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Dead Last

The cast of The WB's supernatural comedy DEAD LAST
© 2001 The WB

The struggling rock band The Problem has a big problem they see ghosts. Of course, the TV series DEAD LAST has a few problems of its own, namely a title that begs to be mocked and a premise that sounds just about as ridiculous as they come.

However, with all of the "problems" that seem to be stacked against this comedic horror show, it proves to be much better than it has any right to be.

Created by John Cusack buddies Steve Pink and D.V. DeVincentis (who co-wrote Cusack's GROSS POINTE BLANK and HIGH FIDELITY) and Patrick O'Neill, the show has a quirky charm all its own. Part slacker comedy, part horror show, the premiere for DEAD LAST is fast, furious and very funny. It could have been the worst of everything second-rate BUFFY, third-rate DAWSON'S CREEK, but instead it defies all odds and, as a summer series, it just may be what the WB ordered.

The story follows three self-absorbed members of a band who are on the verge of becoming a breakthrough success. There's the brooding lead singer Vaughn (Kett Turton) who all the girls love and whose ego about his own importance far outweighs reality. Scotty (Tyler Labine) is his old high school buddy and the drummer of the band. He's the typical slacker loose, fun loving and most likely to get drunk the day of a gig. Rounding out the threesome is bass player Jane Cahill (Sara Downing). She tries to be the voice of reason, but her own past with Vaughn routinely adds a requisite amount of sexual tension throughout the pilot and no doubt the rest of the series' run.

When the group accidentally uncovers an amulet in the basement of a bar they are playing at, they make the mistake of reading its Latin inscription out loud and unleash a curse that allows them to see dead people. It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have to help the dead people resolve problems in the after-life so they can move on.

Yep, it sounds like one of those CBS spiritual shows they were big on in the late '80s like EARLY EDITION and TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, but there's more than meets the eye. A wry sense of humor and an awareness of how lame the premise is that creators Pink, DeVincentis and Patrick O'Neill take every opportunity they can to enliven the proceedings with a steady flow of humor to go with the jolts.

Although the pilot is a bit clunky until all the exposition is out of the way, once it kicks into gear it gets better and better. The leads are all likable in that WB sort of way Labine in particular steals the show. Though it remains to be seen if the show can keep up its momentum, people who sample the show regardless of the title or premise could very well take in second helpings. The show is not on WB's fall schedule, but with low expectations DEAD LAST just might have a ghost of a chance or end up dead last itself. Either way, it took balls for the WB to put a show on about a rock band that sees ghosts and it takes even bigger balls to make a show about a rock band that sees ghosts work as well as this one does.