I screened (Dancing the Horizontal Mambo, featuring Follows and McKinney).
Follows plays a newly separated mom who moves into the broken down B.C. apartment where the anthology takes place. Follows' character is beyond stressed and depressed. Her light fixtures are full of bugs. The lid to the toilet tank is missing. Her ex-hubby, according to her precocious 10-year-old, is in Burnaby, "shacked up with jail bait."
The Boy overhears the sleazy superintendent say all his mom needs "is a poke" and sets out to match her up with the widowed lawyer upstairs (McKinney).
Hilarity ensues, sorta. Like the ramshackle apartment building it is named after, Robson Arms is a real fixer upper. The script coulda used a little more hammering and polish. Split up with commercials, that indie film thing thing gets old fast.
Follows and McKinney gamely make the most of their roles. There's a spark of something here, a little Arrested Development or even Corner Gas potential.
CTV seems to have lost interest, however, burning it off on Fridays during the summer doldrums. "Canadian Television," thanks for the cheque, back to being the Jerry Bruckheimer network next September.
Bottom line: If you like hearing kids swear, or just always wanted to hear the F-word come flying out of Anne of Green Gables' mouth, this show is for you.
Tonight also marks the Canadian debut of Beauty and the Geek, (8 p.m., CTV, also Wednesdays on The WB), a new reality series from Punk'd producer Ashton Kutcher. The premise: Seven hot but brainless babes are hooked up with seven nerdy brainiacs. There's a spelling bee for the girls, (Bimbo: "B-I-M-B-O"), massage lessons for the guys, even a go at actual rocket science.
Will the geeks suddenly become cool or will the babes all become losers? Will Kutcher burn in hell for this someday? With TV, so many questions.
Show Website (http://www.robsonarms.com/flash_index.html)
By BILL BRIOUX, Toronto Sun
If you like quirky, anthology dramedies (anybody still reading?), you might like Robson Arms. It premieres tonight on CTV, with back-to-back episodes starting at 10 p.m.
The series, which dates back B.C.G. (before Corner Gas), stars several familiar Canadian faces, including Margot Kidder, John Cassini, William B. Davis, Megan Follows, Mark McKinney and Will Sasso. Corner Gas regulars Gabrielle Miller and Fred Ewanuick also grab some face time.
I vaguely recall doing a phoner with Kidder over a year ago about her episodes; wish I could find that tape (and an analogue machine that could still play it). I do remember her telling me the show was sexy and offbeat and fun.
All true, judging by the pilot I screened (Dancing the Horizontal Mambo, featuring Follows and McKinney).
Follows plays a newly separated mom who moves into the broken down B.C. apartment where the anthology takes place. Follows' character is beyond stressed and depressed. Her light fixtures are full of bugs. The lid to the toilet tank is missing. Her ex-hubby, according to her precocious 10-year-old, is in Burnaby, "shacked up with jail bait."
The Boy overhears the sleazy superintendent say all his mom needs "is a poke" and sets out to match her up with the widowed lawyer upstairs (McKinney).
Hilarity ensues, sorta. Like the ramshackle apartment building it is named after, Robson Arms is a real fixer upper. The script coulda used a little more hammering and polish. Split up with commercials, that indie film thing thing gets old fast.
Follows and McKinney gamely make the most of their roles. There's a spark of something here, a little Arrested Development or even Corner Gas potential.
CTV seems to have lost interest, however, burning it off on Fridays during the summer doldrums. "Canadian Television," thanks for the cheque, back to being the Jerry Bruckheimer network next September.
Bottom line: If you like hearing kids swear, or just always wanted to hear the F-word come flying out of Anne of Green Gables' mouth, this show is for you.
Tonight also marks the Canadian debut of Beauty and the Geek, (8 p.m., CTV, also Wednesdays on The WB), a new reality series from Punk'd producer Ashton Kutcher. The premise: Seven hot but brainless babes are hooked up with seven nerdy brainiacs. There's a spelling bee for the girls, (Bimbo: "B-I-M-B-O"), massage lessons for the guys, even a go at actual rocket science.
Will the geeks suddenly become cool or will the babes all become losers? Will Kutcher burn in hell for this someday? With TV, so many questions.
Show Website (http://www.robsonarms.com/flash_index.html)