anniedonette A hilarious reflection on the process of making a pilot and the state of the TV industry in general. The script, characters and performance style provide a brilliant, subtle humour (far more convincing than the slapstick and gross-out styles that can be found on other projects that Judd Apatow has been involved with). The characters will absorb you instantly, providing a cross section of the weird and wonderful who decide what goes onto our boxes. As we undergo the making of a pilot TV show, so unravels the effects that this has on those involved, and we can observe the relationship between the characters' TV careers and personal lives (although in some cases this could have been explored deeper). You will find yourself laughing out loud, whilst wincing in pain at the injustice of it all! This cringe-worthy comedy is a must-see for anyone who enjoys television!

meeza I did not want to cancel and turn off "The TV Set" as I was watching this brawny satirical comedy about the television industry's ongoing ratings war. David Duchovny bring his sex game (oops, sorry David) I mean his "A" game as Mike Klein, a television series screenwriter who pilots up his latest script to the network. His initiated script loosely based on the aftermath of his brother's suicide is gradually converted into a completely different television tale due to network politics and external pressures. Writer-Director Jake Kasdan gets a good share of my high ratings points by brilliantly depicting the intrapersonal politics and nuances of the television industry via an effective comedic channel delivery. The supporting acting of "The TV Set" was of high auteur definition clarity also: Sigourney Weaver was wickedly delicious as the high- strung television executive, Ioann Gruffudd was executively effective as the transplanted British television producer, Judy Greer wonderfully played her part as Alice the "smiley on all accounts" assistant, and Justine Bateman renewed her acting skills by staying strongly tied to her devoted but firm pregnant wife character. So my end credits to this review inform you to make sure you lock in your cinematic channel to "The TV Set". **** Good

adam-1009 I really liked the idea for this movie, cast was great (especially David Duchovny and Judy Greer), but when I was expecting the plot to move in the most interesting parts of the TV series production suddenly the end titles showed up..."The TV Set" is really good project, but unfortunately the creators have only highlighted the process and left a lot of comic potential untouched. I know there is the rule "always leave them hungry", but in this one they've left me starving :)But above all this it worth watching movie, especially if you want to find out how your favorite TV series were created.

S.R. Dipaling Producer and screenwriter Mike Klein(David Duchovny,whose dry,stoic demeanor actually serves him even BETTER for comedy than drama)has decided to pour part of his life story into a script and a project for a TV series. Through about four months and plenty of experience with executives,test groups,agents,directors,crew and actors,he will most certainly come to regret that.Over that period of time,Mike watches in various shades of horror,disbelief,disappointment and despair as the personal story of his brother's suicide and how it affect his life turn into a sterilized,sexied-up and contrived network "ratings-getter". All the while,he's soft-pedaled by his loyal but woefully superficial agent(Judy Greer,who gets plenty of chance to shine here),put off by an oblivious director(Willie GArson)and getting his project raped by a team of network air-suckers led by a guile-as-natural-as-breathing chief of programming(Sigourney Weaver). Director Jake KAsdan dials it down from previous effort--more from the unexpectedly poignant "Orange County" than the dry,strange and sharp "Zero Effect"--to make a film that is wryly documenting the degradation of dreams,ideas and creativity in favor of ratings and profit. The complaints of this show that I've been reading have been two things mostly: pacing and Ducovny's acting. On the first count,I'd say the pacing was intentionally set to show how the creative process can die a slow and painful death due to plenty of "committee". As for Ducovny,well,he is what he is. Take it or leave it. As said before,he seems to work better for comedy since he doesn't feel the need to EVER punch up the lines,and to me,comedy is much better when the actors involved AREN'T trying to hit the marks. The best performances here were probably by Greer,Justine BAteman(as NAtalie,Mike's very pregnant,very patient,no-nonsense wife),Ioan Gruffudd(spelling?)(as the British producer who senses that he's losing control of both his personal AND private lives),Lindsay Sloan(as a vain,in-sincere hot,young actress. I know,I know...is there any other kind?)and Fran Kranz(as the over/under-acting douche who's letting his modest success get to his head). I'd be lying if I said this film was of superior quality,of course. My main(or chief)complaint is that this film is done at such an economy of information and plot that one might think that writer/director KAsdan was under a time and money constraint to make this show go into the can. I won't spoil the ending,but it feels like it was almost MADE to create a level of Love-it-or-Hate-it debate among viewers. Overall,this film does what it sets out to do,which is namely to offer an acidic,subtle(perhaps a little TOO much so)and funny account of the "creation" process of television. It may go over some heads,and it certainly isn't a perfect concoction,but it worked for me. Of course,it didn't do any favors for MY ambitions of creating a TV show(or movie for that matter),but I suppose it should be more of a cautionary tale than preventive. I sure hope so,anyway.