Grosse Pointe : The Complete Series

I LOVE THIS SHOW! This was a great and shortlived sitcom from the WB network. From the creators of SEX AND THE CITY, GROSSE POINTE was about the antics behind-the-scenes of a 20-something sitcom. A sitcom within a sitcom. It poked fun at the business, the in-fighting, romances, ratings gimmicks, vanity, paparazzi, publicity stunts and the competitiveness. Not to mention, even poking fun at their own WB network. Maybe this show went right over audiences heads... not sure... being a screenwriter, it was SPOT ON for me. Snappy dialogue that leaves ALL OF TODAY'S 'SO CALLED' funny shows in the dust.

Examples:

Courtney: "Maybe because I'm a poor girl, I have low self-esteem and I'm trying to compensate for that by dressing in an exhibitionistic fashion."

Pat: "Right. They must have accidentally left that out of the script."

Hunter (to Marcy): "You are so great on the show...even if the fans don't agree."

Dave: "It's my dream to work with Oliver Stone."

Hunter: "Do you really think that you have what it takes to be a stand-in in one of his films?"

Rob: "Let me ask you something. If a vital employee threatened to quit unless you fired an innocent person and hired their relative, you would do it, right? Especially if that innocent person was pretty low on the totem pole?"

Kevin: "Am I fired?"

Hunter: "The only reason we have these table reads is so the writers feel they're somehow involved in the process."

Johnny: "Whose panties have you gotten?"

Brady: "I won't name names. Let's just say I've taken a little dip in Dawson's Creek."

Johnny: "Dude, did he just say he had sex with Dawson?"

Courtney: "What if another opportunity like this never comes along again?"

Hunter: "Where have I heard this before? Oh yeah--my friend Elizabeth Berkley."

Hunter: "Dave, you're really good in bed, but what I need in my life right now is someone to run my errands."

Joan: "We're doing billboards and radio ads, and get this: we're gonna be on every sandwich wrapper at Subway!"

Rob: "Wow, that's great. I didn't think the WB had those kind of promotional dollars."

Joan: "Oh, we don't. It's all trade. So you're going to have to write an episode about a Subway turkey sandwich on wheat, but it doesn't have to be an A story."

Joan: "Did you see the numbers from last night? The 'Kim Dies' episode was the highest-rated show ever. And I mean, ever!"

Rob: "Hot Dog! Did we beat Sabrina?"

Joan: "No."

Courtney: "So basically, you're not a real actress. You're just a model on a TV show."

Hunter: "Excuse me. I was guest-starring on Blossom when you were still putting on puppet shows in your back yard!"

Hunter kills me. Irene Molloy was perfect.

The episode where Courtney, played by a wonderfully charming and innocent Bonnie Sommerville, goes to Japan to do a Japanese beer commercial, unaware that the script refers to her by her Japanese nickname: Miss Big Breasts... a gut buster. The whole show is unforgettable, non-stop fun.

Despite the 23 minute per episode format and the fact that there were only 17 episodes, the show had so much going on and so much more to do when it was cancelled.

This series is to 90210's early years what the movie version of 'Primary Colors' was to the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign, a warm-hearted but obvious satire of a real-life event. This series worked specifically because it took affectionate risks with something generations of the WB's most likely viewers had grown up with and could still remember fondly: The 'high school' years of 90210.

Grosse Pointe is a show about 'behind the scenes' of a teen soap opera called 'Grosse Pointe'. The reality of working on such shows was both closer to and farther apart than what our teen magazines had fed us. Despite having no 'Andrea' or 'Steve' characters, this series was easily recognizable as a parody of that Spelling production now synonymous with 90's teen culture.

Allegedly set in Grosse Pointe Michigan, the settings and character wardrobes blatantly scream rich southern Californian. An accomplished actress Courtney Scott (Bonnie Summerfield) playing newly-arrived West Virgina transplant "Laura Johnson" questions the wisdom of having her and the other girls wear miniskirts during a 'Michigan winter' and there also is no snow outside. She is informed that the actual weather is irrelevant to the fantasy which Hollywood sells to viewing audiences; they know that parkas and bundles will not sell.

Because I had a crush on Luke Perry and his character "Dylan McKay", I really enjoyed Kohl Sudduth's portrayal of Quentin King/Stone Anders throughout the whole series. The balding King is a really doting Vietnamese pot-bellied pig father who plays the resident 'bad boy' within the TV show 'Grosse pointe'. Quentin is not mean or stupid (he sincerely wants to use his celebrity to promote causes but is frustrated by the inability to get anything other than the prostate society), but he just does not always say the right thing at the right time.

In a twisted reversal of Michael Jackson's child molestation allegations, a make-a-wish kid blackmails Quentin for a role on Grosse Pointe after accidentally seeing him without the toupee ("Pilot"); Either he gets a part or else Quentin's very closely guarded secret is leaked to the press---and his career as a teen heartthrob is officially over. The kid is psychologically manipulating the star to get what they want instead of the other way around. Contrasting with the 'tough' on-screen image, Quentin quickly grovels to the little brat to save his own hide. AARP jokes also abound, again in reference to Perry's actual age while playing a 'teenager'.

Because Perry basically was the reason why the 1992 movie version of Buffy was in theaters and a retooled version with Sarah Michelle Gellar was then on the WB, there is a Halloween-themed episode ("Halloween") where Grosse Pointe High students essentially become slayers, although Quentin does not become a motorcycle-riding leather jacket-wearing sidekick who faints at several things.

Ms. Gellar herself makes a special guest appearance on "Passion Fish" where she kisses Kim Peterson (the character played by Marcy Sternfeld who is really the talented Lindsey Sloane), to spike Grosse Pointe 'the show' ratings. Marcy Sternfeld is reportedly a parody of Tori Spelling-protests allegedly took out more obvious simmilarities before they had a chance to air.

Another funny character is Johnny Bishop (Al Santos) who plays the 'Brandon Walshesque' Brad Johnson. Bishop has a penchant for getting himself into trouble, but oddly does not realize that his television dad is literally trying to get into his pants. Watching this made me want to go back and then scrutinize the actions of 'Mr. Walsh' with 'Brandon' much more closely than I had originally done.

According to this series, starvation is the reason behind Shannen Doherty's legendary foul mannerisms. When the Dohertyesque Hunter Fallow (Irene Molloy) who plays Becky Johnson gets the role of Monica Lewinsky in a movie ("Devil in a Blue Dress"), she has to gain weight in order to play that part convincingly. Grosse Pointe cast and crew members immediately notice another change in Hunter; she is actually a very nice person when not starving herself to attain Hollywood's version of "beauty" and thus keep her job. This episode is good specifically because it is empathetic to Doherty when instead lobbing personal shots would have been easier-and certainly a more conventional treatment of that actress. It also subtly critiques Hollywood's definition of 'beauty' for women. However, the Lewinsky event in and of itself is extremely dated and does not hold the same media-public clout today.

I'm pleased the studio has released this entire series and at a reasonable price too. Extras include an interview with Darren Star and commentary tracks on the individual episodes. However,I am going to be frank and admit that we just don't need them; being able to watch and re-watch this entire series again and at a reasonable price is great in and of itself.

I had gotten concerned because many of my favorite shows still have yet to have complete DVD series and/or are set at still-ridiculously high prices. Thankfully Grosse Pointe again broke barriers.

Welcome to the delightful world of "Grosse Pointe"--a critically acclaimed comedy gem that was murdered before it's time. Sadly, great shows get axed all the time! It's particularly disheartening, however, when you know that show really didn't have a chance. In a different time, schedule, and/or network--I think this show could have been huge. It ranks with "Action" and "Profit" as one of TV's great short-lived casualties. Both of those shows are also on DVD--do yourself a huge favor, check them out!

"Grosse Pointe" is a wickedly funny and astute satire of tweener shows such as "Beverly Hills 90210" or "Dawson's Creek." Granted it's an easy target--but rarely has Hollywood been so spot-on, so devastatingly on point. It scathingly mocks the product that made Fox and the WB breakthrough networks! But far from being maliciously one-sided, this show has a heart. Like a good roast, this show skillfully pokes fun at its predecessors and, in many ways, honors their appeal.

The fresh faced cast is perfection. While many of them have worked steadily since "Grosse Pointe," still none have truly reached breakout status. This is unfortunate because it's definitely a talented bunch with loads of charm. Irene Molloy chews the scenery as the vixenish bad girl, clearly the showiest role. But I enjoyed everyone, and am particularly surprised we haven't seen more of Al Santos--the show's resident dumb stud.

But the real star of "Grosse Pointe" has to be Darren Star, the show's creator. His love and knowledge of the genre are what make this show so successful. And the talented writers make even the most cliche'd of storylines play out like comedic genius. The stars aligned on this piece of TV nirvana--but we didn't get the joke. Now you have a second chance to catch one of our most underappreciated and hilarious sitcoms. KGHarris, 10/06.