Schwimmer and Sturgess Cook Up a Mess

Tonight AMC premieres its new series Feed the Beast.  Don't worry, it is not another monster show based on a comic book.  Instead the program actually focuses on food and two friends who try their hand at a restaurant in the Bronx.

Starring David Schwimmer and Jim Sturgess, I am hopeful that at least the acting will be good even if the story is less than perfect.  Then again, that is never enough, is it?  And we have seen too many stars take programs off the cliff, so I will reserve judgement.  

Here is the main story from AMC and a trailer:

Feed the Beast tells the story of Tommy (David Schwimmer) and Dion (Jim Sturgess) who are like brothers. Dion can’t stay out of trouble. Tommy can’t move past it. For two friends on the brink of losing everything, a dusty pipe dream of opening up an upscale restaurant in their hometown of the Bronx is all they have left to turn their lives around. Together, they take on the insanity of the New York restaurant world, and navigate its underbelly of petty criminals, corrupt officials and violent mobsters.

The trailer provides enough information for you to learn Tommy lost his wife, has a drinking problem, and is raising his son by himself.  And Dion may be out of prison but his is not out of trouble.  And yes, in the Bronx there are monsters as well in the form of the mob.  So expect some cooking, brotherly spats, and plenty of violence.  

Critic Rob Owen in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette does not give the show high marks, noting:
 
AMC is known for populating its Sunday night schedule with shows that push the envelope, whether it’s a character-driven thriller set during the zombie apocalypse or a psychological character study like “Mad Men.” But “Feed the Beast” feels like a broadcast network crime underworld show circa 2002 — it feels like same old, same old TV.

And remember, while the series premieres tonight, it will be broadcast on Tuesdays after that.