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Swingtown

post #1 of 34
6/5/08 at 11:13pm
Thread Starter 
I took a look at this out of curiousity. What struck me more then the business about swinging, was the music!

This was music from my highschool years. I wondered if they'd use the real music and it appears they did. I got a kick out of the Gerrard turntable, the avacado kitchen appliances and the cars!

It will be interesting to see how this series does, aside from the timeperiod, it seems like any other drama about several families and their lives.
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post #2 of 34
6/6/08 at 3:56am

Re: Swingtown

We'll be watching it tonight.
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post #3 of 34
6/6/08 at 7:49am

Re: Swingtown

Nelson, I agree. I am curious to see if the producers will be able to maintain the level of music through the series. Some of the choices were a bit obvious (I liked the daughter asking her father if he was being ironic while listening to Chicago on the eight track.) Other observations:

Loved the retro CBS fireworks logo going into the first scene.

The editing between scenes was fairly strong although I hope they employ other techniques and don't have the one 'go to' edit. Using the egg on the plate was a nice touch at the breakfast scene near the end of the show.

The haircuts (especially the men's) brought back some '70s memories.

- Walter.
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post #4 of 34
6/6/08 at 9:21am

Re: Swingtown

I'm surprised no one mentioned the music...advertisements. There's nothing better than watching a show and having a pop-up tell you how great that song is and where to go and buy it...
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post #5 of 34
6/6/08 at 4:00pm

Re: Swingtown

My wife noticed that.

I did notice an anachronism: An electrical socket in the kitchen had a ground-fault interrupt, which was not built into receptacles until the early 1980s.
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post #6 of 34
6/12/08 at 8:09pm

Re: Swingtown

Did this show get cancelled after one episode? Did CBS cancel this or has our local CBS channel decided to not air anymore episodes. At 9:45 pm Central time I turned to our local CBS channel and they were showing a Time-Life infomercial instead of Swingtown. My wife predicted this show would only last one episode even before the first episode aired.
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post #7 of 34
6/12/08 at 8:13pm

Re: Swingtown

There was a time life --Commercial-- shown, that didn't last but a minute. The episode played as normal. I've no idea if the show will, or should, stick around but the pilot did quite well.
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post #8 of 34
6/12/08 at 8:29pm

Re: Swingtown

Is this the series that has Jack Davenport from Coupling in it?
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post #9 of 34
6/13/08 at 12:09am

Re: Swingtown

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hewell
Is this the series that has Jack Davenport from Coupling in it?

Yep.

I'm a little tired of the former neighbors (the wife) playing the "hurt" card against Susan.
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post #10 of 34
6/13/08 at 9:25am

Re: Swingtown

Watching last night's episode, I found that it contains MOSTLY original music. The one that stuck out as a remake is "Love Grows" by Edison Lighthouse (Susan at the train station). Whether it is them in a remake or some other group, definitely not original. It was not listed in the end of songs you can buy on-line. There may have been some other remakes, but some of the music was buried in the background and hard to tell. There was also bits on generic music in the background, too.

This show should be called "Desperate Housewives in the 70s". Not quite a comedy, not quite a soap opera. You have the swinger couples, the straight laced couple and the couple in the middle who are not sure which way to swing. So many references to things to make you notice this is the 70's, borrowing a dime to use the payphone at the Playboy Club all rolled into one. The scene at the stock exchange, no computers, just slips of papers, yelling and phone calls. What did look out of place was Trina jogging. Her outfit (tank top and shorts) did not look like something from the 70's more like the 90's.
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post #11 of 34
6/13/08 at 9:38am
Thread Starter 

Re: Swingtown

The show is continuing to track the main character's reactions and changes to their lives as they met the swinging couple and experience their lifestyle and how it affects their best friends who are appalled at the life style.

I hope that was the intent as you can only go so far with the swinging. The lives of the kids are of interest too.

I thought it was mighty odd to see a Time Life commercial for the music of the Psychodelic era and Peter Fonda fronting it on a major network broadcast instead of on a local station during syndication repeats!

I think this show could be interesting. Is it the Wonder Years for this season or nostagia?
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post #12 of 34
6/13/08 at 6:53pm

Re: Swingtown

I am really enjoying the show. Waiting an eternity for Big Love to return, this is the next best thing, in somewhat the same vein. The music of the 70's really makes this show special for me.
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post #13 of 34
6/13/08 at 7:34pm

Re: Swingtown

sounds to me like most of the music is either fake bands or re recorded original
band.

the Heart song was heart but an obvious re-recording.
was it Crazy on You?
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post #14 of 34
6/15/08 at 1:21pm

Re: Swingtown

Finally got around to watching the second episode earlier today. This is rapidly becoming a favorite. The show is not taking itself too seriously with scenes like the opening dream sequence and the juggling of melons at the super market.

- Walter.
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post #15 of 34
6/17/08 at 11:02am

Re: Swingtown

The songs at the Playboy Club were a mixed bag. The Bee Gees "You should be dancing" sounded original (although it was already used in a dance sequence on That 70's show). "Rock your baby" by George McCrae also sounded like a remake, but it could be they added echo to make it sound like a dance club situation. All those little bits on various radios sound like they could be subbed out when it comes out on video and replaced with generic music if they needed to.
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post #16 of 34
6/19/08 at 5:03am

Re: Swingtown

Ah, CRAP! This is on already? I thought that this was slated for the fall. Damn! Damn! Damn!
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post #17 of 34
6/20/08 at 9:20am
Thread Starter 

Re: Swingtown

Episode 3, Double Exposure; Susan and Bruce and delving more into an alternative lifestyle after all.

Again, I was surprised, the music did for the most part sound real, and I was surprised by the caliber of the actual songs used like Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones and Earth Wind and Fire. Wasn't entirely sure, but the Paul Simon song could have been real too.

Fondue, reminds me of an episode of The Odd Couple.
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post #18 of 34
6/30/08 at 9:24am

Re: Swingtown

Episode 4 - One word: Sleestaks
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post #19 of 34
6/30/08 at 11:20am

Re: Swingtown

One word: Sleestaks


....and Enik the Altrusian


But seriously, I've liked the show so far. It's been interesting following the 3 main plotlines (parents, son, and daughter).
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post #20 of 34
6/30/08 at 12:01pm

Re: Swingtown

Molly Parker is one fine looking woman. Just waiting for her character Susan to get it on with her best friend's hubby...
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post #21 of 34
6/30/08 at 5:58pm

Re: Swingtown

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Sun
Molly Parker is one fine looking woman.

Yes!
I already have a serious redhead thing but she is like royalty.

BTW, the bike shop and the library were open on Sunday?
I want to live in that town.
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post #22 of 34
7/13/08 at 9:33am
Thread Starter 

Re: Swingtown

I have been watching still and it's interesting to see how this show is developing.

They did delve into the consequences of swinging and they actually did touch on the effects of jealousy on the Deckers. It appears it will be touched on more next week.

The Miller's appear to be changing as well with Molly breaking out and exploring the Women's movement as the past two show are developing. Interesting that Jack is not so open to the social changes of the era as many men probably were not.

And an interesting twist, the Thompsons who were most resisitant to changes of the open lifestyles of the Deckers, we see Janet touch on the fringe aspects by eating drug laced brownies and then through her friend Molly suddenly embraced as part of the conservative inner circle of the Country Club through Molly as her husband's boss' wife is head of.

Molly was initially not interested in joining the Country Club as it appeared to be a group of frivolous sicchophants more interested in the social hierachy. It would certainly help her husband's standing in the company he works for with the old boy network. It will be interesting to see how they resolves such a clash as Molly appears to be joining the Country Club to shake it up and make it actually a force for good and change.

And an interesting subplot of more social changes of the times, a female co-worker of Jack is breaking gender roles by advancing along and using her wits and sex appeal in a male dominated job without degrading herself.

Poor Janet as she will learn that her new found friends of wealth may be short lived as her hubby Roger losses his job the same day. Or perhaps her new friends will help Roger get a better job through her new network. Looks like they could continue the kind of 1950's life style that many would aspire to.

The affair that Laurie appears to be starting with her teacher is an interesting aspect that this show is going too. Not sure what the writers are going for here, except to show the breaking of more social taboos. And the son, B.J., will he save the neighbor's daughter and keep his best friend too?

I read this show is doing really well in the ratings a few weeks back. No doubt the summer re-runs makes this new content interersting and helps the numbers. The show is interesting as a window to the times of the 70's, but beyond that I wonder if it's compelling enough to last beyond the nostolgia.
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post #23 of 34
7/13/08 at 10:41am

Re: Swingtown

I thought it was funny to see Captain Awesome (from "Chuck"Y show up for an unexpected 3-way with the Deckers.
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post #24 of 34
7/27/08 at 7:39pm

Re: Swingtown

Not much activity on the HTF for this show. (I hope that those of you who have been enjoying the show are still watching in the new Friday slot.)

Watched the newest episode this weekend and (for me) the show is still delivering. This episode featured a new 'fantasy' segment at the opening of the show that played like a full on 70's soft core feature. (The lighting, the blown out highlights on the water, the sunglasses that Susan wore, where the camera focused on Roger , etc. etc.) I also thought that the use of 'Midnight at the Oasis' was a good fit for the scene, in terms of the mood of the music and how it complemented the languid nature of the sequence.

I am a big fan of the show's visual style and this opening really showcased that characteristic. Not sure what the impetus of the schedule change might be (haven't really looked around on the web) but I hope this series continues.

Perhaps I am overanalyzing the show, but I wonder if the new segment was meant to be compared to Janet's segment in week 2 (or 3?) as a mechanism for contrasting the characters of Janet and Susan?

One final comment regarding the fantasy opening, Molly Parker continues to be one fine looking woman.

- Walter.
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post #25 of 34
7/29/08 at 12:56am

Re: Swingtown

I'm saving it for late August/Early Sept viewing when the network shows aren't quite back yet, but the summer is basically over.
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post #26 of 34
8/1/08 at 2:25pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Swingtown

I finally had a chance to see my recording of Puzzlerama. I agree it was a good episode. The fantasy segment and the way they did the dissolves was fun.

Aside from the main focus of the plots, looks like the spearate story of the daughter having the relationship with her teacher is going to soon intersect with her mother.

There were a lot of good songs this week too!
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post #27 of 34
8/3/08 at 7:46am

Re: Swingtown

Ok, so this week definitely had the squick factor going on with the kid basically stumbling in on the parents mid-action, and vice/versa.

I loved the scene revolving around the Republican Convention of '76, where teacher kept saying 'wow did we dodge a bullet they didn't nominate Reagan'. Whether or not they gave him some sort of super insight into the future or not, it was a great wink to the audience that even though it was set in the past the writers were aware of the present and future to come for the characters.

That having been said, some of the acting in this show is down right terrible. In fact, it's so bad that it borders on unwatchable at times. The problem is you have a mix between actors that are at least watchable in their roles and some that seem to be sleepwalking.

Some of the relationships setup really nicely in where they could be going. But the farther the show goes, the more I realize that going back to the 1970s for this setting is somewhat of a cop out. I had thought originally that the back story would really require the time period, but the setting in time is being used mostly just for the gimmick factor.

But putting the lifestyle back in the 1970s is a lot like saying "see, everyone out grew this, this stuff doesn't happen anymore". Meanwhile a show like "Big Love" is a lot riskier in it's modern day telling.

I guess this show would be a lot edgier, a lot more cutting to watch if it were set it a more current time frame - because I have no doubt that "swinging" is just as common, if not moreso, today then in the 1970s.

I think I liked the 1970s setting originally because it gave them a good chance to show the sexual revolution, and to have their lifestyle be more "on the sly" against an older generation and the rules of the past.

I think they were starting down this way with the old neighbors, etc. but their characters have turned really wishy-washy, so there isn't a stark contrast at all present in their life to hold them to the old social norms and create the kind of conflict that could really be interesting.

I'll keep watching, but the show has moved in a direction where, while risky subject matter wise, it's went very safe for the characters.
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post #28 of 34
9/5/08 at 9:53am
Thread Starter 

Re: Swingtown

Just curious if anyone knows how Swingtown is doing in the eyes of CBS and the ratings?

I was amused by last week's episode "Surprise" and the direction of the show is taking an interesting turn.

There's a new episode tonight and we're getting close to the September new season premieres. I just checked the CBS site, I guess tonight's episode is the finale. If this show is still alive, I'm wondering if it's renewed, will it continue into the 2008 season? Maybe resuming in January?
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post #29 of 34
9/5/08 at 11:41am

Re: Swingtown

Almost surely not January. They're trying to shop the show to a cablenet. Evidently, there isn't much hope for this show, long-term, if it cannot find a home where it can show more skin.
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post #30 of 34
9/5/08 at 12:33pm

Re: Swingtown

I love this show and hope it returns somwhere.

DVD has been announced for 12/9.
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