‘About a Boy’ premiere review: Did NBC have a hit in series adaptation?

The idea of getting new TV programming on a Saturday night, let alone a Saturday night at 11:00 p.m. Eastern. But, NBC really wanted to use the Olympics as a lead-in to their new comedy “About a Boy,” which, like another one of their shows in “Parenthood,” has some history in other mediums.

But was the show version of it really that interesting? Well, it depends on what your standard for comedy pilots are. We had a guy named Will who was juvenile for his age, and basically was willing to come up with elaborate ruses to ensure that he got what he wanted (i.e. sleeping with women), even if it meant hurting people in the process.

Of course, at some point along the way there was a snag in the plan. Will saw all of his character flaws in a new light, his dream of being irresponsible fell apart, and a typical “friend for exposition purposes” gave him a massive lecture about how he needs to turn things around. In the end, he started to do just that, and prove that he is something more than what many thought. The pilot was, in the end, predictable … just in the way that so many other pilots are.

Still, there was still something sweet about the end of pilot, where Will actually put his ego aside in order to ensure that Marcus, his new young friend and son of Fiona, would not commit social suicide by going out on stage to perform “What Makes You Beautiful” for his mom at a talent show. David Walton is a capable lead, and there could be something here … if you are willing to give it time. We’re sure that there was a big audience watching the pilot, but getting them to stick around on a busy Tuesday night will be a very different story. Grade: B-.

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Photo: NBC