Another meaningless teen show. Another attempt to relive the glory days of 90210 and Melrose Place. Me getting sucked in yet again...But I'm fighting it. I am.
Last night the CW premiered a new show called Hidden Palms. Basically it's The O.C. crossed with Dawson's Creek, with a touch of Desperate Housewives thrown in. Not a bad recipe for success in most cases.
The premise...smart kid Johnny (totally doesn't look like or act like a Johnny) is just like any other book worm teen, until the night that his dad comes home drunk, again, and blows his brains out right in front of him. So, Johnny goes off the deep-end, becomes a teenage alcoholic, and begins to throw his life away.
Slutty mom remarries and the new clan moves to picture perfect palm beach. (Here is the Ryan Atwood, fish-out-of water twist).
Johnny makes friends quickly. Here is the next O.C. connection; Johnny is played by Taylor somebody or other, best known as psycho-Marissa lovin' Oliver from The O.C. His first new friend and neighbor is the guy from The O.C. who played Zach, Seth's comic-book lovin' friend and eventual boyfriend of Summer.
Then throw in the sexy girl who holds a hint of mystery. Picture Marissa crossed with Peyton from One Tree Hill. Johnny is intrigued by her, she is intrigued by him, but nothing is as easy as it seems.
Hot mysterious girl has a history with Johnny's new neighbor friend. And it is an ugly history. So bad that they have a full on love-hate relationship...and whatever caused this rift also seems to have caused the death of one of their old friends, Eddie. What happened to Eddie seems to be the big hook for this 8 episode trial run.
Now, the Dawson's Creek...A shy, cute, book worm girl lives across the street. She's definitely Joey Potter. She even swipes her hair away behind her ear on a regular basis as she smiles out the side of her mouth.
The show was created by and is written by Dawson's mastermind Kevin Williamson. So the comparisons are likely to keep coming.
Like The O.C., parents seem to play a large role in the happenings. Each character, besides Greta (mysterious, pretty girl), has shady parents with lots of skeletons in the closet. These stories unfold in the background of the teen angst.
What I liked:
The main character Johnny is a good actor. He is likable and I developed a soft spot for him quickly. I was always a fan of Oliver on The O.C. so I hope that some of that snotty side gets to come out.
I like the other teen characters as well. Greta isn't quite as mysterious as they want her to be, but she's every bit as tortured as Peyton Sawyer.
The mystery is catchy, but it might end up being cliched. A real twist is needed to make me keep watching.
What I disliked:
The adults. All of them are one dimensional, cookie-cutter, stand-ups. They are all despicable people and none of them seem to have a redeeming quality. If they get too much air time it could be bad news.
And they are totally wasting the talents of Sharon Lawrence in the role of neighbor boy's plastic surgery lovin' mom. She is pure evil, I have no doubt. And hopefully she will be more adequately used as the show moves forward.
Pilot Grade: B-
Will I keep watching...ask me next week.
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