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When writing about this show for our summer preview, I expressed my thought that it didn't have a lot of potential based on the completely moronic premise and the fact that it starred not one, but two showkillers. I now stand corrected. Sometimes, two wrongs do make a right.
Dr. Hank Lawson (played by Mark Feuerstein, who starred briefly in The Hustler, On the Lot, Good Morning, Miamiand 3 lbs) is a rising star at some swanky NYC hospital ER, until a rich patient dies while he's doing surgery on some underprivleged basketball-playing kid. The hospital staff is not amused that a VIP, who had an entire wing named after him, who was undergoing a routine procedure, kicked the bucket under Hank's watch, so they totally can him (and sue him, and blackball him from other ERs). After a month of watching him wallow (and watch Mask and Field of Dreams and Jerry Springer), his hot, money-grubbing fiancée follows suit. In walks his CPA brother Evan (Paulo Costanzo, of Joey "fame") who wants to whisk him away for a weekend in the Hamptons where they'll live it up and go to some swanky parties and he can forget his troubles and increasing debt. He reluctantly agrees, but mostly because Netflix has frozen his account.
Brother Evan is a total schemer and social climber, and he talks his way into a party at the home of Boris, who is some sort of German royalty. While there, Hank sees a girl pass out. The on-staff concierge doctor presumes it's drugs and nearly kills her, but Hank steps in and saves her life, and earns the appreciation of Boris (who is awesomely played by Campbell Scott). Boris wants Hank to join his staff and take care of these patients, so they don't have to go to the trashy hospital in the Hamptons, or have to draw attention to themselves by having them flown into Manhattan for care. Hank says he's not interested, but soon he's saving the life of a spoiled teenager with Daddy issues, interviewing a persistent assistant (Reshma Shetty), helping a socialite (Christine Ebersole) with her breast implant issues and earning the appreciation of local hospital admin Jill (Jill Flint) who is thrilled he's dealing with the high maintenance patients. And thus, Hank's concierge (a.k.a. doctor who makes house calls) practice was born
After the first episode, I was totally charmed, didn't hate anyone on the cast, and actually laughed a few times. My favorite line (Hank to Evan, who was dressed in a suit jacket and a purple Speedo): "You look like an Olympic swimmer from Queeristan." I know, lowbrow humor, but the rest of the show was high-quality, so its nice to see they can go both ways. The biggest problem, aside from the stupid name of the show, is that I'm jealous that I don't get to spend my summer in the Hamptons.
What'd you think of the first episode? Let us know below, then talk about it some more in our Royal Pains forums.
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Much of the plot was very predictable.
Gold-digging fiancé dumps him when he's no longer a rich doctor? Check.
Emotionally-wounded doctor doesn't want to get involved, but just. has. to? Check.
I could go on.
Isn't this show just an excuse to help the audience live vicariously the lives of the super rich and super beautiful. Ah, yes, the rich suffer, too. Boo Hoo I'm turning the TV off after Burn Notice next week.
Him not wanting to get involved but he keeps having too really annoyed me too. His brother made a great point: he had debt and no job prospects, so why not do it?
I think the fact he was turning into a couch potato who was wallowing in self pity is what got his fiancé to dump him.
Besides those two problems, I thought it was rather good. Since they're both out of the way now that the pilot is over, I think it'll get better.
This was perfect summer entertainment since it's set at a beach locale. Wealth envy people - get a life. I'm a hardworking schlub but it's still television. Don't watch it if it bothers you. Soon we may not have the chance to watch what we want anymore anyway when the TV czar gets appointed.
I, too got tired of his lame protestations to a seemingly lucrative and available way to solve a problem (debt, etc.) but as Reese said, once that is out of the way i think it will be a very enjoyable summer diversion...much like a summer at the beach. ALSO, i appreciated that they gave the rich people some sort of dimension so that it's not all surface...Cheers! [adds it to her DVR subscriptions]
~Red
I wasn't impressed. Even for a summer show, it's too predictable and forced. It's a shame, because I was excited about it.
Dr. Hank is pretty bland, and so is his love interest. It's pretty obvious where that's going (unless they throw in an obligatory love triangle with the choking victim Hank saved earlier)
The assistant annoyed me. How convenient was it that she just happened to be there with all that medical equipment in her car?
I liked Tucker and his girlfriend, though. I hope we see more of them. But other than that, I don't have much hope for the show.
I was pleasantly surprised. The dialogue was crisp and the phone call the PA had with her parents made me want to know more about her. Worth the hour (since I'm watching Burn Notice that night anyway).
It's cute summer fluff. I'm in, since I'm already there for Burn Notice.
I've liked Mark since "I hate poor people, Donna..."
The fiancee said, "I didn't sign on for this. I wanted to spend money on florists and photographers, not lawyers." It's pretty obvious she was only there for the "for better" part of the deal.
So if the rich people hate the local hospital so much then why don't they donate a few million dollars to the place to make it better?
I enjoyed it well enough. (I never expect perfection in pilot episodes, and basically every show makes adjustments in the beginning anyway). I'm definitely planning to watch next week's episode.
Interesting. Ploting's a little thin, yet they managed to shove a whole lot of story without overloading the episode. Characterization is excellent, but USA does really well in that department (love or hate them, you know who they are. I will be tuning in next week.
The supporting cast is the most entertaining part. Dr. I Hate Rich People is only a bland interlude between.
I thought this show was super cute!! And Brie, I didn't find it all that convenient that the assistant had those supplies in her truck...she showed up with the intention to show Dr. Hank exactly how good of an assistant she can be, she had something to prove. Her brief conversation w/ her parents on her cell phone lead me to believe there are more levels to her character that will come out soon so that should be interesting.
Yes the plot was a bit predictable overall, but I thought it was well done, and like someone above said, the rich people weren't just one dimensional. Those 2 teenagers were actually pretty funny and layered. This is my new Thursday night show!
I'm in. It seems like a nice follow up to Burn Notice. Plus it had me at the "I'll see your postponement and raise you." line.
I loved th show - I get tired of all of these serious shows. I want something funny and easy to watch but also old fashion righteous hero is still alive.
I had issues with the concept of the concierge doctor, the rich affording better health care than the rest. But they commented enough on how his taking care of the 'high maintenance' people would allow the hospital to help those that really need it and adding in the throw-away line (for now) that Boris is putting millions into a free clinic...
"Royal Pains" was painful to watch. Superficial must be in. With shows like "The Hills" and "Gossip Girl" being so popular with the under 30's crowd, I knew this wasn't for me. I wouldn't want to spend 2 seconds with these characterless people. Shocked that USA would want this added to their lineup. This would work following "Chuck" on NBC. Another really lame show I find quite painful to watch.
The first episode of Royal Pains was fun, light entertainment...I had several good laughs and my favorite line was that the shirt was from Costco...raising your postponement was also pretty funny...
I didn't have high expectations based upon the premise, but I've been making a point of watching first episodes of brand new shows whenever possible, and I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised! The writing is extremely sharp, the directing is well-paced and the characters are all intriguing. I'll be adding this to my short list of must-see weekly TV.
It was terrible!!!!!
I actually could sit through a whole episode. God what utter schlock.
I wish it a speedy death with DNR instructions.
I liked it some, but what the hell happened to Christine Ebersole's face?
Im hooked.
I actually really enjoyed it. The dialogue was at times sharp and crisp, and other times light and goofy. Liked the characters and how convinient is that Mark Feuerstein looks a bit like Patrick Dempsey? They even mentioned it on the show, which I thought was pretty clever.
The rich people plot... I like it. C'mon, wouldn't you do the same if you had THAT much money???
ooops, sorry. CONVENIENT.
I confess I've liked Mark since Conrad Bloom (and was surprised not to see it among his "exploits"). I'll watch the second episode, for sure.
While the pilot had a certain charm, there were elements about the show that annoyed me: his bosses at the hospital that canned him, his girlfriend, and his tiresome protestations about becoming a concierge doctor. More of any of those elements would make me get tired of the show quickly, but, fortunately, those were all set up pieces that, once done, need never return. And I'm kind of curious what the deal with the PA is.
I'll keep watching, but I have a horrible feeling that a) the ex-girlfriend will show up again; and b) they'll have a story (possibly the season finale) where the hospital that canned him (or somewhere equivalent) wants him back, thus setting up some hackneyed conflicted emotions plot.
When he dumped the gold-digging fiancee instead of trying to make her stay-- and failed to further disappoint-- I programmed a TiVo season pass on the show. I've definitely seen worse out there.
Ich bin gerade mit dem Handy unterwegs. Man kann den Blog hier gut darauf surfen.
THIS SHOW IS A ROYAL PAIN. THE HERO MIGHT BE A GOOD DOCTOR, BUT SHOULD UTILIZE HIS TALENTS MOR PRODUCTIVELY AND I HATE HIS BROTHER WHO WANTS ONLY TO USE HIS MD BROTHER AS A CASH COW.
As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing better than a good serial killer movie or novel, but sometimes a girl needs a little light stuff and that's what Royal Pain is to me!! It's light and it's fun and it doesn't have to be logical for me to enjoy it.
el pensamiento Desgraciado
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