Eli Stone

[swanflake]

When I first saw the commercials, all I thought was "Ooh! Jonny Lee Miller doesn't have all of his clothes on!", but now that I've bothered to pay attention to the promos' content, the premise doesn't look to interesting to me. Wealthy businessman suddenly realizes that money doesn't make you happy so it's time to find The Important Things in Life. Borrring.

[jettrink]

But...but...but...George Michael!!!!!!! I'm all over this!

[kostgard]

jettrink said:

But...but...but...George Michael!!!!!!! I'm all over this!

Heh. Me too.

And honestly, I like the cast and I like Greg Berlanti (who is the showrunner). It's got good pedigree and it's been getting good reviews.

But I'm mostly there for George Michael.

[monopoly19]

swanflake said:

Wealthy businessman suddenly realizes that money doesn't make you happy so it's time to find The Important Things in Life.

I haven't seen any of the promos so I don't know what they're showing or how they're describing it, but I think it's much more lighthearted than that description suggests.

Even if it starts to suck over the next few episodes, I don't know if I could stop watching knowing that there will be more singing/dancing George Michael. It is just so bizarre to me that he decided to do this (but I love him more for it).

[jettrink]

I haven't seen the promos either but I read that it's about a lawyer who starts hallucinating and thinks he's a prophet. Also, each episode will be named after a George Michael song. Sweet!

[aibohphobia]

roisin54 said:

I didn't even recognize him in the commercials, he just looked like some generic white actor to me. Has he gained weight since Smith or what?

Yes, I didn't really care about this show, but there was an article about it in my local paper yesterday. I was very surprised to find that the lead character was actually Johnny Lee Miller. He looks nothing like I last remember him.

The article wasn't a review, but just about how the first episode is about Eli Stone defending people who are suing a pharmaceutical company because their immunization may or may not have caused autism, and how the medical community was criticizing the show and Disney for promoting something like that.

I don't know if I'll end up watching it tonight or not though. On one hand, I still like George Michael even with all of his drama because I think he's very talented, but it reminds me too much of Ally McBeal with the imagination sequences that only the lead lawyer character can see. I occasionally watched Ally McBeal, but I never understood all the hype around it being this great show because it seemed most of the hype was created by the lead character's skirts being so short and that stupid dancing baby, and then later Calista Flockhart's weight. It was okay, but I still don't know why David E. Kelly is this Emmy darling. There's some good stuff, but they seem to lose steam to gimmicks and flavors of the month and whatnot that I just usually end up loathing them because they're too quirky for their own good.

[kostgard]

The article wasn't a review, but just about how the first episode is about Eli Stone defending people who are suing a pharmaceutical company because their immunization may or may not have caused autism, and how the medical community was criticizing the show and Disney for promoting something like that.

Articles like that tick me off. The vaccination thing isn't even the theme of the episode (according those who have actually seen the whole thing, unlike those who are protesting it), it is one plotline of many, and the message isn't even "Dont vaccinate your kids!!" It is looking at the question of Faith versus Science, and the vaccine thing is just an example - why do some people believe that vaccines cause autism when there is no scientific proof? Why do some people believe that they don't cause autism when there is no definitive proof on that either?

And to be (cruelly) honest, people who base their medical decisions on a dramedy they watched on television deserve what they get. I can understand if it causes someone to question the situation and do some research and discuss it with their doctor, but if someone actually says, "Well, on Eli Stone a lawyer won a case for a woman who believed her son's autism was caused by a vaccine. That's all the info I need! No vaccines for my kid!" they really shouldn't be allowed to operate on their own, because that is unbelievably stupid. The people protesting the show need to get a grip or at least watch the whole thing before clutching their pearls.

As for the show, I am really interested in watching it because I like the whole "Faith versus Science" question, and I like the stuff that Greg Berlanti (the show's creator) has done in the past. If it turns out to be the male Ally McBeal, then I will drop it like a hot potato. But so far it seems like despite the George Michael hallucinations, it is aiming a bit higher than dancing babies and short skirts.

[angelaudie]

kostgard said:

The article wasn't a review, but just about how the first episode is about Eli Stone defending people who are suing a pharmaceutical company because their immunization may or may not have caused autism, and how the medical community was criticizing the show and Disney for promoting something like that.

Articles like that tick me off. The vaccination thing isn't even the theme of the episode (according those who have actually seen the whole thing, unlike those who are protesting it), it is one plotline of many, and the message isn't even "Dont vaccinate your kids!!" It is looking at the question of Faith versus Science, and the vaccine thing is just an example - why do some people believe that vaccines cause autism when there is no scientific proof? Why do some people believe that they don't cause autism when there is no definitive proof on that either?

And to be (cruelly) honest, people who base their medical decisions on a dramedy they watched on television deserve what they get. I can understand if it causes someone to question the situation and do some research and discuss it with their doctor, but if someone actually says, "Well, on Eli Stone a lawyer won a case for a woman who believed her son's autism was caused by a vaccine. That's all the info I need! No vaccines for my kid!" they really shouldn't be allowed to operate on their own, because that is unbelievably stupid. The people protesting the show need to get a grip or at least watch the whole thing before clutching their pearls.

As for the show, I am really interested in watching it because I like the whole "Faith versus Science" question, and I like the stuff that Greg Berlanti (the show's creator) has done in the past. If it turns out to be the male Ally McBeal, then I will drop it like a hot potato. But so far it seems like despite the George Michael hallucinations, it is aiming a bit higher than dancing babies and short skirts.

So much word on you post! I also would love to know where the AAP was when Jenny McCarthy was going around declaring that vaccine gave her son autism and thanks to CO$ meds her son was now completely cured! I find that much more offensive than a tv show where a lawyer is trying to win a case making that claim. Plus, the AAP seem to assuming that every parent in America will be watching Eli Stone tonight. I'm sure the producers would thrilled if that happened (Ratings galore!) and Grey's Anatomy is a great lead in but come on! I think the show will do ok but I doubt this going about the become the next Desperate Housewives or anything. I also find it a bit suspicious that the AAP has also released a report that states their findings are vaccines do not cause autism. They claim are now releasing it now as a response to the Eli Stone pilot. So if Eli Stone didn't have this plot line they would have sat on it? Yeah, not buying it.

Also, don't feel bad about your feelings about people who base their medical decisions based on what they see on a tv show, kostgard. My first thought when the AAP declared that parents may not vaccinate their kids because of this show was, "Well, if the kid is being raised by a person that easily manipulated he or she was already screwed!"

[lpatrice]

I enjoyed it, but I am still cracking up at the disclaimer at the end of the eppy. The dramatic voice over, the large block letter, etc.....at first I thought it was joke.

[prada]

I knooooow! I FLOVED the show, but WTFH was up with that dislcaimer?!? But overall, great start! JLM singing and dancing to "Faith" was hilarious! LOVED his secretary and his accupuncturist. The final scene made me teary eyed. I can't wait for the next episode.