The Philanthropist: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 55 Ratings

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 55 Ratings

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The Philanthropist: Clip 1

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Season Details & Credits

NBC | Season Premiere Date: June 24, 2009

Starring: Jesse L. Martin, Neve Campbell, Lindy Booth

Summary: After an incident in Africa, billionaire playboy Teddy Rist (James Purefoy) has an epiphany that he should be more proactive with his wealth.

Creator: Tom Fontana and Charlie Corwin and Jim Juvonen

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. Haiti
Air Date: August 12, 2009
tbd
S1:E7. Kashmir
Air Date: August 5, 2009
tbd
S1:E6. San Diego
Air Date: July 29, 2009

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Critic Reviews

Michael Starr

It works, thanks to Purefoy's winning performance, pacing that never lags (the Olivia/Philip/Rist triangle is a diversion, quickly glossed over) and terrific writing. Read full review

Alessandra Stanley

The pilot was shot on location in southern Africa and is dazzlingly filmed; the cinematography alone stands out. But it’s the hero’s duality--he’s a good Samaritan with a flawed personality--that helps make The Philanthropist an unusual and exhilarating network series. Read full review

Randee Dawn

Deep inside Philanthropist is a smart, earnest yet realistic series waiting to be told, and the pilot makes an intriguing beginning. Read full review

Tom Shales

Horton may in fact reach too frequently into his bag of editing and photographic bells and whistles, but for the most part his approach helps sustain interest when the teleplay falters, sputters or just plain poops out. Read full review

Paige Wiser

If you can get past the patronizing only-a-white-man-can-save-the-needy concept, the series could be an illuminating look at what's going on in the rest of the world. It's too educational and earnest for me to consider it "entertainment," but other viewers might be better people than me. Read full review

Ellen Gray

Teddy's impulses are undeniably good ones, but tales of African corruption are nothing new and often cited as a cause of viewer fatigue. And though Teddy's expected to range far and wide, it remains to be seen whether The Philanthropist, and its debonair title character, have anything new to do--or say--about the problems he'll encounter. Read full review

Glenn Garvin

Pointless, charmless and bound to be viewerless after the first half-hour or so, The Philanthropist recalls such epochal television bombs as Manimal (a scientist who could turn into a crime-fighting dolphin) or It's About Time (astronauts break the time barrier and frolick happily with cavemen) in its conceptual imbecility. Read full review

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User Reviews

BruceD.

Aug 29, 2009

Great show!! To bad NBC thinks people want to watch reality crap!