Review: 'Earth Scum'

It's hard enough to judge a new series by its pilot, much less by the taping of its pilot. But with that caveat, ABC and producers Carsey-Werner may have another hit on their hands in the new midseason sitcom, "Earth Scum."

The pilot taped last Wednesday (July 1st, 1998), and aside from the expected glitches and retakes, the taping was generally considered to be a success.

The show is set in a bar on the planet Bleth. Imagine a cross between Cheers and the bar scene from Star Wars and you have an idea of what you're dealing with. The main set is a nightclub called "Earthlings," run by Mac (Mark Addy), who's a native Blethen; and Kate (Katy Sagal), who's from Earth. Even though this futuristic Earth is an ecological dump, the planet is still creating trends. In fact, on Blethen, Earth and everything Earthly becomes a hot fad.

The show has a very solid cast, but my question going in was how Addy would perform in a sitcom. He's best known as one of the guys from the movie "The Full Monty," and I'm always skeptical of movie actors who attempt a sitcom. Especially one that's as over the top as this one.

But Addy not only holds his own against a strong cast, but manages to stay on character better than anyone. His performance is rock solid, and that promises good things for the series.

Other strong performances come from Dan Castellaneta, who may have finally found the live-action series to make him a star; and former "Married With Children" co-star Katey Sagal, who manages to have project the brashness of her former sitcom character while still showing a warm heart.

If the series has a problem, it's that it may be inaccurately compared to other "alien-out- of-water" shows like "Mork And Mindy" and "Third Rock From The Sun."

Although the network has been quiet on the prospects for the show, the unofficial word is that it's likely headed for a midseason slot on ABC.

Episode: I'm New Here Myself

Written by Phoef Sutton and Mark Legan Directed by John Whitesell

 

THE CAST: 

Katey Sagal...........Kate(Mac's Wife)......Human

Mark Addy............Mac (Kate's Husband) ......Blethen

Dan Castellaneta......Toady (Their Servant) .....Selurian

Tim DeKay............Ahmadon(The Bartender) ...Spaat

Adam Wylie...........Corvus (Kate & Mac's Son).Half Human/Blethen

Eleanor Bron.........Vypeeria (Mac's Mother)...Blethen

Dakin Matthews.......Tyburnius(Mac's Father) ..Blethen

J.C. Wendel......... .Gabreenia(Socialite) .....Blethen

John DeLancie........Frobe (Fire Marshall).....Blethen

Steven Porter........Bar Patron ...............Zyblerskott

Andy Umberger........Agent #1.......Blethen

D. Elliott Woods Agent #2.........Blethen

D. Paul Thomas Agent #3............Blethen

Joel McCrary.........Delivery Man.........Blethen

Here's the official description of the series, taken from a Carsey-Werner handout distributed at the taping:

"Our show takes place in the not-so-distant future when the planet Earth (and the rest of the spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy) has fallen under the Blethen Republic; Sort of a 21st Century cross between the British and Roman Empires.

Earth is now an ecological dump and many ambitious and desperate Earthlings have emigrated to Bleth in hopes of improving their lives.

As this happens, Earth and things Earthly become the new fad on Bleth. "Earthlings" is a nightclub that is attempting to cash in on this trend. Its decor is an eclectic mix of different Earth cultures, put together in a spicy gumbo. Kate (Lenyx Kate) runs the club. She is an Earthling wife of Microbius, ex-Blethen ambassador to Earth. She married Mac during his posting to Earth and together, they have a half-Blethen, half-Earthling son Corvus.

Recently, Mac has been posted back to Bleth and Kate and Corvus have gone back with him. Together, they are trying to start a new life on a new world. Mac (Lynyx Macrobius) is an unacceptably good-natured Blethen. Most Blethens are unemotional and cold-hearted. Mac is an enthusiastic, kind, not terribly bright black sheep of his family.No doubt this is why he takes to Earth people so well. His personality has held back his career and proved a great disappointment to his parents, Vyperia and Tyburnius.

Toady is the servent. He is a Selurian, a lower life- form who has been upgraded wiith software to the level of a servent. He adores Kate. Other aliens populate the supporting cast, including Ahmadon, the Bartender. Ahmadon is a Spaat. Spaats are big, unruly and reactionary rednecks from a planet that is a cross between West Virginia and Ireland. He makes a good bouncer.