Hellcats: An Advance Review

Meet Marti. She’s a law student at Lancer University, home of the Hellcats, in Memphis, TN. Memphis is home of rock’n’roll, the blues (excuse me, Kansas City, you want to chime in here?), and clogged arteries. Marti is serious about being a lawyer. She wants to be a D.A., surrounded by people who speak with “flat, Yankee vowels” and aspires to become a Supreme Court Justice. Although she’s a gorgeous blond, Marti can’t be a bimbo because she’s edgy. How do we know this? She rides a 10-speed while bopping along to her iPod and wearing ’80s-inspired mall clothes.

Aly Michalka / the CW

Yes, I’m being snarky. It’s the rare pilot that can lay out character and plot for an entire series without being heavyhanded and relying on cliches. Fortunately, despite a few wince-inducing moments and some weak dialogue, it’s hard not to like Marti. Played by Aly Michalka (Bandslam), her ambitions are tempered with just enough sweetness to keep the character relatable. Even when she’s dealing with her irresponsible mother, Marti’s exasperation is tempered with love. Her professed dream to become a lawyer so she can “move far, far away” is bittersweet.

Next, meet Savannah. Captain of the Hellcats, Lancer’s nationally competitive cheer squad, she’s all pep and ambition. When Marti, pissed off at the loss of her scholarship, lashes out at Savannah, the petite dynamo defends her sport as the two engage in an all-out shouting match. It’s another cliche moment, but the resolution is both unexpected and humorous. Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical) is a pleasant surprise here, underplaying what could have been another Sharpay with deft timing and unexpected character traits. Dressed in sweet sundresses and sporting perfectly blown-out auburn locks (in contrast to Marti’s messy curls), Savannah is discipline and drive in a different form.

Ashley Tisdale and Aly Michalka / the CW

When Marti decides to try out for the Hellcats to secure another scholarship, her moves are predictably unpredictable and catch the eye of the cheer coach. It’s enough to – SPOILER ALERT – land her a spot on the squad, which is a good thing because otherwise we wouldn’t have a show. Marti’s motivation for joining, to get a scholarship so she can stay in law school, is a little rushed, but I imagine we’ll see her angsting over her decision in future episodes when cheering gets in the way of her law dreams.

Speaking of angst, just as Marti starts feeling secure that she can stay in school, she finds out that if the squad doesn’t earn a spot at Nationals in next week’s Qualifiers (awesome! you get one week to “rehearse”, Marti!), the university is going to pull the plug on the whole program, scholarships and all. OK, I work at a university. Believe me when I say I get that times are tough for higher education, and I appreciate that Hellcats is acknowledging cuts in funding, but really? Not going to Nationals one time is enough to cut the entire cheerleading program?

Despite (or perhaps because of) the manufactured drama, Hellcats has the potential to be another hit for the CW. Disney alum Michalka and Tisdale are well-cast and already seem comfortable with each other. Michalka’s body is ridiculous (Maxim must be bombarding her agent with cover requests) and her moves are impressive, but it’s her slightly vulnerable, soulful eyes that are her real acting tools. Tisdale has a slightly buttoned-up, almost too-peppy edge that speaks of having given her character a lot of thought. We already know the girl can move, thanks to High School Musical, and she doesn’t disappoint here, but as much as I love watching choreographed routines, I hope equal time is given to peeling back the layers of Savannah’s personality.

The Hellcats / the CW

The rest of the cast is rounded out with Hellcats Lewis (Marti’s potential love interest, played by Michael Challenger); Alice (Marti’s nemesis/Lewis’s ex, played by Heather Hemmens); Patty (the one not worried about carbs, played by Elena Elsovolana); and Vanessa (Hellcats’ coach, played by Sharon Leal). We also have Gail O’Grady as Marti’s mom and Matt Barr as Dan, the Townie pining for Marti.

Yes, Hellcats plays up to a ton of cliches in the first episode, and it’s a little wobbly on the dismount, but there are sparks of originality and a massively appealing cast, so there’s hope it will stick the landing. Setting it at a university instead of a high school provides opportunities for some more adult storylines, a few of which are hinted at in the pilot, while still allowing it to be fun. Hellcats is produced by Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives), Tom Welling (Smallville) and Allan Arkush (Heroes, Crossing Jordan). Watch for it Wednesdays at 9/8c this fall on the CW.