The TV Set

World Premiere

USA | 87 MINUTES | English |

THE TV SET

Comedy

In this comedy about the making of a television pilot, writer/director Jake Kasdan serves up an intelligent mixture of first-hand insight and laugh-out-loud comedy. Series creator Mike Klein has finally sold a television pilot. Now he must navigate his show through the mine-laden path from casting through production to the madness of prime-time scheduling and the network "upfronts." Along the way he has to juggle the demands of network executives, volatile young stars, a pregnant wife, and a personal manager of suspect loyalties, all while trying to stay true to his vision. But this is the television business, and there's really only one true agenda: the one that leads to ratings and advertising dollars. Mining his own experiences working in television, Kasdan deftly blends his behind-the-scenes experience with biting humor. The cast hits every comic mark, no matter how subtle or how broad. David Duchovny gives a deeply nuanced performance as Mike, and his reactions are pitch-perfect. Sigourney Weaver flexes her comic muscles as the headstrong network president with a lot of "thoughts" about what the show needs to be a success. And her second-in-command-a British import (Ioan Gruffudd) in his rookie TV season stateside-is caught between the gut instincts that got him hired and the compromises he must make to succeed in his new job. As Mike's wife, Justine Bateman keeps her husband grounded, while Judy Greer shakes things up as his manager. With Kasdan's witty script and impeccably paced direction, The TV Set shows that there is as much entertainment behind the camera as there is in front.


CAST & CREDITS

Directed by Jake Kasdan and Ishai Setton

Jake Kasdan made his feature debut as writer and director of Zero Effect, starring Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller, in 1998. The following year, Kasdan directed the pilot for the short-lived, highly acclaimed television series Freaks and Geeks. Created by Paul Feig, Freaks and Geeks also marked Kasdan's first collaboration with executive producer Judd Apatow. Kasdan served as a consulting producer through the run of the series and directed several episodes. Next, Kasdan directed his second television pilot for another short-lived Apatow-produced series, Undeclared. In 2002, Kasdan directed Orange County, starring Colin Hanks and Jack Black and written by Freaks and Geeks alum Mike White. The TV Set is Kasdan's third film. He lives and works in Los Angeles.