John from Cincinnati

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Jun 10, 2007
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 254 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 190 out of 254
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 254
  3. Negative: 57 out of 254
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User Reviews

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  1. JessicaJ.
    Aug 6, 2007
    3
    It started off with such promise but never seems to get going. Too contrived after a while. Still, it's addicting.
  2. JM
    Jun 13, 2007
    3
    Left DEADWOOD for this? Shameful.
  3. GlenO.
    Aug 12, 2007
    3
    Well the first season is over and if anyone has a clue what this series is about please post it! I'm a super fan of sci-fi and obscure philosophy and theology and just about anything outside the box. I first thought that this could be something like Heinlein's 'Stranger in a Strange Land' or something on that kind of grand scale. By the end of season one I want to Well the first season is over and if anyone has a clue what this series is about please post it! I'm a super fan of sci-fi and obscure philosophy and theology and just about anything outside the box. I first thought that this could be something like Heinlein's 'Stranger in a Strange Land' or something on that kind of grand scale. By the end of season one I want to throw the remote through my TV screen because I don't even know which character I care about less! HBO is going to screw us with this series just like they did with Carnivale when it failed in the ratings. We never got to see the ending for Carnivale! Lucky Louie was another great comedy for adults who can handle adult themes. We got screwed again with that cancellation. Since I now know less than ever about John from Cincinatti, my guess is we won't have to worry about this ridiculous series for much longer. Thank God for Entourage! Don't get too attached to JFC. Most HBO fans are very tolerant, but even us Cable heads need a plot to follow. Looks like Sundays evenings will be a NetFlix evening at my house.… Expand
  4. RichardK
    Jun 25, 2007
    3
    This show is just plain bad. After barely being able to finish watching the 3rd show, I've concluded that I don't care about any of these people, especially John. After Deadwood, I thought David Milch would have come up with something really great. What a major dissapointment.
  5. ericg.
    Aug 13, 2007
    3
    What the hell was that? Many of the great elements (including actors) of 'Deadwood', but without a coherent plot. While I saw every episode, at some point roughly a month ago, it dawned on me that the emperor's just not wearing any clothes.
  6. C.M.
    Jun 27, 2007
    2
    I can not remember a show where the characters were more unlikeable and annoying than they are in this confusing mess of a show called "John From Cincinnati." After a frustrating three episodes, I am severely tempted to abandon the strain sitting through what amounts to a lot of hard to swallow wierdness and yelling. As I believe the story line has potential; however, I shall give it one I can not remember a show where the characters were more unlikeable and annoying than they are in this confusing mess of a show called "John From Cincinnati." After a frustrating three episodes, I am severely tempted to abandon the strain sitting through what amounts to a lot of hard to swallow wierdness and yelling. As I believe the story line has potential; however, I shall give it one more opportunity to charm and entice rather than fill me with distaste and bafflement.… Expand
  7. garya.
    Jul 16, 2007
    2
    No more Deadwood.....No more Rome.....For THIS load of crap?!! Somebody tell me that this is a just a very bad dream!
  8. helenee
    Jul 29, 2007
    2
    Watching it is painful. It hurts my head. What the hell was the zombie green corpse that John brought out into the yard in that one episode? After that, the show lost it for me.
  9. JohnW
    Jun 10, 2007
    2
    We got this instead of extending dead wood? Go f@#$ yourself.
  10. MichelleC
    Jun 11, 2007
    2
    very confusing - boring - and tuned out after 10 inutes.
  11. biffk
    Jun 14, 2007
    2
    HBO's new "edgy" drama is a wipe out. Don't go near it without lots of pain medication nearby.
  12. TonyE
    Jun 18, 2007
    2
    This show is, at least based on the premiere, one of the most ridiculous, unwatchably pretentious TV shows ever produced. I give it a 2 only because it's good to see Ed O'Neill, the one member of the cast I didn't want to choke through the screen.
  13. BillB
    Jul 23, 2007
    2
    i have watched this show all 5 episodes, mainly out of the inertia of plopping my old butt on the sofa at 9PM on Sundays to watch HBO- sort of rigor mortis from Sopranos days..... J from C has the worst dialogue i've ever seen in a show- did Bruce Greenwood quit already? how do you take the lead guy in a brand new series and shelve him for 2 or 3 episodes? and leave the lead to i have watched this show all 5 episodes, mainly out of the inertia of plopping my old butt on the sofa at 9PM on Sundays to watch HBO- sort of rigor mortis from Sopranos days..... J from C has the worst dialogue i've ever seen in a show- did Bruce Greenwood quit already? how do you take the lead guy in a brand new series and shelve him for 2 or 3 episodes? and leave the lead to Rebecca D- who walks around looking dazed and confused with her cracking voice patterns. i've tried to like it, because the california beach town/ surfer theme is interesting, but this is really, really poorly executed. there are some HBO types who believed their own BS/ infallibility who will be looking for jobs soon… Expand
  14. ElaineA.
    Aug 6, 2007
    2
    This is farb from a replacement for Six Feet Under and Sopranos. The dialogue is strange and the story boring so far. The acting seems sub par. In the last episode I wanted to turn it off and watch State of Mind after 10 minutes but stayed tune. The deal with Cissy running around looking for Shawn was boringand pathetic. Get a stroy soon or you will lose everyone.
  15. JimM
    Jun 14, 2007
    2
    I somehow, against my better instincts, managed to watch the first episode. The entire time I kept trying to figure out how they could take Deadwood off the air for this 'Twin Peaks' wanna-be.
  16. ts
    Jun 15, 2007
    2
    Dull. It might have lofty ambitions, but fails miserably in execution. Making it "weird" is no substitute for making it engaging. An frankly it wasn't that weird. I like weird. It was just tedious.
  17. LReiman
    Jul 22, 2007
    2
    Very bizarre mess. No cohesion. While I watched Deadwood it was not my favorite despite being well done but J from C is just plain convoluted. Too many style mixes--too many disjointed subplots. Good luck trying to make sense out of it. I give up. Deadwood was better even in my book.
  18. Ken
    Jul 23, 2007
    2
    I tried to like this but who could. The characters are hateful, cheating, cursing unlikeable people who respond to situations that are so unreal. Hey I'm floating - grab a camera. Hey I'm not dead - I still just want to smoke and surf. Hey, there's this weird dude - let's invite him to follow us everywhere. Whatever, it's not a thinking person's series as I tried to like this but who could. The characters are hateful, cheating, cursing unlikeable people who respond to situations that are so unreal. Hey I'm floating - grab a camera. Hey I'm not dead - I still just want to smoke and surf. Hey, there's this weird dude - let's invite him to follow us everywhere. Whatever, it's not a thinking person's series as it's hateful people do stupid things. I'll be watching reruns of the Sopranos before watching more of this.… Expand
  19. bat
    Jul 31, 2007
    2
    shame on david milch!!!!!!
  20. roycet.
    Aug 14, 2007
    2
    Ugh. What exactly was that?
  21. GaryT
    Jul 18, 2007
    1
    This show is a failure. It lacks the honesty of the characters of Deadwood or the captivating mystery with in the story line of Carnival. I'm losing patents with the very slow story line development. This show won't make it. The character of John might be the second coming but, this show isn't.
  22. chrisr
    Jul 23, 2007
    1
    This show is a mess... I like strange shows, but this is just horrible. The acting is crap, the script is crap... What was HBO thinking?
  23. HaroldS.
    Sep 7, 2007
    1
    A Milch mix with Nunn nuts, is a total waste of time. The Deadwood type talk is simply out of place; just so ostentatious I'm pleased that it was dropped from HBO.
  24. Travis
    Jun 10, 2007
    1
    Not just bad (the kid who plays Sean must be one of the worst actors I've seen), but incredibly boring. I tried so hard to get through the entire premiere episode but had to give up halfway through.
  25. JoannieS
    Jun 25, 2007
    1
    Insult to a thinking person's intelligence. No redeeming qualities. Worst show I've watched in years.
  26. JamieK.
    Jul 15, 2007
    1
    I can't believe I have watched 5 episodes of this crap. I see from the comments already posted is that people either love it or hate it. It had the potential of being very interesting, yet it has take so long for something to take shape, I have lost interest. I can't really feel anything for any of these characters who are so screwed up. I wonder if enough people will watch for I can't believe I have watched 5 episodes of this crap. I see from the comments already posted is that people either love it or hate it. It had the potential of being very interesting, yet it has take so long for something to take shape, I have lost interest. I can't really feel anything for any of these characters who are so screwed up. I wonder if enough people will watch for it to be picked up again. Now Flight of the Conchords....that is a show!… Expand
  27. TG
    Aug 13, 2007
    1
    All the awful self-indulgence that Deadwood displayed, plus god-awful dialog, a dumb plot, and poor acting from talented actors.
  28. Bobv.
    Aug 13, 2007
    1
    I just don't like the premise, the acting, or anything else. I did not really like deadwood either. This show has way to much drama for my taste and wacky(lame) surrealism.
  29. Mike
    Aug 20, 2007
    1
    The premier was promising. That was the highlight of the series. David Milch thinks he's modern-day Shakespeare. If it's not bad enough he uses 960 words to express each sentence, it's written in such superfluous word-wasting nonsensical existential bullshit, I just don;t give a shit about a single character that opens his or her mouth, except for the parrots. Each week The premier was promising. That was the highlight of the series. David Milch thinks he's modern-day Shakespeare. If it's not bad enough he uses 960 words to express each sentence, it's written in such superfluous word-wasting nonsensical existential bullshit, I just don;t give a shit about a single character that opens his or her mouth, except for the parrots. Each week drags on and on slower and slower, with 10 times more questions than answers about who these people are and what the hell they are doing, and more importantly, WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT THEM? Most of the episodes have absolutely NO plot advancement or resolutions whatsoever. Characters sleepwalk through the show dribbling out 60 second meaningless sentences like a child pissing in his diapers running down his leg and on our shoes. I am so sick of every character's self-indulged vacant paralysis I can;t even stand to watch them, especially the perpetually hyper-angry Sissy who spews a river of shit on anyone and everyone for no reasopn whatsoever. She has one speed and one dimension: EXTREME BITCH. I wish they would all drown together, except the parrots.… Expand
  30. annak.
    Aug 9, 2007
    1
    Painful to watch.
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Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Best TV Season of 2007
4
#4 Most Discussed TV Season of 2007
25
#25 Most Shared TV Season of 2007

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
50

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 24
  3. Negative: 7 out of 24
  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    50
    It's only June,? but I can confidently state that you won’t see a weirder show than "John From Cincinnati" all year long.
    Read full review
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Barry Garron
    50
    Intriguing but not entirely satisfying.
    Read full review
  3. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    70
    Mesmerizing and entertainingly confounding.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »