‘A to Z’ Pilot Review: An Unusual and Joyful Romance
Sometimes when you get stuck in a kind of TV viewing “rut” (no matter how happy you are in said rut). It’s nice to mix things up and try something new. That was certainly the case when I gave this single-camera production a shot – a big departure from normal is NBC’s new romantic-comedy, A to Z. At least it is for me. a to z pilot review
A to Z Pilot (2014) TV Review
Andrew (Adam Feldman) is a guy’s guy. He likes Neeson movies and sporting events; however there is a side to Andrew that is all about the romance. Zelda (Cristin Milioti) is a girl’s girl. She likes themed costume parties, pedicures and seeing justice done in her work as a lawyer, but when it comes to relationships, Zelda is more skeptical. Or so our narrator (Kathy Segal) tells us. These two people are about to meet; and whether or not Zelda wishes to accept it, Andrew sets out to prove their meeting is meant to be.
Compared to a popular CBS show by a popular TV reviewer, this is a new idea to me. For 20-some minutes I thoroughly enjoy the flirty bit of fun, and think as comedies go (which I have little TV experience of), this is cute. If given a choice between this and ABC’s Selfie, I think I’d go with the latter merely because of a familiar face in the lead, however it is fun to see Adam in something again; once upon a time he played the love interest to Hilary Duff in a teen rom-coms. He and Cristin were cute together as the makings of a will-they-or-won’t-they-couple. And this is where my opinion gets dicey.
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A to Z Pilot Review – An Unusual and Joyful Romance #TVarchives Share on XAnother reason this concept is a good idea is because television today likes to torture us (seriously, that’s not too strong a word, is it?) with the endless will-they-or-won’t-they possibilities. The longing glances and interplay, the anticipation of the first kiss or the near-breaking-moment when one half of the couple almost says those three little words. It’s refreshing to watch something in which the couple is together rather than avoiding the subject. However quick reading on the show suggests that this “A to Z” will be from first date to break-up. That kind of pours cold water on everything. Even if it only gets a season, just thinking about falling in love with the cuteness only to see it crash and burn!? (Yes, my TV romanticism is showing. I know, I’m hopeless.)
Beyond that complaint, A to Z is sweet. It features a nice, sincere sort of guy as the hero (or it promises that) and an opinionated, sassy heroine, who is (of course) skittish about lasting love being real. I’m not sure if I’ll keep up with this because of all the other fandoms I’m invested in, however it’s something I’d be willing to revisit at some point. No matter the problems Andrew and Zelda encounter, I cannot imagine that will be an issue in A to Z.
Learn more about the A to Z pilot on NBC.
CONTENT: there are a handful of sexual innuendos and crude dialogue. The A to Z pilot rates TV14.
I'm completely in a TV rut!!! I've been watching Friends reruns while waiting for my main show The Mentalist to premiere. I first noticed this show because Zelda was the mother in How I Met Your Mother. I'm always hesitant about getting attached to a new show since so many of them don't come back or turn raunchy. I have this set to DVR and my fingers are crossed!
It happens, right, Heidi!? I enjoyed this quite a lot though like I said, I'm not sure about the whole from "first date to break-up" scenario. We shall see. And I hear you about getting attached; that has happened before and it's tough.
Yay for The Mentalist. Love that show – and am reminded I need to order the latest to-DVD season! :)
I need to try this one.
Have you tried Manhattan Love Story yet? It aired a few nights ago and it's pretty cute.
You do, Juju; let me know what you think when/if you do. :)
No, I haven't seen 'Love Story.' It sounds like a cute one though, so I should check it out because I've enjoyed the other comedies I tried this year. Thanks!
I saw this pilot and while I thought A to Z was pretty cute I probably won't be returning to watch in favor of Selfie and Manhattan Love Story– both of which I liked more! Love what you said about it being "easy" to watch though– couldn't agree more. :) Great review!
I loved Selfie, Bekah and will hopefully see more of it. Haven't seen MLS, though. If I'm bored and can find some episodes of this around the Internet, I would watch more (because it is cute), I just won't worry overmuch about keeping up. :)