The Big Leap (TV Series 2021) Poster

(2021)

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9/10
Fun and feel good with great dance moves
ldamena26 September 2021
Just the show we need right now about second chances and following your dreams. Love the atmosphere of the show too, sorta new idea with the reality competition show. Very good start to a show that looks like it's gonna be great fun, drama and comedy. Already like the main characters.
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9/10
Schmaltzy but charming
bencurrey24 September 2021
TV's Scott Foley carries a stellar cast that includes vets like Teri Polo (Julia) and Piper Perabo (Paula) along with stars like Ser'Darius Blain (Reggie) and newcomers Raymond Cham Jr. (Justin) and Simone Recasner (Gabby).

The pilot feels like it tried to cram everything the show wanted to be in one episode--a funny yet sometimes sad yet sometimes poignant commentary on the state of the world today and how reality TV exploits the plight of the dispossessed.

But it also makes you laugh. It's characters are painted first with broad strokes, establishing familiar story arcs to immediately invest you in the story. It all seems like a product of an age where data analytics prove a show must grab your attention by x minute and x second to be successful and certain metrics must be met for a pilot to be picked up or a show renewed.

For all of that, I found myself by episode two rooting for some characters, anticipating a delicious downfall for others, and altogether wanting to see where this story led. It isn't the greatest show ever made, but after throwing it on on a whim one Thursday evening I find myself compelled to come back for more.
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8/10
Tracy Turnblad meets So You Think You Can Dance
DiffrentDrumr21 September 2021
Sort of ... and much more! A heck of a lot of fun!
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10/10
Drawn into this show in the first minute
jodee14312 October 2021
Fast paced, clever, and fun to watch.

Interesting characters and cool plot lines that I want see through many more weeks.

I love dance and music shows, this show deserves a chance.
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10/10
One of the strongest pilots I've seen in a very long time
thealeciathomas21 September 2021
We just loved this as a fan of talent reality shows like AGT and so you think you can dance and also character driven shows that contain music on them. The characters were ALL likable - especially the plucky girl and the football player, and Teri Polo and Piper Perabo are always great. Scott Foley was pretty funny too. I think this show has a lot of potential- we can't wait to see more of it.
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10/10
Take a (Leap) of faith
beaudanone21 September 2021
Though I have only seen the first 2 episodes. I can say I laughed more in those 2 , than the last 5 comedy movies I've watched on streaming. And Scott Foley is too good to have another show fail. Please give it a try.
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7/10
Behind the scenes
drjgardner11 October 2021
I hate reality shows but somehow this behind the scenes look at a reality show is interesting. I especially like the diversity in the cast.
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9/10
Great Show!
sharon-833926 October 2021
The show isn't about dancing, it's about people getting a second chance in life. Scott Foley is a breathe of fresh air, his attempts at making drama make the cast members open up about their life, form friendships and deal with the real issues in your life. Completely entertaining and insightful.
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7/10
Soooo cheesy!
critic-97-41765722 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Interesting concept but poor execution. I think they needed a better way of introducing the dance characters with less focus on the producer (Scott Foley), who was really unlikeable.

How about three 10 minute segments to get some decent backstory for the three main dancers, something that makes you really care about them. Each ends with them noticing the ad for the competition. The show's final scenes are of the audition and ends with the introduction of Scott's character talking out how this is a reality show and how he's going to relish exploiting them.
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5/10
Surprisingly Good !!
jennfinn7 October 2021
Normally I wouldn't even bother watching a show like this but I was board so I decided to give it a chance. I watched the first two episodes and afterwards I found myself wanting more.

Without warning I found myself wanting to know more about these characters and what was going to happen to them. It's delightful, entertaining and there's something for everyone.

I haven't seen Piper Perabo in years and she still looks great. I do have to say that Gabby is an annoying character at times especially when she's crying about being fat as if it's everyone else's fault. I love the male twin whose name I can't remember. Scott Foley is great as the slimy Producer with top ratings on his mind.
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10/10
I Took The Big Leap
harrisrobroz5 October 2021
I took the BIG LEAP (watched the show) and landed on a BIG pile of hilarious parody. Scott Foley exaggerates to the brink of slapstick humor and is somehow believable. He is brilliant. He illustrates the lengths successful people will go to be successful-some lose their souls. Grounded in the truth of their talents, the cast ensemble keeps it interesting and inspirational. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance...BIG girls and old girls matter too.
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Don't Think I Can Do It
vlt22-170-2606928 November 2021
Really wanted to like this show, but I just can't pretend the dancing isn't terrible. Some funny lines, some funny bits, but not enough to keep me watching.
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7/10
Good entertainment but certainly plagued with clichés
starlight17200630 January 2022
It's fun to watch. Most of the characters are compelling and interesting, the actors are pretty good, but it's recycling some tropes that are overused in this genre. Still, very watchable.
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3/10
I just can't
KelsoBelle22 September 2021
I so wanted to like this show, but I don't. It pains me to see what the writers have done to Scott Foley's character. I don't know if I can give it another chance next week or not.
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8/10
Laughed and laughed
bobetjo30 December 2021
Take note backstory writers. The Big Leap manages to squash the essential elements of origin without droning on and boring the audience. The show gets straight to the meat.

The characters feel real and at the same time just a little exaggerated for humour and drama. Speaking of which, I laughed at the production crew and their machinations to manipulate the dance show contestants.

But there felt like real emotion as well. Reveals that the characters did not know which were tragic or humorous or both.

This is a good show.
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8/10
Will Put A Smile On Your Face Without You Even Knowing
hillaryrmarshall8 December 2021
This show has a little bit of something for everyone. Its has the comedy factor, so you will definitely laugh here and there. It has several unexpected romances so you will surely find one to root for if not all of them. There also is an extremely diverse cast so there is someone for everyone to identify with. Overall, its very much a feel good experience. You will definitely at times notice that you are smiling while you are watching it even when don't initially realize it.
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9/10
Entertaining TV at it's best
angelathomas-7263113 October 2021
This show is addictive! I hate reality TV but this is great. It's a show within a show about people who are struggling in their daily life who sign up for a reality TV show to train to do a ballet performance of swan lake. But it's so much better than that. It's a GREAT script with Talented actors. This cast really does mesh well together. I've been a fan of Scott Foley since Felicity but he shines as a work obsessed producer just trying to get the most sensational story out of a bunch of nobodies. This cast is diverse and I don't know if this is Simone Recasner first big show but she certainly shines as Gabby. Kevin Daniels as Wayne Fontaine is hilarious and heartfelt. Sr'Darius Blain as Reggie Sadler the ex football player is so believable. It's only episode 4 and I'm so invested in these characters. This is the TV I didn't even know how much I needed. Go watch it and you will thank me later.
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10/10
Perfect balance
b4blue21 September 2021
It incorporates a lot of elements but maintains a good balance. There are archetypes and stories we already know, but they are believable. I think it will play well for the adult audience that started dance classes and especially ballet, later in life. Weird jokes that are sprinkled in places you don't really expect them, distract you from feeling like you know what will happen next. I tolerate comedies that don't make me laugh, but just kinda feel happy or somewhat interested, but this one made me laugh out loud a lot of times. I especially like scenes where audience would expect one thing to happen, but they take you somewhere completely different. There is some woke language but they manage to play with it, promote it but also mock it. Great show.
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5/10
Medium
ad889925 September 2021
Totally average in every way. I think it's a good example of why network TV won't last much longer. It's trying to pander to too large of a group. I felt condescended to in the writing. They are trying to be a fat positive but are actually fat phobic, they are trying to be "pro LGBT" but just come across as basic. Just an example of many tropes they are poorly using. Unfortunate, I really wanted to like this.
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9/10
True Representation in Casting... and addictive as heck
cginspacegw18 November 2021
This show is probably the most broadly representative show on TV right now, and is an example of what diversity can be in entertainment. The show has a mix of ages, body shapes and sizes, abilities, races, genders and expressions, sexualities, experiences, economic situations... and somehowanages.to give time to all of these characters. The show is about dance, which is often associated with thin bodies and a certain aesthetic of beauty; but the crew here is beautiful in a myriad of nontraditional and atypical (for television) ways.

The story of a "reality" show putting average people together to create a performance of Swan Lake, The Big Leap is at times camp, at times hard to swallow,.often cynical as a "seen-it-all" reality producer pokes and prods his "cast" into fighting, being inappropriate with each other, revealing too much, or jumping into situations that are.likely to.turn out poorly (but entertainingly). What the show does so well is to use this poking and prodding to reveal more about the characters in a way that helps us actually ROOT for them. The more that we see the secrets and the gaffes, somehow, the more "real" these out there characters feel.

I have been bingeing for several days because these characters are so.relatable,.and also so NOT what we.often see. Yes, there are traditionally gorgeous folks (the show's cocky adult twins, who manage to also rise above stereotypes), them there are gorgeous and extremely talented folks with larger frames, unusual looks and a wide variety of race, background and ethnicity.
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4/10
Terrible
yosvaniramos21 September 2021
What a train wreck. Terrible!!! And offensive to us professional ballet dancers every time they say ballet it's boring and so it's Swan Lake, a classic that has been around for over 150 years with one of the most incredible scores by Tchaikovsky. I gave it a try but thx no thx.
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10/10
Hysterical good clean fun
ljeromejerome23 November 2021
I keep getting invested in Fox shows and they keep canceling them. Hopefully this won't be one. It has comedy, dance, drama. It's a triple threat. Love this show. The characters make you like, love or hate them accordingly.
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10/10
Really well done so far!
libreechange21 September 2021
I'm pretty ruthless with premieres. It's not beyond me to cut a new show after the first 10 minutes...but this first episode flew by and I really wished it was a double-header. I laughed throughout and was actually interested in each character's story (which says a lot...not a fan of most programming on Fox). I'm really looking forward to the next episodes. Fingers crossed it can sustain this same level of energy and likeability, and be picked up for a full season.
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10/10
A Must See
divalat28 October 2021
I'm very particular about the shows I watch as there are so many choices. I must say this is my FAVORITE new show of the Fall season. The characters are complex. Every show is like a roller coaster ride. It's touching and dramatic one moment and the next It's has a biting sense of humor. It's such a satire of the "reality" genre. The cast is top notch. Simone Recasner and Ser'Darius Blaine are stars in the making. I LOVE this show!
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9/10
Once a year fox has a show that makes you feel good this year this is that show
chrisdye-1769626 September 2021
Okay so this is a show that probably isn't geared towards single straight men but there is something here that I find absolutely incredible it's moving it makes you smile and you really feel the characters by the end of the show they are almost thought of like family and you can't wait to see what happens next I say it's a fantastic show.
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