Weird things goin’ around the States
Did you know it’s more likely you land a role on a cop show in the States than to win two hundred bucks in any random lottery ? The last five years, not only reality shows have sprouted like mushrooms on TV, but the cop/law enforcement kinda TV shows are right on par.
Here’s a list of oldies:
Law&Order (NBC)
NYPD Blue (ABC)
Cops (Fox)
JAG (CBS)
Here’s a list of new ones over the past 3 years, and they haven’t replaced the previous list, no, they have been added !
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) – Jerry Bruckheimer’s shot at TV
CSI: Miami (CBS) – dito
Cold Case (CBS) – Focussing on old unsolved cases, also a Bruckheimer’s.
Without a Trace (CBS) – Does Bruckheimer ever stop to catch a breath ? Another one, focusing on missing persons
Robbery Homicide Division/LA (CBS) – standard cop show
The District (CBS) – Focusing on the chief of the Washington D.C. district
The Handler (CBS) – Joe Pantoliano plays an FBI agent who trains rookies
Hack (CBS) – Ex cop driving around in a cab, still fighting crime
NCIS (CBS) – This Navy Crime Investigative Service is a JAG spin-off, with a bit of copy-catting the style of CSI
Law&Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)
Law&Order: Criminal Intent (NBC)
Third Watch (NBC) – Only half of this show is focused on the cops
Hunter (NBC) – revival of the old 80-ties series
Boomtown (NBC) – The same crime seen from all angles (cops, bad guys, etc)
Crossing Jordan (NBC) – Medical examiner works with the police
24 (Fox) – Jack Bauer, former special agent, head of CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit)
Fastlane (Fox) – Charlie’s Angels director McG’s view of a hip cop show with fast cars
Threat Matrix (ABC) – Another show featuring special agents focusing on terrorism
Alias (ABC) – Jennifer Garner plays an undercover double agent who works for the CIA
Karen Cisco (ABC) – She’s an US Marshall, based on the Out of Sight movie (which was then played by Jennifer Lopez)
Monk (ABC) – Tony Shalhoub plays a former police detective with some obsessive compulsive traits
Dragnet (ABC) – another 80-ties revival
10-8: Officers on Duty (ABC) – Nudding interesting here either.
Jake2.0 (UPN) – Young NSA tech dude turned agent
Peacemakers (USA) – Tom Berenger is a sheriff of a small town
And these are show that are currently on the air !!! In those three years a few got created and cancelled after one or two seasons (UC: Undercover, The Agency, Special Unit 2, Haunted, John Doe)
A long list, with only a handful worth watching (CSI’s strong writing, 24’s glued on chair storyline and Alias’ extended story arch). But I still suggest you watch them all, so you can see that most of them are so alike, it’s not fun anymore, even if it’s meant to lift the spirit of all those US citizens.