I always enjoy discovering shows I missed - though there's always the disappointment of knowing that it's already long gone.
Manhattan, AZ is a dark, dark satire - and that's probably why it didn't quite make it. It parodies death, incurable disease, race, the elderly, pedophiles, celebrity... it was clever in ways that very few shows are.
The leading cast are predominantly people you won't be familiar with (the most notable exception being Chad Everett), though it is filled with great and well-known supporting cast. The actors that appeared for an episode or two were always extra enjoyable: Sarah Silverman, Abe Vigoda, Stephen Tobolowsky, Orson Bean, Al Ruscio - and supporting cast like Mindy Sterling (Frau Farbissina in the Austin Powers films) - they all just really brought this great show so much flavor. The leading roles are well-executed as well, in a tongue-in-cheek style: but then, that's also the show's weakness as a mass-market vehicle. Satire rarely does well in prime time, and the first season wasn't even broadcast in its entirety before the network sent it to the can.
Luckily for us, USA has seen fit to release it to Hulu and at least as of early 2011, you can watch it there. I suggest you do, provided you have a taste for silly scenarios and darkly inappropriate humor.
You might disagree with this review, but I know because I work in Television. And we know better than you.
Manhattan, AZ is a dark, dark satire - and that's probably why it didn't quite make it. It parodies death, incurable disease, race, the elderly, pedophiles, celebrity... it was clever in ways that very few shows are.
The leading cast are predominantly people you won't be familiar with (the most notable exception being Chad Everett), though it is filled with great and well-known supporting cast. The actors that appeared for an episode or two were always extra enjoyable: Sarah Silverman, Abe Vigoda, Stephen Tobolowsky, Orson Bean, Al Ruscio - and supporting cast like Mindy Sterling (Frau Farbissina in the Austin Powers films) - they all just really brought this great show so much flavor. The leading roles are well-executed as well, in a tongue-in-cheek style: but then, that's also the show's weakness as a mass-market vehicle. Satire rarely does well in prime time, and the first season wasn't even broadcast in its entirety before the network sent it to the can.
Luckily for us, USA has seen fit to release it to Hulu and at least as of early 2011, you can watch it there. I suggest you do, provided you have a taste for silly scenarios and darkly inappropriate humor.
You might disagree with this review, but I know because I work in Television. And we know better than you.