Michael Rosenbaum
Sara Rue
Mircea Monroe
Mike Kosinski
Aimee Garcia
David Rasche

Created by:
Christopher Vane

Comedy
Premieres July 15, 2015
TV Land

TV-14

TV Land’s “Impastor,” created by Christopher Vane, has the right tone and the right cast to deliver comedy lines. Also, it isn’t like TV Land’s typical fare – there’s cursing (bleeped, of course) in the pilot episode, and there’s no laugh track. So far, so good. (“Younger” doesn’t have a laugh track, either. Is this network attempting to branch out? Of course, it is.) The question is: Can the writers deliver good material?

Based on the pilot, I’d have to say no. The premise is solid. Well, it’s workable, at least: A man on the run pretends to be the new pastor of a small town church after he encounters the real pastor who subsequently dies (we think) right in front of him. I won’t tell you exactly how that happens. I will tell you that it’s not funny. The man thinks that he can pretend to be this pastor until he can gain access to the pastor’s money. Afterward, he’ll run away. Little does he know that the pastor is gay (shocker) and that the townspeople (It’s a small town, remember?) will learn to like him very much. Along the way, we’re treated to a bunch of moments that either don’t land or aren’t funny (or both). And, those moments are woefully obvious. This show can’t decide whether it should be cute or edgy. I say: Consider your network.

However, I can’t completely dismiss this show right now, because I’ve seen only one episode. Plus, again, the tone and the cast work. But can the writers conjure situations and lines that tap into something special? (Heck, I’ll settle for something mildly amusing.) I don’t think that we’ll have to wait long for the answer.

Verdict: OK

About: (Source: impastor)

Buddy Dobbs (Michael Rosenbaum), a slacker on the run from a loan shark, steals a man’s identity and ends up posing as a small town’s new gay pastor. With Sara Rue, Mircea Monroe, Mike Kosinski and David Rasche.