Tuesday, March 19, 2024

HBO’s “White Lotus” — “Fantasy Island” with Balls — Fails to Find an Audience on Its First Outing

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HBO’s “White Lotus” was no “Mare of Easttown” on Sunday night, more of a deputy mayor.

The first episode of the limited series pulled in just 420,000 viewers in fast overnights. It may pick up a few more fans in delayed viewing, but basically, that’s it.

Will “White Lotus” blossom and become a water cooler show? I’m not sure that’s possible. Unlike “Mare,” this mini series is static. There’s no mystery laid out up front, and the characters are a little weasely.  They’re white and rich and not very interesting. Jennifer Coolidge is thrown in, and we love her, but unless she kills someone soon, forget it.

The big shocker in the first episode is that Steve Zahn whipped out his manhood and grasped it full frontal with a close up on his scrotum. I think we could have all done without that. Was that supposed to be cutting edge? Sexy? Even Connie Britton, who plays his wife, was unimpressed.

“White Lotus” is really just “Fantasy Island” or any of the other 80s Aaron Spelling shows like “Love Boat” or “Hotel.” It’s just a summer filler until the good stuff comes back.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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