The series uses "mockumentary" techniques to depict the fictional, reality television-style adventures of enthusiastic professional critic Forrest MacNeil, who hosts a TV show called Review in which he engages in any life experience his viewers ask him to find out if that life experience "is any good". Afterward, Forrest formally rates each life experience in-studio, on a five-star scale. However, Forrest's compulsive curiosity and uncompromising commitment to the show unexpectedly backfire in ways that increasingly impact his own formerly ideal real life.
Cast
Main
Forrest MacNeil – star of the show Review; a naïve, repressed Southern California suburbanite, who wears exactly the same clothes in every episode; a good-natured and mild-mannered intellectual, Forrest sees the show as a way to help people understand their world ; as a result, he carries out each life experience/viewer request no matter what the cost – ignoring his instincts, compromising personal well-being and relationships, and violating social norms, along the way.
A.J. Gibbs – Forrest's cheerful and expressive co-host, whose wardrobe changes each episode ; she activates the review selection system, presents the chosen review to the audience, banters with Forrest, and serves as the show’s voice of reason.
Recurring
Suzanne MacNeil – Forrest's happy wife of 14 years turned hostile ex-wife. Without warning or explanation, Forrest starts divorce proceedings against Suzanne, merely because a viewer wondered what a divorce would be like. The divorce leaves Forrest and Suzanne emotionally devastated, but Suzanne soon follows through with it—to Forrest's shock and dismay. She becomes close with her younger, male divorce attorney, and Forrest jealously assumes the two are in a sexual relationship. Having lost his best/only friend, his house, half of his money, and full custody of their son, Forrest obsessively launches a series of short-sighted schemes that are designed to win Suzanne back, but are derailed by his prioritizing the show over anything else.
Lucille – Forrest's dour, disapproving-but-grudgingly-loyal executive assistant; her general apathy, and lack of respect for her boss, is on near-constant display; Forrest generally ignores her attempts to save him from himself.
Josh – The show's unpaid college intern; fun-loving and immature, Forrest frequently exploits him.
Grant Grunderschmidt – Forrest's blank-faced and taciturn producer; pushes Forrest to finish assignments he otherwise would not.
Jack T. Walthall – Forrest's accidentally ironic, sweet-yet-tactless, 75-year-old ex-father-in-law.
Daisy – Forrest's inept attorney.
Forrest's Father – Forrest's father, whom Forrest moves back in with after the events of season one. He loves and supports his son, though shows dismay when Forrest's dedication to the reviews seems to be dangerous to himself or others.
Tina – Josh's girlfriend. Quick-witted and dryly humorous.
Mrs. Greenfield – A teacher that Forrest meets on the review of "Sleeping With Your Teacher", whom he seduces, sleeps with and later becomes her boyfriend. After being spurned by Forrest during the "Leading a Cult" review, she usurps the cult, and leaves him. She is killed by the FBI during the "Having the Perfect Body" review.
The network initially ordered eight episodes for the first season run, but so much extra content was left over that a ninth episode was made and aired, too. Every episode of the series was directed by Jeffrey Blitz.
