Series premiere review: 'Ben and Kate' - 'Pilot': The wedding crashers
What did everybody think of the new FOX comedy?
Nat Faxon and Dakota Johnson are "Ben and Kate."
Credit: FOX
I reviewed FOX's "Ben and Kate" yesterday. Now it's your turn. For those of you who watched tonight (or in one of its many online preview windows over the last few weeks), what did you think? Did you like the sibling chemistry between Nat Faxon and Dakota Johnson? Did you find it funny? Do you also want to draw attention to your mouth? And will you watch again?
Have at it.
Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com
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Login or create a HitFix account Login Signupcpreynolds
September 25, 2012 at 9:04PM EST Reply to CommentIt has potential.
Kris
September 25, 2012 at 9:17PM EST Reply to CommentLiked both best friends and the kid but found the episode awfully boring and unfunny.
Dr. Gross
September 25, 2012 at 9:25PM EST Reply to CommentVery promising.
Ben&KateCanSuckIt
September 25, 2012 at 9:33PM EST Reply to CommentI thought it was one of the worst TV shows I've ever seen.
There wasn't anything funny about it. The main guy was borderline retarded, even though that wasn't what they were going for.
I'm shocked it made it to air.
Atta
September 25, 2012 at 9:39PM EST Reply to CommentI thought it was terrible. What on earth about this show was promising or had potential?
JB
September 25, 2012 at 9:59PM EST Reply to CommentIt's okay. Not very funny and they really need to tone the brother down but it has potential. I'll check out the second ep.
Prettok
September 25, 2012 at 10:29PM EST Reply to CommentI liked it, but the age difference between the brother and sister is pretty obvious. Nat Faxon and Dakota Johnson are the same ages respectively as Jeremy Sisto and Jane Levy over on Suburgatory.
adam
September 25, 2012 at 10:37PM EST Reply to Commentabsolutely the worst television show I've seen. I found myself just uncomfortable because of the jokes that tried way too hard.
123
September 25, 2012 at 10:40PM EST Reply to CommentLiked the actors, but the found the plot irritating - she dumps a guy she's not even dating for seeing another woman and then goes to break up a wedding because her brother is in love with a girl that he treated awfully?
Comment
September 25, 2012 at 11:31PM EST Reply to CommentWorst pilot ever. Maybe even worse than Whitney.
Guest
September 25, 2012 at 11:33PM EST Reply to CommentPainful to get through. My dog could've written a better script. Lord knows he'd be more compelling to watch than the entire cast of this show.
Gogurt
September 25, 2012 at 11:36PM EST Reply to CommentNat Faxon is simply not likeable.
Dan Whitney She's a single-mother waitress who owns a home in the suburbs and drives a volvo. That's how out-of-touch this show is.
September 25, 2012 at 11:43PM ESTTL @Dan Whitney
September 26, 2012 at 7:27PM ESTEvery comedy is implausible. Can Jeff really become a lawyer by going to a community college for four years? Does anyone think Leslie would really win an election like that? Gloria getting knocked up by Al Bundy? Michael Scott keeping his job in spite of his ineptitude? People actually liking Max or Jules? A grown man in a dog suit? Louis CK always dating hot women? Yes, B&K strained believably, but that's what every sitcom does so don't just call this show out for it.
Shelley Totally agree. Very unappealing with those fangs as well.
November 8, 2012 at 3:42AM ESTScott Rosenberg
September 26, 2012 at 2:54AM EST Reply to CommentUnlike Alan and Dan, I found this to be both funnier and demonstrate more potential than The Mindy Project did. All three members of the Fox family have a several inches to grow in the innate charisma department; it didn't click and pop from the start, but there's a clear point of view, an innate warmth, and while most of the Ben gags just didn't work, there was humor that did land in a few different ways. Echo Kellum was a perfect fit and incredibly funny in what little he was given to do. I was not nearly as taken by Lucy Punch's BJ as Alan & Dan were; while some of the jokes landed, BJ's cartoonishness is a distraction rather than an asset. Lucy has the versatility to be great as a hyper spaz or an aloof airhead (Doc Martin y'all), so simply being an exaggerated slut undercuts her potential to enhance the show.
In the end, though, it was likeable enough and funny enough for me to come back for more.
Marcos
September 26, 2012 at 5:27AM EST Reply to CommentHonestly, I don't get the hostility towards 'Ben and Kate.' Admittedly, it's not laugh out loud funny but there's heart there. It seems like if a comedy isn't jam packed with pop culture references, awkward moments or people being mean to one another, then it's not "funny." But to each their own, I suppose. I for one liked the pilot and believe it could be one of the better new shows of the new season.
Jon88
September 26, 2012 at 8:39AM EST Reply to CommentThe jury's still out. I have a very low tolerance for characters defined mostly by their narcissism, but other things (the u-turn! who could have imagined!) worked for me. Willing to see which way it goes for a couple of weeks.
Matt
September 26, 2012 at 9:24AM EST Reply to CommentThis was in my opinion the best new comedy of the year. Great fit next to New Girl.
Ted Schmosby the responses for this show prove how subjective comedy is. people seem to hate this, but I thought it was definitely stronger than the mindy poopject. what's even funnier is the lovefest people are giving mindy while downing this one for being "unrealistic and unfunny"...well, that should be the tagline for the mindy show, which I fell asleep on. I thought this had a fun dumb and dumber quality in many parts and I actually liked all the characters/actors. I hated everyone in mindy's show for being so preeningly unbeliveable, not counting the guest stars that is
September 26, 2012 at 1:17PM ESTMichelle
September 26, 2012 at 9:36AM EST Reply to CommentI didn't like anything about it. I won't be watching again.
SusieQ
September 26, 2012 at 9:38AM EST Reply to CommentIt didn't make sense. Waitress? How cliche. And that house? And Volvo? Did she rob a bank? Why was the brother such a dimwit? It wasn't funny at all.
TV
September 26, 2012 at 9:49AM EST Reply to CommentNay Faxon is not a leading man.
Stever Yup. He's not Will Ferrell.
September 26, 2012 at 9:59AM ESTDezbot
September 26, 2012 at 11:35AM EST Reply to CommentI will give it a couple more episodes. I like the heart in it, even though it wasn't that funny. I do, however, wish Nat Faxon would fix his teeth. Yeah, it's shallow, but they bugged the heck out of me.
rayme I had the same reaction. It was really distracting.
September 26, 2012 at 11:48AM ESTGrimble As a Brit who wore braces later in life, I'm super sensitive to bad teeth, and boy, does Nat have a bad set. He has two rows on the bottom, like a shark. How can an actor who's serious about his craft not worry about his teeth? It changed how is voice sounds, and all I could think about was the food that must get stuck in there... I bet he can't get floss between some of those slats. Truly distracting.
October 1, 2012 at 8:32PM ESTEmmy
September 26, 2012 at 3:28PM EST Reply to CommentUgh. I thought it was horrible. I didn't laugh once. I will take The Mindy Project instead.
Rob
September 26, 2012 at 3:29PM EST Reply to CommentWow, surprised by the hostility. I really enjoyed it. There were several genuinely funny moments (the three point turn was terrific) and the characters (and relationships) were well-established, a lot of ground covered in 30 minutes. I'll keep watching
Shelley
November 8, 2012 at 3:40AM EST Reply to CommentCan't get past the teeth and not a funny show...big pass for me.
utahsasha
January 3, 2013 at 11:15PM EST Reply to CommentI thought the show was okay... I couldn't stop looking at Ben's teeth though, geesh. The producer's didn't notice that? Whenever he talked that's all I could look at. Sad, really.
CaliGirl
January 10, 2013 at 5:14AM EST Reply to CommentI love this show! I've had to watch a LOT of TV after fusion back surgery and I found this show to be light, funny, and something I will be recording each week for sure.