Review of The TV Set (2007) by Russell B — 07 Jan 2008

After a profoundly disappointing sophomore offering with "Orange County," Jake Kasdan--the writer and director of "Zero Effect" and co-creator of a variety of short-lived, well-reviewed televisions shows like "Freaks & Geeks"--offers an inside look at the making of a TV pilot.

Based on a great script, the concept is eviscerated by clueless network execs and glory-seeking lead actors until it's hardly recognizeable--at which point it goes on TV, much to the horror of its writer/creator who is left to ask whether it would have been better to just let a good concept quietly die.

Featuring a cast chock full of underrated feature performers and the not-ready-for-primetime players who feature in such great, cancelled TV shows as "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "Arrested Development," this flick is pitch-perfect.