One of the creators of the freshman drama October Road told the Boston Globe he was surprised that his show -- about a successful writer returning to his Massachusetts hometown filled with people he satirized in his novel -- got picked up. But getting a coveted post-Grey's Anatomy time slot is a lot of pressure.
"Given what's on TV, I do feel like we snuck one by," said Scott Rosenberg, who based October Road "loosely" on his film Beautiful Girls which the Globe said was "loosely based" on his life. "Everyone's out there looking for the next Lost or 24, and here's this little show."
October Road, shot in a suburb of Atlanta but crafted to try to look like an autumnal Boston suburb, features caricatures of some of Rosenberg's friends from his hometown of Needham, friends who still aren't happy with how they were portrayed in Beautiful Girls.
"It cuts a little close to the bone," Rosenberg friend Kurt Matthies told the Globe. Matthies was the inspiration for the Matt Dillon character in the movie and the Eddie character on October Road, the one who doesn't quite forgive the writer-friend, at least in the pilot episode.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-21-2007 @ 12:40PM
Rachel said...
I really liked "Beautiful Girls" and missed out on this pilot. Anyone know if it can be viewed online anywhere?
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3-21-2007 @ 11:59AM
Porchland said...
It was one of the worst pilots I've seen in years.
I was astonished that ABC would run it in such a great time-slot, but then again we've reached the drecks of midseason and the cupboard is bare.
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3-21-2007 @ 1:20PM
RSL said...
If Bryan Greenberg needs some comforting when this series is cancelled, I'll be over here.
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3-21-2007 @ 2:54PM
tv junkie said...
well, i'm glad he's surprised and feeling (too) lucky...because that pretentious piece of junk never should have hit the airwave. hopefully the show get cancel soon (i'm sure people tuned in last week out of curiosity) so other more deserving pilots (or other cheesy reality shows) get a chance.
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3-21-2007 @ 3:51PM
John Howard said...
I couldn't concentrate on the show, since I was too busy being annoyed that the kid couldn't possibly be as old as they said he was without having been born before or just as the author was leaving.
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3-21-2007 @ 4:35PM
C C said...
My impression of the pilot was that it wasn't as bad as the critics said it was, but it certainly wasn't "great". It reminded me of the lackluster version of Richard Russo's "Empire Falls" that aired on HBO last year. Great cast, beautifully shot, literate, but boring as hell. Yes, October Road isn't supposed to be a "Lost" or a "24", but it should be "quality television", which, on first glance, it isn't.
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3-22-2007 @ 11:16AM
jordan said...
Wow. I have to preface my comment by saying that this program was filmed on my street in Atlanta. After enduring weeks of parking blocks from my house, rude crew people just squatting on my front porch, blocking my drive and behaving as if they were on a sound stage rather than a place where people live, I had hoped for a lot more than this insipid, boring, convoluted mess. How narcissistic that this fellow keeps re-hashing his not very interesting life. Bury the poor horse, dude. It's dead.
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4-03-2007 @ 2:20PM
Cancelled said...
I am rather shocked by the comments. I kinda like the show. I grew up in a small town like this one in Ohio and can relate to the character lines and all around Vibe. I think that it was very well cast and leaves me wanting more of the "pretentious piece of junk" after each episode. I like shows that have continuous story lines like Lost, Friday Night Lights, The Nine and this show. Unfortunately most shows i like end up being canceled for some mindless dribble reality show or game show.
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4-03-2007 @ 6:50PM
chriskoenig27 said...
I really really like this show. There is no one getting shot, raped or attacked and the non-violence is nice to watch. I love all the characters and i hope it doesn't get cancelled. The same with What about Brian, two really great shows!!!
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4-06-2007 @ 3:34AM
CL said...
Wow, I am so surprised at the vehement attacks on this show. Who cares how many times the creator wants to tell a story? Obviously, recycling a successful storyline is no crime in entertainment.
Personally, I could do without most of the garbage that people want to fill their minds with these days - how many murders and hostage crises and vindictive vixens can one person tolerate in their homes each week?
This show is nice, evenly paced, has interesting characters, and flows like one of your better novels. The idyllic setting and familiarity among the characters is a comforting respite from the chaotic, messy debacle dominating the airwaves these days.
Save your venom for the self-aggrandizing crap like "Extreme Makeover Home Edition". Or Sanjaya.
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