SwingTown Episode 1: Pilot - Discussion

[Dynamar]

Well... just watched it. Like any new show with an ensemble cast, most of the pilot is expository in introducing the myriad of characters.

My initial reactions:

Trina is hot. And snarky... loved how she set up the uptight former neighbor lady to "find" the playroom.

Uptight lady's son is gay... right? And has a crush on his friend who just moved away, who'll end up doing the horizonal mambo with the loon-crazy daughter of the coked-out mom.

And poor Roger (uptight lady's hub)... he wants to play, too!

My prediction: It'll be soapy summer fun, but die after that.

[HedoBuckeyes]

Just finished watching the first episode. Hope it will be better next week. Sort of lame. Suggestive at best. Of course on broadcast TV one has to realize there will no showing of outright sex. Great music though if you experienced the 70's.

[BiloxiCouple]

In today's terms some drama and no-no's.


But overall about a B-. Not great not bad. Just have to think about the time period it is set in. I guess we need a comment or two from swingers who were swinging in that era. Oooops, I said "era". Too much?

[Chris&Amelia]

Originally Posted by BiloxiCouple

I guess we need a comment or two from swingers who were swinging in that era. Oooops, I said "era". Too much?

As in "Paleoproterozoic"?

[cubnamy1995]

I'm impressed. Got to agree that Trinia is hot. We need her to host a SB Meet-up. I liked "the look" between the four of them. All we could think is, "damn! they got that part right!"

Seems like a show with real potential. That's why I'm guessing that the next episode will be the last before CBS shuts it down because some church group protested.

[beachguyz]

Just watched Swingtown. This should have been a cable show and you could have shown more. Action is what keeps shows on the air.

Hope it lasts, but I don't think it will.

[LOOKIN4FUN9773]

I Agree...not Bad.. But Not Great Eather..they Did A Pretty Good Job Capturing The 70's...and I Agree I Did Like The Setup Of The Uptight Ex-neighbor...i As Well Tink It Will Be A One Season Run..will Have To Watch A Few More Shows To See How Thing Unfold...

[fun4Ds]

Well, some things were simular as I recall. What ever happened to 714's anyhow, they just kind of dissapeared one day. Oh now I remember Ya know, thinking back I see where some people we knew had major issues then. I think thats where we just rolled with the changes. Good show !

I wonder how this will evolve over time ?

I'm not much of a t.v. sitcom watcher, but I know where I'll be next thursday night

[curiousbirdies2]

We both just watched it and really enjoyed it. I think if you are vanilla/prudish you will see the negative aspect of it (Dirty dancing, drugs, drinking, carefree living, etc..); however if you are in the lifestyle (first impression of show anyway) you can see the good in it. The couple that introduces them are a strong secure couple and are doing things together within boundaries, it showed the newbies enjoying great sex the next morning, which is what we all love about being in a secure marriage in the lifestyle. I noticed when the guy on the coach was rubbing her leg, I think that was crossing a boundary and she got up. The coke lady is swinging the wrong was w/o her hubby. My first impression anyway. We will watch it next week.

[paradiseclubcpl]

Hmm ! This is just on couch potato's opinion on what he watched.

Now I must be honest I was involved in swinging back in the late seventies and early eighties. I Don't remember any parties like the one on Swingtown, however I was using a variety of chemicals back then. With that said, here is my take on the premier of Swingtown the series.

As far as the nostalgic factors go the show did bring me down memory lane. One could easily reminisce, with the music fashion and of course the eight track player. Not to mention the Quaaludes were a definite flash back.

The show was to say the least, a slow starter. I feel the writers could have approach the idea of building the characters in a more creative manner. In my opinion the show dragged, that is until the final 15 mins.

The image it must have left on the vanilla world is that we are all horny druggies. I am a realist and do know that there is some drug use in this lifestyle, but I know that in the club I manage drug use is never an issue or tolerated.

In addition to that let's hope that they portray swingers in a more responsible light in the next episodes. Swingers are good parents, good neighbors and are not as irresponsible as the writers portrayed them in this pilot.

CBS has taken a brave step in bring our lifestyle to mainstream television and I commend there courage.
My gut feeling is, this show may fail on two major fronts.
First the subject matter may never make it on broadcast television. Had the producers went the cable route, this shows success may have had better odds.
Second the writing is weak in comparison to other controversial theme shows. Shows such as Sopranos, Rescue me, and Nip and Tuck
do seem to spend more time on depth, and it shows.

As far as this particular series blowing anyone's cover in the neighborhood, I doubt it! The advertisers will be happy to know that, I may make an effort to watch one or two more episodes. I kind of hope that the next show will pick up the pace.

[socolais]

I think the prop department missed an opportunity - there should have been a blacklight in the basement (yeah, the one down the hall, second door on the left).

[BiloxiCouple]

I haven't heard Qualudes used in years!!! My mom still has my portable 8-track and it still works.

The one thing in the show that confused me (and I am easily confused these days) is "who did all the kids belong to?" I guess it is just me? I think I figured out half of them.

It will probably go one season and gone.

Did any swing clubs advertise during the show? Had a captive prime audience, unless they recorded and zipped thru the commercials

[Chicup]

Just remember TV require drama of some kind, so you can expect it to go south at times on swinging.

[SW_MS_CPL]

Wife and I watched it. It was ok, but as a tv show goes it wasn't anything special. We'll follow it for a few weeks. Maybe it was a little too "era specific" for us. I do remember the 70's fondly( I was 14 in 1976, wife was 9) but it seemed a little too hard to relate the characters to our own lives here in 2008.

[Alura]

Mrs. Alura and I watched it. Indeed, the music was great! I'd have watched it just for that. I plan to go to their website and download it.

We loved the way they couldn't stop giggling the next morning. Heeheehee.

Mr. Alura