Happy Town Online

Every once in a while, a show comes along that promises to be a break from the norm - a show that makes you think and second guess your assumptions with each scene. Sometimes, these shows can be annoying because they tend to be plot less efforts at eye candy. But Happy Town wasn't one of them. It was one of the good ones - and ABC executives have decided in their infinite wisdom that shadows over the common man to pull the plug on this show.

This is why I don't trust the broadcast network hierarchy, and why I stick to satellite television reception. And it really doesn't matter which one you watch, either. ABC, NBC, and CBS all have the same mantra - premier a great show on a bad night, show two episodes, wait a few weeks until everyone forgets what happened, show a few more episodes, then cancel the show due to "bad ratings." Hello? What did you think was going to happen? Happy Town never had a chance. And it's a shame that good writing is wasted on the netherworld of broadcast stuffed-shirt politics.

Let's see if they can hold it.

"Happy Town" is presented as a whodunit about a mysterious rash of kidnappings in an idyllic small town. The kidnapper got clean away and has been inactive for five years at the time of the pilot. Ominous doings indicate that the Magic Man has returned to Haplin, Minnesota. As the premiere episode progresses, it becomes apparent that Haplin is hiding a number of dark secrets, which may or may not be related to the mystery of the Magic Man.

The episode opens on Elvis Costello's "Watching the Detectives," an excellent choice not just because it's a great song but because it is not immediately apparent which time period the show is presenting to the viewer. It's an unsettling note on which to start the episode, and it really sets the tone for this show.

Another thing the show runners got right was the small town setting. I've watched any number of Gothic shows set in small towns that did not remotely resemble the dynamics of any small town I ever lived in. This show gets the claustrophobic vibe just right, so points for that. Their location scout also deserves kudos for whatever town is standing in for those exterior shots. It's just perfect.

Also perfect: the cast. This show is chocked full of wonderful actors, any one of whom could have carried a show on their own. Together, they have the kind of combined presence necessary to keep a viewer engrossed while watching for developments in the plot.

As to the plot, the pilot asks more questions than it answers, but that's to be expected in the first episode. I really hope the pace picks up in future episodes, though.

Only one thing didn't quite work for me, and that's the dialogue. Nobody talks like this. The Sheriff's eccentric pronouncements are somewhat explained by the end of the episode. None of the other characters have that excuse. The marketing folks at ABC are inviting viewers to compare this series to Twin Peaks, but part of the reason that show's oddball dialogue worked was because the directors were taking their cues from David Lynch, maintaining a dreamlike ambiance in which strange verbal choices were just another part of that world. This director played it pretty straight, so the dialogue just didn't quite come off.

That's not going to stop me from watching the second episode, however. This show could shape up to be really great. I'm willing to keep watching and find out if it's got legs.

I got a sneak peak at the first two episodes of this show at a friend's house (who worked on the show) and it's really great.

It's very different from the original 2 hour pilot from May that other people have mentioned. The characters are quirky and fun, and the world they set up is an interesting one that definitely balances mystery with the intrigue of small town politics, and leaves a lot of room to grow in future episodes.

Geoff Stults is great as Tommy, and all the other characters are compelling to watch, especially Sam Neil as Merritt Grieves, and the guy who plays Dan Farmer (Peter Outerbridge). Lauren German is lovely as Henley (the new girl in town), and Steven Weber and Frances Conroy are wonderfully menacing as the heads of the town-founding Haplin family.

Saying it's 'the next Twin Peaks' sets an impossibly high bar, but it really does look like a worthy successor and will be a lot of fun to watch.

I can't wait to see the rest of the episodes!

For those sad about the retirement of LOST and a hankering for some Twin Peaks-like action, Happy Town may fill that gap. It certainly doesn't hold anything back as far as serving its inspirations. It's a strange, humorous, and quirky affair with mysteries abound. The town has its own personality and one that is Lottery-esquire (in reference to the short story) and quite two faced. However, you'll know how interested you are in the series once they start to talk about The Magic Man and M.C. Gainey starts spouting off some weird mumbo jumbo that no one seems to be able to make sense of. You'll either take to the Twin Peak aspirations and obvious mysteries, or you'll want something much more grounded.

However, with genre shows having their peak at the moment, Happy Town may be worth sticking around for. The pilot is entertaining enough and the actors all do a fairly decent job of playing their respective parts. Hats off to Gainey and Sam Neill, both of whom stand out, with Gainey being a REAL Mr. Friendly here (with a seeming split in personality that I'm sure will be explained) and Sam pulling off being creepily British oh so well. For Sam alone and to see what they do with his character alone, it may be worth sticking around. As far as everything else, it's an ABC show with a slight Steven King, David Lynch twist (of which the creators stated was a huge inspiration for the show anyway). So, you can expect some gruesome details, although only two particular appeared in the pilot.

So, if you've got a soft spot for Twin Peaks and want something to get going with as LOST winds down, Happy Town may be your cup of Chamomile Tea, or whatever tea you prefer.

This is the most entertaining show I've seen in a long time. Now I can only hope that they can keep what the creators of HAPPY TOWN have done up and running.

The similarity to TWIN PEAKS is obvious, with a huge commercial bakery standing in for the mill. The action starts out with a (surprisingly graphic) murder and then begins introducing the cast of very strange characters.

Better yet, this is clearly an homage to the giallo genre, the Italian slasher films. Young woman on her own trying to solve a mystery? Check. Creepy settings? Check. A man lacking in self confidence trying to act as an authority figure and restore order? Check. Story element tied to the arts? Check. Long running disputes with hidden motives going way back? Check. Smart people doing stupid things that violate all the rules of common sense? Check. Elderly women, who sometimes act as a chorus in commenting on the action? Check.

Better yet, the camera work is pure giallo. The lightning is atmospheric, creating a sense of lurking menace. And the color is as saturated as can be. Scenes are often bathed in blue or green light to heighten the mood.

Since the network has given us this show and FLASHFORWARD this year, ABC can be officially forgiven for having created and unleashed DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and GREY'S ANATOMY on an unsuspecting world.

Billed as the new 'Twin Peaks' but with more on par with 'Harpers Island' comes the eerie 'Happy Town'.

The town of Haplin is named after the Haplin family who own the Bakery that employs most of the town inhabitants. Five years earlier the Haplins 8 year old daughter vanished, believed to be the last victim of a serial killer called the Magic Man. For five years in the aftermath of the last disappearance the town has managed to perfect its manners and idyllic setting creating a welcoming facade. Two things happen that begin to tear apart this weak illusion, a vicious murder which opens the show and the arrival of a young woman intent on opening up a candle shop in the town yet clearly has another agenda.

As we become woven into the plot and introduced to some of the towns inhabitants many freaky characters begin to emerge mainly the owner of the boarding house in which reside a group of 'golden girls'. On the outskirts of town are a family of rednecks with a simpleton brother (definitely influenced by Twin Peaks) but the most creepy character is that of an English gentleman Merritt Grieves played by Sam Neill. With his character they could move away from serial killer land established in 'Harpers Island' and go more with the weird and wonderful that was Twin Peaks. The pilot raises interesting questions, is the blue door significant, what lies on the forbidden top floor of the boarding house, what is Chloe up to and is the magic man a supernatural killer as opposed to a human one.

As well as the acting talents of Sam Neill we have the beautiful star of 'Angel and Dollhouse' Amy Acker with Steven Webber and 'Men in Trees' star Abraham Benrubi.

Filmed in Canada this is definitely one to keep watching.

I have never been one to judge a TV show until I've watched at least three or four episodes. I like the quirky characters in Happy Town, and the acting is good. I see potential here and intend to keep watching it just in case it turns out to be "must see TV."

I don't trust many reviewers, including Matt Roush at TV Guide. He tends to jump to quick conclusions that make you decide not to watch the show, and then, all of a sudden, six episodes later, he says it's "starting to pick up," and then he's raving about it, and I've missed the beginning episodes.

He's done this with a couple of shows and I'm not going to trust him anymore. This time, I'll judge on my own, and now that some shows are moving toward their season finales, I'll watch this one online.

It may not ever rise to Twin Peaks level, but it IS quirky. Give it a chance. Of course, since I'm 60 years old, I tend to be more easily impressed than the younger folk. >grin<

Happy Town came as a pleasant surprise, however I just could not help but wonder if the writers dipped their hands into one of Stephen King's creepy classic "NEEDFUL THINGS". Sam Neil's role as "Merritt Grieves", is so seemly similar with Max Von Sydow's sinister "Leland Gaunt". Hey, as long as the formula produces a creepy yet delicious dish for TV. M.C. Gainey who played the Town Sheriff (he also played as the pilot in the movie CON-AIR) was my MVP for the 1st episode, great acting, I would have given it to Sam, but, his role in this series looks wickedly good.The pilot episode started slow BUT soon picked up pace, I am looking forward to next week's show....The ladies living in the B&B resembles a coven, don't you think?

One of the great things about this series is the depth of the plot. Sure, there is plenty of character development and great acting from the cast but this would have been moot if not for the dark underbelly the town of Haplin has. After seeing the first 7 episodes I am happy to say that I can't wait to see more, which is sadly something I cannot say for most of the new shows coming out this season. My favorite characters are Farmer and Grieves, two intriguing dude with their own unique back-story. Their are other characters that offer their own wackiness, but these two help drive the plot forward. In this sense these two are great tools for the writers, allowing the story to move forward and other characters to learn more about what is going on. One of my only annoyances in this story is how bad the police of Haplin are. Sure, it is a small town, but you'd hope that the cops would be competent enough not to compromise a crime scene and corrupt evidence. Perhaps it is more a reflection on the nature of small-towns, but I think I'd prefer to move out if the police were as incompetent as those guys. In spite of this, it does add a certain amount of comedy to the story. In conclusion, I love this series because of the numerous mysteries yet undiscovered. It is these mysteries that give the story life and a place for the series to go after the first season is over.

The last two episodes were great because they moved like a Lost episode. Something was revealed every episode and this put each one over the top. I could have enjoyed these even with out the big conclusions at each ending, but I'm sure the episodes were extra great because the creators had to finish filming the entire show since it got canceled.

Anyway great show. I was really in the mood for something new and different than the trends and this hit the spot.

Next time though, it might benefit to make a show like this either darker or happier. Or maybe ABC just needs to believe a little bit in something besides the crap, pardon my language, they are putting out now.

Great show!! Bring it back!! Hit the spot.

HAPPY TOWN had no small amount of potential. The setting was great, the plot was fairly strong, or at least layered enough to create the solid beginning to a mystery, and there were some interesting, well played characters, specifically Same Neill and M.C. Gainey. Oh, and the guy who played Root Beer. Love him.

That's about it. The dialogue in this show is atrocious. I mean really, really bad. Just about everyone speaks in total clichés. Sometimes, in order to sound "mysterious" and "quirky" the writers will give someone a line so cryptic that it's just silly. Example: "Just call me Gazpacho. 'Cause I like my soup cold." Huh? I know the show was cancelled in midstream, but the ending is terrible. Obviously it would be impossible to wrap up multiple seasons worth of loose ends in a single episode, but there was in ton of extraneous garbage in the last episode that could have been spent on something worthwhile. Instead they chose to blindside the audience with a bizarre, unsatisfying ending.

In the end, HAPPY TOWN desperately tries to be unique and original, something in the vein of the excellent TWIN PEAKS, but succeeds only in being derivative and silly.

Still, I watched every episode and was then motivated enough to write a long winded review. So, if you like dark mystery shows with hints of comedy (even when it doesn't totally work), check it out. You'll be no more disappointed than if you just watched TWO AND A HALF MEN instead.

Why does ABC seem to cancel only good shows? It seems shows where you have to show the slightest bit of patients while a story line unfolds seem to bore an American public. The only show ever to escape that seems to be Lost. But the last episode of that was a real let down. At least in the 8 episodes they had of Happy Town, they left you enough to make up your own conclusions of what happened. (now i just found out Leslie Nielsen is dead too!) Man this day sucks, I thought the overall acting in this was great, and the camera work was fantastic for the most part, really helped build the atmosphere, I guess one of the only mistakes this this series made is not getting into the really good stuff in the first 2 or 3 episodes. Maybe then it would of held peoples attention more. Overall I gave this a 9/10 I saw one review compare this to twin peaks and I agree the similarities are unmistakable and had even thought the same thing myself. Personally I believe this could of gotten one up on twin peaks had it been allowed to unfold, although it didn't have the cult classic feel of strangeness Twin Peaks did, it felt more immersive and i felt a lot more in touch with the characters then Twin Peaks. As stated before such a shame this was canceled. Why can't the cancel ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives or other similar shows for once?

Saw a sneak peek at the pilot this evening. While the pilot is typically long and attempts to set up a story, it is slightly boring and overdone. The writers attempt to introduce you to every character in the town in a matter of 90 minutes. They give just enough information of the past crime that the viewers interest is peaked, however, the writers work too hard to make too many suspect. While the show has an interesting premiss, I am unsure how it will make an ongoing series. T.C. is by far the best character and carries the show. I understand a good mystery contains forshadowing and unknown facts, but with weird cuts the writers leave the audience with too many questions for a pilot. Lies are being spread as to characters whereabouts, mysterious alzheimers symptoms, creepy stalkers. The show has potential, but they are going to have to pick up the speed and start developing an ongoing story.

I've read the anxious and questioning boards discussing the possibilities that this show would be the next Twin Peaks, or any of its bastard offspring (Northern Exposure, American Gothic, Lost, Harpers Island, et al), and truly, the promos did give off a hint of all of these. What ABC in fact pulled off is an apology to David Lynch for axing Twin Peaks and for bungling what would have been the Mulholland Drive television show (instead of the film the footage became). ABC executives get nervous around geniuses like Lynch, but they want what they think is the essence of Lynch's work: quirky dialogue (check), real scenery shot from a surreal POV (check), music playing a huge role (check), stellar character actors in star-making roles (check), gruesome violence (check), and a mystery that's somehow less mysterious than everything and everyone around it (check). What killed Twin Peaks was not the introduction of the paranormal. In fact, Lynch introduced these elements in Season One, when the show was beyond critics' negativity and had a nation wrapped in plastic, eating doughnuts and pie, and waxing rhapsodic about coffee. What killed Twin Peaks, seriously, was solving Laura's murder. They could have stretched that saga out indefinitely, introducing more and more quirk and whimsy, more dark and gritty, more Audrey Horne, but the producers got nervous, forced a resolution, and ultimately dropped the ball. The film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me was the only apology we ever got for that, and we can thank Lynch and the cast (Not ABC) for that.

Twenty years later, this show is an homage to Lynch, to Twin Peaks, to everything that could have been, yet with just enough of a fresh voice so as not to seem plagiaristic. It's an homage Tarantino-style, not a derivative rip-off. The moods belong to the show. The cadences are not those of Peaks, of Lost, of Harpers Island, etc. While flawed in several places, the story and writing are engaging enough and the entire cast are interesting enough to insure I'll return for the next episode. The real trick here lies in the writers, the directors, and especially ABC, continuing to unravel bit by bit, keeping the show taut and engaging, whilst never giving away anything too big just to "keep the audience". If ABC tosses this to the Saturday night dead zone the way they did to Twin Peaks (because Peaks was behind Knots Landing in ratings), or CBS did to Harpers Island (because Harpers Island really had poor ratings from the first episode onward. CBS at least gets credit for respecting the audience the show DID have by airing all the episodes. In an era of TIVO/DVR recordings, that's a noble thing indeed.) I refuse to call this just an homage to the first avant-garde network television series (Twin Peaks) until it proves itself so hollow. The respect paid to Lynch can be spotted in several places (a main character even says she's from Snoqualmie, Washington... the real town where several key places in Twin Peaks were filmed.) Here's hoping Happy Town finds its own counter-cultural mile markers.

Overly written dialogue, campy characters and multiple mysteries inhabit Haplin, Minnesota (where everyone has a secret, and a silly nickname.) Reminiscent of CBS's recent 'Harper's Island,' this plays as only the latest 'Lost'-inspired darkly-woven tale which may or may not include something supernatural.

'Twin Peaks' did this far better before it de-evolved into weirdness for the sake of weirdness. This one has trouble with its tongue-in-cheek humor simply because too much of it is spent trying to be funny.

It could easily improve, as many shows struggle in their early episodes. But it could fall prey to the same fate as 'Harper's Island.' A quick death from lack of sustainable viewers.

I watched the show last night with hopes for a new favorite show. I haven't written it off yet, but I have some concerns. I don't think anyone denies the similarities to a number of past shows, books and movies. "Twin Peaks", "Lost", and "Witches of Eastwick", to name a few. I am excited that one poster, like me, saw some rumblings of Stephen King's "Needful Things." When we learn that Sam Neil (who I have admired since "The Omen III", has a movie memorabilia store that nobody frequents, I immediately though of Leland Gaunt and his little store in Castle Rock, Maine. Above his store is a sign that reads, "caveat emptor" which means "buyer beware". I think Sam Neil could have the same. I'll keep watching until I have more reason not to. How long can the plot hold up? We'll see.

This is a great thriller/mystery who done it that takes time to develop, its so good that by the 4th episode I knew right away it was just a matter of time before ABC would cancel it. Why do you ask? because it slow(giving you tiny tidbits weekly that keeps you guessing) people are too impatient these days, its also too complicated for the simple minded people who prefer romance, cartoons and reality shows where they don't have to use their brains because they can't or won't.

Its the same reason Harper Island, Flashforeword and Damages to name a few shows that have been now been officially canceled, if you have watched those shows you know what they have in common they all keep you guessing waiting to watch the following week. Unlike show like Glee, Pretty little liars, Entourage and many more that are all romanced based eye candy shows that are all aimed for female viewers or cartoons for the kid minded Adult.

Don't get me started on Reality trash which I avoid like the plague they are on only to save Networks money from paying great actors and actresses. If like like those types of shows then TV as we know it is bound for doom and gloom

Really? This looked like somewhat of a promising series. I tuned in possibly because my 62-year-old mother was very excited about it, or maybe because it seemed to have the same tone as Harper's Island. Harper's Island was an eerie murder mystery show that did everything write. The writers knew how to form realistic characters and the emotional aspect of the show was, I'm sure, felt by any person who viewed it. In response to what akingofcomedy said "But it could fall pry to the same fate as 'Harper's Island.' A quick death from lack of sustainable viewers." Harper's Island has many viewers, it did not fall to a "quick death" but was a miniseries. Many murder mysteries such as this can only be miniseries. Happy Town is striving to be something more, and it does not look promising. The plots are cliché, the dialogue so dramatic, deliberate and over-written that I can't help but sigh about 10 times an episode. Sometimes I just look at the screen and ask the writers "Really, do you actually think someone would say that in real life?" Cliché, cliché, and cliché. I don't know what college these writers went to but I can't believe their lack of vision on this. I don't understand how they can't see the number of things wrong with what they are writing. I am possibly most annoyed at the depiction of the first-grader in this show. She's seven, not three. The parents treat as if she's a toddler and she acts as if she is one. I doubt the writers know a seven-year-old because they are writing Michelle Tanner lines. I haven't heard "you got it dude" yet but I am seriously expecting it. Good luck not scoffing while you watch this show.

What a load of crap this show is turning into after such a promising beginning. Still, at only eight projected episodes for the season, it may deserve a chance.

The comparison to TWIN PEAKS surfaced early and it was marginally justified. Now we have writers who seem to be playing off a masterpiece to shore up their sloppy artistry. Why should we continue to care about a Sheriff who would protect someone who drives a spike through a man's head; who removes his badge to beat people up, and yet who imprisons a high-school boy for acting out of outrage--granted, criminally--to protect his girlfriend from a drunken abusive father. Are we still comparing this to TWIN PEAKS. Neither Cooper nor Truman would ever behave in this way, and, via Truman's love for Josie Packard, that show did address the issue of the conflict between the professional and the personal.

Sheriff Conroy--(the one with two hands, as if this entitles him to moral ambidexterity-- sinister, to the say the least)--is too despicable to be the center of meaning in this town. That role has passed, in my opinion, to Andrew Haplin. Tommy Conroy is a vacuous thug, and if we want to push the realism of this, why not extend that charity to excuse the appearance of a mysterious bird. Because TWIN PEAKS had an owl, you see. A clutch of closet Satanists have conjured the Magic Man, and he demands sacrifices. I could be wrong. Either way, for me, on an expressway of self-vindication or through a culvert of chagrin, I suspect the plot will lead to a dumpster.

Happy Town has got to be one of the most confusing shows I can remember. There is only one pace in this series and that is "all out". People want to compare it to Twin Peaks but it isn't even close because at least in Twin Peaks they knew how to pace and build the characters. The plots shifted but not ever 5 minutes. Also, Twin Peaks didn't have camera shots that look like someone handed a 5 year old the camera for action sequences. It is frustrating when a fight scene is done and you have to pause to gain your composure before you toss your cookies.

On a positive note, the characters are fairly believable and the acting is good. There's also plenty of scares in Happy Town and the show comes off as genuinely creepy. The best thing about Happy Town has to be Sam Neil. His character suits him perfectly and you can't help but want to see what he is going to do next.

Sometimes I have to go against the masses and this is one of them. There are many possibilities in Happy Town but things come at you too fast. I felt like I got a season's worth of twists and turns in 2 episodes. If this is the supposed to be ABC's makeup project for Twin Peaks then they have dropped the ball.

I wanted to watch this after hearing comparisons to last year's campy (yet extremely entertaining) Harper's Island. Apart from beginning with a very gruesome death, the similarities end there. Where Harper's Island took delight in murdering its 30 head-strong cast and whittling it down to a mere handful by the end of its run, Happy Town takes a different route dissecting town-life and its many oddities. Case in point - the murderer is revealed in episode 2. This opening murder opens hundreds of threads and tensions running throughout the town. We have the town sheriff going doolally from chasing a previous psychopath who kidnapped one child each year for half a decade and then vanished along with the six children; the first lady and her dynasty threatening and manipulating townsfolk to try and find a child who went missing; a family of hicks who seem to never cause trouble so much as be in the wrong place at the wrong time; a house full of old ladies who calmly gossip about murder before moving on to the more interesting topic of the mysterious British man living on the second floor. The mythology of the Magic Man, the name of the perpetrator who kidnapped all those children, is slowly revealed throughout the 8 episodes all the while important things such as blackmail, sex, murder, drugs and rebellion occur besides other important things such as pizza dough, famous movie lines and cinnamon. The show has so many of those Twin Peak like moments - strange, totally irrelevant, relevant moments that stick more than the revelations going on around this massive cast of characters. The bizarre gallery of humans assembled in Haplin is quite an exciting array of caricatures, clichés and stereotypes. That is probably the show's biggest problem - too many characters. In the first episode, we're introduced to no less than 15 major characters and a further 5 in the next episode. It leaves you wondering who is doing what, who's actually important and trying to remember names. Sadly, it doesn't work too well. Not only have they got too many main characters but the script suffers from some truly boring dialogue which is a shame when the cast is quite fantastic. A lot of the cast is underused (Rachel Conroy, Amy Acker, has about one line in the first two episode and Peggy Hanlin, Francis Conroy, barely gets to do more than look dotty) so when major events occur, you aren't that invested in the outcome. The clunky manner that the conversations run along that are supposed to further the plot leaves you often confused and bored. One thing the show does well is imagine the town of Haplin. It has its own geography and language and when deputes cover up crimes for their friends or old women prevent young girls leaving town, you can believe that it could happen. Stand-out characters include; "Handsome" Dan, a psychotic cop hell-bent on catching the magic man out; Merrick Grieves, Sam Neill's very stiff Brit; Henley Boone, the new girl in town who is keeping her cards close to her chest. I struggled through the 8 episodes to see if it would ramp up any sort of suspense or display a sense of immediacy like that of Harper's Island but unfortunately, it remained rather one track to the end.