Betas

Article first posted as Betas on TheTVKing.

Another of Amazon's new pilots is Betas. Set in Silicon Valley, four computer programming geeks attempt to build the next great bit of code and make their dreams come true. But while it is hard to catch a break, their own worst enemies may just be themselves.

Betas reminds me a lot of The L.A. Complex, except about a different and specific slice of Americana. These are the young people who believe they can achieve fame and fortune through their own special skills, and then find that luck and networking plays as big a part as talent in this game. Not to mention, they are surrounded by others who can do what they do just as well, if not better. Are passion and drive enough to set one apart and make the wish a reality?

Funnily enough, Joe Dinicol, one of the stars of The L.A. Complex headlines Betas. This time, though, he isn't the dork, but instead, he's Trey, the visionary leader who tries to keep his buddies on track. He makes the transition well, and, ditching his glasses, is very believable as a sympathetic leading man. If the group at the center of this does succeed, they will have him to thank.

The others in Joe's gang are: Nash (Karan Soni, Safety Not Guaranateed), the genius with crippling social skills, whose hermit-like ways remind me a bit of Pindar on TNT's Franklin & Bash, with a dash of The Big Bang Theory's Sheldon tossed in for good measure; Hobbes (Jonathan C. Daly, Kroll Show), the older guy tired of being stuck, but not able to stop goofing around; and Mitchell (Charlie Saxton, Hung), the earnest romantic who looks up to, and is easily influenced by, the others.

Each of these boys, and despite their age, they are still boys, not men, are presented as a layered, realistic character. They aren't just stereotypes played for laughs, but developed individuals with personalities that alternately complement and clash one another. One can see how they are friends, but one can also see that they might not come together at a key moment, which could hurt them.

The series itself is also the mix of reality and indie vibe. Betas is not a laugh-a-minute sitcom, hewing closer to drama in many regards, even though it has funny moments. The tone is not silly, even when silly things happen, and instead feels like an authentic slice of life. There are Asian stereotypes, but in ways that might actually be seen in the world and feel necessary here, not so cartoonish that they feel ridiculous.

In the "Pilot," Trey tries to get interest from an eccentric investor named George Murchison (the great Ed Begley Jr.), who likes to jam on his flute with Moby (himself). Viewers can see that Trey has picked his target well, someone who is vulnerable and can be manipulated, though Trey's motives are to further his work, not hurt Murch. Trey plays Murch just right in order to spark his interest. The scene is a tad too familiar, but the results should prove sufficient to push the story along.

Of course, in a series like Betas, we must have romantic interests tossed into the mix. Trey's is Lisa (Margo Harshman, The Big Bang Theory, Bent), Murch's wary assistant who, of course, does not seem at all interested at first, though a soft spot slowly appears for Trey. And Mitchell's is Mikki (Maya Erskine), a fellow techie who he is scared of approaching until Hobbes pushes him, and then finds her completely accessible, especially when they bond over pranking the douche in the office, Dane (Tyson Ritter, The House Bunny). Neither gal really breaks new ground, but Harshman, especially, should be able to transition the role into someone interesting.

Betas won't be a show for everyone, to be sure, but it has a specific vision and mood that feels very well developed, and for those that get into it, it should become a beloved favorite. At times soapy, the characters are every-men who can, and probably will, achieve greatness. Fans will root for them and invest in their story.

The Betas "Pilot" is available now on Amazon.com.

Not exactly 'Smitten' with Bent

This week, NBC's Bent finally premiered with two episodes, "Pilot" and "Smitten." In "Pilot," Alex Meyers (Amanda Peet, Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip, 2012) reluctantly hires Pete Riggins (David Walton, Perfect Couples, 100 Questions) and his crew to renovate her kitchen. They flirt, but he's a player, and she's got a boyfriend, Ben (Matt Letscher, Eli Stone, Brothers & Sisters), whom she forgets to mention, and isn't sleeping with. In "Smitten," Alex and Pete's dance continues, and Ben still isn't getting lucky. Though Pete is, just not with Alex.

For the curious who missed these episodes, the "Pilot" of Bent is free on Amazon right now, and "Smitten" is available for a small fee. Watch it, then come back and read this article.

Looking at the stars listed in the paragraph above, a pattern begins to emerge. Bent is full of terrific actors who have been in excellent television shows that were canceled before their time. Bent is not one of those excellent shows, and its imminent cancellation, which seems a very likely possibility, especially given the show's April premiere date, will not be mourned the way others have been.

The actors are great, and many of the names should be familiar. Besides the three listed above, Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) plays Peter's washed-up-actor dad, JB Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm, a former writer for Saturday Night Live) is Pete's gossipy friend, Clem, Jesse Plemons (Friday Night Lights) is Pete's taken-advantage-of-apprentice, and Joey King (Ramona & Beezus) is Alex's daughter. Additionally, Pasha D. Lychnikoff (Deadwood) and Margo Harshman (Even Stevens) round out the cast.

But the problem with Bent is that there isn't much material for the performers to work with. The whole concept is that Pete is redoing Alex's kitchen? How long can that be stretched out? What happens when the work is done? Does he redo her whole house? Unless Pete and Alex are a couple by that time, there isn't much of a reason to merge their social circles. And if they are a couple, where does the tension go, as their interplay is the only real plot arc developed thus far?

Also, Harshman's character is called Screwsie. Whether that's because she likes to have lots of sex, or because she unscrews the top off many a bottle of cheap wine, the cutesy nickname is way too on the nose. Seriously, a grown woman goes by the name Screwsie? Does she want to be labeled an easy, alcoholic, slut?

Along the same lines, in the "Pilot" Tambor's character says that he's "Bent, not broken." If you need to explain the title of your series, the show needs a new title.

There are some hints of goodness. The bond that Pete forms with Alex's daughter, Frankie, is sweet. That is clearly his 'in' with her mother. If one can win over the kid, one can get the mother, and Pete has done that already. But since it's happened right off the bat, there isn't a lot of room to develop this further, and this relationship is not enough to carry the series on its own.

This cast would be great in a better written show. The chemistry is wonderful, when they get to use it. Perhaps that's what should be done. Keep them all together, but write totally new characters. Or figure out a different direction for Bent, quickly. Otherwise, it's destined to be yet another failed project for this very talented group of people who just can't find the right show.

Bent airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. In Columbus, NBC is analog channel 4, satellite 382, and high def cable 1004.

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