Big Shots (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Big Shots is an American
television drama created and executive produced by Jon Harmon Feldman
. The pilot
was directed by Charles McDougall
.
, the series was officially approved for broadcast and thirteen episodes were commissioned on May 11, 2007. The show was added to the schedule on Thursday nights at 10:02 p.m. EST
(9:02PM CT
). It premiered on September 27, 2007 on ABC
, following Grey's Anatomy
. It also premiered on CTV
in Canada on the same date, but was shifted to CTV's secondary A-Channel effective October 25, 2007.
ABC pulled Big Shots from the schedule in December 2007, and filled its slot with repeats of Private Practice. On December 15, 2007 ABC
announced its mid-season schedule, and Big Shots was back on the schedule. Despite the original commission of thirteen episodes, as a result of the Writers Guild of America strike
in Hollywood, only eleven were made. The final one aired on January 24, 2008. On May 13, 2008, ABC officially cancelled the series.
During the show's short run, each character had one or two major plot arcs that generally did not overlap. The principal characters were tied by their wealthy lifestyles, friendship and regular visits to their men's club, where they commisserated while engaging in leisure activities in the sauna, pool room, golf course and the like. James was promoted to the position of his late boss, but discovered that his wife had had an affair with the man. The fallout of the divorce, and his romantic relationship with his VP, Katie, were his main plot lines. Duncan tried to win back his first wife (the mother of his twenty-something daughter). His efforts were thwarted by personal scandal (sex with a transwoman) and the machinations of his professional and personal rival. Additionally, a mentally-troubled young man insinuates himself in Duncan's life, claiming to be his son. Karl takes up a mistress, but quickly ends the relationship. Ironically, his wife (who knows nothing of the affair) becomes the woman's best friend and she moves in with the couple. His story lines center on this ironic situation, along with the couple's infertility. Brody is characterized as hen-pecked at home, and the somewhat put-upon friend of the four. His connections often help them (especially Duncan) in their times of trouble. His chief actions surround his efforts to procure a higher clientele.
):Joining Amerimart Industries directly out of Harvard Business School
, James has followed in the footsteps of his mentor, and Amerimart's former CEO, Walter Storrs. James previously held various positions within Amerimart, including Director of Business Development, where he led teams in several innovative acquisitions, both domestic and in the E.U.
Duncan Collinsworth (Dylan McDermott
):Duncan Collinsworth, CEO, brings over twenty years of business experience to Reveal Cosmetics. Duncan got his start in the business world when he was still in high school, selling records to his classmates. Over the years, he moved up the ladder at various companies, running the gamut from the real estate to office supplies, until Duncan found his true calling in the cosmetics industry.
Karl Mixworthy (Joshua Malina
):Mixworthy was appointed President of Flexor Williams in 2004, after having served as Director of Product Development. Prior to joining the company, Karl brings tremendous knowledge of drug discovery to Flexor Williams. He received his Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School while simultaneously completing his M.A. in Molecular Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. Karl received his B.S. in Microbiology from Johns Hopkins University
. He graduated from Scarsdale High School, where he was admittedly an unpopular student who was regularly bullied.
Brody Johns (Christopher Titus
):Brody Johns has long been regarded as one of the country's leading experts in crisis management and effective crisis communications. In 1999, Brody founded Alpha Crisis Management, focusing on the effective handling of crises, in the government, corporate and entertainment arenas.
, Newsweek
said "it's not into the toilet, which is where Big Shots spends its time both literally and figuratively." The Los Angeles Times said the show features "a quartet of rich guys so insufferable, self-centered and whiny that they make the men of feminist masterwork 'The Golden Notebook,' or even 'The Nanny Diaries
,' look positively heroic." People
magazine called the show one of several "Sex and the City
clones" and the characters "Entourage
-wannabes". Since the show was pitched as a behind-the-scenes look at male bonding pitched to a female target audience, much of the critique focused on the show's failure in that regard. USA Today
said simply "The problem with Big Shots is that the men don't sound like anyone at all, male or female." Critics from The A.V. Club
compared the show to AMC's Mad Men
, saying that it was "contemporary and no where near as good". In one notably positive review, The New York Times
called the show "one of television’s rare examples of successful farce."
Unless otherwise cited, the overnight rating and share information come from http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/
:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television drama created and executive produced by Jon Harmon Feldman
Jon Harmon Feldman
Jon Harmon Feldman is an American screenwriter and director.He has created and worked on TV series such as The Wonder Years, Tru Calling, Reunion, Dawson's Creek, Doctor, Doctor,American Dreams, Roswell, American Town, Dirty Sexy Money and Big Shots .He wrote and directed the 1997 romantic comedy...
. The pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
was directed by Charles McDougall
Charles McDougall
Charles McDougall is a British Emmy Award and BAFTA-winning director.-Biography:McDougall has directed for popular television series which include the pilot episode of ABC's Desperate Housewives . McDougall has also directed episodes of Queer as Folk on Channel 4 and Sex and the City on HBO...
.
History
Produced by Warner Bros. TelevisionWarner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television is the television production arm of Warner Bros. Entertainment, itself part of Time Warner. Alongside CBS Television Studios, it serves as a television production arm of The CW Television Network , though it also produces shows for other networks, such as Shameless on...
, the series was officially approved for broadcast and thirteen episodes were commissioned on May 11, 2007. The show was added to the schedule on Thursday nights at 10:02 p.m. EST
Eastern Standard Time
Eastern Standard Time may refer to:*North American Eastern Time Zone, UTC-5*Australian Eastern Standard Time, UTC+10*An album by Hip Hop group Kooley High...
(9:02PM CT
Central time
Central time can refer to:*North American Central Time Zone*Central European Time*Central Standard Time Australia...
). It premiered on September 27, 2007 on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, following Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
. It also premiered on CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
in Canada on the same date, but was shifted to CTV's secondary A-Channel effective October 25, 2007.
ABC pulled Big Shots from the schedule in December 2007, and filled its slot with repeats of Private Practice. On December 15, 2007 ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
announced its mid-season schedule, and Big Shots was back on the schedule. Despite the original commission of thirteen episodes, as a result of the Writers Guild of America strike
2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
The 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, more commonly referred to as simply the Writers' Strike, was a strike by the Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, West ....
in Hollywood, only eleven were made. The final one aired on January 24, 2008. On May 13, 2008, ABC officially cancelled the series.
Plot
The show was officially pitched as "the story of four friends at the top of their game... until the women in their lives enter the room. Lines between boardroom and bedroom blur when these competitive but dysfunctional CEOs take refuge in their friendship, discussing business, confiding secrets, seeking advice and supporting each other through life's surprising twists and turns."During the show's short run, each character had one or two major plot arcs that generally did not overlap. The principal characters were tied by their wealthy lifestyles, friendship and regular visits to their men's club, where they commisserated while engaging in leisure activities in the sauna, pool room, golf course and the like. James was promoted to the position of his late boss, but discovered that his wife had had an affair with the man. The fallout of the divorce, and his romantic relationship with his VP, Katie, were his main plot lines. Duncan tried to win back his first wife (the mother of his twenty-something daughter). His efforts were thwarted by personal scandal (sex with a transwoman) and the machinations of his professional and personal rival. Additionally, a mentally-troubled young man insinuates himself in Duncan's life, claiming to be his son. Karl takes up a mistress, but quickly ends the relationship. Ironically, his wife (who knows nothing of the affair) becomes the woman's best friend and she moves in with the couple. His story lines center on this ironic situation, along with the couple's infertility. Brody is characterized as hen-pecked at home, and the somewhat put-upon friend of the four. His connections often help them (especially Duncan) in their times of trouble. His chief actions surround his efforts to procure a higher clientele.
Characters
James Walker (Michael VartanMichael Vartan
Michael S. Vartan is a French-American film and television actor. He is probably best known for the role of Michael Vaughn on the American television action drama Alias...
):Joining Amerimart Industries directly out of Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, James has followed in the footsteps of his mentor, and Amerimart's former CEO, Walter Storrs. James previously held various positions within Amerimart, including Director of Business Development, where he led teams in several innovative acquisitions, both domestic and in the E.U.
- A native of Lake Forest, Illinois, James received his B.A. in History, magna cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991. James earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1993, while simultaneously externing in Amerimart's Boston office.
- James and his wife Stacey have two children.
- Related characters: Stacey Walker (ex-wife)
Duncan Collinsworth (Dylan McDermott
Dylan McDermott
Mark Anthony McDermott , better known by his professional name of Dylan McDermott, is an American actor, known for his role as lawyer and law firm head Bobby Donnell on the television legal drama The Practice and his role in the series Dark Blue as Lt. Carter Shaw. McDermott currently stars in FX...
):Duncan Collinsworth, CEO, brings over twenty years of business experience to Reveal Cosmetics. Duncan got his start in the business world when he was still in high school, selling records to his classmates. Over the years, he moved up the ladder at various companies, running the gamut from the real estate to office supplies, until Duncan found his true calling in the cosmetics industry.
- During his tenure, Duncan has transformed Reveal from a local mom and pop company specializing in day creams to a multi-billion dollar enterprise which produces some of the world's most popular cosmetics. After a scandal erupted involving Duncan and a transsexual hooker, he was fired from his job as CEO, but later regained the position.
- Related characters: Lisbeth Collinsworth (ex-wife), Cameron (daughter), Zack (imposter son)
Karl Mixworthy (Joshua Malina
Joshua Malina
Joshua Charles Malina is an American film and stage actor. He is perhaps most famous for portraying Will Bailey on the NBC drama The West Wing and Jeremy Goodwin on Sports Night.-Personal life:...
):Mixworthy was appointed President of Flexor Williams in 2004, after having served as Director of Product Development. Prior to joining the company, Karl brings tremendous knowledge of drug discovery to Flexor Williams. He received his Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School while simultaneously completing his M.A. in Molecular Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. Karl received his B.S. in Microbiology from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. He graduated from Scarsdale High School, where he was admittedly an unpopular student who was regularly bullied.
- Mixworthy played a noteworthy role in the development of Flexor Williams' popular drug, Phocustin, which both improves an individual's ability to focus on various matters simultaneously, while alleviating symptoms of stress associated with such 'multi tasking,' as well as treating erectile dysfunction.
- Related characters: Wendy (wife); Marla (former mistress)
Brody Johns (Christopher Titus
Christopher Titus
Christopher Todd Titus is an American comedian and actor. He grew up in Newark, California. Titus came to national attention with the eponymous FOX show Titus, of which he was the star, executive producer and co-creator...
):Brody Johns has long been regarded as one of the country's leading experts in crisis management and effective crisis communications. In 1999, Brody founded Alpha Crisis Management, focusing on the effective handling of crises, in the government, corporate and entertainment arenas.
- Brody has successfully counseled several of the country's most respected companies in crisis management, public relations and crisis communications, as well as advising such entities on threats associated with the growing problem of corporate espionage. In addition, Brody is quickly becoming known for his successful track record in effectively dealing with various personal scandals associated with high profile celebrities. Brody unparalleled ability to remain calm and clear headed in such tabloid ready matters has won him the loyalty of clients around the world.
- Mr. Johns received his B.A. from Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1989. In one episode he also mentioned that he went to a year of law school.
- Related characters: Janelle (wife)
Main crew
- Paul BlackthornePaul BlackthornePaul Blackthorne is a British actor on film, television and radio. Although born in Shropshire, England, he spent his early childhood on British Military bases in both England and Germany. Blackthorne broke into acting via television commercials in England...
(9 episodes, 2007-2008) - Michael KatlemanMichael KatlemanMichael Katleman is an American director and producer. He has worked on Smallville, Tru Calling, and Gilmore Girls as well as many other programs.-Director:* Primeval * Tru Calling * Smallville * China Beach...
(3 episodes, 2007-2008) - Rob ThomasRob Thomas (writer)Rob Thomas is an American author, producer, and screenwriter, best known as the author of the 1996 novel Rats Saw God and creator of the critically acclaimed television programs Veronica Mars and Party Down.-Education and early career:Thomas graduated from San Marcos High School in 1983 and went...
(3 episodes, 2007-2008) - Brian BurnsBrian BurnsBrian Burns is an American film and television writer, producer and director. Brian was born and raised in Long Island, New York...
(2 episodes, 2007-2008) - Daniel Truly (2 episodes, 2007-2008)
- Jon Harmon FeldmanJon Harmon FeldmanJon Harmon Feldman is an American screenwriter and director.He has created and worked on TV series such as The Wonder Years, Tru Calling, Reunion, Dawson's Creek, Doctor, Doctor,American Dreams, Roswell, American Town, Dirty Sexy Money and Big Shots .He wrote and directed the 1997 romantic comedy...
(Head WriterHead writerA head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
) - Emily Whitesell
- Joshua Levey
- Susan Edelman
- Jason RobertsJason RobertsJason Roberts may refer to:* Jason Roberts , American writer* Jason Roberts , football player* Jason Roberts, singer-songwriter in Asleep at the Wheel* Jason Roberts , record producer...
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0731211/
Reception
Though not universal, early critical response was generally negative. Referring to Desperate HousewivesDesperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
, Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
said "it's not into the toilet, which is where Big Shots spends its time both literally and figuratively." The Los Angeles Times said the show features "a quartet of rich guys so insufferable, self-centered and whiny that they make the men of feminist masterwork 'The Golden Notebook,' or even 'The Nanny Diaries
The Nanny Diaries
The Nanny Diaries is a 2002 novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, both of whom are former nannies. The book satirizes upper class Manhattan society as seen through the eyes of their children's caregivers....
,' look positively heroic." People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine called the show one of several "Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
clones" and the characters "Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
-wannabes". Since the show was pitched as a behind-the-scenes look at male bonding pitched to a female target audience, much of the critique focused on the show's failure in that regard. USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
said simply "The problem with Big Shots is that the men don't sound like anyone at all, male or female." Critics from The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
compared the show to AMC's Mad Men
Mad Men
Mad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
, saying that it was "contemporary and no where near as good". In one notably positive review, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
called the show "one of television’s rare examples of successful farce."
U.S. Nielsen ratings
In the following chart, "rating" is the percentage of all households with televisions that tuned to the show, and "share" is the percentage of all televisions in use at that time that are tuned in. "18–49" is the percentage of all adults aged 18–49 tuned into the show. "Viewers" are the amount of viewers, in millions, watching at the time.Unless otherwise cited, the overnight rating and share information come from http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/
Weekly ratings
| # | Episode | Air Date | Time slot (EST) | Rating | Share | 18-49 (Rating/Share) | Viewers (m) | Rank (Overall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | September 27, 2007 | Thursday, 10:00 P.M | 7.8 | 13 | 4.7/13 | 11.10 | #29 |
| 2 | "Tall, Dark and Hairless" | October 4, 2007 | Thursday, 10:00 P.M. | 6.1 | 10 | 3.7/10 | 10.14 | #50 |
| 3 | "The Good, the Bad and the Really Ugly" | October 11, 2007 | Thursday, 10:00 P.M. | 6.3 | 11 | 3.9/11 | 9.28 | #53 |
| 4 | "Three's a Crowd" | October 18, 2007 | Thursday, 10:00 P.M. | 6.0 | 10 | 3.3/9 | 8.34 | #53 |
| 5 | "Greatest Amerimart Hero" | October 25, 2007 | Thursday, 10:00 P.M. | 5.7 | 9 | 3.3/7 | 8.08 | #61 |
| 6 | "Car Trouble" | November 1, 2007 | Thursday, 10:00 P.M. | 6.2 | 10 | 3.7/10 | 7.53 | #54 |
| 7 | "Who's Your Daddy" | November 8, 2007 | Thursday, 10:00 P.M. | 5.9 | 10 | 3.6/9 | 8.62 | #59 |
| 8 | "The Way We Weren't" | November 29, 2007 | Thursday, 10:00 P.M. | 4.1 | 7 | 2.4/7 | 5.98 | #79 |
| 9 | "The Better Man" | January 10, 2008 | Thursday, 10:00 P.M. | 4.7 | 8 | 2.6/8 | 6.76 | #52 |
| 10 | "Sex Be Not Proud" | January 17, 2008 | Thursday, 10:00 P.M. | 3.5 | 6 | 1.8/5 | 4.78 | #69 |
| 11 | "Who's the Boss" | January 24, 2008 | Thursday, 10:00 P.M. | 3.6 | 6 | 1.8/5 | 4.97 | N/A |
Seasonal ranking
Based on average total viewers per episode of Big Shots on ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
:
| Season | Timeslot (EDT) | Season Premiere | Season Finale | TV Season | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thursday 10:00 P.M. (2007-2008) | September 27, 2007 | January 24, 2008 | 2007-2008 | #88 | 7.7 |