Standoff: What do you think?

I saw the premiere (at least I was told it was the premiere) on Tuesday. The male lead looks like someone I've seen in another Fox series. The female lead is beguiling. But they seem to really be trying to force chemistry, and I don't think they're really been successfully selling it so far. The head of the SWAT team has potential as a good foil, but they need to actually let his people fire some lead a time or two; I fear that they're going to have the negotiators pull things out of the fire all the time without needing the firepower. The other supporting characters are more or less ciphers at the moments.

The show still has a chance if it can keep setting up wacky hostage situations, and if the leads can eventually make us believe they have it for each other bad.

 

I thought it was a solid show... Ron Livingston is from Swingers and Office Space...

Fox is really smart to get a headstart on the rest of the networks. I know I'm checking out shows I probably wouldn't have watched otherwise (Vanished, Standoff, Til Death, Happy Hour) if CSI and Grey's Anatomy and the other shows weren't still in reruns.

 

I thought the opening scene was ok, but the show was kinda blah after that.

 

I have never been a big fan of Fox series, but I think this year, that's about all I'll be watching. I really liked Til' Death, but I LOVED Standoff. I thought it had just the right mix of comedy and drama, and the chemistry was absolutely amazing.

 

I've enjoyed the first two weeks, but they've let the cat out of the bag way too early on the office romance thing. That particular plotline has a short shelf life as often as not. They're going to have to work extremely hard to keep the scenarios from becoming monotonous.

 

I've enjoyed what I've seen so far a great deal. I do have my questions whether the story lines will hold up over the long run. How many hostage standoffs can you put a different spin on?

 

I like it so far -- with the same reservations shot has.

 

Yeah, I have no idea how this show is remotely original after its first month. And if you saw "The Negotiator," the romance is the only fresh aspect of the show at all. I really like Ron Livingston, but am surprised he isn't able to find better work, either in TV or movies.

 

You probably could have said the same thing about "House" two years ago.

Granted, "House" appears much more original than "Standoff," but who knows?

Saw most of "Standoff" the other night and I liked it. It didn't reinvent the wheel but it kept me entertained. I'll watch it again.

Ron Livingstone was also very solid as Carrie's insecure writer fling on "Sex and the City" and a young, ruthless casino boss in "The Cooler."

 

Forgot about "The Cooler," but wasn't that like three years ago. After "Band of Brothers," really expected him to do more bigger stuff ...

 

I think saying the story lines aren't entirely original from week to week in "House" is a bit like saying "That resurrection story has so been done" after reading the Bible. "House" is clearly all about the character Gregory House, who I think is one of the more interesting, complex characters I've seen on network TV. All those somewhat repetitive story lines are just sort of the vehicle for that character to develop further.

I don't see that yet in the Office Space guy and the girl he's apparently banging. They sound so far like every other couple who work together on network TV. I think the show kinda sucks so far, but what do I know?