Complete Savages

I have watched this show with my kids over the last couple of weeks and what a refreshing change from the normal rubbish American family situation comedies we are normally subjected to.Others have mentioned Quintuplets and 8 Simple Rules when reviewing here, outside of the US the only people who watch those truly awful shows are kids. I spent some of the summer in the US and you do have some excellent shows and some really awful ones. The rest of the world has a suspicion that all Americans are children and when a show like The Complete Savages is cancelled and the aforementioned crap is popular, it confirms that suspicion.Savages demonstrates to the rest of the world that Americans don't all live in perfect houses with perfect jobs and perfect lives. It makes you appear human, warm and funny sometimes,just like the rest of us. Savages is quirky and endearing. One of my children actually said that he thought American children only ever get 'A's in school, that is how family life is portrayed, plastic and enough sugar to make you reach for the sick bucket. I mourn the passing of this great family show! Just as an after thought, it could have been developed into an hour long comedy drama and may have worked better.

I saw all of the episodes aired on TV. Pilot episode was especially entertaining.

At first the Savage family might appear crazy and dysfunctional. The more you keep watching you cannot stop and you realize they function perfectly exactly the way they are. This show is about kids, and a single dad. It is about an uncle, some friends and girlfriends, and of course safety precautions given by Officer Cox. Mel Gibson is hilarious in this role. This show is great. It's funny and entertaining. It's a must see kind of show. It is one of those TV shows that should stay on the TV screens for a while. I bet even re-runs would be fun to watch.

The poster who repeatedly claimed that "Complete Savages" is an imitation of "Quintuplets" needs to get his/her facts straight.

Firstly, the premises of the two shows are not particularly similar. The family in "Quintuplets" is comprised of three sons and two daughters (all of whom obviously are the same age) and their married parents. "Complete Savages" features five sons (all of whom are different ages) and their single father. The only obvious similarity is that both families contain five kids with differing personalities, which is a rather broad concept.

Secondly, both "Quintuplets" and "Complete Savages" entered development in 2003 (as candidates for their respective networks' fall 2004 schedules). The "Complete Savages" pilot was shot on April 20, 2004 -- a mere twenty days after the "Quintuplets" pilot was shot (March 31, 2004) and almost two months before the latter actually aired (June 16, 2004). The early debut of "Quintuplets" was enabled by Fox's decision to rush the series into production.

In other words, even if the two programs were virtually identical, neither could possibly be a "rip-off" of the other.

Here is a question to Chicagocrtc - you mention "My Three Sons", did you notice that Mel Gibson appears to have tipped his hat to that classic series with his opening - shoes tapping together (and the paw!) and the "Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah"? Strike a familiar note? The tune has been updated and there are a few more shoes - but it's a great tribute to the granddaddy of all sitcoms about a single parent trying to raise their kids. It's a tried but true format and Gibson has taken it to new heights, the laughs are from familiar situations every (normal) parent and child can relate to. If it hasn't happened to you, it's happened to someone you know. Kudos to Mel and his "Savages".

Complete Savages should not be completely dismissed. Along the lines of any comedy featuring a large family unit, Complete Savages could provide entertainment week after week -- hopefully, the writers will be able to develop fresh story lines and use the talent and situation they've been given. It's not the worst new show -- things like North Shore and Hawaii certainly come to mind for that -- and viewers should give Complete Savages a chance.

Critics hated LAX -- and it's not too bad. They loved Kevin Hill -- how are they going to have fresh story lines with that one without ripping off every courtroom drama ever made? The baby can only be "cute" so many times. Complete Savages does fall between those two. Give this one a chance.