When you review this failed pilot in my opinion, you cannot base it on premise, actors, or jokes. You base it on potential and if it has enough potential for a series. The pilot is about a boy named Rodney Barnes who gains the ability to contact his idol comic Rodney Dangerfield to ask him for advice. An odd premise, when you realize that Rodney Barnes is asking Rodney Dangerfield about woman. However the titular advice spoken by Rodney isn't help but more so a way to shoe horn his comedy act. This pilot is also plagued by constant inconsistences in how they want to portray Rodney Dangerfield's teleportation power. I actually wished this made it to a series, even for a season. The supporting cast, especially the parents actually aren't half decent. At least we got Punky Brewster. I like to leave my reviews to fix a titular show, in this case however go back to the writing board. Make Rodney actually give advice, make his teleportation powers more refined. Some episode ideas could have included "Where'd Rodney Barnes" where Rodney Barnes gets called over to solve one of Rodney's problems, "Why Rodney?" Where Rodney has angered Rodney after giving him bad advice, and refuses to call him only to learn he needs him after all. Ultimately for a possible series finale "Goodbye, Rodney" Rodney Barnes has started calling Dangerfield less and less, leaving for them to share one final goodbye seen before ultimately parting ways. If we wanted a complete series shift then call it "The Rodney Dangerfield Show" starring Rodney as a bumbling motivational speaker who has to learn he himself has a long way to go, if you really wanted the fantastical element keep giving him the ability to constantly try to help people with the call of a name or write him off as an angel of sorts. It's not the worst sitcom ever to be produced, its merely a pilot that tried to answer a simple question...Where's Rodney? However for better or for worse Rodney wasn't able to go "Back To School" for this sitcom. I guess just like the titular comedian, this show didn't get no respect.
Review of ...Where's Rodney?
