The Jake Effect

About

In 2002, Jason Bateman starred alongside Greg Grunberg and Nikki Cox in this rarely-seen sitcom, which holds the unusual distinction of being canceled without airing.

The show revolves around Jake Galvin (Bateman), who quits his high paying but unfulfilling job at a law firm to become a high school teacher, much to the chagrin of his best friend, Nick Case (Grunberg). At school, Jake quickly befriends fellow teacher Liza Wheeler (Cox), with whom he'd like to be romantically entangled. Other staff members include stoic Vice Principal Curtis (Patricia Belcher) and her aggressively obnoxious secretary Kimmy Ponder (Leslie Grossman), as well as goofy teacher Mr. Seissner (Kyle Gass), who perceives himself as a comedian. Also frequently seen is Nick's coworker, T.T. Bankhead (Will Schaub), a pretentiously self-involved lawyer who has the sleazy charm of a frat boy. Originally (and perhaps more-appropriately) titled "It's Not About Me," Nick narrates Jake's exploits, and the show plays in a rapid-paced and often surreal manner which is reminiscent of Bateman's more well-known follow-up, "Arrested Development."

Six of the seven episodes that were produced aired once on Bravo during a "Brilliant But Canceled" marathon on May 25, 2006, with an encore of the opener inexplicably being broadcast again overnight instead of the final episode. The pilot was immediately released on various streaming services, but it's since been pulled, the other episodes were never made available, and the series finale has never officially seen the light of day. A fan-made DVD set has been circulating for many years which features rips from VHS press screeners, but the image is blown out. All but the finale are duped from the Bravo marathon, supplemented with the proper closing credits from the VHS versions.

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Archive

Internet Archive, in The VHS Vault

Licence or status

The Internet Archive states none for this item.

Credit

Red Pulley Productions

Language

English

Who can watch

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