BEING TOO CLOSE to a particular subject matter may tend to render one's attitude towards any impartial review as being, if not spoiled, it would be at least somewhat jaded. In order to measure the value of a dramatic piece, one must first do his best to compartmentalize one's personal knowledge from the artistic value of the drama.
WITH REGARD TO today's specimen in question, THE CHICAGO CODE (blah-blah, 2011)the very short lived Police Drama on the Fox Network last year, we do confess that we did have some difficulty in doing so. The fact that this writer had been a Chicago Copper for close to 35 years did weigh in heavily in this regard.
WE DID FIND many aspects of just what popular fiction does portray as realism in bringing the world of the big city Police to the screen. In all fairness, this is not limited to this series and, indeed, there are many other, many much more glaring exaggerations in many more cop & robber series over the years.
AS FAR AS the settings, the art direction and the overall look of the series, the production team gets the highest marks available. The choice of the external sights; blank-blank ans well as the Fox Television Network, both receive the highest marks available. Our fair, old town has a wealth of sections & communities; which all have their distinctive looks. These various degrees of photogenic urban landscapes were exploited to the highest by the filming crews.
CONSIDERING THE CAST and the incremental character and plot developments that were unfolding, we have to admit (somewhat begrudgingly) that there was some outstanding things happening in THE CHICAGO CODE. Could it be that it had won me over into the great clan of its admirers? Well, it could be!
NOW PLEASE ALLOW us to finish up with one last, rhetorical question. Just what could have prompted the Fox Network to pull the plug on this series after only 13 episodes? Had it not taken other long running, now classic series some time to catch on? Ever hear of I SPY or HILL STREET BLUES? They didn't catch on right away; but both proved to be all time great entries into TV's rich and ever growing history.
OKAY, SO WE hear that the world of television entertainment is much more competitive now. Still, we can only wonder and close out this essay with those four small, yet mighty words......
"WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN!"
WITH REGARD TO today's specimen in question, THE CHICAGO CODE (blah-blah, 2011)the very short lived Police Drama on the Fox Network last year, we do confess that we did have some difficulty in doing so. The fact that this writer had been a Chicago Copper for close to 35 years did weigh in heavily in this regard.
WE DID FIND many aspects of just what popular fiction does portray as realism in bringing the world of the big city Police to the screen. In all fairness, this is not limited to this series and, indeed, there are many other, many much more glaring exaggerations in many more cop & robber series over the years.
AS FAR AS the settings, the art direction and the overall look of the series, the production team gets the highest marks available. The choice of the external sights; blank-blank ans well as the Fox Television Network, both receive the highest marks available. Our fair, old town has a wealth of sections & communities; which all have their distinctive looks. These various degrees of photogenic urban landscapes were exploited to the highest by the filming crews.
CONSIDERING THE CAST and the incremental character and plot developments that were unfolding, we have to admit (somewhat begrudgingly) that there was some outstanding things happening in THE CHICAGO CODE. Could it be that it had won me over into the great clan of its admirers? Well, it could be!
NOW PLEASE ALLOW us to finish up with one last, rhetorical question. Just what could have prompted the Fox Network to pull the plug on this series after only 13 episodes? Had it not taken other long running, now classic series some time to catch on? Ever hear of I SPY or HILL STREET BLUES? They didn't catch on right away; but both proved to be all time great entries into TV's rich and ever growing history.
OKAY, SO WE hear that the world of television entertainment is much more competitive now. Still, we can only wonder and close out this essay with those four small, yet mighty words......
"WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN!"