SPOILERS
From the creators of the British TV series "Are You Being Served?" (also also both write the pilot, along with two other people), comes an American version. Like other American attempts at pilots based off of British TV shows before, during, and after this, it failed. Be it this, the terrible "Red Dwarf" pilot, or the 2005 "20 Things to do Before You're 30" which didn't even get to air.
A number of the cast members look somewhat like their British counterparts, and the design and layout of the sales floor is just like the British series.
Hillerman was just right for the role and had some good lines. However, the pilot was hampered by two poor performances: that of Tom Poston, whose acting was sub par at best, and Alan Sues playing the infamous Mr. Humphries. Sues tried, but failed -- he just wasn't right for the part.
There's not much to the pilot but it has some good laughs (and some no-laughs, as well as two bad edits), so it's a little baffling why it wasn't picked up -- there was far, far worse on TV at that time. It could have easily fixed itself during a season run.
If you're fans of the original British series, you might find this a way to kill some time on the weekend, but don't expect as much from it as the British series.
And one special note to the short, but pleasant orchestral score by "Knight Rider" composer Don Peake, who shows us even ten second cues can be nice and transition scoring doesn't have to feature a drum kit and electric guitar like so many comedy series of today.
From the creators of the British TV series "Are You Being Served?" (also also both write the pilot, along with two other people), comes an American version. Like other American attempts at pilots based off of British TV shows before, during, and after this, it failed. Be it this, the terrible "Red Dwarf" pilot, or the 2005 "20 Things to do Before You're 30" which didn't even get to air.
A number of the cast members look somewhat like their British counterparts, and the design and layout of the sales floor is just like the British series.
Hillerman was just right for the role and had some good lines. However, the pilot was hampered by two poor performances: that of Tom Poston, whose acting was sub par at best, and Alan Sues playing the infamous Mr. Humphries. Sues tried, but failed -- he just wasn't right for the part.
There's not much to the pilot but it has some good laughs (and some no-laughs, as well as two bad edits), so it's a little baffling why it wasn't picked up -- there was far, far worse on TV at that time. It could have easily fixed itself during a season run.
If you're fans of the original British series, you might find this a way to kill some time on the weekend, but don't expect as much from it as the British series.
And one special note to the short, but pleasant orchestral score by "Knight Rider" composer Don Peake, who shows us even ten second cues can be nice and transition scoring doesn't have to feature a drum kit and electric guitar like so many comedy series of today.