I didn't like Pan Am personally, at least not the Pilot. I found the overall storyline pretentious, unrealistic, and with some bad acting in there too. Just couldn't get in to/ believe the whole Russian/British spy spin either.
TPC, on the other hand, dealt with more sincere issues of the 1960's, in Chicago. Mobsters were very real in that time and locale and probably 3/4ths of America (except maybe for the South and prairie-Northern states) at least knew someone of someone that was related/ and/or acquainted with a "family" member. The acting in TPC was also top-notch, I'll take the knockout-yet-modest Amber Heard over that plain-but-proud fake French girl on Pan Am any day. In fact the only actress I respected on PA is Kelly Garner; even Christina Ricci does not seem like herself as evidenced by a recent Jeopardy episode. Coca-eyes would be an understatement.
I just enjoyed the Bunnys' storylines much better overall; better character development.. hell even the oft-bitchy "House Mom" just had a sparkle to her that almost no actress of PA currently can compete with. BTW I'm a female, so this has nothing to do with physical attraction or lust. TPC just was easier to follow, with much more likable characters, which is ironic because it IS a bunch of hot young women scantily clad in lingerie, yet their characters were all so 3-dimensional compared to that crapfest that is PA.
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FlaxyMartin
13 years ago
The way Pan Am is shot reminds me of Desperate Housewives. It has a prime time soap opera feel to it, and I feel they do nostalgia in a very cheesy way.
I agree, the whole spy or whatever subplot seems so silly. I too think some of the acting is bad and some scenes have made me cringe.
It is a shame that advocacy groups chose to pick on TPC vs PA when both show women in a somewhat negative light. And not on purpose - it actually is pretty accurate with the times. I think the word "Playboy" just makes people uneasy to begin with. I think if people would have stopped comparing this show to Mad Men, they would have been able to see that money was spent on these episodes and there was some decent acting, great musical numbers, and a plot that probably would have played out to something grand overall by the season finale.
This is definitely a show I hope USA Network or FX similar will take on. The sets have been built, the show has promise. Maybe if they can get away with more racy dialog and steamier sex scenes, people will "buy" it. I don't know. At least advocacy groups will STFU since it will be pay cable.
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wakanasakai
13 years ago
"Pan Am" & "Playboy Club" both have one thing in common. They're both about something that is BORING AS HELL. If George W was still president, he'd FORCE people to watch these shows, because watching these shows is almost as bad as being water boarded.
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