S01.E01: Pilot

[formerlyfreedom]

Quote

In this first episode of E!'s new scripted series, movie star Kyle West (Josh Henderson) meets budding actress Megan Morrison (Christine Evangelista) at an audition for his new movie. The pair quickly starts up a relationship, but Megan soon learns that there are a lot of strings attached to being involved with Kyle.  One of those strings? A $10 million marriage contract created by Kyle's best friend and leader of the Institute of the Higher Mind, Terence (Michael Vartan).

E! has dropped the pilot episode on-line. Beware! If you enter this topic prior to the broadcast airing, and you have not watched it online, you will be spoiled!

[missbonnie]

I checked this out mainly because I loved Josh Henderson on Dallas. Sadly though the first episode had me zzzz. 

[MVFrostsMyPie]

1 hour ago, Gabrielle Tracy said:

I watched this On Demand yesterday because, well, I didn't have anything else going on.  I liked it!  I didn't realize that Michael Vartan could play creepy so well and it's always nice to see John Henderson.  I didn't particularly care for the actress who plays Megan, so hopefully she'll grow on me.

Yes, he's expressed interest before in playing darker characters, so it'll be interesting to see just how creepy his character gets.

It took me awhile to realize the Megan chick is one of Negan's sister-wives on TWD. 

[Anela]

I only liked the pregnant lady. 

[tanita]

Was it me, or did that scene with the therapist look straight out of porn ? The acting was certainly at that level.

Institute of the Higher Mind = Scientology ???? Haven't watched the episode till the end but I almost want to assume that his previous fiance backed out because she didn't want to get in bed with his "religion" as well, unlike Kathy Holmes.

So what;s the "landmine" do you guys think - an out-of-wedlock kid/adoption, drug use, mental health problems, a cult of her own, ...

This show has a plot I've read a million times in cheep erotic novels, with the potencial of going full Fifty Shades weird cause of the Institute and contract thing.

Edited February 23, 2017 by tanita

[MVFrostsMyPie]

They've mentioned multiple times in interviews it's got nothing to do with scientology/TC/KH. The institute is not a religious group either.

[tanita]

Then what the hell is it, because it does come of like a cult of some sort.

And I haven't read any interviews for this show as I only found out about it this morning so ....

[MVFrostsMyPie]

I don't think it's a cult, it's just a Hollywoodified self-help group/program that caters to celebrities :)

[crgirl412]

I like the show and will be watching it!! 

I don't think it has anything to do with Scientology proper but it certainly is based on that type of group.  The contract and that whole process is very similar to what I've read Scientology has done to help TC find a new wife.   Some of of the girls have spoken about it publicly.  

[MVFrostsMyPie]

Maybe. I think it's also natural for people to always want to compare everything between movies/tv and real life and make connections, regardless of what the creators say inspired or didn't inspire them. I could see that whole situation as being what helped spark the flame for the show, but it doesn't have to be parallel to their story. Who knows! :)

[NorthstarATL]

I thought it was fun and trashy, and definitely Tom Cruise inspired! Like so many American  shows, it just seems as if it would make a great TV movie or mini-series, rather than an ongoing series.

[MVFrostsMyPie]

I wonder if it is just going to a mini-series since there's only 8 episodes. Unless they're holding off on filming more episodes until they see how the show fares with audiences.

[taragel]

The way Vartan asked that dude to kidnap the therapist and take her to "the facility" totally made me think of Scientology, Miscavige and his missing wife.

That being said, it was less juicy/campy and more basic romance novel/Hallmark movie than I expected. The stuff with Vartan controlling his whole life with arrangements (obviously he made the previous fiancee back out) could get dark and interesting, though I generally find Vartan very wooden.

[Primetimer]

E!'s new drama about an A-list actor finding his next wife via audition certainly has no relation to any real stars you've heard of. But should you watch it?

View the full article

[taragel]

From the recap: "That we learn, toward the end of the episode, that she's also keeping A Secret from Kyle about a relationship misadventure in her past only makes her more intriguing."

We did? I don't recall that at all and I just watched it last night... Maybe it was cut after screeners went out?

[sourpickles]

While it is easy to go the Cruise/Holmes route on this, the writers have had decades of celeb arranged marriages to pull from. Throw in a little money and mind control, and there you go! Next up, adoption..............

And I agree with whomever said Josh Henderson was awesome in Dallas. This, I'm not sold on 100% yet.

[AlexPalombo]

Fun thought experiment: swapping Alexander Skarsgard in Big Little Lies for Vartan in this role.

[jenrising]

7 hours ago, taragel said:

From the recap: "That we learn, toward the end of the episode, that she's also keeping A Secret from Kyle about a relationship misadventure in her past only makes her more intriguing."

We did? I don't recall that at all and I just watched it last night... Maybe it was cut after screeners went out?

It's in the scene with her lawyer friend. They don't say what the secret is, they just give the impression it's something that could be a problem if he finds out. 

[ratgirlagogo]

An actor chooses a girl by running auditions - why, what could possibly go wrong with that plan?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235198/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1

[Corgi-ears]

Yay! I'm so here for a second season of the competitive floral arranging show! It's been sooooo loooooooong since the first season on Logo!! I never thought it would come back!!!

What's that you say?

[dr pepper]

The Higher Mind doesn't make me think of Scientology at all, it makes me think of EST.

[Guest]

On ‎2‎/‎23‎/‎2017 at 11:10 AM, MVFrostsMyPie said:

They've mentioned multiple times in interviews it's got nothing to do with scientology/TC/KH. The institute is not a religious group either.

Like those early episodes of Law and Order that had disclaimers about the specific court case the show wasn't ripping from the headlines despite all evidence to the contrary..

This is Cruise and Scientology inspired.  That doesn't mean that they will have the central relationship follow the same trajectory as Holmes and Cruise.  But they checked a lot of the boxes on the popular rumors/theories about Scientology and Cruise's MO.

I bet Vartan's character already knows Megan's secret and will use it to keep her in line when the time is right.

[MVFrostsMyPie]

Yes, let's make assumptions about a show because of another show. 

[jenrising]

Um, the setup of this show is a super famous actor is strangely close to a NOT CULT leader and auditions actresses to be his next wife. The producers covering their asses and claiming it has nothing to do with the whole Tom Cruise mess is laughable. It's clearly inspired by that story. Which is fine.

I think Vartan is a great choice for the role because he's so inherently likable that it'll be easy to see why people don't see the evil. 

[MV007]

I loved the pilot.  I also have to agree that this is clearly a Tome Cruise/Scientology rip off.  They obviously have to deny it for legal reasons especially considering the litigious nature of Scientology.

I wonder how clueless/naive they're going to end up making Josh Henderson's character.

Was I the only one who wanted to see Megan's audition role come to TV?  I kind of liked the angst going on there no matter how ridiculous it all sounded.  

[crgirl412]

18 hours ago, dr pepper said:

The Higher Mind doesn't make me think of Scientology at all, it makes me think of EST.

I never even knew EST existed until watching The Americans on Fx which has shown some of the characters going to 2-3 EST meetings where one of the lead characters became introspective, thoughtful and think more clearly about his life and where it's going- right now he's a murdering Soviet spy living with his murdering Soviet spy wife undercover as regular, middle-class Americans.   

I can see the similarities to EST in ways that I don't necessarily see in Scientology.  I think I need to watch the episode again though.  From watching all of the latest Leah Remini shows on Scientology and what I saw on The Americans, if it was portrayed correctly,  EST is healthier and far safer!!!

For kicks I googled EST vs. Scientology.  Interesting!!  

  http://articles.latimes.com/1991-12-29/news/mn-2102_1_werner-erhard

[dr pepper]

I remember when EST became known to the general public. I even met a few people who joined. But i hadn't heard anything about it in years until they used it on The Americans.

[Ms Lark]

On 2/23/2017 at 7:13 AM, tanita said:

Was it me, or did that scene with the therapist look straight out of porn ? The acting was certainly at that level.

My question, too. Aloud I asked, "Is this porn?" Cause it certainly was that cheezy.

Totally TomKat and SciCreeps. Also boring. I may give it another ep, but I don't see it getting very interesting.

On 3/1/2017 at 0:24 AM, taragel said:

That being said, it was less juicy/campy and more basic romance novel/Hallmark movie than I expected.

Yep.

[Dejana]

On 3/1/2017 at 0:58 PM, sourpickles said:

While it is easy to go the Cruise/Holmes route on this, the writers have had decades of celeb arranged marriages to pull from. Throw in a little money and mind control, and there you go! Next up, adoption..............

And I agree with whomever said Josh Henderson was awesome in Dallas. This, I'm not sold on 100% yet.

It's just one episode but so far the relationship feels more like Not! Tom/Nicole than Tom/Katie—the movie star seems genuinely impressed with her acting ability, but the leader of the "institute" is leery if she has the right background and worries about her potential influence—though obviously the writers can draw from other arrangements and make things up, too.

Edited March 5, 2017 by Dejana

[pinkelephant3]

Was the blonde girl in the last scene the therapist?! I couldn't tell, too many new people coming in at once 

[kalika]

13 minutes ago, pinkelephant3 said:

Was the blonde girl in the last scene the therapist?! I couldn't tell, too many new people coming in at once 

I thought it was the girl Nick had been cheating with.  I wasn't really sure but I don't think she had an accent like the therapist.

Edited March 6, 2017 by kalika

[sportsgirl]

As much as this may be what we suspect about Cruise/Holmes, the plot and details of this show sound exactly like Hilary Liftin's novel, "Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper." But I can't find anything that links the two. I guess there's no chance of the show getting sued by Liftin when both of them have gone out of their way to say their story isn't about Cruise & Scientology?

[HunterHunted]

On 3/3/2017 at 0:20 PM, crgirl412 said:

I never even knew EST existed until watching The Americans on Fx which has shown some of the characters going to 2-3 EST meetings where one of the lead characters became introspective, thoughtful and think more clearly about his life and where it's going- right now he's a murdering Soviet spy living with his murdering Soviet spy wife undercover as regular, middle-class Americans.   

I can see the similarities to EST in ways that I don't necessarily see in Scientology.  I think I need to watch the episode again though.  From watching all of the latest Leah Remini shows on Scientology and what I saw on The Americans, if it was portrayed correctly,  EST is healthier and far safer!!!

For kicks I googled EST vs. Scientology.  Interesting!!  

  http://articles.latimes.com/1991-12-29/news/mn-2102_1_werner-erhard

This was so inspired by Tom Cruise. Famous actor who is the most famous member of a secretive organization. (Tom Cruise) Famous actor is "best friends" with the leader of the secretive organization. (Tom Cruise and David Miscavige) Famous actor rides a motorcycle and auditions actresses to be his wife under the guise of a movie audition. (Tom Cruise and his auditions of Katie Holmes, Kerri Russell, Scarlett Johansson, and others) And even the famous actor's former fiancé bolting because she didn't want to get deeper in the secretive organization. (Penelope Cruz).

Landmark (formerly EST) is not nearly as bad as Scientology, but it has its own issues. Landmark is also fixated on evangelizing and bringing new members. My parents sent me to some of their courses when I told them I wanted to quit med school. Landmark was super restrictive about letting you go to the bathroom or leaving the hotel. I had skip part of a day because the length of the sessions and the fluorescent lights were starting to give me a migraine. I had 3 Landmark employees/volunteers (?) berate me about how I was ruining my life because I wanted to leave the session. Once I got to my room, they called the phone every 15 minutes to see if I was finally ready to live a better life. During the breaks, we were encouraged to do our "homework" and reach out to our loved ones and ask them to sign up for a course. Landmark has also been investigated over concerns that it is a cult. 

I think the blonde "therapist" was the show's equivalent to Nazanin Bonaidi.

I think the last blonde girl was Nick's side piece, who appears to have some connection to the Institute.

On 3/5/2017 at 2:46 PM, Dejana said:

It's just one episode but so far the relationship feels more like Not! Tom/Nicole than Tom/Katie—the movie star seems genuinely impressed with her acting ability, but the leader of the "institute" is leery if she has the right background and worries about her potential influence—though obviously the writers can draw from other arrangements and make things up, too.

David Miscavige freaked out because Nicole nearly pulled Tom out of Scientology. He really went berserk when they were filming Eyes Wide Shut. Kubrick kept a really closed set and didn't allow any Scientology minders on set. Miscavige went into overdrive trying to split up Tom and Nicole. He wasn't too pleased with Penelope Cruz either. This is when he tried to find a Scientologist girlfriend for Tom or barring that a young actress who could be swayed to Scientology.

Hillary Liftin wrote her book in a post TomKat world and is a celebrity ghostwriter. I don't know that anyone could convincing argue that she wasn't inspired by Scientology and Tom Cruise even in part.

Edited March 7, 2017 by HunterHunted

[Guest]

5 hours ago, HunterHunted said:

This was so inspired by Tom Cruise. Famous actor who is the most famous member of a secretive organization. (Tom Cruise) Famous actor is "best friends" with the leader of the secretive organization. (Tom Cruise and David Miscavige) Famous actor rides a motorcycle and auditions actresses to be his wife under the guise of a movie audition. (Tom Cruise and his auditions of Katie Holmes, Kerri Russell, Scarlett Johansson, and others) And even the famous actor's former fiancé bolting because she didn't want to get deeper in the secretive organization. (Penelope Cruz).

And the goats was also like so many of the strange things I've read the Church of Scientology has done to indulge Tom Cruise. 

[Anela]

Do I want to know about the goats? 

I only remember a little bit of this. I watched on my phone, in the middle of the night, when they had a link to the video as a way to drum up interest. I thought the girl at the end, was the one he was supposed to marry, but I wasn't giving it my full attention, and probably mixed her up with someone else. This is the sort of thing I'd watch on a lazy morning, if I'd watched everything else on my DVR - I won't be recording it, but I might look it up, if I hear that it gets better/more interesting. I'm kind of over the "beautiful girl wooed by rich, handsome man" thing. 

I'd also only heard of Est, thanks to The Americans. Now that, I'm looking forward to!! Off to read the article linked above.

[callinectes]

I've been fascinated with  Scientology for a couple of years and read far too many ex-Scientologist blogs about Tom Cruise.  IMHO, this show is absolutely a riff on TomKat.  I'm looking forward to see just how closely the show plays out to the actual story.  

Edited March 6, 2017 by callinectes

[MaggieG]

I actually kind of liked this. I'll definitely give it another shot. A good blend of intrigue and soapyness

[crgirl412]

On 3/6/2017 at 9:19 AM, Anela said:

Do I want to know about the goats? 

I only remember a little bit of this. I watched on my phone, in the middle of the night, when they had a link to the video as a way to drum up interest. I thought the girl at the end, was the one he was supposed to marry, but I wasn't giving it my full attention, and probably mixed her up with someone else. This is the sort of thing I'd watch on a lazy morning, if I'd watched everything else on my DVR - I won't be recording it, but I might look it up, if I hear that it gets better/more interesting. I'm kind of over the "beautiful girl wooed by rich, handsome man" thing. 

I'd also only heard of Est, thanks to The Americans. Now that, I'm looking forward to!! Off to read the article linked above.

Are you on The Americans forum on here!!  It is SO good!  Lots of really interesting posters like a couple of people with Russian heritage whose parents remember life in the USSR so we get cool tidbits

[Anela]

59 minutes ago, crgirl412 said:

Are you on The Americans forum on here!!  It is SO good!  Lots of really interesting posters like a couple of people with Russian heritage whose parents remember life in the USSR so we get cool tidbits

Yep, I've been there for a few years now. :D I I sometimes feel lost, in the discussions, but love the comments from those who lived it in ways. 

[roughing it]

On 3/1/2017 at 10:58 AM, sourpickles said:

And I agree with whomever said Josh Henderson was awesome in Dallas.

And Dallas II was awesome until it became The Ramos Show 90% and the Ewings 10%.  sigh...so much potential, gone

I watched episode one and will probably continue to see how this goes

[Peper81]

On ‎3‎/‎5‎/‎2017 at 2:46 PM, Dejana said:

It's just one episode but so far the relationship feels more like Not! Tom/Nicole than Tom/Katie—the movie star seems genuinely impressed with her acting ability, but the leader of the "institute" is leery if she has the right background and worries about her potential influence—though obviously the writers can draw from other arrangements and make things up, too.

I felt the same way when you looked at how the characters' relationship started.  Then again, I don't know a whole lot about how the Tom / Katie relationship happened.  If it was Tom who sought it out or if it was more Sci orchestrated.  I feel like with Tom and Nicole we know more, jmo.

I really like this show from the first episode.  Some of the acting wasn't the greatest and some of the lines were laughable but it has a fun, campy, vibe to it that makes it enjoyable to watch.  I'll be sticking around.

[djsunyc]

On 3/5/2017 at 11:38 PM, kalika said:

I thought it was the girl Nick had been cheating with.  I wasn't really sure but I don't think she had an accent like the therapist.

yes - the girl at the end was the blonde that slept with nick and said she was pregnant.  so it looks like the lead actress was targeted to be his mate.

[thesupremediva1]

I came for Vartan and I'll be sticking around for Vartan. I was a huge Alias fan back in the day.

He's giving some legitimate creepy here. But I'm not immediately turned off and I want to know more. He and Autumn Reeser are the only two here who can actually act.

Following Leah Remini's show, I'm intrigued by anything that is talking about Scientology, even in a roundabout way that's being "denied" by TPTB.

[crgirl412]

1 hour ago, djsunyc said:

yes - the girl at the end was the blonde that slept with nick and said she was pregnant.  so it looks like the lead actress was targeted to be his mate.

WHAT?!?!?  The groupie who showed up was sent to Nick a least a few months ago to sleep with him was sent by the leader of the Institute of the Higher Mind, Terence (Michael Vartan)??  Megan was picked prior to her audition with Kyle West by him?? 

So confused......

[kalika]

1 hour ago, crgirl412 said:

WHAT?!?!?  The groupie who showed up was sent to Nick a least a few months ago to sleep with him was sent by the leader of the Institute of the Higher Mind, Terence (Michael Vartan)??  Megan was picked prior to her audition with Kyle West by him?? 

So confused......

I think maybe by his wife DeAnn actually.  She was the one with the girl at the end talking about getting her an agent and, earlier in the show when they were watching the auditions, she mentioned meeting Megan somewhere previously when Terence said he didn't recognize her from anywhere and seemed to me at least like he didn't get why a complete no-name was being auditioned.  

[Hiveminder]

1 hour ago, crgirl412 said:

WHAT?!?!?  The groupie who showed up was sent to Nick a least a few months ago to sleep with him was sent by the leader of the Institute of the Higher Mind, Terence (Michael Vartan)??  Megan was picked prior to her audition with Kyle West by him?? 

So confused......

Terrance didn't send Annika(the girl who slept with Nick). He didn't want Kyle to pick Megan. Terrance's wife was the one meeting with her, and she mentioned earlier in the episode that she'd met Megan at some kind of event, so I think Terrance's wife probably planned that. 

Whatever they have to say for legal purposes, I think Josh Henderson at least is basing Kyle on Tom Cruise at least a little. There were a few times when I saw shades of that manic, in your face, barely hiding the crazy Tom That you see sometimes. 

I was trying to figure out who Megan reminded me of, and I realized she looks a little like Mischa Barton, which amused me when I realized her agent was Taylor from The OC. 

[Artsda]

On 3/3/2017 at 0:15 PM, MV007 said:

 I also have to agree that this is clearly a Tome Cruise/Scientology rip off.  They obviously have to deny it for legal reasons especially considering the litigious nature of Scientology.

I agree, they have to deny it for obvious reasons but it's clearly got them/Scientology undertones.

I enjoyed the episode, it was better than I thought it would be.

[Shades of Red]

In this day and age, I can't imagine what secrets either one of them have that would be all that shocking?   Twenty/thirty years ago, things that were shocking and could ruin lives and careers were numerous, but these days,   beating someone, sexually assaulting someone, making a sex tape, doing drugs or generally being a POS doesn't seem to make a dent in some people's careers and lives, and in some cases makes them more famous.   The writers will have to come up with something really unique to shock me and think it was a secret worth keeping.

[Neurochick]

On March 8, 2017 at 11:27 PM, Hiveminder said:

Terrance didn't send Annika(the girl who slept with Nick). He didn't want Kyle to pick Megan. Terrance's wife was the one meeting with her, and she mentioned earlier in the episode that she'd met Megan at some kind of event, so I think Terrance's wife probably planned that. 

I think that's correct.  Terrance's wife did say she met Megan.  Remember she said Megan was smart, she was from the east coast and Terrance said something snarky like, "oh, because everybody on the east coast is smart."  It's Terrance's wife who is probably really running the group/cult/whatever.

[vibeology]

On ‎3‎/‎6‎/‎2017 at 3:22 AM, HunterHunted said:

I think the blonde "therapist" was the show's equivalent to Nazanin Bonaidi.

That's exactly what I though, only to make it TV interesting they've made her more dramatic.

If you know Tom's story from the time Tom and Nicole split until the TomKat split it's very easy to draw the parallels. I do like that they've aged Kyle down. He's clearly older and more experienced in the industry than Megan but there isn't the same large gap that existed between the real TomKat. I like that, it makes Kyle more likeable and keeps whatever relationship they have going on more interesting.

This works for me as something light and fun because I think Kyle and Megan are likeable and charming people. Kyle walks a fine line of seeming charming and humble but still just a little out of touch and spoiled and so far Henderson is getting it right.

I am looking forward to seeing more about the Institute just to see how far they'll go poking the Scientology bear. People holding tin cans? Believing that all our negative thoughts come from the souls of dead aliens?