Beggars and Choosers

Bad writing, bad acting and bad direction are the three prongs of anti-talent that skewer the viewer and roast him slowly over the fires of television hell while watching this piece of dreck.

Why is it that HBO is the stronghold of quality original programming, while Showtime comes up with shows that wouldn't survive half a season on UPN?

I particularly enjoyed great performances from many talented actors especially Tuc Watkins and am looking forward to seeing the whole series again. Any new release on DVD would be welcome. This series is definitely worth a watch if you have a sense of humor and not necessarily into sitcoms but a more subtle type of humor. The series deepens in perspective in the next season and maintains it's original appeal. What a pity it ended so soon. More of this type of comedy drama is needed on TV. Subsequent seasons have great additions to the cast which keep the story fresh. I also liked very much a quirky opening credit and theme tune.

Now, I don't know much about how t.v. networks run and the people who work there, but I have a feeling it's a lot like Beggars and Choosers! From Rob Malone, network president, down to Lori Volpone, vice president of development-- the characters are both smart and funny. The series gives you an inside view of how a network runs, and how everyone working there deals with the trials and tribulations of life on the inside.

Inside of this little fictional network, LGT, you see that it's very disfunctional, in a way that most could never imagine. Everyone and their brother are busy backstabbing everyone outside of the network to get ahead in the network, and doing everything they can think of to everyone outside of the network to get the network ahead as a team. Make sense? Maybe not...but it's network television, who said it made sense. All you have to know is this: the characters are funny, the acting is above top notch, and the storylines will keep you glued to the set every week. The show has a good way of keeping you involved...you're always hoping the network pulls thru and their ratings go up, and you find yourself hoping that the people trying to keep this from happening lose, and in the end, they usually do. You can't help but watch, and when you do, you can't help but stay by the t.v. till it's all over and the problems have been resolved. It's a great show with an awesome cast, and if you wanna get into the business, it might be a good learning tool as well. If you haven't seen the show already, watch it, it tends to grow on you.

I loved this series, I wish some one would put out video's for sale. this series could go on for ever. Rudolf Martin playing as Nicolai Krasnikove is forever great. Why did this show just stop? I hear it had low ratings, bull It way the best mini showtime had or has on! or give people a chance to own it.

If a DVD was available, I'd buy the whole set in a heartbeat. I have some of the episodes on VHS, complete with commercials, and too hard to locate on my tapes. Plus they aren't in order! I am not in "the business" but I found the satire clever and funny, the acting terrific, and the whole thing strangely both believable and outrageous. I think the biggest problem with the show, during its original run, was that there was so little marketing for it. I found it by accident and thought it sounded interesting, so I watched the first episode, and was hooked immediately. Most of my friends had never heard of it, until I told them about it. Maybe if there had been more hype, more people would have watched it. Also, in my area (Toronto) it was only on TV once a week, Friday nights at midnight. A lot of the audience who would enjoy this show are out on Friday nights.

Anyway, I was devastated when it was cancelled. Special favourite performances were from Lori, Malcolm, Larry the drag queen, and Brad, plus of course Rob and Cecile. Also Mr. Ludden and the fabulous Lydia Ludden.

Some favourite moments were when Mr. Ludden came out of his coma, when Parker Meridien died, when Kendall was getting people to throw out their TVs. And who could forget Lori and the Russian mobster.

I really hope a DVD comes out before the show becomes a pile of archival garbage in Showtime's back storage room.