Alpha House (TV Series) Pilot (2013) User Reviews

Good idea and good cast, but needs better writing

[chris-832 · 6/10 · 26 April 2013]

The contempt for the Republicans hits you across the face like a hurdled brick. There is zero subtlety here. The parodies like "The Council for Normal Marriage" and the older senator ranting about climate change might be good enough for a 3-panel daily comic, but the jokes just die on screen. As another person commented, this needs a democrat in the house to at least provide some balance. And don't make all of the characters so stupid or so painfully cliché. I consider myself a progressive independent, but this doesn't endear me to Trudeau's politics. Treat the audience's intelligence with a little more respect and you may get an audience for this.

It was funny

[dodgson1832 · 9/10 · 23 April 2013]

I am looking for more episodes to come out, the first one was funny. I really thought that John Goodman was great as a lazy senator who isn't all that concerned with his job and I really liked the house dynamic. It will be interesting to see where they head from this point but I felt the interpersonal dynamics of the show felt a bit like Boston Legal. I know that Gary Trudeau wrote this but it did really feel like he took some pointers from some other popular shows. There is certainly nothing groundbreaking or insanely funny in the show, but it was still very good overall. If you have 30 minutes or so to kill give it a chance.

BRING BACK ALPHA HOUSE IN 2018!

[gailallen · 10/10 · 3 June 2018]

Would love to see a 3rd season. Particularly now in 2018 with Trump. There is much more GOP material.

I think it has grand potential to be a hit

[marylandfinest08 · 10/10 · 25 November 2013]

I believe the show is awesome, and i believe it has great potential , short and sweet to the point , if they do get better writers, i think there would be nothing more adrenaline filling then a episode or episodes where they show congress having huge exhilarating debates filled with back stabs and special interest dealings , like a season trying to balance the country budget but at every turn something goes wrong or someone gets the short end of the stick , and have little law cases or family emergencies within the season, or have a scandal or something , I do believe this show has immense potential. Hopefully someone in there writing team may see this.

Uncle Duke but unlovable

[michael-928-335732 · 3/10 · 15 October 2013]

I am aware of actors and extras that won't work on the set saying

"I am not into taking political sides it isn't an actress' job."

"Harpooning isn't comedy or humor, it isn't cool to do with whales either."

"Would be nice to work with some of the names attached but not at this price."

I once thought Doonesbury threw healthy jabs at the establishment from the safety and comfort of an alien (i thought he was Canadian) but eventually realized he had an agenda (like the Saturday Review said "predictable mean-spirited and not funny") and my interest faded faster than I could turn the page. I will probably never tune in or think about Alpha House again.

Amazon, you are about 6 years, one depression, two recessions and a thousand bad policy decisions and a large number of changed minds too late with your choice of material.

This will never be a "West Wing"

Amazingly Blah!

[dean-556 · 2/10 · 21 April 2013]

I'm a pretty easily laugh. and there are a few good ones here, but for all the talent being brought to bear on this pilot one would have expected something a little more groundbreaking. The "laugh" lines are fairly predictable, like they don't feel they need to set anything up because everybody knows these guys are slime. I really wanted to like it because I'm a big Murray fan but he's gone in the first 2 minutes. (Maybe they bring him back when ratings start to fall! :)

I was a bit wary when all the characters were from the same party. Where's the conflict going to be? The conflicts are the characters despicable selves - conflicted by what they know they should be to get elected. Not enough for me. It comes across like comedy hit piece and I'm supposed go with that assumptions of about these characters. Might have worked pre-Jack Donaghy but we have a taste for something with some sympathy for its characters. Someone we can care about, even if they are scum.

I thought it would be better...

[karagog · 1/10 · 20 November 2013]

Now with all the political shows on TV and Netflix, I expected something more intelligent and thought-provoking, but this was a one-sided anti-conservative propaganda. I forced myself to watch the whole pilot episode, but became uninterested after 5 minutes and really felt like I wasted my time finishing it. I consider myself mostly liberal too, and this insulted my intelligence. If Amazon thinks we're all liberal idiots who will laugh at anything anti-republican, then they really demonstrated it by producing this show. There was nothing particularly funny or original, it just poked fun at all the same old stereotypes of conservatives. I expect more from a studio trying to compete with the content Netflix is creating! Amazon is playing little league, while Netflix is advancing to the majors.

If you have respect for your own taste in shows/movies, I would not waste a minute on this junk.

PC Republican Hating at it's best!

[avbsoftworks · 2/10 · 22 November 2013]

While I have no illusions that there are despicable, self righteous, criminal politicians on both sides of the isle. When does middle American get to see the underside of the democrat side of the isle. Do all holly- wood actors refuse to play (D) pols as buffoons and corrupt cretins. Take a page from netflix if you want to do good streaming TV. House of Cards, while a ripoff of bbctv it is a great piece of drama, about corrupt politicians. I have never found most politicians funny in any way, they are either corrupt or dangerous and many time both. John Goodman is a great actor, how did he get roped into this piece of trash. Is he so desperate for a paycheck? that he would embarrass himself this way. Maybe he needs the money for his new Obamacare policy!!!

so disappointed!

[marjorieann56 · 1/10 · 18 November 2014]

I was so looking forward to this series. I have been a Doonesbury fan for years and thought this would be a winner. It was awful. I couldn't even stay awake for the first full episode after the pilot. Mr. Trudeau you have missed the mark with this one. Yes Kelly Ripa's husband Mark is eye candy but the show is a disaster. Folks this is not The House of Cards--it is 4 adult men who we are supposed to believe are in congress who behave like frat boys and love the word f###. John Goodman as a frat boy?? Right! Him in the shower funny?? Right! Even as a long time liberal I could find no humor in this absurd attempt at lampooning Washington.