Mon 9 Nov 2020
TV Episode Review: GET SHORTY “The Pitch” (2017).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV mysteries[6] Comments
GET SHORTY. “The Pitch.†Epix, 13 August 2017. Chris O’Dowd as Miles Daly, an enforcer for Amara De Escalones, a casino owner and gang boss in Pahrump, Nevada, who looks to escape his criminal lifestyle and enter into the film industry; Ray Romano as Rick Moreweather, a film producer; Sean Bridgers as Louis Darnell, Miles’ partner; Lucy Walters as Katie Daly, Miles’ wife; Carolyn Dodd as Emma Daly, Miles and Katie’s daughter. Miles’ pet name for her is “Shorty.†Lidia Porto as Amara De Escalones. Based on the novel by Elmore Leonard. Writer: Davey Holmes. Director: Allen Coulter. Currently streaming on Cimemax via Amazon Prime.
Once again I am indebted to Wikipedia for the list of characters, the actors who play hem, and their roles in Get Shorty, the TV series. While the movie (1995) followed the book (1990) fairly closely, the TV series bears only a passing resemblance to either. Only the general idea stays the same: that of a professional hitman trying to improve his life and/or using Hollywood and the lower level movie business to launder money for the mob.
This, the first episode of the TV series, which lasted for three season of nine episodes each, consists largely of setting up the characters and the basic premise. There’s no standalone story line to go with it. On the other hand, I don’t think anyone watching this would go away not knowing what the future of the series would be like and whether or not they’d be likely to following along.
The appeal so far, though, is in the characters, and in the black tongue in cheek attitude the two partners in the hitman business have toward their business. Miles Daly, more or less the featured player in this large ensemble show, would like to get out of it, however. He’s separated from his wife, who doesn’t care for the business he’s in, and that interferes greatly with Miles’ wish to see and be with his daughter Emma.
The other star is Ray Romano as minor league (very minor) Rick Moreweather, who as the series begins is grasping at straws so that he can finish his (very) minor film epic. Obviously when Miles comes knocking at his door, it will be a match made in heaven.
November 9th, 2020 at 2:38 am
It was nice to see Romano in something different, but the relative pleasures here faded pretty fast for me.
November 9th, 2020 at 8:52 am
I’ve seen and enjoyed the first two seasons, although I thought the second season should have ended a couple of episodes earlier and saved some of its plot developments for the next season. But the cast is really good overall, and I’ll watch Chris O’Dowd in just about anything.
November 9th, 2020 at 2:17 pm
I have some reservations about how long they can keep the basic story going and keep it interesting, but I’m planning on giving it a chance. I don’t remember ever seeing Chris O’Dowd in anything before. I’ll have to see what else he did. Right now Ray Romano as the second (or third) rank movie producer, and where the story goes in the Hollywood end of things, is what may keep me watching longer than otherwise.
November 9th, 2020 at 7:30 pm
My review of an earlier (and very different) series starring Chris O’Dowd:
https://jamesreasoner.blogspot.com/2015/01/tuesdays-overlooked-tv-it-crowd.html
November 9th, 2020 at 8:05 pm
Now that’s what I call a rave review. Thanks, James! Five seasons are available on Netflix. Guess what I’ll be watching tonight?
November 9th, 2020 at 8:50 pm
Steve, stick with this show. It gets better every episode. And guess who Ray Romano shacks up with??
Violent/Funny/black humor show is wonderful!