FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS “Pilot” Review

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS “Pilot” Season 1 Episode 1 – Is it just me or will 2011 go down in pop culture history as the Year of No-Strings-Attached Sex, as evidenced by not one, but two feature films and now, with NBC’s new show FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, a television series? It’s certainly not a new idea, but it seems to have the current backing of the entertainment executives of the world, prompting us all to wonder, “Are we having as much casual sex with our friends as we could be?”

The real-life answer is probably no, especially not if it results in as many romantic relationships as in the fictional world. Isn’t that whole point of having a friend with benefits…not ending up saddled with a relationship? Or is it just not possible to separate the emotional from the physical?

Friends With Benefits is the latest attempt to answer that question in a half-hour comedy format. The show centers around five Chicago friends in their late twenties who are all in pursuit of sex and love and whatever lies in between. Ben Harrison (Ryan Hansen) and Sara Welker (Danneel Ackles aka Mrs. Dean Winchester) are old friends who have recently started sleeping together. Aaron Greenway (Zach Cregger) is a nice guy who habitually falls in love with girls who just want to date jerks. Riley Kuleck (Jessica Lucas) is a sexually adventurous bartender. Hoon or Fitz (the show says Fitz, Wikipedia says Hoon, portrayed by Andre Holland either way) is the Token of the group who, unfortunately, has only a few lines, not nearly enough to get a sense of who he is beyond the fifth wheel.

Because this premise has been done and redone and done again, the deciding factor in its success boils down to the characters themselves. Can we care about them through cliched plots and stale jokes? I was pleasantly surprised to find that, for at least some of them, I could.

Ben could be your typical oversexed, overgrown frat boy, but he turns out to be an almost loveable doofus who jumps on his own bed after he’s just had sex in it. Aaron, who buys his girlfriend of three months a horse, is sweet and naive, not rare on TV, but who doesn’t like rooting for the underdog?

It’s actually the women who fall a little flat for me. Sara, who has reached the old-maid age of 28, decides she wants a grown-up relationship, even as she’s crawling out of bed with her best guy pal. And Riley, who has presumably known Aaron for more than five minutes, decides that seducing the heartbroken romantic immediately after he’s dumped is a really great idea.

I’m willing to look past these inconsistencies for now, but if a pattern of stupid choices develops, it will be hard to overlook the show’s other minor annoyances, such as the text conversations (yes, I know that’s how we communicate now, but that doesn’t mean anyone’s found a great way to utilize it on television yet), random voice-overs and a montage of the friends getting ready to go out on the town set to “I Want You to Want Me.”

All in all, Friends With Benefits produced a pilot that didn’t make me dread the next episode. Which was good, because it started immediately afterwards. Thank you, NBC!

Things I Liked: Aaron hiring a professional putter to help him beat Ben at Wii Golf, Aaron grooming the horse, maybe just Aaron himself.

Things I’m Looking Forward To: The fallout from Riley and Aaron’s hookup, more disgusting drink creations like the Peanut Buttertini.

Best Line: “(You kiss) like a hobo cleaning out a margarine container.”

What did you think of the show? Is Ben actually a douchebag and I’ve just got a crush on Ryan Hansen leftover from Veronica Mars? Does Sara remind you of Elliot on Scrubs in a good way or a bad way? Let me know in the comments below!

By Kristen Elizabeth | August 6, 2011 | 8 Comments

Find out more about Friends with Benefits, by selecting one of the following options.

Print This Page

Read More On: Friends With Benefits, NBC, Reviews

Comments Comment Policy

Please make sure to read our comment policy before posting a comment.

http://www.facebook.com/Rogue23 Sara Winchester

Lol, loved your descriptions! yeah, a few issues here and there, but could be one of those “watch it, laugh and go on with your day shows.” Good for me…too invested in a certain show…staring a certain someone’s husband…hmmm…wonder wonder….

Congrats on your first article, girlie! Soooo proud of you! Awesome way to kick off your new writing adventure!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1802400128 Chris Mitchell

After watching the first episode/pilot I can say I’m intrigued enough to stick around and watch the antics of this group. I agree that Fitz/Hoon didn’t get enough lines in this episode to make him a memorable character but calling him the “token” is a bit harsh and/or unfair. I’m wondering what we’ll see in the coming episodes and hope this show and the cast has a chance to flourish.
I thought the way they incorporated the texting into the show was nicely done. Instead of the typical camera shot over the shoulder looking at the device or the characters internal monologue as they type on the device we’re able to actually see their communication with each other on a different level. This also sets up the absurd humor of texting for other episodes and reminds me of the Boondocks rant about texting.

All that said, fun start for the series and to answer your parting questions: No I don’t think Ben is a douchbag. That is completely reserved in blazing honor for the man Sara dated this episode. As for Sara herself, she’s “Elliot” Lite. Not quite as neurotic, but has the potential to degrade to that level in the hands of a lazy writer.

Congrats on the new writing gig and your first article up. To many more from you m’lady.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1802400128 Chris Mitchell

After watching the first episode/pilot I can say I’m intrigued enough to stick around and watch the antics of this group. I agree that Fitz/Hoon didn’t get enough lines in this episode to make him a memorable character but calling him the “token” is a bit harsh and/or unfair. I’m wondering what we’ll see in the coming episodes and hope this show and the cast has a chance to flourish.
I thought the way they incorporated the texting into the show was nicely done. Instead of the typical camera shot over the shoulder looking at the device or the characters internal monologue as they type on the device we’re able to actually see their communication with each other on a different level. This also sets up the absurd humor of texting for other episodes and reminds me of the Boondocks rant about texting.

All that said, fun start for the series and to answer your parting questions: No I don’t think Ben is a douchbag. That is completely reserved in blazing honor for the man Sara dated this episode. As for Sara herself, she’s “Elliot” Lite. Not quite as neurotic, but has the potential to degrade to that level in the hands of a lazy writer.

Congrats on the new writing gig and your first article up. To many more from you m’lady.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1802400128 Chris Mitchell

After watching the first episode/pilot I can say I’m intrigued enough to stick around and watch the antics of this group. I agree that Fitz/Hoon didn’t get enough lines in this episode to make him a memorable character but calling him the “token” is a bit harsh and/or unfair. I’m wondering what we’ll see in the coming episodes and hope this show and the cast has a chance to flourish.
I thought the way they incorporated the texting into the show was nicely done. Instead of the typical camera shot over the shoulder looking at the device or the characters internal monologue as they type on the device we’re able to actually see their communication with each other on a different level. This also sets up the absurd humor of texting for other episodes and reminds me of the Boondocks rant about texting.

All that said, fun start for the series and to answer your parting questions: No I don’t think Ben is a douchbag. That is completely reserved in blazing honor for the man Sara dated this episode. As for Sara herself, she’s “Elliot” Lite. Not quite as neurotic, but has the potential to degrade to that level in the hands of a lazy writer.

Congrats on the new writing gig and your first article up. To many more from you m’lady.
CBRER

Hackneyed plot? Perhaps, but a fresh perspective is useful, and an incisive, and bright view quite refreshing. I’ll be hanging on, if for nothing more than continued unabashed honesty.
Memphisgal

Utterly trashy, bordering on soft porn. What family will let their kids under 16 near a TV at primetime to watch this stuff. Listen, I’m no prude, but while Friday Night Lights left me fulfilled, this makes me think I’ll see a nipple shot in the upcoming episodes, ala Janet Jackson & Justin (oh, wait….) but I’ll not be returning. The brain matter died within my skull watching this piece of crap.
Anonymous

I think calling Fitz a token based on the pilot is unfair. In 22 minutes you can’t exactly focus on all the characters. It’s also hard to be the token when there are two black characters out of a cast of 5.
Cliff

I wasn’t thrilled with the show, but it had enough laughs that I’m willing to give future episodes a chance – more than I can say for a lot of sitcoms out there. Congrats on your first review, also. Way to go!