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Jack & Bobby

Pilot

Season 1, Episode 1, Aired Sep 12, 2004

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8.9

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Jack and Bobby McCallister are two bright young brothers growing up in Hart, Missouri, under the watchful eye of their eccentric single mother Grace, a college professor whose strong personality helps shape both of these young men's lives and secure one a place in the history books - as President of the United States. Grace and Jack's temperamental mother/son relationship takes a dangerous toll on Bobby as he gets caught in their rival forces, prompting a major change in the McCallister household. The arrival of a new college president, Peter Benedict, and his daughter, Courtney, makes an impression on the McCallister boys.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
John Aylward

Victor Sable
GUEST STAR
Tess Harper

Karen Carmichael
GUEST STAR
David Paymer

Adam Chasen (Uncredited)

Christine Lahti

Grace McCallister
Edwin Hodge

Marcus Ride
John Slattery

Peter Benedict
Jessica Pare

Courtney Benedict
Logan Lerman

Robert "Bobby" McCallister
Matthew Long

Jack McCallister

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Fan Episode Reviews (4)

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Good

6.5

"Fair"

By chinghk, Jan 07, 2011

The lives of teenaged Jack and Bobby (Robert) McCallister as they went to high school and generally matured. Much conflict was generated between the boys and their mother, Grace, played by Christine Lahti, who was both smart and volatile, and always a dominating influence in their lives. The names of the main characters are unmistakable references to President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his brother, Senator Robert Francis Kennedy, who were commonly referred to as "Jack" and "Bobby," though it was stated in the show they were named after their father, Juan Roberto del Alba.
The main storyline was paralleled by a series of interviews with figures associated with the McCallister presidency, who spoke of events from Robert McCallister's later life. Typically, there was a thematic link between the main plot, set during Bobby's adolescence, and the reminiscences of his adult life and political career.moreless
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Good.

8.9

"Great"

By dmarex, Aug 31, 2006

Usually, I don't watch shows like "The West Wing." I don't know why. I just can't get hooked up. And today I saw the pilot for "Jack & Bobby," and I really liked it.

The pilot tells the story of two brother, Bobby & Jack, who are having a complicated relationship with their mother. We meet these three characters and find out A LOT about them.

Interesting stories, introduction of complicated but normal characters and much more.

First of all, I though this was a middle-season episode, and when I discovered it was a pilot, I was stunned. What a great pilot. Many pilots are dissapointing, but this promised a really great series. It's just sad that the series lasted for one season only.moreless
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And I thought this would be another 'boring old stuff and no more creative series', which doesn't seem to be when I first watched it, well done, to these producers for their creative way of expressing themselves and a great ending song for their seriesinmoreless

10

"Perfect"

By chiayitay, Apr 15, 2006

As I was saying at first, I was fooled or rather being tricked by the producers of this series. 'Jack and Bobby', by the name, I thought it would just be another boring old kind of series which is not interesting like 'The West Wing' anymore (actually there are no more series like that nowadays). But it turned up that it is very interesting. The pilot of this series started with a very eye-catching scene and touching indeed, the protagonist's brother (Jack) turned up as a very good runner but his little brother Bobby has asthma. That sounds very ridiculous to me but that are what the producers hope for.
Grace, their mum decided that she would get Bobby something he wanted for his birthday, which is a TV. That which is also Jack's dream since he was born he said, is very precious to him until he can run to the shop and asked the salesman to only recommend the TV to his mum. Well, the 'clever' Grace is not fooled, she noticed Jack's 'shadow' and at the end of the day, instead of buying a TV for Bobby, Grace bought a keyboard for him after telling him her tales when she wanted to learn piano. (It was a keyboard that can compose a symphony, how ridiculous!!)
As the series go on, I can only tell you guys some information I know. You should really watch this show as I really came to TV.com to search for this series (because i thought this series was based on a true story until I noticed the year..), this series was too real. It can teach you a lot, much more than the things or books you read. It teaches you how to be you and live happily in this world. If anyone ask me, that's my review to it, a 14-year-old girl's thoughts. Enjoy.
peace out!moreless
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Introduced the main charaters in the show, how the first lady met the president, and the president had a illness too.

9.9

"Superb"

By chiahooitay, Apr 10, 2006

A very special series. At first, I truly think Bobby is the real US President. Then I went online to check the US President list. Only then I know they fool me! They acted everything like a documentary, as if Bobby is the real President.They interview the First Lady, the Chief of Staff and other staffs in the White House. They made everything looked like real! A show that watchworthy! I like West Wing, and I like this show too!moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- In the official credits actor David Paymer was not credited as a guest star even though he does appear in the episode as the character Adam Chasen.
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QUOTES (23)
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- Jack: My brother has no off switch.
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- Future Courtney: There were some dark hours during his presidency. And it was in those times he said the wrong brother became president.
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- Bobby: I could be in a band. Jack: Yeah, with who? Bobby: With Warren. Jack: You need more than two people in a band, dumbass.
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- Bobby: Why does she have to smoke that stuff? (marijuana) Jack: Why do you care? Bobby: She's different afterward. Jack: Yeah, bearable.
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- Jack: You're just a lonely, pathetic, middle-aged woman behind your words and your books and your freak of a teenage son. Grace (Slaps Jack): Shut up!
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- Victor Sable: McCallister had asthma, had from boyhood. He was simply pausing as he often did before a speech, to catch his breath.
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- Adult Marcus Ride: (caption reads: Marcus Ride, Senior Counsel to the President) I have known the McCallister family the longest of anybody. I met Jack when we were thirteen. He was my best friend. He was everything you wanted to be, and you loved - and hated - him for it. And Bobby? Well, Bobby was different.
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- Salesman: Do you want me to carry this to your car? Grace: No, my son can carry it. Salesman: It's pretty heavy I don't think he (Bobby) can. Grace: No, my other son. Grace: See you at home, Jack
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- Jack: C'mon, get ready I'll take you to the thing (bonfire). Bobby: Really? What do they burn at this thing? Jack: 8th graders.
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- Marcus: Come with me little man. Bobby: I don't wanna come with you! Marcus: Too bad.
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- Peter: You walking home? Grace: Yeah Peter: Alone? Grace: The muggers are all students, they'd be too scared to attack me.
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- Grace: Great timing, Jack. You're captain of this... king that.
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- Jack: What happened? Bobby: He said he didn't want to be my friend any more. Jack: So you punched him?
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- Grace: (about the TV) Fine, your birthday, your mind.
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- Jack: You didn't do any of it for us or for him [dad]!
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- Adam Chasen: To win you need hunger...Governor McCallister...he was hungry.
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- Grace: What is certain is that the majority of television is catered to the majority of Americans, and is a result garbage.
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- Grace: What is so important about normal? Jack: Normal is what you have to be if you don't want to spend everyday of high school getting beat up.
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- Victor Sable: Was the man so often referred to as The Great Believer, a believer from the beginning?
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- Grace: It's always been 'Grace and Bobby.' If it's not too late I think it needs to be 'Jack and Bobby' now.
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- Future Courtney: Grace used to say Jack and Bobby were like two sides of one coin. Without Bobby, Jack might never have learned compassion. Without Jack, Bobby might never have gained strength.
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- Future Courtney: They called him The Great Believer. And it's true.
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- Jack: What are you writing? Courtney: Nothing. Jack: That's funny, it doesn't look like nothing.
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NOTES (14)
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- In what has now become a common practice, this pilot episode of "Jack & Bobby" was the first ever episode of ANY TV series to be shown online (AOL Broadband) prior to its original television broadcast. This is also the only episode of the series to be released on DVD: the magazine "Entertainment Weekly" included the episode with the issue that was sent to subscribers the week prior to the TV broadcast in a special promotion for the series.
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- This episode was named #10 on The Futon Critic's Top 50 Episodes of 2004.
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- This episode was originally shown in widescreen format. Subsequent episodes were not for Jack & Bobby.
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- On the original airing of this episode (debut) the WB extended the show's airing an extra 5 minutes (65 min). Afterward, some scenes in the pilot were cut to fit the regular hour in later airings.
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- In the original pilot of Jack and Bobby actor James Pickens Jr. played "Adult Marcus Ride." But he had to leave the role after he got a starring role on the ABC midseason drama Grey's Anatomy and was replaced by actor Ron Canada.
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- It is revealed that Jack and Bobby are half-Mexican.
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- Two weeks before the premiere, The WB gave away free DVDs of the pilot episode in the September 3, 2004 issue of Entertainment Weekly.
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- The series is broadcasted in HDTV (High-definition Television) when it airs on the WB network.
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- In real life, actress Christine Lahti (Grace McCallister) is married to Jack and Bobby executive producer Thomas Schlamme, who encouraged her to do the series.
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- The pilot episode of Jack and Bobby was filmed in March 2004 on location in Austin, Texas. Subsequent episodes are filmed in Los Angeles.
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- In this episode it's revealed that the character Bobby McCallister (Logan Lerman) is the brother that becomes president, while Jack McCallister (Matthew Long) doesn't.
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- In the final cut of the pilot episode that airs in the 60 minute time frame, actor Dakin Matthews (Merle) does not appear, but does appear in the extended version. His scenes in the final version was cut.
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- The WB officially announced that they had picked up Jack and Bobby on May 6, 2004, a week and a half before the annual TV upfronts in New York City where they present their fall schedule. It's very unusual unless the network is very confident about the series.
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- This series, Jack and Bobby, from the beginning is in no relation to real life former president Jack Kennedy and brother Robert Kennedy.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Grace: You're more the sax type anyway.
  A reference to President Clinton's ability to play the saxaphone.
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