Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
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Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
Stars:
Ben McKenzie (The OC)
Michael Cudlitz
Regina King
Tom Everett
Premise:
From Emmy Award winners John Wells, Ann Biderman and Chris Chulack comes a raw and authentic look at a police unit in Los Angeles. From the beaches of Malibu to the streets of East Los Angeles, "Southland" is a fast-moving drama that will take viewers inside the lives of cops, criminals, victims and their families.
Michael Cudlitz ("A River Runs Through It") plays John Cooper a seasoned Los Angeles cop, assigned to train young rookie Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie, "The O.C."). Cooper's honest, no-nonsense approach to the job leaves Sherman questioning whether or not he has what it takes to become a police officer.
Cudlitz and McKenzie are joined by other cast members, including Regina King ("Ray," “Jerry Maguire”), who plays Detective Lydia Adams. Adams lives with and is the primary caregiver of her mother. Her partner, Detective Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott, "Boiler Room") is an unhappily married father of three. Michael McGrady ("The Thin Red Line") plays Detective Daniel "Sal" Salinger. Sal oversees fellow gang detectives Nate Moretta (Kevin Alejandro, "Drive," "Ugly Betty") and Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy, "Alpha Dog"). Arija Bareikis (“Crossing Jordan”) plays patrol officer Chickie Brown, a single mom who dreams of being the first woman accepted into SWAT.
Interesting little featurette that explains the series:
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This is a 7 episode series that will take over ER's timeslot.
Anyone going to try this? It's up against Harper's Island, which I will also watch. I like gritty cop shows and this looks like it has some potential. I think Cudlitz is perfectly casted for this type of show. It will be interesting to see if McKenzie can pull off playing a cop.
#2
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
This was free on iTunes the other day - I downloaded it, but haven't have a chance to watch. If it wasn't for McKenzie I probably wouldn't bother to check it out. I think this is his first work since The OC.
#3
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
McKenzie and Cudlitz are attracting me to this show. I think this is indeed McKenzie's 1st weekly show since The OC. Cudlitz actually has had alot of guest appearances recently and also did that FOX show Standoff. I think he could be good playing a badass cop.
I think NBC probably greenlighted this because they wanted to maintain their relationship with John Wells since ER is done.
I know alot of people will probably brush this off and say "Blah, another fucking police procedural." But, I think with John Wells behind it, it will be good. The chances if this getting a 2nd season are another question due to Leno.
I think NBC probably greenlighted this because they wanted to maintain their relationship with John Wells since ER is done.
I know alot of people will probably brush this off and say "Blah, another fucking police procedural." But, I think with John Wells behind it, it will be good. The chances if this getting a 2nd season are another question due to Leno.
#4
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
Eh I wouldnt mind checking it out, but given the setting, and theme, I would just compare it to The Shield.
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
This should still be free on iTunes.
I watched it, and enjoyed it enough to set up a season pass recording and try a few episodes.
I watch a lot of crime shows (CSI, Bones, NCIS, etc) and this didn't feel like just another police procedural to me. Then again, I don't watch Law & Order or The Shield, and maybe it's more like them.
I watched it, and enjoyed it enough to set up a season pass recording and try a few episodes.
I watch a lot of crime shows (CSI, Bones, NCIS, etc) and this didn't feel like just another police procedural to me. Then again, I don't watch Law & Order or The Shield, and maybe it's more like them.
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
While he made "88 Minutes" while working on The OC, afterwards he was the star (one-man performance) of a filmed stage play remake of "Johnny Got His Gun".
OC fans will get one HELL of a kick out of this small pilot spoiler, which will not ruin the episode at all but is still funny for the sake of trivia:
Spoiler:
Last edited by Nick Martin; 04-09-09 at 03:36 PM.
#8
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
i'm a sucker for cop shows, so i'll check this out.
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
I know we have all been spoiled by cable so I take into consideration the 'limitations' network television now has: there was nothing new here (right down to the closeted cop), but I was intrigued enough to keep watching.
Last edited by conscience; 04-09-09 at 10:08 PM.
#14
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
I enjoyed it, eventhough the dialogue was over the top in taking itself too seriously at different points.
#15
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
I agree, but aspiring to be an HBO show isn't always a bad thing.
I liked it. I'll watch next weeks show to decide if it's worth the time. Now let's see if they can maintain the production value throughout the remaining episodes.
I liked it. I'll watch next weeks show to decide if it's worth the time. Now let's see if they can maintain the production value throughout the remaining episodes.
#16
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
I thought it was really well shot and directed, the script had the typical pilot issues but it was solid.
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
I'll more or less concur with the reviews above. Liked it enough to watch again next week.
#19
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
ill give it a few more episodes, but I was pretty bored until about the last 15 mins then it started piquing my interest...
#20
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
I liked the overall tone of the show, but I found myself being distracted by some of the cast who weren't convincing at all. Specifically, the main character...can't remember the name (the new cop). I did find it ironic when his partner called him "90210" because that is exactly how I was feeling towards the majority of the cast. In the end, I came out pleased and found it much better than I thought I would. I just wish they could transfer the cast of "The Unusuals" over to this show.
#21
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
Interesting. So I know this was made for network tv, but why would they try to throw in profanity that is beeped? seems that they do it just to be edgy. overall, the show seems to pretty accurately portray everyday police life. i like it.
#22
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
I think it has to do with the popularity of tv on dvd. More and more people are waiting for shows to be released on dvd and watching them that way. On dvd they won't have to bleep anything.
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
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Re: Southland -- New Series from ER Producer John Wells -- Thursday's on NBC
Thought it was pretty boring but I'll watch a few more. I hate Regina King so the series came screeching to a halt everytime she was onscreen and they really had nothing for Tom Everett Scott or Ben McKenzie to really do here - but it's just the pilot, so we'll see... it really feels like it's trying to be hard like THE SHIELD, but so far, it's just not there.