Suburgatory

Shot in La by Bit of Cake Prods. in colaboration with Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers, Emily Kapnek, Michael Fresco producer, Morgan Sackett director, Fresco author, Kapnek.George Altman - Jeremy Sisto Tessa Altman - Jane Levy Dallas Royce - Cheryl Hines Noah Lerner - Alan Tudyk Dalia Royce - Carly Chaikin Lisa Shay - Allie GrantAs muddled since it's too-cute-by-half title indicates, "Suburgatory" is yet another among individuals series having a precociously witty teenage protagonist whose narration and attitude type of make you need to impose curfew on her behalf. Grasping for moments of humanity, this tired single-camera conceit relies upon the lady being pulled by her father to some Stepford-like suburban community, in which the large-haired women descend on the handsome single father like flies on summer time barbecue. Spoofing the 'burbs offers plenty of high-value comedy targets, however in this situation, it's tough to determine how "Suburgatory" escapes its very own narrative limbo. Caught with condoms, Tessa (Jane Levy) is taken from Manhattan by her blue-collar pop (Jeremy Sisto, with what feels as though a substantial although not uncomfortable departure from the majority of his previous work). Apparently, teen sex only occur in cities without well-well-kept grass, that will come as news in many areas. "Pretty ironic that the box filled with rubbers arrived me inside a town filled with plastic," Tessa pouts in voice-over. Tessa is, naturally, troubled at being sentenced as to the she sees like a tier just above Hell (hence the title), encircled by boring kids as well as their status-conscience parents. The second would be best summarized by Dallas Royce ("Curb Your Enthusiasm's" Cheryl Hines), who additionally to saying rude items to Tessa about her wardrobe ogles her father as though he's a huge T-bone steak, as with individuals old cartoons. Among this fall's new arrivals, the CW's "Hart of Dixie" utilizes an identical seafood-out-of-water device (tossing its surly NYer in to the deep South), but "Suburgatory" aims for additional of the "Juno"-like sensibility, which only helps make the show seem like it goes on ABC Entertainment chief Paul Lee's last visit ABC Family, otherwise MTV. Out of the box, the pilot produced by Emily Kapnek ("Hung") and directed by Michael Fresco finds some warmth within the father-daughter bond and labors rather feebly to reveal Hines' character inside a less-than-harsh light, however the too-familiar start does not bode well for consistently making use of such elements. Levy is really a promising youthful talent, however the show may potentially be interesting if torqued a little to stress Sisto's situation alas, the marketing imperative here was clearly to achieve a more youthful female demo, specifically for a set sandwiched between "The CenterInch and "Modern Family." Although individuals shows are thematically compatible, a minimum of, an alert to individuals who consider their weekly dose of "Modern Family" just a little slice of comedy paradise: That step lower to "Suburgatory" could be a real doozy. Camera, Sharon Meir production designer, Keith Cunningham editor, Lawrence Maddox music, Jared Faber casting, Tim Payne, Lisa Ystrom. 30 MIN.Suburgatory With: Ana Gasteyer, Rex Lee. Contact John Lowry at john.lowry@variety.com