The S1E1 Podcast

S1E1: The Big Bang Theory

In many ways, "The Big Bang Theory" is what really brought nerd culture to the forefront after it became a fast breakout hit when it first debuted in 2007 A show about two scientist who enjoyed comic books, science fiction, role playing games, and so much more hadn't really gotten much love on prime time television. And certainly not as main characters depicted in such a positive light. The show pulled strong ratings throughout the entirety of its 12 season run which is no easy feat.
Four years after its final episode aired we look back at the shows pilot episode and try to better understand why you couldn't walk past a single kiosk at any mall without seeing a "Bazinga" shirt. Will the S1E1 boys green-light their pilot episode? Listen and find out.
Starring: Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, & Kunal Nayyar
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S1E1 - ¡Rob!

When it comes to "Rob", Jace Lacob of The Daily Beast described it as CBS's "worst new show" and wrote that it "offers a wafer-thin appreciation and awareness of Mexican culture". Robert Bianco of USA Today wrote  "Some of this barrage of stereotypes might be passable if even one character were intelligently written and skillfully played". So with reviews like that clearly we needed to investigate.
"Rob" stars SNL alumni Rob Schneider as a middle aged man who recently gets thrown into a world of Mexican-American culture after getting married to a woman in a tight-knit family. The show was created by Schneider and former Saturday Night Live writer, Lew Morton.
Was this show as bad as advertised or was it not given a fair shot? Listen as we go back to 2012 to review Rob's pilot episode.
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Starring: Rob Schneider, Cheech Marin, Claudia Bassols, Diana Maria Riva, Lupe Ontiveros, Eugenio Derbez 

S1E1: According To Jim

One might wonder how Jim Belushi was originally chosen to be the lead on his own sitcom. But knowing their lineage may help put those pieces together. In 1979 Laraine Newman & John Belushi shared a stage as two of the founding cast members on the comedy staple "Saturday Night Live". 22 years later Laraine's sister Tracy develops a sitcom based around John's brother, Jim. From that, "According To Jim" was born. The show centered around Jim, a macho everyman living with his wife and 3 kids. The show was an instant success and found itself soon becoming the number two program on ABC. The show remained a popular show on the network for the entirety of its 8 season run, right up until its cancelation in 2009.
Will "According To Jim" also be an instant success with the S1E1 boys? Find out at they review the shows pilot episode.
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STARRING: Jim Belushi, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, & Larry Joe Campbell

S1E1: Small Wonder

Debuting in first-run syndication on September 7, 1985, "Small Wonder" starred 10-year-old Tiffany Brissette as Vicki, a robot made to look like a girl who lives with her inventor and his family. Yes, you heard that right. And for as wild as a premise like that is, the show was very popular in its 4 season run. With that in mind it only made sense for us to look back at a show as wild in concept as this and see if something so strange could actually hold the test of time.
Almost 37 years to the day after it originally aired in homes across the country we revisit Small Wonder's pilot episode, "Vicki's Homecoming" to see if this show and Vicki needed to have their cords unplugged before it was too late.
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Starring: Tiffany Brissette, Jerry Supiran, Marla Pennington, Dick Christie, & Emily Schulman

S1E1: Modern Family

"Modern Family" was conceived after show creators, Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan shared stories of their own families with one another. The show revolves around three different types of families (nuclear, blended, and same-sex) living in the Los Angeles area, all of which are connected to one another through blood relatives.
The show was an instant hit and remained popular throughout its 11 season run on ABC, winning 22 Primetime Emmy Awards and 6 Writers Guild of America Awards along the way. But despite all that how will the S1E1 boys react to the pilot episode? Listen in and find out!
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Starring: Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, & Rico Rodriguez
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S1E1: Reba

In 2001 the now defunct WB premiered the show "Reba", a sitcom staring real life country superstar Reba McEntire. On this show McEntire plays the character Reba Hart, a newly single mother of 3 after her husband left her to be with his dental hygienist. At the same time she also finds out she's about to become a grandmother when her 17 year old daughter announces that she's pregnant.
Can this show find comedy through the weight of all the chaos going on in their household? Find out as we review Reba's pilot episode.
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S1E1: Homeboys In Outer Space

"Homeboys in Outer Space" doesnt even sound like it's a real show. Based on name alone it sounds like a sitcom you'd make up while joking with your friends. But believe it or not in 1996 UPN actually aired this show about two 23rd century guys from the ghetto who decided to live out their dreams traveling through space in a flying low-rider looking ship called the "Space Hoopty". Again, YES this was a real show that actually aired 21 episodes on national television.
 
Naturally, the S1E1 boys had to check this show out as soon they found out about it. As odd as this show sounds, is it a quality watch? Find out as they review the pilot episode, "There's No Space Like Home".
 
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S1E1: George Lopez

Stand-up comedian George Lopez had long expressed his desire to star in a sitcom where he could play a fictionalized version of himself much like Seinfeld. Additionally, he wanted to create a show that portrayed Latinos in a positive light due to a lack of representation in television. But getting TV deal isn't such an easy task. Eventually, Sandra Bullock of all people had been put on to his comedy and decided to help develop a show around him.
ABC decided to move forward with this project and The George Lopez Show was born. The show lasted six seasons but was actually cancelled due to a lack of ratings. It has been said that an ever changing timeslot and being put up against shows like "American Idol" put them at a severe disadvantage that would cause it's eventual cancelation.
Did this show get a bad deal handed to them or was it just not solid enough to deserve a longer run in a better time slot? Listen as we deep dive the show's pilot episode, "Prototype".
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S1E1: Will & Grace

Will & Grace was the brainchild of the show's co-creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan who looked to develop a show around the real-life friendship of Mutchnick and Janet Eisenberg which had been a bond since childhood. The two dated for a while but the romantic chemistry was bever there. Come to find out Max was gay. And after Janet's initial shock from the news the two ended up forming a tight bond as friends because the two indeed did love one another.
After some adjustments this premise was adapted into a sitcom for NBC using Eric McCormack in the role of "Will" and Debra Messing being cast to play "Grace". The show would go on to last 11 seasons and won many awards along the way. But was this show good right from the first episode? Listen in as the S1E1 guys review the show's first episode, "Love and Marriage". 
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S1E1: Danger 5

After the success of a web series named Italian Spiderman, SBS an Australian broadcaster contacted its creators in regards to adapting it for television. Unfortunately due to licensing issues, such a thing was unable to be made into a reality. Still interested in partnering up, SBS asked Alrugo Entertainment to develop a different show instead. Three different shows were then pitched and the one that was picked up became what we now know to be "Danger 5".
The show, which was recorded in 2012 takes place during World War 2 but is stylized to look like it was recorded in the 1960's. Danger 5 is a group of five international spies on a mission to kill Adolf Hitler and stop him from world domination... Yes, you heard that correctly. This show was truly unique in more ways than could ever be explained. Was this out of the box approach at television programming enough to entertain the S1E1 guys? Find out as they review Danger 5's pilot episode, "I Danced For Hitler".
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