ABC Fall Pilot Review: The Neighbors - Premieres September 26 at 9:30PM ET/PT - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 09-26-2012, 01:57 PM

The Neighbors - Wednesdays 8:30PM ET/PT on ABC
Premieres Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at 9:30PM ET/PT

Marty Weaver (Lenny Venito) just wants the best for his wife Debbie (Jami Gertz) and their three kids. That's why he's moving them to Hidden Hills, New Jersey, a gated community complete with its own golf course. Marty is certain that their new home will be a dream come true. And then, they meet the neighbors.
The residents of Hidden Hills are a little… different. Larry Bird (Simon Templeman) introduces himself as the "leader" of the community. Then, he presents his wife, Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Toks Olagundoye) and their two sons (yes, they're named after famous athletes -- Dick Butkus and Reggie Jackson).

After Debbie and Marty frantically try to make sense of the weird neighbors -- very European? A cult? Amish athletes? -- they discover that the entire Hidden Hills community is comprised of aliens from the planet Zabvron. Turns out the Zabvronians have been holed up in Hidden Hills for the past 10 years, awaiting instructions from back home. And the Weavers are the first humans who have ever lived amongst them.

At first, the Weavers are ready to cut and run. But the aliens seem harmless enough. And there is a lot of closet space… So, they decide to stay and help their new neighbors adapt to life on this confusing planet we call home.

As the Weavers and the aliens face the struggles of everyday life together, they discover that some things -- the ups and downs of marriage, the desire to be a good parent and raise a happy family -- are universal. Intergalactic, even. And the Weavers realize they’ve found an ally in the family next door... even if they do cry out of their ears.

Read our review of the pilot and second episode here:
http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2012/0...neighbors.html

TMC · 09-27-2012, 04:55 AM

http://entertainment.time.com/2012/0...u-might-think/

The ABC comedy had the potential to be good, says James Poniewozik, but the alien characters are written better than the humans. "'The Neighbors" problem, then, isn't that it's about aliens," he writes. "It's that it has nothing interesting to say about people." PLUS: Why it's the year's silliest show and the worst new show of the season.

MRPITT · 09-27-2012, 11:07 AM

I watched this with my wife last night and it was pretty bad. There was nothing good about it the concept was poorly executed and we didn't come close to laughing.

AKA · 09-27-2012, 11:16 AM

Terrible show. Shame on whomever greenlit it. I give it less than six weeks.

AB · 09-27-2012, 05:10 PM

I thought it was okay & will probably watch another couple of episodes to see if gets funnier. I liked the part where the little alien boy showed his true form to those two human kids. That part was pretty funny.

09-26-2012, 01:57 PM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,677	ABC Fall Pilot Review: The Neighbors - Premieres September 26 at 9:30PM ET/PT The Neighbors - Wednesdays 8:30PM ET/PT on ABC Premieres Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at 9:30PM ET/PT Marty Weaver (Lenny Venito) just wants the best for his wife Debbie (Jami Gertz) and their three kids. That's why he's moving them to Hidden Hills, New Jersey, a gated community complete with its own golf course. Marty is certain that their new home will be a dream come true. And then, they meet the neighbors. The residents of Hidden Hills are a little… different. Larry Bird (Simon Templeman) introduces himself as the "leader" of the community. Then, he presents his wife, Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Toks Olagundoye) and their two sons (yes, they're named after famous athletes -- Dick Butkus and Reggie Jackson). After Debbie and Marty frantically try to make sense of the weird neighbors -- very European? A cult? Amish athletes? -- they discover that the entire Hidden Hills community is comprised of aliens from the planet Zabvron. Turns out the Zabvronians have been holed up in Hidden Hills for the past 10 years, awaiting instructions from back home. And the Weavers are the first humans who have ever lived amongst them. At first, the Weavers are ready to cut and run. But the aliens seem harmless enough. And there is a lot of closet space… So, they decide to stay and help their new neighbors adapt to life on this confusing planet we call home. As the Weavers and the aliens face the struggles of everyday life together, they discover that some things -- the ups and downs of marriage, the desire to be a good parent and raise a happy family -- are universal. Intergalactic, even. And the Weavers realize they’ve found an ally in the family next door... even if they do cry out of their ears. Read our review of the pilot and second episode here: http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2012/0...neighbors.html

09-27-2012, 04:55 AM	#2
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,010	"The Neighbors" is bad, but not because it's about aliens living in the suburbs http://entertainment.time.com/2012/0...u-might-think/ The ABC comedy had the potential to be good, says James Poniewozik, but the alien characters are written better than the humans. "'The Neighbors" problem, then, isn't that it's about aliens," he writes. "It's that it has nothing interesting to say about people." PLUS: Why it's the year's silliest show and the worst new show of the season.

09-27-2012, 11:07 AM	#3
MRPITT Member Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2011 Posts: 1,678	I watched this with my wife last night and it was pretty bad. There was nothing good about it the concept was poorly executed and we didn't come close to laughing.

09-27-2012, 11:16 AM	#4
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Terrible show. Shame on whomever greenlit it. I give it less than six weeks.

09-27-2012, 05:10 PM	#5
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	I thought it was okay & will probably watch another couple of episodes to see if gets funnier. I liked the part where the little alien boy showed his true form to those two human kids. That part was pretty funny.