Stay Tuned #48: Jack & Bobby

Article by Sean Wilkinson,

a.k.a. The Ticketmaster

Happy Independence Month, Ticketholders!
I was going to do another gun-themed Ticket Stubs post, but it seemed in poor taste, considering my family history with firearms (see the referenced article on my sister's death from last week's post) and how that colors our feelings on the explosion-laden atmosphere at this time of year), so I combed through the remains of the SW@ Ticket Archive for something just as patriotic, but far less ballistic to cover.

And I was reminded of a short-lived WB (precursor to the CW) television series called Jack & Bobby, which was supposed to follow the lives of a TV-typical American family of the time (which is to say, "just like us," but younger, richer, whiter, and better-looking) and try to capitalize--in it's own, slightly differentiated way--on the serialized, timey-wimey format that Lost made popular at the time (see tomorrow's GFT Retrospective for more over-use of the word, "time"). But there is a right way and a wrong way to do future-set framing devices, and even with the not-yet-a-CW-mega-player talent of the Arrowverse's Greg Berlanti at the helm (not to mention the name power of Bradley Limitless Rocket A Star Is Born Cooper in the cast), Jack & Bobby only lasted a shockingly high twenty-two episodes before being cancelled.

If you don't know why I chose this for Independence Month, you probably aren't old enough (or are past academic age) to recognize two first names from one of the most influential political families in American history, but you will if you keep reading. And while you are reading, please remember to like and comment down below, Become A Ticketholder if you aren't already, and follow me on Tumblr, Reddit, Facebook, and Twitter for the latest news on my content.

As for the review itself, it was included in SWAT Ticket #19.5: New to the WB (FROM October 5, 2004), alongside a season premiere write-up of Smallville and some first impressions of the animated series, The Batman (not to be confused with Matt Reeves' The Batman, which also took a youthful approach to the character, but was darker, edgier, and a movie), both of which I already included in The DC Old Review Crossover Special, so go give that some love, too, when you're done here.

On to my review of the first episode of Jack & Bobby, which I'm giving a Greatest Hits update because the original review (seen immediately below) is a grammatical dumpster fire.

The network that brought you reality crap like Superstar USA, showed a shitty finale for a great show like Angel, and ended another fine season of Smallville with a bang is back with more quality and crappiness.

First up is a new show called Jack & Bobby. Just another Dawson's Creek drama with an "interesting twist," but I watched the whole first episode anyway. In the show, it's 2004 and one of two brothers is going to be president in 37 years. Their mother is anti-TV, anti-music, anti-anything-that-isn't-educational, and the older brother's girlfriend is the daughter of Mom's "money-grubbing whore" competition. Perfect setup for an awkward romance between the two old folks, the little brother feeling left out, and the usual dramedy that is a staple of similar shows. Plenty of recognizable faces in the flash-forwards, talking about the intervening years, but the downside to this is that we know from the start that the younger boy will become president, the older boy will die, and neither one (disappointingly) is a Kennedy; which would have made the show more interesting. This thing ain't gonna last long.
A+ for effort
C for plot structure
D- for originality
F for longevity

And now, here is the Greatest Hits version (I never did one for my portfolio, but looking at it today, it needed one) of the above review, with the usual changes and more than a few factual corrections.

Jack & Bobby is just another Dawson's Creek-alike WB drama, but with an "interesting twist," so I watched the whole first episode anyway.

In the show, it's present day 2004, and one of the two titular brothers (Matt Long and Logan Lerman, respectively) is going to be president in 37 years. Their mother (soap opera star and primetime dramatic legend, Christine Lahti) is anti-TV, anti-music, anti-anything-that-isn't-educational, and the younger brother's girlfriend (Jessica Pare) is the daughter of Mom's "money-grubbing whore" competition (a widowed college president played by John Slattery, who would go on to star in Mad Men with Pare). This is a perfect setup for an awkward romance-of-convenience between the two single parents (and potential step-sibling incest for their children?), the older brother feeling left out (but finding a relationship of his own with a hospital patient played by Kate Mara), and the usual dramedy that is a staple of similar shows.

There are also some recognizable faces and voices in the flash-forwards (most notably, Tim Robbins and TV writing legend, Norman Lear), talking about the intervening years.

But the downside to this is that we know from the start that the younger boy will become president, the older boy will die, and neither one (disappointingly) is a Kennedy; which might have made the show more interesting. This isn't going to last long.
A+ for effort
C for plot structure
D- for originality
F for longevity

The clear fact that I couldn't differentiate the brothers from one another when I originally wrote my review, couldn't name actors off the top of my head (including Lahti, Mara, Cooper, John Heard, and Ed Begley, Jr.), and couldn't keep track of who was in what timeline for a single episode at the ripe and media-obsessed age of twenty (plus, the pilot gave away the ending) is evidence enough of why I and a steadily increasing percentage of the Target Demographic didn't stick with this cancelled series.

On the bright side, much of the cast (not to mention Greg Berlanti) have done pretty well for themselves since then. If you can find a season set on DVD or it becomes available to stream anywhere, give it a try and see if you agree with my initial impressions.

Also like and let me know your impressions in the comments down below, Become A Ticketholder if you aren't already, and follow me on Tumblr, Reddit, Facebook, and Twitter for the latest news on my content.

Ticketmaster,

Out.