Critic Reviews
| 100 |
San Jose Mercury News Charlie McCollum
An exhilarating, gleefully entertaining, truly original six-episode series |
| 100 |
San Francisco Chronicle Tim Goodman
Underneath the Smiths and Nancy Sinatra and Elvis Costello, Bowker is telling a ripping good yarn. |
| 91 |
Entertainment Weekly Alynda Wheat
Blackpool is high-concept, to be sure, but worth a little patience. [28 Oct 2005, p.77] |
| 80 |
Cleveland Plain Dealer Mark Dawidziak
Quirky. |
| 80 |
Los Angeles Times Paul Brownfield
It's a nervy drama with a great, nervy lead. |
| 80 |
TV Guide Matt Roush
An intoxicating six-part hybrid of mystery, love triangle and surreal musical. |
| 70 |
Chicago Tribune Sid Smith
The actors turn in performances that deftly sweep from broad caricature to sublime subtlety, but it's the musical romps that carry the day. |
| 70 |
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Melanie McFarland
"Viva Blackpool" doesn't take itself too seriously, and the music doesn't overwhelm the story. |
| 63 |
New York Daily News David Hinckley
Ironically, though, the rest of "Viva Blackpool" - the majority without music - is the part that truly sings. |
| 60 |
The New York Times Ned Martel
All in all, the show's many risks offer a few rewards, even if a viewer will need to settle in, hope for the best and summon the patience of a pensioner at a slot machine. |
| 60 |
Variety Brian Lowry
The problem is that there are only a couple of songs per episode and it's hard not to get antsy waiting for the next, since who killed the kid and the prolonged mating dance between Carlisle and Natalie don't pack much power in terms of suspense. |
| 60 |
Kansas City Star Aaron Barnhart
Sharp writing and sharper set design make up for “Blackpool’s” musical numbers, which are all over the map. |
| 60 |
Boston Globe Matthew Gilbert
It's not entirely successful, but it's an engaging experiment that ought to herald a new era in shower-singing. |
| 60 |
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen
Sometimes the energetic song-and-dance routines work well, other times you're apt to want to fast-forward. |
| 50 |
Hollywood Reporter N.F. Mendoza
It's hard to get into the series initially. |
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