(S01E01) If I had to make an educated guess, I'd say ABC is hoping that What About Brian can somehow become this year's Grey's Anatomy. It's coming in late in the season, which means we'll probably only get 7 to 9 episodes if it runs on - just like Grey's did. People will obsess on the few episodes we got. It'll become a huge conversation topic over the summer and by September, What About Brian will be on everyone's must see season premiere list. At least that's what ABC is hoping for.
Well, after tonight's pilot (although, they're calling tomorrow night's episode the premiere which I don't get... it's a new one), I can say that I'm hoping for the same outcome that ABC is. This show has got it. Whatever it is. It's got the quirkiness of Ed along with the "at the end of the day it seems like everyone just wants to get laid" mentality of Grey's. Plus it's funny. That sounds like something that should work... right?
Odd man out is the name of the game, but Brian has to be or else the title wouldn't make any sense at all. His six best friends (they're all coupled up of course) have problems of their own. His business partner Mike and his wife Deena have discussed having an open marriage, although only Deena seems to be acting on it. His sister Nic and her younger husband suffer a miscarriage. But the real problem lies with his other friend Adam and his new fiancé Marjorie. Why's that a problem? Well, Brian is in love with Marjorie.
This is where the similarities to Grey's come into play. Mainly, Marjorie is this show's Derek Shepard. Neither of whom are with the people you actually want them to be with. The one thing I didn't understand... well, that pact that Brian and Adam made? The break-up with our girlfriends pact? Once Marjorie found out that Adam was behind it, why would she stay with him? Just because he proposed shouldn't be a good enough reason, but in Marjorie's world it is. Especially after she admitted that she was initially unsure of Adam but she always thought Brian was a catch.
In the meantime, Brian is forced to deal with "car girl." He rear-ended her and they started dating. Then he broke up with her and she locked him out of his own apartment. In the episode's key moment, Brian and Marjorie break into his own place to get his computer and clean clothes. They're forced to hide in the closet when "car girl" shows back up and the two share a drunken kiss. Then Marjorie runs away.
This seems like the set up for at least the rest of this season which as I said should be 7 to 9 episodes. I just hope that future episodes devote as much time to the other characters as this one did because the other stories going on are just as good. In the end though, we're left with two people who are clearly right for each other. Marjorie even tries to set Brian up with her friend near the end of the episode. Something tells me it won't work out though. Brian likes someone else.
There's another new episode on ABC tonight at 10, which I believe is going to be it's regular timeslot. Check it out, tell me what you think.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-17-2006 @ 1:02PM
denise wharton said...
I really enjoyed the show it left me hanging on wanting to see more. I can't wait to see what will develop between Brian and his best friends girl.
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4-17-2006 @ 1:13PM
Danielle said...
I want to cut What About Brian some slack because it was the premeire episode. And its rare that premieres are great the first time around. I see the similarities between Grey's Anatomy but perhaps the writers of What About Brian should look more closely at why Grey's is so good. Small number of main characters. Depth and real personalities to their characters. One or two storylines per episode.
Here's what I think would help make What About Brian improve:
- Lessen the number of characters. (Too many, I lost track of who's who. What is it that they do again?)
- Show some flaws. This guy Adam just seems scum and Majorie just seems stupid to stay with him after she found out Adam was behind the pact.
- Watch "How I met Your Mother" & "Love Monkey" to see examples of great use of flashbacks and male bonding/friendships. I believe Barney, Marshall and Ted as well as the guys on Love Monkey. Their conversations were sharp, funny and ones I'd hear at a bar or on the court btn guys.
Take a hint from some of the sucessful shows that have the same themes and maybe you'll last.
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4-17-2006 @ 1:18PM
MattS said...
The trailers for this show seemed so sappy and cliche' that I did not plan on watching it. But my wife and I were so ambivalent about searching for a "Grey's" replacement we left it on after DH.
I think I agree with the review will probably tune in tonight after 24.
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4-17-2006 @ 1:39PM
judy said...
this show was terrible.JUST A BUNCH OF WHINEY,PEOPLE. THEY APPEARED TO BE SO HIGH SCHOOL.I REALLY DO NOT THINK MEN REAL MEN ARE THAT SAPPY AND IMMATURE.I WILL NOT WATCH AGAIN COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME.I FELT CHEATED I WOULD PREFERRED A RERUN OF GREYS ANATOMY ANY DAY OVER THIS SHOW.THE PEOPLE WERE NOT EVEN LIKEABLE.WHO CARES ABOUT BRIAN OR ANY OF THESE CARACTERS.AND CAR GIRL TAKING OVER HIS APT. STUPID
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4-17-2006 @ 1:59PM
Valerie said...
I thought the show was kind of cool. It did remind me of Grey's, but that's okay. Just keep the line up like it is starting with Desperate, Grey's, then Brian if they are all going to be on Sunday.
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4-17-2006 @ 2:07PM
Andrea said...
Well geez,after the last review I almost feel stupid to admit how much I liked the show! But here goes...I really liked the show! The whole time my roommate and I kept saying things like, "Aw, what about brian?" or "I feel so bad for Brian!" which as lame as it may sound, showed we were actually into the character! And, let's face it...who hasn't been in love with their best friend's girlfriend/boyfriend at some point? I know I have and it always makes for good tv...however, my only problem is that they really made it seem like she's into him a lot! They need to make the reason for her indecision much more clear...they need to make the other guy much less of a sleazy jerk and have her stop coming on to Brian ever five seconds! ("We'll get drunk and stay up talking until 4 in the morning...it will be like a slumber party!" um...what?! Thanks for leading me on woman!) Anyway, I hope it lasts...
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4-17-2006 @ 2:08PM
Cynthia said...
"Brian"--too sappy . . . don't care about the characters . . . drama level was so "high school" . . that may be even be a stretch . . . made me miss "Grey's Anatomy" even more! Can't see this one lasting! I'll be watching CSI tonight!
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4-17-2006 @ 7:57PM
Nicki said...
I caught the first half after DH, but it wasn't even interesting enough to hold my attention while I was looking for distraction of my AP test prep work.
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4-17-2006 @ 10:02PM
Danny Hughes said...
All I wanted to Know was. Did the wife have an affair? I missed that part.Where do you go from here? It will be hard to keep it real.Good luck
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4-17-2006 @ 10:25PM
Jim said...
I don't like the ensemble cast. Brian and Marjorie are good characters, but that leaves five people I couldn't care less about. Rick Gomez' character is particularly annoying.
Think of all the ABC dramas that have come and gone in recent years -- Karen Sisco, Line of Fire and Life As We Know It all come to mind. This show is no better than any of those.
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4-18-2006 @ 12:06AM
Mark Rabinowitz said...
ABC is really the worst in recent years about abandoning good shows. Eyes, Karen Sisco, etc., etc. Ratings or nothing so let's not get our hopes up. Also, shows with the "unrequited love" theme are rarely as well handled as Grey's. I mean, we know we all want to see Merideth with Shepard, but isn't Addison just a wee bit more likable, now?
That said, I really did like this show, although as a single guy who's been in love with someone else's girl, it's painful to watch, especially since Marjorie is played by Everwood's Madison. (Is it just me, or does she look a bit like Daphne Zuniga now that she has dark hair?)
We'll see!
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4-18-2006 @ 12:07AM
Mark Rabinowitz said...
ABC is really the worst in recent years about abandoning good shows. Eyes, Karen Sisco, etc., etc. Ratings or nothing so let's not get our hopes up. Also, shows with the "unrequited love" theme are rarely as well handled as Grey's. I mean, we know we all want to see Merideth with Shepard, but isn't Addison just a wee bit more likable, now?
That said, I really did like this show, although as a single guy who's been in love with someone else's girl, it's painful to watch, especially since Marjorie is played by Everwood's Madison. (Is it just me, or does she look a bit like Daphne Zuniga now that she has dark hair?)
We'll see!
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4-18-2006 @ 1:36AM
Mark Rabinowitz said...
Ok, I an halfway through episode 2 (the premiere) and Adam MUST be changed as a character. He's WAY too much of an asshole and shows NO redeeming charicteristics. I mean, and correct me if I am wrong ladies and gentlemen, but he's not even particularly attractive. He's just some boring white schmuck in a suit.
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4-18-2006 @ 1:42AM
Mark Rabinowitz said...
...and after presumably dating her for some time and then getting engaged, he still calls her Marjorie when he's trying to get out of trouble? No pet name? Not Margie? Marge? Kitten? Baby? Sugar Britches? Hell, at least throw in a Honey after Marjorie!
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4-18-2006 @ 3:10AM
T said...
I was a late discoverer of "Felicity", in reruns, and having watched every show numerous times and purchasing the DVDs, I hold my breath that someday a show with as much class, beauty, great acting and hip wit will show up. I hate almost everything else on TV. I watched the pilot of "Brian" (noticing the EP definitely got my hopes up even more) from my DVR tonight (while accidentally missing the Monday night "premiere" (duh!). I definitely like it well enough to keep watching, with fingers crossed. People, give the guy's hair a break - who cares? Aren't we all just glad it's not another reality show??? (Hey, how can I catch up on the Monday episode I missed tonite?:)
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4-18-2006 @ 2:30PM
robert hammer said...
i think the show has promise&the best part was Colin hays' song.This guy deserves airplay(ex Men at work frontman)
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