The TV Set

Anyone who has read this page regularly knows how I feel about the state of television, so I'll spare you another rant about greatness being axed to make way for puerile trash. I love TV, I just tend to love shows that are destined to get canceled.
Writer-director Jake Kasdan (son of Lawrence) is familiar with the harsh world of network television. He worked on such wonderful series as "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared" only to see NBC and Fox respectively pull the plugs. So it was no doubt cathartic for him to make his satire of the industry, "The TV Set."
Mike Klein (a paunchy David Duchovny) is very close to having his pilot script for "The Wexler Chronicles" optioned by the Panda Network. Studio suit Lenny (Sigourney Weaver) loves the script. It's original, but "frankly, original scares me a little bit." First, she wants to cast over the top scenery chewer, Zach Harper (Fran Kranz) in the title role, while Mike wants the more subtle and appropriate T.J. Goldman (Simon Helberg). Then there's a little problem with the story. The main character's older brother has committed suicide, which as Mike sees it "is the premise for everything that happens," but Lenny suggests to him that "suicide is depressing to like 82 percent of everybody." This isn't her saying this, mind you, this was found through thorough research. Mike's one ally is Richard McAllister ("Amazing Grace's" Ioan Gruffudd), just brought over from the BBC to give the Panda "that class thing," as Lenny puts it. Richard wants to help Mike keep his vision for "The Wexler Chronicles" but in no time at all both are making little compromises that eventually add up to big changes.
"The TV Set" is a very funny satire that is not as insider as some reviewers would have you believe. If anything it exposes the world of television in a way that people with little or no knowledge of TV can enjoy. I can't claim to know the truth about the way shows are chosen, but is it really that difficult to imagine that real network executives make their decisions based on the recommendations of their 14 year old daughter, even if the show is aimed at adults? The Panda's biggest hit, "Slut Wars" is sadly probably going to be a real show within the next couple of years and it will probably be a huge hit. Meanwhile, focus groups and mall surveys will continue to turn a great script into a mediocre show.
This is a film that does for the television industry what last year's "For Your Consideration" did for the movie industry. It shows the whole process from start to finish, the compromises made along the way, and the toll it takes on those who make them. Unlike "Consideration" though, we see the reasons these compromises are made in a realistic way. It is often very uncomfortable to watch (but in the good, cringing through laughter kind of way), particularly whenever Weaver's Lenny is on screen. Anyone who's seen TV lately knows that Lenny exists and is the reason that it is in such a sad state of affairs. It's more great work from Weaver. Duchovny is perfect in the lead, delivering what is probably his best film performance. His Klein is a good writer and cares about the quality of his show, which makes it all the more painful to see him make the little compromises along the way. Gruffudd is terrific as well. He genuinely wants to make good television, but he's realizing that the Panda is a long way from the BBC, and Los Angeles is a long way from anywhere. His wife (Lucy Davis of BBC's "The Office") cannot stand the place.
Judy Greer and Lindsay Sloane are very funny as well, but the performance of the film actually belongs to the unknown Fran Kranz as Zach. Through Kranz we see Zach as a man who actually does have talent but is afraid that if he isn't "big" enough that people won't like him. He's the most interesting character in a movie filled with them.
"The TV Set" is playing in limited release. It's hard to find but well worth seeking out. In Seattle it plays at the Uptown 3. Also, don't leave immediately once the end credits begin. A great scene awaits you. 8.5/10