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TV Set, The
THINKFilm


6.4

based on 26 reviews
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How did we calculate this?

based on 9 votes
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FILM:

MPAA RATING: R for language

Starring David Duchovny, Sigourney Weaver, Ioan Gruffudd, Judy Greer, Fran Kranz, Lindsay Sloane, Justine Bateman, and Lucy Davis

A hair-raising comedy of art and compromise, The TV Set follows an idealistic writer (Duchovny) as he tries to navigate his TV pilot down the mine-laden path from script through production to the madness of prime-time scheduling -- all while trying to stay true to his vision. Along the way he has to juggle the agendas of a headstrong network president (Weaver), volatile young stars, a pregnant wife and an ever-optimistic personal manager. (ThinkFilm)

GENRE(S):	Comedy
WRITTEN BY:	Jake Kasdan
DIRECTED BY:	Jake Kasdan
RELEASE DATE:	Theatrical: April 6, 2007
RUNNING TIME:	87 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

If only for the comedy glory of Sigourney Weaver as a TV network president who confuses acid reflux with gut instinct, this very smart, very funny movie about the making of a network sitcom is a cut-glass gem of a showbiz conceit.

Portland Oregonian M. E. Russell

Weaver is hilarious and horrifying.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

A tart, smart, closely observed satire of the television industry.

Slate Dana Stevens

The TV Set is a little wonder of a movie, as smart and sad and true as any comedy I've seen this year.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

You'll have major fun at this movie. But what makes it something special is the way Kasdan laces the laughs with a sting.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Tasha Robinson

Could almost be a Christopher Guest bridging project--it's essentially Guest's The Big Picture for TV instead of film, though it's structured in the low-key, rambling, observational manner of Guest's later ensemble comedies.

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

Sigourney Weaver is a riot in the cynical Faye Dunaway network boss role.

San Francisco Chronicle Ruthe Stein

Wickedly funny.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Crust

In general, the movie doesn't necessarily reveal anything we don't already know but delivers it in a personable, entertaining manner.

New York Magazine David Edelstein

It's deftly calibrated and acted with relish: Kasdan is really good!

Village Voice Scott Foundas

The TV Set is wry and true about the messy tangle of art, commerce, and family, as talented creative types try to stay true to themselves and put food on the table. The movie is also a treasure trove of inspired comic personalities.

The New York Times A.O. Scott

At times The TV Set seems to unfold almost entirely without exaggeration.

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

Often possesses the gimlet-eyed wit of "The Player" or the mock docs of Christopher Guest.

The New Yorker David Denby

Kasdan is shrewd and funny about such things as the ease with which powerful people can mimic, when they need to, the forms of sincerity and concern. The satire is unrelenting but not too broad; it stays close to common observation.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

Smart, funny and authentically terrifying. It's a comedy that explains how network television succeeds in being so horribly awful.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

A pointed satire of the dumbing down of network TV with a sour tone and a broad execution.

Austin Chronicle Toddy Burton

Full of sharp comedy, the writing and directing is skillful and reminiscent of Kasdan's first two feature-directing efforts, "The Zero Effect" and "Orange County."

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

In a way, The TV Set suffers from the same syndrome as the industry it's parodying: bland and compromised, it feels as if it's been fine-tuned and focus-grouped within an inch of its life.

Chicago Tribune Sid Smith

For all its bright writing, TV Set is contrived and predictable, another morality lesson from a poisoned pen telling us what we've heard before.

USA Today Claudia Puig

The TV Set skewers the television industry in a manner that occasionally feels familiar and at other times is humorously incisive.

Salon.com Andrew O'Hehir

This is a tepidly amusing film that will offend no one, including those it claims to skewer.

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

Whether outsiders will find much to appreciate in The TV Set is another question because the film fails to provide the thematic resonance of similarly themed predecessors like the brilliant "Network."

Variety Jay Weissberg

Results are breezy though toothless, with too much repetition and not enough originality.

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

Various news stories have noted the movie's accuracy, which I don't doubt, but the blanket antipathy makes for a wearying and predictable story.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

Insipid, formulaic and suitable for the dumbed-down sensibilities of lowest-common-denominator couch potatoes.

New York Post Kyle Smith

Satire is merciless; it demands that mocker be superior to mockee.

The average user rating for this movie is 6.4 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Alan C. gave it a3:
A shameless ripoff of "For Your Consideration" which was equally annoying. A typical Hollywood inside joke on the rest of us, only it backfired, because the joke was on them for being so arrogant. What a waste of time and money!

Ken G. gave it an8:
Sharp, clever, funny, on-the-mark satire, giving insight as to what is wrong with modern day TV.

Adam B. gave it a9:
Saw this absolutly pitch perfect satire last year at the Tribeca Film Festival, I'm so happy it is getting a wider audience. Great Hollywood satire with an awesome cast. Sigourney Weaver Steals the show as a Ari-Gold-esque tv executive who is given some of the best one liners in recent history. A must see.

Mark M. gave it a9:
The TV Set is a hilarious look at the dark underbelly of television programming and the brain-dead geniuses who run it. David Duchovny leaves Mulder behind as series writer/creator Mike Klein who struggles to maintain the quality and integrity of his show, "The Wexler Chronicles," and get it on the air in spite of "suggestions" from the network suits in casting, making of pilot to the network upfronts. Sigourney Weaver has a deliciously meaty role as Lenny, head of programming for the Panda network, who proudest of the success of the network's powerhouse hit "Slut Wars." If you've ever wondered what "they" were thinking when they decided to put this show on the air, see "The TV Set" and the answers will become painfully, hysterically clear.

Ross T. gave it an8:
Hilarious satire of the American's idea of television entertainment. The movie and tv "in-jokes" are the best part. Not for everyone. If you are media-savvy, however, you will LOVE IT. Oh, and Sigourney dominates.

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TV Set, The THINKFilm

TV Set, The
THINKFilm