Lookwell

1991

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1
  • 0
8.2| 0h30m| en| More Info
Released: 01 July 1991 Ended
Producted By: Broadway Video
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Lookwell was a television pilot written and produced by Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel, the latter of which becoming a primary creative voice for O'Brien's late night show. It starred Adam West. The pilot was broadcast on NBC in July 1991 but was not picked up as a series despite being a "personal favorite" of NBC chairman Brandon Tartikoff.

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Reviews

Steinesongo Too many fans seem to be blown away
WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.
Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.
Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.
DarthVoorhees 'Lookwell' is the legendary cult pilot which offers a glimpse into the comedic writing of Conan O Brien and Robert Smigel as they are developing their genius. 'Lookwell' is a lot of good ideas that I think awkwardly are meshed into the generic sitcom formula. Everything I've read about 'Lookwell' shouts that it was a victim of being ahead of it's time. I'll agree with that assessment. The problem is though that I think the sitcom prevents 'Lookwell' from utilizing Smigel's and Conan's talents. Conan was always at his height when he created odd detached characters in a heightened frenzy showcased around a comparatively bland normal world on a slower speed. Adam West is perfect for this material. He is the true draw to 'Lookwell'. I think in order to have done this right, you had to have fleshed out the world more. Everything else here is just overwhelmed by West. We have no benchmark to compare the absurdity of this character to.The problem with 'Lookwell' is that they are infatuated with Adam West. There's a great reason because he is perfect for the part. Adam West was brilliant at self parody and probably did so more than any other actor. The problem is you can't just have West self monologue the entire time. He is funnier when he glaringly stands out. And so while West is fantastic there is nothing to compare him to. No one else is really given anything to do in 'Lookwell'. I think you really needed to develop the characters of the real police officers a little more for this to work. You needed some interplay between them to distinguish how fake Ty Lookwell really is. I may be projecting my own wishes on the project but 'Lookwell' should have definitely gone darker. I think Smigel and O'Brien where too much in awe of West to make fun of him enough. You see there's a difference between being mean to the character and being mean to West. Adam West is always going to have dignity. Wouldn't it have been so much funnier if Lookwell's delusions were actually capable of hurting people? Isn't it a little too much of a convenience for Lookwell's investigations to actually end like an episode of 'Bannigan' instead of only a delusion of ending like an episode of 'Bannigan?The crime is far too absurd and convoluted too. O'Brien and Smigel should have actually consulted with a crime or mystery writer. The whole story about cars being stolen and re purposed leaves too much exposition especially in a pilot where precious time is needed to develop your characters and world.'Lookwell' is a great seed of an idea. I think 90's television had no chance of making it work. It'd be an interesting movie or cable show now but you have lost so much of it's charm with the passing of Adam West.
tommovies Having just watched this absolute GEM HOW COULD IT NOT BE PICKED UP !!!!!! It is exceptionally rare for me to find a program that is laugh out loud funny - but this is it!!! Adam West was born to play this role The sheer absurdity of the deductive process is fantastic. If only I had the capacity to commission the series myself!!!! This could have been family guy!!! Any chance Conan and friends could be persuaded to try and resurrect this one?Turning up to the audition dressed as the character was inspired. Could have cameo appearances from Burt ward, get teamed up with Leslie Nielsen.Definitely an opportunity missed by the networks here in my opinion
pfelon This show is really about Adam West. His deadpan delivery and obliviousness to his own shortcomings (or maybe it's denial, tough to tell from just one episode) is really what fuels the comedy here. It's campy and hilarious, but it's mostly a specific type of humor and while there are some jokes that deviate from this basic strategy, the show is not a conventional sitcom (which relies heavily on one-liners). The show is about characterization, specifically that of Lookwell. If you see him interacting with someone for 30 seconds and don't find it funny, it's not for you. If you like West's portrayal as Mayor West on Family Guy, you'll probably find this pilot hilarious and I'd recommend trying to find it online.
ripplinbuckethead I saw this show today and was highly entertained! The writing is excellent (I wasn't surprised, knowing O'Brien and Smigel were involved) and Adam West was as great as ever. The type of storytelling here isn't exactly new, but with the writing and the ever-likable West, it really worked. Too bad the networks didn't agree.So, how about now? Would this show work now if they did it again? I'm sure Mr. West would be willing to give it another go, and if it was on NBC, well, they need all the help they can get right now and this is the kind of show that could help them get out of their 4th place rut, if only to a small degree. I know I would love to see this cult hit resurrected! Random thought: if The Max Weinberg 7 played the Lookwell theme as Conan went to his desk and he didn't know about it, I wonder if he'd recognize it?

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