Reviews

Pleasantly surprised that "The Gong Show" was not just recreated, but actually could be! We love host 'Tommy Maitland;' Mike Meyer is an iconic comic in his own right and Chuck Barris is probably looking down chuckling with the rest of us. I think this first season had some growing pains, as some of the early judges didn't seem to 'get it,' (never saw the original?) looked very confused and gonged way too many people. As the weeks went on, the judges got better, the audience finally 'got it' and the acts were more and more creative.

Refreshing and enjoyable! Looking forward to more!!

So happy we finally found this series! (Unfortunately it wasn't until after it was canceled; So sorry CW!) Just finished Season 1 on Netflix and find the series refreshingly entertaining! The writing & acting is superb! There is far more realism in this show and its depiction of small town life than what big-city people might believe! The hokey and delightful traditions of fictional "Bluebell" aren't unusual in small town America. Exaggerated? A bit; it adds to the humor. I think calling it a medical 'dramedy' is a mistake, though. 95% percent of the show is about the characters themselves, and Zoe's relationships, not about confronting the latest health maladies. Zoe's treating patients forces them to meet, get to know her. This is not Marcus Welby meets Scrubs. It's a sign of the times that this highly entertaining family show, with characters who are believable and likable, and who we've come to care about, would be given the heave ho for another show about zombies. Hmmm...maybe if they'd turned Wade into a zombie.....(j/k). Kudos to CW cast & crew of this show!!

Sorry to say, I'm adding this after the show has been canceled.

There are those who have given the show a less than stellar rating, based on its comparison to its Aussie counterpart; that is unfair.

Barely out of the gate, having just developed the characters & story lines that make us love them, FOX pulled the plug.

RAKE is smart, intelligent & funny. Greg Kinnear's Keegan Deane is the guy you hate to love. Loved John Ortiz' great character development of Ben Leon, coming out of the shadows after the death of his father. With a combination of wit & reality reminiscent of Ally McBeal & Boston Legal, RAKE is the best show to come along in years.

FOX is doing itself a disservice by not giving the show its full support, and time to build its audience. With a commitment from cast & crew, some of the finest in the industry, and with a growing audience, FOX should have extended the same commitment to the show and to its viewers.

I really encourage FOX to bring back RAKE, give it the support it deserves, and ride the wave of success this show will attain!