So far this summer, NBC has premiered three new series, two of which were imported, one from Canada, one from the United Kingdom. "The Philanthropist" is NBC's first original offering this season. Starting a show during the summer often implies it isn't destined for a long life, like NBC's lottery winners drama "Windfall" from a few years ago. Often they're jam-packed with a number of actors who might have starred in several other failed shows in the past (Lana Parilla, for example, who went from "Windfall" to CBS' cancelled "Swingtown" last summer). Usually, there's some intrigue or theme that might place it exclusively in the summer (like, say, "Burn Notice") or just a more relaxed feel to it that denotes its sunny season. In the case of "The Philanthropist," only the last thing is really true – it's hardly determined to get anywhere fast.
Blog Spotlight: Pilot Review: The Philanthropist
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I find I must disagree with "Abe" about The Philanthropist.
Personally speaking, it is not any more difficult to get one's head around this concept (in fact its infinitely easier to do so) than it is to accept that it might be engaging beyond the first commercial to invest in five bimbo women from the same neighbourhood, who have nice clothes, lots of sex and no brains or story line.
Or to accept that one would want to watch a "story" about a bunch of "doctors" who have nice hair, no redeeming qualities and only a passing knowledge of, or interest in, medicine.
Or to accept that its funny to watch two "grown" men spend every waking moment feeling sorry for themselves AND mess up the dependent child in their midst while they indulge themselves...
If I'm going to suspend disbelief...and thats what any form of entertainment asks us to do...I'm going to do it for an ORIGINAL potential story, created by writers with vision and performed by actors with heart.
I may be wrong about this one, and if I am I will say so, but I would be far more inclined to spend more time encouraging this kind of series along with my viewing support than I would most of the current "success stories" on TV.
At the end of the day, its "to each his own", but don't be so quick to discourage an original idea. Its time to break away from the formulaic pap we have been fed for the past decade or so! I'm ready willing and able to give The Philanthropist a chance...but as you say...even the show's own network, NBC, doesn't appear to want to take the risk...
Where have all the visionaries gone? Particularly in this "imagination" industry called TV?moreless