Swingtown: worth watching? No spoilers please.

[Peter000]

Just wondering about this program, because I'd have to make an effort to download it and watch it (I don't have a TV service right now, and don't have good reception). Worth taking the trouble to do?

[lambertman]

What are you looking for...something unique or quality writing? I'm happily sticking with it, but if I wasn't in for the retro vibe (as in, I already have most of the music on my iPod equivalent), I would've likely bailed.

You can stream it off cbs.com rather than downloading, too.

[Bob Coxner]

I'm enjoying it.

[Bierboy]

I'm enjoying it.

+ me....but I think that many of us who are enjoying it (but not all) are mostly those who have lived through that era in some form or fashion (either literally or vicariously! :D)...

[WhiskeyTango]

+ me....but I think that many of us who are enjoying it (but not all) are mostly those who have lived through that era in some form or fashion (either literally or vicariously! :D)...

This would be me. I wasn't born until '80 but love shows about the 70's. I've only seen the first episode so far but I really like it. I'd at least give the pilot a shot if I were you.

[johnspalm]

The show has some nostalgia value to it. Unfortunately, the direction of the show is kind of in question now. As summer fare, it's okay. I believe that if it were being shown during the regular season, I would have bailed after the pilot.

[TIVO_GUY_HERE]

You really wont know if its worth the trouble, unless you take the time to watch it. Having no clue on what you like or don't like.


I tho Like!

[JYoung]

Well, it's in HD and I like the music...

[dianebrat]

Well, it's in HD and I like the music...

both positives!
I was in my teens in the 70's, so I don't have overly fond memories of it, but I really enjoy their fairly accurate take on things.

Diane

[Cainebj]

One of my favorite summer shows.:up:

[anom]

I've seen the first two episodes now. Good, not great. Of course, there's not much competition out there right now.

[Byteofram]

It's okay, not much else during the summer. Give it a shot.

[Peter000]

Thanks all for your comments. :) I'll give the first couple of episodes a shot.

[analog4]

I set a Season Pass but the power went out during the first episode (read my dad went and pushed the reset button on the power outlet that you would push if there was a surge and killed it).

Then I missed a few eps because apparently I didn't set a Season Pass like I thought - and with all the summer shows I am watching (finished Burn Notice, working on Mad Men once it comes out) and I want to catch up on 24 before the fall (have 22 eps of Season 2 left, all of 3, 4, 5 and 6, and I want to watch NCIS all the season's before fall - oh and I am going to watch 3 seasons of HIMYM before that starts up this fall).

So I figured I'll work on this stuff now and watch Swingtown on DVD (if and when it comes out).

[Family]

The show is pretty good. I think the name and central theme hurt a bit though. If it were just a series about 70's families and swinging was a subplot that developed over the season... it would likely be more watched IMO. The show has good character direction and reminds us that it's OK to think out of the box a little. Good reminders in today's world.

[Neenahboy]

Really enjoying it so far, though I agree the name is hurting them (especially with the current plot points).

[betativoII]

I really enjoy it. I wasn't sure if I would, but I mostly gave it a shot because the husband of a friend of mine worked on the show until they moved production from Austin to Canada. (This according to my friend. IMDB.com says otherwise.) He didn't want to move to Canada, and was sent to New Orleans to work on K-Ville....just before the writer's strike.

Anyway, I LOVE the show. I was born in 1969, so truth be told I don't remember much of the 70s, but I do remember some, and I love the music.

[Family]

This show continues to be a great summer series, though it appears I am the only one watching. Ratings are horrible. I generally don't like these types of shows, but the swinging theme makes the touchy feely stuff watchable (there is at least a purpose behind the drama) and the everyone in the group is fairly interesting.

Wish it was gonna stick around.

[Fl_Gulfer]

We couldn't make it past the poor acting in the first show.

[mqpickles]

We couldn't make it past the poor acting in the first show.+1

[Agatha Mystery]

I had been recording them, but hadn't had an opportunity to watch them until yesterday. Then I hit all of them in a marathon session.

I liked them. There's always bad acting in the pilot. Heck, there are all sorts of series that the first year had terrible acting. It takes getting used to working together and finding the right mesh. Don't give up on it so easily.

And, from the standpoint of someone who has an open marriage, it's interesting to see this series. They actually have the interaction quite realistic, between the spouses (i.e. the relationships with their own spouse, the rules, etc). I can't talk about the orgies, or the playroom, as that seems to be more a 70's thing. People were much freer back then. Our society has gotten a lot more stringent and puritanical since the AIDS epidemic. I remember porn theaters, even in the Bible Belt. Now, not so much. You can still find some.

But from the swinging standpoint, the writers/producers obviously have someone consulting that knows about open marriages, or lives/lived in one.

[dianebrat]

We couldn't make it past the poor acting in the first show.

I didn't have that issue, and have enjoyed it, but I still can't get by Jack Davenport speaking with what's supposed to be a US midwestern accent. :eek:

Diane

[TeighVaux]

We thought this episode was the best so far. The thread is a no spoilers thread so I won't get into specifics. I do like how the characters are not drawn in one dimension. In this episode, some of the earlier characters who were drawn as non-sympathetic are now shown to really have more depth.

I like how it shows not just the "fun" of swinging but also the down side.

We also have an open marriage but are not swingers. I thought the show shows the complications and rules as well as the humor and relief.:)

[LlamaLarry]

The wife and I have been watching, although me managed to miss an episode. We enjoy it and I think seeing Jake, err Tom shirtless works for my wife. He's okay, but I'm more of a Susan fan.

[JYoung]

But from the swinging standpoint, the writers/producers obviously have someone consulting that knows about open marriages, or lives/lived in one.

Except for the part about plying the "virgin" couple with liquor and drugs.
;)

[mattack]

I didn't have that issue, and have enjoyed it, but I still can't get by Jack Davenport speaking with what's supposed to be a US midwestern accent.

yeah, there sure are a lot of furriner actors taking our acting jobs!

Deport him, so he goes back and makes more Coupling!

[sharkster]

I kind of like it. I also like the 'lookback' into the 70s. It is easy to watch and I enjoy the show premise for fun. I can't help thinking I would enjoy it a little more if it were on HBO or SHO. ;) I'm keeping my SP.

[sushikitten]

We need to catch up on this. We enjoyed it, but missed an ep, and I have to watch them in order.

[lambertman]

It's moving to Fridays at 10, effective immediately.

[teamzissou]

yeah, swingtown is one of the shows CBS is streaming in HD on their website (http://www.cbs.com/hd/). if it's free, might as well go to the website and check it out.

[Bierboy]

It's moving to Fridays at 10, effective immediately.

Hmmm....that's the kiss of death....TV series graveyard....

[mattack]

There are only 3 more episodes... I hope the Tivo data gets updated by Fri. and wait, isn't Fri at 10 when that other new show was on??