Major TV networks and I just don’t see eye to eye when it comes to quality TV programming. I’ll admit they must have someone on their team that has incredible vision and helps them pick thoughtful, well written shows. Then, somehow, those same well written shows don’t get the viewership (shame on you American public) The networks want so they pull the proverbial plug.
The latest show to get the axe was the gritty, yet funny, cop drama, Prime Suspect. Based on the British show by the same name, it chronicled the life and police work of Jane Timmoney as a NY homicide detective. My husband and I really enjoyed the show as it wasn’t predictable like so many other police dramas. It utilized real character development and had interesting plots and subplots. Prime Suspect required the viewer to pay attention and invest in the characters. It didn’t have as slow a burn as my favorite police drama, The Wire, but it wasn’t always wrapped up nicely, either.
National networks have had a history of getting me hooked on unique, interesting TV only to leave me wanting when the show underperforms. Some deceased favorites include the British remake ( apparently British remakes are the kiss of death) Life on Mars, The Unusuals (which replaced Life on Mars), the Good Guys (which admittedly wasn’t that ground breaking, but was unique), Veronica Mars, Southland (a truly fantastic police drama that was thankfully picked up by TNT), and Life starring Damian Lewis, who has now moved on to Homeland. Which thankfully does not reside on A major network as it is a hard hitting, exciting look into homeland security and an American POW turned terrorist against his own country.
As you can see I’ve had a terrible run of bad luck with major networks and rarely do I find anything worth watching that isn’t cancelled. I don’t enjoy, or even get the appeal, of the typical, very popular shows. They seem to serve up either amazing show that ultimately get cancelled or television pablum that leaves me bored.
Thank goodness for other stations such as HBO, FX and Showtime, which have stepped up to fill in the gaps with shows like Dexter, Sons of Anarchy, Nurse Jackie, etc. Happy viewing and Stay Well.
