The *OFFICIAL* Happy Town Thread

[Grimace]

Okay, so tonight is the premiere of ABC's latest: Happy Town. I just watched a clip and it LOOKS SCARY and awesome. Not to mention M.C. Gainey plays the crazy town sheriff. Here's a brief (sort of) synopsis of the show.


Haplin, Minnesota, "Happy Town," has enjoyed an uneasy peace for five years, but all that is about to change. Still haunted by a number of unsolved kidnappings, the small town now faces a dark new crime that brings all its unresolved fears to the surface. Has the elusive "Magic Man" - who many believe is responsible for the bizarre abductions -- returned to claim another victim? As Haplin's mysteries are revealed, many of its prominent citizens' motives come under scrutiny as their own secrets and personalities are peeled back one layer at a time.

Dragged away from his idyllic family life to investigate the new spate of crimes, Tommy Conroy (Geoff Stults), a small town deputy under the wing of his dad, long-time popular Sheriff Griffin Conroy (M.C. Gainey), has never had to take charge of Haplin's law enforcement. His comfortable lifestyle is suddenly turned upside down by a bizarre set of circumstances and he must learn to pool his smarts - without the necessary training and tools - to rally the residents, as well as to keep his wife, Rachel (Amy Acker), daughter Emma (Sophia Ewaniuk) and the rest of Haplin safe.

On the other side of town, the long shadow of the Haplin founding family, represented by mysterious matriarch Peggy Haplin (Frances Conroy) and her son, John (Steven Weber), who runs the local bread factory, "Our Daily" Bakery and Confectionery, try to maintain control. John's daughter was one of the "Magic Man's" victims, and he has not given up hope of finding her and seeing justice done. Little does he know that his son, Andrew (Ben Schnetzer), has been carrying on a hot, secret romance with the Conroys' babysitter, Georgia Bravin (Sarah Gadon), who is definitely from the other side of the tracks.

When Henley Boone (Lauren German) drops in on Haplin, she is struck by the purple mountain majesty of this sun-splashed town, tempered by a recurring bit of curious graffiti -- a halo with a question mark under it. Henley's mother used to spend time vacationing here, and while looking to uncover information about her family's past, Henley finds herself drawn into a web of romance and intrigue she never could have foreseen. What's she really here for, and can she be trusted?

But Henley isn't the only outsider to make a home in Haplin. From his charming but irrelevant film memorabilia shop, The House of Ushers, to his way with the lively widows residing at the Meadows Boarding House with him, the ever-dapper Merritt Grieves (Sam Neill) seems strangely sinister... or is he? What does he have to hide?

Haplin is full of colorful characters, including Big Dave Duncan (Abraham Benrubi) and the nefarious Stiviletto brothers, but many in this small town in middle America have skeletons in their closets. Who will step up and help unearth the secrets that have festered under Haplin's cheery exterior? How will its citizens deal with the revelations? And who is the "Magic Man"? Does he really exist, and can he be stopped?



I'll be watching tonight for sure. Who knows, this may be the next big thing.

[boonie]

Oooh I'm here...all alone...housesitting in this basement. Why WOULDN'T I watch this scary show? :o

No seriously, I'll watch :D

[Grimace]

Oooh I'm here...all alone...housesitting in this basement. Why WOULDN'T I watch this scary show? :o

No seriously, I'll watch :D

I have a feeling you're not going to get much sleep. This show looks f**ked up. I can't wait.

[boonie]

Eh my sleep hasn't been the greatest anyway. I'm gonna watch.

I might need you to protect me later :eek::o:p

[BWIT]

might be interesting, but it might be like Twin Peaks and not last.

[Back up handsome]

what time is it on?

[Illyria]

10 pm EST Backup.

[Back up handsome]

Thanks Illy :) I def might check this out. especially since i programmed the thing to record South Park

[Grimace]

Thanks Illy :) I def might check this out. especially since i programmed the thing to record South Park

You must watch it. Your life depends on it. :evil:

[Back up handsome]

I am SO watching it now. I cannot die before LOST ends.

[Grimace]

I am SO watching it now. I cannot die before LOST ends.

I always knew you had the right survival instincts.

[Illyria]

Will we be using this as our in chat thread? :p

[boonie]

I think so :p

[Illyria]

Excellent. I will be getting wine and my dark chocolate reeses cups now.

[Illyria]

LMAO. Seriously?? They start with the morality tale? :rolleyes:

[boonie]

LOL...this sucks. I am watching this on a lfkjgljhfldkfjhrh 13 inch tv. :(

[boonie]

GRIIIIIIMMMMMMYYY!!! :eek:

[Illyria]

Ohh holy crap, hammer and anvil death?? AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

[boonie]

And I don't mean that reminds me of Grimmy I mean GRIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMY!!! I need you!!! :p

[Illyria]

Grimmy just stabbed someone in the face on NATIONAL TV@

Quick, we need to get our alibis for him together.

[boonie]

Oh right yes.

*shuffles papers*

[Illyria]

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek: :huzzah:

[Illyria]

Awwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FRIENDLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[boonie]

Mr. Friendly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :p

[boonie]

Totally looked away from the tv and missed Fred...you mean Amy Acker? :eek:

[Illyria]

YES! She is the wife of the guy who just got punched. :p

[Illyria]

I love that Friendly just had a metaphysical monologue.

Uh oh.. Who is Chloe?? :p

[boonie]

I can't believe I missed her...damn this tv it is not big enough to hold my attention. :o

[coxie0520]

what the hell? this show started already?

[Illyria]

OMG Sam NEILL???????????????/

With his almost real accent?? :faints:

Why is the 3rd floor off limits??

[Illyria]

There she is Boonie! THERE

[Grimace]

I'm about 5 minutes behind but I'm catching up. I like it so far.

[boonie]

I saw her!!!

That man looked like Stephen Weber? Of course I can't TELL...his head was the size of an olive :mad:

I'm gonna have to watch tomorrow online. :rolleyes:

[Illyria]

It IS Stephen Weber.

This cast is INSANE. If this show tanks it will NOT be because of the cast.

What the FRAK is he talking about????

Ohh. I think he is having seizures.

[Grimace]

Where's the little blonde chick from?

[boonie]

I think shes the only one I don't know! :p

[Illyria]

The little teenager babysitter? No clue. Iam looking her up now. :p

Her name is Sarah Gadon. The only thing I think I may have seen her is was an ep of Flashpoint. I have not heard of anything else that she has done.

[Illyria]

Did he just say "the back of my BALLS would test positive for baking powder?" :eek:

Because if he did... :roflmao:

[Grimace]

Did he just say "the back of my BALLS would test positive for baking powder?" :eek:

Because if he did... :roflmao:

He totally did and I thought "Nice! Way to go abc!" :p

[Illyria]

Awesome! :D

And I am loving the Friendly Sam Neill show down. SO HOT. :o

[Grimace]

Awesome scene in the diner! Anyone remember the diner guy. He played Kubiak in Parker Lewis Can't Lose.

[Illyria]

DOH! No no no no noNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Illyria]

Diner guy is also Jerry from ER. :D

[Grimace]

Yup. This show rocks. Freaky as hell. I love it.

[boonie]

I can't wait to actually be able to SEE it...and I just watched it, lol.

[Illyria]

Yeah, I thought he was having either seizures or mini strokes but now... I am not so sure..

I will be putting it on the Tivo list for now. :p

[Lost Badger]

I was so afraid Mr. Friendly was going to off himself. Whew.
What was that line he spat out? Something like, "If you touch the baby Jesus, I'll have to put you in the cow suit." :lmao:
Overall, I like the show. It has some potential, although the nickname "magic man" is kind of laughable.

[BWIT]

aw, MC Gainey is not going to be a regular? too bad.

[Cabin Fevah]

I'm intrigued but there were plenty of times during the episode that I rolled my eyes. This is most every Pilot you see but a few things like the 'Magic Man' nickname are going to continue and I'll probably roll my eyes every time.

As cool as Sam Neill is, I'm not big on his character. He lives in this house with 6 women, runs an old timey movie store, has wine at dinner at Big Dave's Pizza but they still portray him like there's something more sinister. Something is missing there.

Stivelleto Brothers? Little over the top but I think I get it.

On the plus side: The Haplin family story- reallllly interested. The acting there went the extra mile for what was a minute total. What do you want to bet their kid is alive?

Friddle (with the hole in his head?): I'm not going to go 100% with assuming it's the magic man. The Friendly freak out might indicate that but Friddle's body didn't disappear. He was interrogated and then killed. Maybe a Magic Man seeker?

Overall, pretty good. It started with action and ended with action. I think it's weird that the final shot is just like Lost....and V....and FF...It's like, if you've made it that far through the episode, you probably have a good idea about what show you're watching. Playing the Lost card on all these ABC shows is just becoming predictable. They understand that we're into cliffhangers and in some cases the supernatural but this is getting ridiculous.

[FaradayFan4815]

I watched this last night before Fringe. Looks promising!

Confession: When I heard Sam Neill was in the show I was totally thinking Sam Elliot... When Sam Neill showed up, I said, "Oh, that guy?"

[boonie]

Gawddammit. It's on right now, isn't it. Crap...halfway over. :mad:

[Illyria]

:roflmao:

Boonie I forgot too until I saw you posted in here. :p

NO idea what is going on, but hot sheriff kicking the crap out of the rednecks was hot. :o

[boonie]

LOL...we are too alike...I was just about to google his name and pics for the HMC thread :D



I have no idea what the hell is going on either...and all I can think is Jerry from ER :o:p

[Illyria]

I know I keep saying "Friendly!" "OLAF!"

:p :o

[boonie]

Hahahaa!!! :roflmao:

OLAF!!

[Grimace]

I didn't get a chance to watch tonight's episode. The Mrs. wasn't feeling well, so I was taking care of her. I DVR'ed it. I'll probably watch tomorrow.

[Illyria]

But he IS! :D

That is why I love him so much. :o

[boonie]

Aw, that's sweet Grimmy.

I still havent rewatched last week's that I watched on a too small TV, so I have both to catch up on...

[FaradayFan4815]

Tonight's ep was pretty good. Some of the acting is pretty bad (Stivaletto Brothers in particular), but this show still looks like it has potential. I'll tune in again next week.

My take, the Stivalettos are being painted as bad guys, but they're not. They're just misunderstood, well-intentioned, backward rednecks from the wrong side of town. And Big Dave is effed in the head.

[BWIT]

OMG it's Peter Outerbridge (pudding guy)

I love that guy

[Swan815]

Howdy folks, haven't stopped by this thread till now but wanted to tell you I found the origin of "mooching the stem": old hobo-speak for "begging on the streets". I still don't know why Frances Conroy said it, but here's the link:
http://www.hobonickels.org/alpert04.htm
Happy Days (and please god make the writing get better on this show, they are killing me softly...) :D

[Kisiwa]

I'm intrigued but there were plenty of times during the episode that I rolled my eyes. This is most every Pilot you see but a few things like the 'Magic Man' nickname are going to continue and I'll probably roll my eyes every time.

Me too. I love the cast, the setting, and think the show has great potential, but there were some things about the writing that I found eye-rolling. It reminds me of Twin Peaks, but without the beauty & style. I'm hoping they can focus a little more on the characters and make me care about them before they hit us with too many mysterious things all at once. Part of the beauty of shows like LOST and Twin Peaks is that the characters are pretty well written and well developed, so it's easier to follow the script anywhere it may take you, no matter how strange.

[Lost Badger]

Apparently the show has already been canceled, lol. They're showing the final 5 episodes they filmed, but I'm probably not going to bother watching. Unless they figured this was coming, there probably won't be a satisfactory resolution, and it wasn't that great (or even that good) to begin with.

[Cabin Fevah]

Are you fuckin' kidding me? With last nights episode it was just starting to get good. Carl Braven's description of the magic man? Chilling.

I wish ABC had given this a better chance than V. If the roles were switched, they could have Happy Town shut down to retool and cancel V, giving it a mini-series type ending where they blow up the head ship and all the humans wake up and figure out their being duped. Like Kis just said, there's great potential with Happy Town. Maybe kill off the Sam Neil character and maybe Granny Haplin but otherwise they've got a solid base.

About last night- didn't they agree in the pilot that the banner of the missing people wouldn't be posted during thaw fest?

[outlaw.roberta]

i haven't seen a single episode of this show.

BUT...

i was REALLY into watching it when the previews were all creepy looking....

like Criminal Minds, but without a new story every week....

anyway, the point is that once the previews started alluding to a divorcee and her family, ( not even sure that's what's going on here ) i completely lost interest.

[Siren]

Are me and my friends the only people who laughed hysterically through these previews? Are there really 7 pages here? I guess the show had some redeemable qualities after all? Or no, since it's been cancelled?

They laid it on too thick for me to give it any credit as a potentially watchable show. I mean, I almost thought it was a spoof the way the beginning starts out with the "nothing to see here, we're all totally normal, happy people willing to give you a fresh start!" intro and the music box type music, quickly crossing over into screams, the typical creepy soundtrack and talk of a murder named "the magic man."

Ok, I'm laughing again. :roflmao:

[Cabin Fevah]

A divorcee on CM or HT? News to me...

[Cabin Fevah]

Are me and my friends the only people who laughed hysterically through these previews? Are there really 7 pages here? I guess the show had some redeemable qualities after all? Or no, since it's been cancelled?

They laid it on too thick for me to give it any credit as a potentially watchable show. I mean, I almost thought it was a spoof the way the beginning starts out with the "nothing to see here, we're all totally normal, happy people willing to give you a fresh start!" intro and the music box type music, quickly crossing over into screams, the typical creepy soundtrack and talk of a murder named "the magic man."

Ok, I'm laughing again. :roflmao:

The previews, yeah, I laughed a lot. The show has a pretty different tone, though.

[Grimace]

I actually think that whole intro and promos and stuff were meant to be campy like that. As in, they did it on purpose. It's sort of a nod to that 'Stepford Wives' type genre. I'm not totally engrossed with the show, but it is nice to have something that's not a cop or hospital drama. Some of the acting isn't great and it sort of jumps all over the place, but I think some folks may have missed the intention of the promos and such. That's just me, though.

[Kisiwa]

Here's the thing, how does Happy Town get canned when V stays on the air? Don't get me wrong, I love the original V, but this remake is pretty awful (still I watch).

Happy Town was at least somewhat original.