30 Day Challenge - TV Shows

Favourite show from America.

As you have no doubt gathered from previous blog posts I enjoy the American TV imports very much.

I have already told you how I enjoy the C.S.I. range of shows, House, Law & Order: SVU, Lie To Me. I am really enjoying the reboot of Hawaii Five-0 and very much enjoy NCIS, preferring the Los Angeles version to the original.

So how do I choose a favourite from all the shows I enjoy, if I add in Cougar Town, Fairly Legal, True Blood, Dexter...this could go on all day.

I have to really name the shows that grip me at the moment. It's easy to reminisce on shows that have past, and to a degree some of those shows will remain true favourites, but as I write this, for me anyway, it is easier to choose a current show.

Over recent months there was a huge, I mean, massive campaign for the launch of a new Sky channel, Sky Atlantic. There really couldn't have been more promotion, it was Will & Kate epic!

Not only did they promote the whole channel but the real draw - the shows coming to the channel. The trailers for these were played over & over again. Shows such as Boardwalk Empire with the mighty Steve Buscemi, Treme, with John Goodman and Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck. WOW - this is going to be mega!

As it turns out, in my little world anyway, it wasn't :-(

Boardwalk Empire was a watchable series, reminiscent of the Godfather or The Untouchables it played out in a slow and measured pace. Steve Buscemi, whom I have always enjoyed watching (Mr Pink, Garland Greene - classic roles), delivered a superb performance and he was backed up by some equally good actors. Trouble was, whilst The Godfather too is measured and slow, it also only lasts for around 3 hours. Boardwalk was 12 episodes, where if I think back - not a lot really happened.

Treme??? There is little to say, I just didn't get it. I managed the first two episodes. The real disappointing fact is that I have a real sympathy for the people of New Orleans. They were devastated by nature and if what I have read and watched is true, left to rebuild on their own. I admire the community and the people for showing the world what it is to overcome such tragedy and to rebuild with such pride. So when Treme was advertised I could see myself enjoying the series as we watched the community come together to overcome the odds and rebuild their lives. As it was the series was so dull, for me it just didn't work.

I had recently enjoyed a series called K-Ville which was also set in New Orleans and was a good old cops and robbers type of series. I look forward to series two.

And so this brings me to Blue Bloods with our main man Magnum P.I. As Meatloaf sang, 'Two out of three, ain't bad', I can only think that this would read for Sky Atlantic. 'Two out of three ARE bad' (hum the tune if that helps).

Blue Bloods is excellent. It mixes the style of series I like so much. A kind of Hill Street Blues meets Law & Order. Whilst the series had the obligatory underlying conspiracy moving through it, this never distracted from the stories or the characters. Tom Selleck whilst being great, is only so great beacause of the characters around him. Marky Mark's brother New Kid on the Block Donnie Wahlberg is superb as the Detective and his brother as the beat cop, acted by Will Estes plays his role very well. There are great characters also delivered by Bridget Moynahan and Len Cariou completing the 'always on the job' police family.

My second choice (its my prerogative - oooh Bobby Brown just popped into my head) would be The Chicago Code. A brilliantly crafted police drama set in Chicago (duh!) dealing with an elite team set out to fight corruption within the city. The focus, revolves around a specially chosen maverick cop, hand picked by the female police superintendent (Jennifer Flashdance Beals) who go after the Alderman Gibbons (the cool cat himself Delroy Lindo). Throw into the mix, complicated love lives, twist and turns, undercover cops and lots of voiceovers to give us back story, this is a compelling and thrilling series. Too bad from what I have seen it has not been recommissioned.

This site lists the shows that have been cancelled and there are some shockers; The Chicago Code, Lie To Me & Law & Order:L.A. which we haven't even seen in the UK yet.

http://tvdonewright.com/2011-2012-preview/2011-2012-renewal-pilots-cancellation-chart/

Two choices today, two great series.

http://youtu.be/qR54ghcg-UQ

http://youtu.be/Me5srZhvuEA