I went into the No Ordinary Family panel with nary a pre-conceived notion.
The panel was pleasant enough. Actors Michael Chiklis (The Shield) and Julie Benz (Dexter) were engaging and enthusiastic about the show. Everyone in attendance at the panel was treated to the premiere episode, which was clean and bright and rather interesting, and had its moments.
… but …
… there was something underlying within it that just wasn’t quite clicking for me.
Both Keith and I have seen the premiere and we’re in agreement: We want this show to be good … but both of us have a feeling it might not turn out as well as it could. View the trailer and see if you can glean what we mean. There just seems to be some halting, stop/start awkwardness evident.
The proof is just going to be in the pudding, so to speak. And the September 28th premiere on ABC isn’t that far off.
A few episodes in, I could change my mind and be completely and totally on board with this show.
Come on, new fall season….
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on Jul 27, 2010 @ 16:30 EST5EDT
Yeah, I wasn’t crazy about the pilot either. I love Benz and Chicklis so I’d love to see this show work, but the voice-overs were bad, it wasn’t very original and you’re right, it just didn’t click. The funny parts weren’t funny, there was no chemistry between the cast … I’ll maybe give it a chance.
*POST AUTHOR*
. . . . .
I admit I chuckled in a few spots during the premiere. I really wanted to be intrigued by this, but it was so herky-mcjerky, I just don’t know what to make of it.
Romany Malco’s George St. Cloud character appears awkward in any interaction with Chiklis’ Jim Powell. The chemistry isn’t there. Yes … I can understand the stand-offishness between Jim and his wife Stephanie, but that’s because their current situations are supposed to be that way.
There are quite a few examples of why the characters don’t gel: dippy, dopey dialog … pregnant pauses between actors … scenes that seem edited poorly … even the goofy camera angles lend crooked skews some of the action taking place.
I don’t know … am I being too picky? I don’t think so. I know a single episode does not a series make (I groaned audibly at the initial viewing of “Cougar Town” … and haven’t been back there since, regardless of its better standing), but No Ordinary Family is going to have to improve by leaps and bounds if it’s going to keep its legs beneath it and not topple to the ground quickly.
We shall see …
Unrelated, but you’ve got to try Cougar Town again … so, so funny.
Let me chime in as the fourth CliqueClacker that has seen the pilot … I actually like it. But, you’re also talking to the guy who thinks Benz could read the phone book and be interesting.
I think what I didn’t get from the pilot was what the show was about. sure, there’s the ordinary people with extraordinary abilities, but I think we need more than that.
But, I also think we’re going to get it.
I’ve got faith in this one people (And I’ve got a great track record. The last time I said that, it was for Defying Gravity).
*POST AUTHOR*
. . . . .
But, you’re also talking to the guy who thinks Benz could read the phone book and be interesting.
You sound like me and redheads, Ivey. And I know of your ‘track records’. Let’s see where this goes …
I sound like me and redheads.
Looking forward to this. I’m a huge fan of Michael Chicklis from The Shield, and I also enjoy superhero dramas. I think this first season can get away with the characters simply finding out about their powers, then revealing their secrets to one another, and trying to continue their normal lives, only for some moment of peril to spring up that not only gives their powers some purpose but brings the family together in a more profound way. If I was a showrunner / writer though, I’d be looking to the second season, and have the characters not simply repeat the family angst of the first season, but want to use their abilities to find out what actually happened to them, and whether there’s a purpose behind it. Maybe aliens have begun to interfere with human evolution, to take us to the next level. Maybe the US government knows about these pockets of glowing light dotted around the world. Did someone / something do this to them? Or was it an accident of nature? Have other people experienced the glowing light? Are there supervillains? If I was a indestructable, I’d want to go around the world catching war criminals like Osama bin Laden. If I was Hiro from Heroes, the first thing I’d have done is take some other superheroes with me, go back in time, and stop Hitler before the holocaust could happen. (Different show I know…barely). Anyway, looking forward to this, and first episode awkwardness is nothing to worry about. The actors in the pilot for Battlestar Galactica, even Edward James Olmos, had a slight awkwardness with their characters and dialogue, like trying on a new pair of shoes for the first time.
*POST AUTHOR*
. . . . .
As noted ManWithSword:
All it takes is a few well-written episodes that take control of the show and make it worth its salt … and I’m on it.
I love the re-imagined Fantastic 4\Incredibles.
With the Thing as the leader of the group
I went into this with extremely low expectations. When Heroes became a world class bore after Season 1, I didn’t think another series about regular people discovering abilities would work. I was pleasantly surprised though. I think the kids are a little boring, but Julie Benz and Michael Chiklis make a believeable enough couple. Romany Malco was the scene stealer for me. I’m gonna give it a chance and see how it progresses. I liked the fact that there was a hint of a conspiracy theory. And am I the only one hoping Stephen Collins becomes a “big bad”?
*POST AUTHOR*
. . . . .
You know, Jeff …
I don’t really have much to add. Except for your comment on Romany Malco.
He’s killing me. There was so much cheese coming from his character in the pilot that I felt a minor heart attack was imminent. I don’t dig the dude.
Yes! Conspiracy theory! Let’s have at it!
Come on, end of September … !!!