Allen Gregory

'Allen Gregory'Produced by JHF, a J. Paul-A. Mogel-D. Goodman Bit of Business and Chernin Entertainment in colaboration with twentieth century Fox Television. Executive producers, David A. Goodman, Jonah Hill, Jarrad Paul, Andrew Mogel, Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope supervisory producer, Mark McJimsey co-producers, Michael Colton, John Aboud director, Bernard Derriman authors, Hill, Mogel, Paul animation executive producers, Joel Kuwahara, Scott Greenberg, McJimsey animation producer, Andi Raab editors, Roger Hinze, Mark Seymour music, Joshua Sitron casting, Julie Ashton-Barson. 30 MIN. Voice cast:Allen Gregory P Longpre - Jonah Hill Richard P Longpre - French Stewart Patrick Vanderweel - Cristina Pucelli Jeremy P Longpre - Nat Faxon Stewart Rossmyre - Will Forte Julie Neung - Pleasure OsmanskiUnlike lots of animated shows, "Allen Gregory" includes a logical reason behind using the medium: Creating a series around an insanely precocious and pretentious 7-year-old boy wouldn't simply be hard to cast, but simply think of the production limits that will impose. So co-creator Jonah Hill voices the title character -- a youngster with two gay fathers, an adopted Cambodian sister he deeply resents along with a preference for Pinot Grigio with lunch. Deeply absurd only fitfully funny, "Allen" will most likely be loved with a small group, although not especially loved by many people. Allen is introduced in a lavish party tossed by his father Richard (French Stewart), throughout which pop berates partner Jeremy (Nat Faxon) and concurrently remembers Allen because the world's youngest Tony champion. The bespectacled tyke, consequently, expresses gratitude "to everybody here whose dreams are fueled by my accomplishments." Ah, there is however trouble in paradise. So far home-trained by Jeremy, the apparently well-heeled Richard needs his much-maligned partner to reenter the labor force, for reasons he will not specify. This turn of occasions forces Allen to go to school, not to mention, the spoiled boy is definitely an awkward easily fit in his new surroundings -- telling the teacher he's fine together with her, provided she knows her authority does not exceed his. "Allen Gregory" is unquestionably strange, along with a little dangerous in the mixture of sexual quite happy with a young child protagonist within an animated format. Sure, "The Simpsons" will get away with murder, but it is still surprising to determine another-grader presented to be infatuated together with his sixtysomething teacher, and also the eager-to-please school board advocating her to indulge individuals dreams. (Don't look now, however your boycott campaign in the Parents Television Council is doubtless already within the mail.) Mostly, though, like many a prodigy, "Allen Gregory's" over-the-top figures don't promise to age perfectly. This is a shame, really, because the show includes a awesome look and really the possibility to become about something in working with the way a pretentious egghead attempts to easily fit in. As constituted, "Allen" offers audiences little foundation to latch onto, apart from the fleeting diversion of hearing Hill playing a young child who talks as an NPR morning host. Practically speaking, being sandwiched between two established series must provide this newcomer sampling. Furthermore, additionally to designers Hill, Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel, the show has "Family Man's" David A. Goodman to supervise its ongoing education and counts former News Corp. chief operating officer Peter Chernin among its brain trust. Still, if "Allen Gregory's" pilot is definitely an accurate preview of what's in the future, this gifted tot's graduation from primetime might come earlier than some of his many fathers would welcome. Contact John Lowry at john.lowry@variety.com