“John From Cincinnati” is about a guy whose name really isn’t John and he doesn’t come from Cincinnati. In fact, nobody knows where he comes from or who he is. He just popped on the beach one day exclaiming “Mitch Yost Must Return!”
And, who is Mitch Yost? He is the aging patriarch of one of the most dysfunctional families to come along since Archie and Edith spawned Gloria. However, this family is set in Imperial Beach, California and loves to hang 10. One of my favorite actors, Bruce Greenwood, stars as the aging, once great surfer, Mitch. He is father to Butchie Yost (Brian Van Holt), who is a drugged-out, used up ex-superstar surfer always looking for the next con. Mitch is also grandfather to Shaun Yost (Greyson Fletcher), an aspiring surfer with great potential. Mitch doesn’t want his grandson having anything to do with surfing, but grandma Cissy Yost, played by the still beautiful Rebecca De Mornay, pushes to have her grandson be the next great Yost surfing pro. Mitch simply doesn’t want him to end up like his father Butchie.
I just realized how old I am getting when Bruce and Rebecca are now playing grandparents to a young teenage boy.
John, portrayed by Austin Nichols (“Surface” & “The Day After Tomorrow”), just pops in from out of nowhere and utters unconnected sentences like “There are things I know, there are things I don’t know!” He appears on the surface to be this half-wit, but there is an undercurrent to his character that makes the audience realize that he is not just some idiot in search of an idea. He has a purpose and it is all tied in somehow with the Yost clan.
In the pilot episode, as John just appears on the beach one early morning and Mitch is out rippin for old-time sake, he meets up with John as he comes to shore, exchanges a few words and the next thing Mitch knows he is levitating about a foot off the ground. He thinks he is having a brain tumor and imagining it until a few hours later in a heated discussion with his son Butchie, he does it again and Butchie freaks out. Mitch looks at his son and says something like, “Well, I guess this rules out a brain tumor!” Pure surfer vibe – you gotta love it.
“John From Cincinnati” has a lot of potential and with a supporting cast like Ed O’Neil (“Married With Children”), Luis Guzmán, Luke Perry and Willie Garson it’s off to a good start.
Is it SF, dramedy or just one of those whacky HBO mixes of everything? The answer is Yes, which is why I’ll be watching it just to see where the writers plan on going with it.
Based on the pilot episode this week I will give “John From Cincinnati” a wary 3 on the Uncle Sam scale of 0 to 5 Stars. As my old surfer buddies use to say back in the day — let’s hope this one can carve and stay on point.
"John From Cincinnati": An Uncle Sam Review
Summary
“John From Cincinnati” has a lot of potential and with a supporting cast like Ed O’Neil (“Married With Children”), Luis Guzmán, Luke Perry and Willie Garson it’s off to a good start.
Is it SF, dramedy or just one of those whacky HBO mixes of everything? The answer is Yes, which is why I’ll be watching it just to see where the writers plan on going with it.
Wow, you liked it a *lot* more than I did. I found it disjointed, sloppy and really dull. I was disappointed because I really like Milch’s work in the past, but this I can’t stick with.
wlg
Despite the disappointing end to the Sopranos (dont even get me started), HBO still is the nuts.
ROME, DEADWOOD and THE WIRE blow away anything I’ve seen on TV in a LOOOONG time. Check ’em out if you have HBO and somehow have missed these gems.
I’ll give John from Cincinnati a chance, its on my TIVO waiting for me…
Those shows you mentioned are some of the best ever to hit tv, no question.
wlg
what is the name of the theme song for john from cincinnati? if anyone could help, that would be great.
The theme song is “Johnny Appleseed” by Joe Strummer. It’s awesome, isn’t it?
My recent article on the new HBO series “John from Cincinnati” may be of interest . . .
“New HBO series ‘John from Cincinnati’ has metaphysical mysteries”
American Chronicle
June 14, 2007
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=29716
I liked the second episode a little better than the first, and, strangely, I expect to keep watching … John from Cinti…
I am completely dumbfounded that HBO would choose to pitch this show to 12 million Soprano watchers. It’s an utterly boring string of nonsensical chatter.
Most people that get HBO watch The Sopranos. I agree that this show, like Deadwood, is not going to appeal to the masses in the same way The Sopranos did, but it only makes sense to pitch your show before the maximum audience possible. I liked the show very much, but makes some rather annoying factual errors in his review. John does not proclaim “Mitch Yost Should Return!”. If you are going to use quotes, at least get the quote correct. What he says is that Mitch Yost “should get back in the game”. Also, the reviewer says Mitch wants Shaun to have “nothing to do with surfing”. This is flat out wrong. It’s clear that Mitch loves surfing, and has fostered both this son and his grandson’s love of the sport. What he wants to keep Shaun away from is not surfing, but professional surfing. His fear is that sponsorship, and the money, women, and fast life that it entails, will lead Shaun down the same path that ruined Butchie.
This has to be by far the worst dialog of any show I’ve ever seen. Half the time, they don’t even seem to be completing sentences.
This show is so lame! I’ve tried to be loyal and watch it but it’s AWFUL – even several episodes into it it’s still bad! The whole “talking to the bird” bit could drive anyone crazy. Sorry HBO but you failed on this one. I agree that almost all of HBO’s series have been incredible. If you have ShowTime – check out Dexter! It’s brillant as well!
If we’re going to lavish praise upon HBO shows, let’s take a moment to recognize the Comeback which was abso=fing=lutely brilliant and, among all HBOs gutdsy shows, made people so uncomfortable it wasn’t renewed.