Running Wilde, starring Will Arnet (Arrested’s GOB) and Keri Russell, is about a rich trust fund guy named Steve Wilde who is still in love with his high school sweetheart, an environmental rights activist named Emmy. Emmy has been “lording having nothing over Steve for years.” Emmy has an intelligent, funny daughter named Puddle. Good casting there. That daughter looks just like Keri Russell, and she’s one of the most magnetic things about this show so far. The supporting characters are a rich guy who serves as Steve’s competition in life and the employees Steve Wilde has to be his friends.
In the pilot, Steve concocted a plan to get Emmy’s attention: give himself an award for charity. Emmy saw right through this, and prepared to go back to the jungle, where she was living with her daughter and activist boyfriend (David Cross). We laughed out loud when Steve relocated the jungle indigents to a resort, because he had to get them out of that hole (the jungle). They were frolicking in the pool with floaties. It was a riot.
Random girly thought: We loved Emmy’s watercolor-style dress at the charity award party. It reminded us of a short version of Rachel McAdams’ lovely Oscar dress this year. Take note, Gossip Girl.
This pilot was pretty amusing, but to give it more than an average grade would just show that we are biased toward anything reminding us of Arrested Development. The Running Wilde pilot was more chuckle-out-loud than laugh-out-loud funny. Pretty good for a sitcom whose title is a pun though. The set-up isn't great or original. We are a little disappointed in this pilot.
Average grade not-withstanding, we think this show has a ton of promise, and we think it’s something to keep watching. Don’t give up on this one too soon. There is only so much a show can do in a 22-minute pilot.
Episode grade- C
watch the pilot for free here.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/178589/running-wilde-pilot#s-p1-so-i0
Like you guys, I enjoyed it on a chuckle level, but I think it's got a lot a potential. It's fun to see Keri Russell in such light-hearted fare (I say this as a "Felicity" fan going back 12 years now), and Puddle's facial expressions were hilarious. Will Arnett is funny, but I prefer him in ensemble situations, like in "Arrested Development", so I think I'll enjoy him more as this show finds its footing. I'm gonna go out on a limb and call it this year's "Better Off Ted".
ReplyDeleteWe agree with your limb, but we don't like it.
ReplyDeleteAll the weird/interesting stuff goes too early. We want to see this show hit its stride before it leaves us.
We are more worried about Lone Star though. That's another decent-with-potential one that needs some time.