RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The TV Set
The TV Set

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The TV Set (2007)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
64 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:73

Fresh:47

Rotten:26

Average Rating:6.3/10

Consensus: Offering both broad and insider jokes, The TV Set is a sharp satire that will please both the average moviegoers and pop culture aficionados.

Runtime: 87 mins

Genre: Television

Synopsis: Go to any bar in Hollywood and you're sure to find a hard-done-by writer who is drowning his or her sorrows after being chewed up and spat out by the network television system. In THE TV SET, Mike... Go to any bar in Hollywood and you're sure to find a hard-done-by writer who is drowning his or her sorrows after being chewed up and spat out by the network television system. In THE TV SET, Mike Klein (David Duchovny) seems set to join them. Klein's script for a TV show called THE WEXLER CHRONICLES was inspired by his brother's suicide, and is very close to his heart. After selling the script to PDN, who are headed by a fearsome executive simply known as Lenny (Sigourney Weaver), Klein watches as everything from the casting to the production goes horribly wrong. Klein has one buddy at the network, a Brit named Richard McCallister. McCallister's former position at the BBC leads Klein to believe that some quality control will be exerted over his project, and hopes McCallister will pull it out of the mire of mundanity that PDN thrives on. But he's very, very wrong, and as Klein's dream turns into dust--the show barely resembles anything he wrote--his health takes a turn for the worse and he enters mid-life-crisis mode. Duchovny and Weaver are outstanding in their roles, adding just the right balance of humor and anger to their characters. THE TV SET is ostensibly a comedy, but may make for painful viewing for anyone involved in the industry, or anyone who hates seeing dreams shattered. But director Jake Kasdan (ZERO EFFECT) manages to add a large dose of absurdity to the proceedings, saving it from being too depressing, and making many of the scenes a genuine hoot. [More]

Starring: David Duchovny, Sigourney Weaver, Ioan Gruffudd, Judy Greer

Starring: David Duchovny, Sigourney Weaver, Ioan Gruffudd, Judy Greer, Fran Kranz, Lindsay Sloane, Lucy Davis, Willie Garson, Justine Bateman

Director: Jake Kasdan

Director: Jake Kasdan
Screenwriter: Jake Kasdan
Producer: Aaron Ryder
Composer: Michael Andrews
Studio: ThinkFilm

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
1 of 1

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for The TV Set

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

David Duchovny as the writer delivers a turn so listless and bland, you want to goose him with a cattle prod.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
04/06/07
Erica Abeel
Erica Abeel
Film Journal International

... a pointed satire of the dumbing down of network TV with a sour tone and a broad execution.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
04/19/07
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

A mostly lightweight endeavor that never builds any genuine emotional traction. And you have to wonder if it's just a little too 'inside' to resonate with a sizable audience.

Full Review Source: Contra Costa Times | comment Comment
04/20/07
Chuck Barney
Chuck Barney
Contra Costa Times

Not a backstage film for the ages, but it manages to be a bit more useful than the vast bulk of its stablemates.

Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | comment Comment
09/20/07
Tim Brayton
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy

A clever satire on the dynamics of prime-time television in America with its sleazy programs and its slavery to ratings and ad dollars.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
04/05/07
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

Kasdan wisely doesn't make this about the big, bad bosses vs. the creative geniuses who won't compromise. It's a well-balanced look at a process, which, from the outside seems arbitrary and convoluted, but from the inside makes sense.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
04/27/07
Teresa Budasi
Teresa Budasi
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A tart, smart, closely observed satire of the television industry.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
04/20/07
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Boston Globe

Yes, it’s funny because it’s true. But it’s also sad for just the same reason.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
05/04/07
Toddy Burton
Toddy Burton
Austin Chronicle

if Kasdan's point was to use the film as metaphor, its attitude towards the audience is spiteful at best

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
04/05/07
Chris Cabin
Chris Cabin
Filmcritic.com

What rescues The TV Set is the character work.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
10/03/07
David Cornelius
David Cornelius
eFilmCritic.com

... wickedly funny ...

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
04/09/07
Kevin Crust
Kevin Crust
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Kasdan has the narrative vision (and the b*lls) to let most of the fun derive from what isn’t there rather than what is.

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
04/05/07
Telly Davidson
Telly Davidson
FilmStew.com

The satire is unrelenting but not too broad; it stays close to common observation.

Full Review Source: New Yorker | comment Comment
04/09/07
David Denby
David Denby
New Yorker

It’s deftly calibrated and acted with relish: [writer-director] Kasdan is really good!

Full Review Source: New York Magazine | comment Comment
04/02/07
David Edelstein
David Edelstein
New York Magazine

David Duchovny, Justine Bateman, Ioan Gruffudd and Sigourney Weaver star in this biting look at the creatively draining world of TV sitcom production.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
05/10/07
Jason Ferguson
Jason Ferguson
Orlando Weekly

At its best, The TV Set is wry and even laugh-out-loud funny about the messy tangle of art, commerce and family, as talented creative types try to stay true to themselves and put food on the table.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
04/05/07
Scott Foundas
Scott Foundas
L.A. Weekly

A facile but likable send-up of how things (don't) work in Hollywood.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
05/10/07
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Much like the television pilot it revolves around, the pale satire The TV Set doesn't quite know what it wants to be.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
04/06/07
Gary Goldstein
Gary Goldstein
Reel.com

What with its utter lack of passion, it's difficult to say if the film wants to be taken as satire, but if it does then this one counts as a toothless dog.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
03/25/07
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

It gets high ratings for razor sharp writing and direction as well as a wonderful ensemble cast delivering terrific performances.

Full Review Source: Maxim | comment Comment
04/06/07
Pete Hammond
Pete Hammond
Maxim
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
all

Latest News for The TV Set

September 26, 2007: David Duchovny Talks X-Files 2
The truth is out there. And so is the sequel. More...

September 25, 2007: RT on DVD: Knocked Up Arrives, Delivers Healthy Bonus Menu
Judd Apatow fans, get thee to a video store! Knocked Up, starring Seth Rogen, is out on DVD today and features an entire disc of bonus materials that make it well worth your... More...

April 28, 2007: Trailer & Poster review Opens in new window
More...

April 05, 2007: Critical Consensus: "Grindhouse" Is Gory Glory; "Done" Needs Fixing; "Firehouse" Is Mangy; "Reaping" Is Plagued
This week at the movies, we've got sleaze (Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez' "Grindhouse," starring Kurt Russell and Rose McGowan), fixer-uppers ("Are We... More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
14% 14% The Ugly Truth
98% 98% Up
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
86% 86% A Christmas Tale
60% 60% Paper Heart

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

5 facts straight from the cast.

Disney Animation

Disney Animation

We chart the studio's classics.

Avatar

Avatar

An exclusive look at the human hardware.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana

The Star Trek star talks cars with RT.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • No Hobbit Until 2012? Source: The Wrap
15
  • Don't Hold Your Breath for Hancock 2 Source: HitFix
28
  • Peter Berg Talks Battleship Source: CHUD
1
  • Summit Ponders Twilight Finale Source: Variety
141
  • First Look at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Source: USA Today
54
  • Jeremy Renner Talks Hawkeye Possibilities Source: Superhero Hype
14
  • Todd Phillips Talks The Hangover 2 Source: Entertainment Weekly
18
  • Tron Legacy Duo Heading into The Black Hole Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
  • First Iron Man 2 Poster Released Source: Yahoo! Movies
80
  • Ryan Reynolds Talks Green Lantern Source: MTV
16
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
99
  • Friday Harvest: The Road, Avatar, and more!
96
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
91
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Vampires and Football Break Thanksgiving Records
38
  • Total Recall: Natalie Portman's Best Movies
35
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
28
  • Five Favorite Films with Jesse Ventura
27
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Terminator Salvation and a Smithsonian Battle
20
  • Duncan Jones Reteams With Kevin Spacey
5
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
11
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
21
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
22
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The TV Set at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The TV Set at IGN
  • The TV Set at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.