Welcome to Pilot Perception, our feature in which we break down the first episode of each new show in order to help you decide whether it’s worth your time.
The Show: The Neighbors, ABC, Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c, or in Canada on CTV on Saturdays at 10pm ET
The Pedigree: The show was created by Dan Fogelman (Cars, Crazy, Stupid, Love). Other executive producers include Aaron Kaplan (Terra Nova, GCB), Chris Koch (Traffic Light, Modern Family), and Jeffrey Morton (Modern Family, Apartment 23). Koch directed the pilot.
The Cast & How You Know Them: The Neighbors stars Lenny Venito (Lights Out, NYC 22), Jami Gertz (Still Standing, Entourage), Simon Templeman (The Event), and Toks Olagundoye (Prime Suspect, NCIS).
The Premise: A family moves into a suburban development and discovers that their neighbors are all aliens who were stranded on earth fifteen years ago.
A Taste:
What Works: The jokes were less offensive than I’d expected, which is something, I suppose. And there aren’t many network primetime shows that kids and parents can watch together, so this might fill that need.
What Doesn’t: The writing is dull. The jokes are stale. I don’t mind the goofy premise – I’d happily watch a sharply written comedy about aliens stranded in suburbia, but this isn’t that. It just wasn’t funny, and none of the characters were particularly appealing, so there was nothing that made me want to revisit it.
Our Favorite Line: “Do we call the police? Shouldn’t Obama know about this?”
You Might Like This if you like goofy, broad family comedies you can watch with your kids.
If You’re Interested: You can catch the pilot on the ABC site or at Hulu, then set your DVR for next Wednesday at 8:30/7:30c.
If you’re in Canada, The Neighbors premieres on Saturday at 10pm ET on CTV.
(Photo courtesy of ABC.)