Re: my so-called life
Malcolm Lawrence (malcolm@wolfenet.com)
Sat, 13 Sep 1997 15:06:17 -0700
Actually, you know what TV show I think is head and shoulders above everything
else I've probably ever seen? Cracker. I don't think it's the one that ABC is
advertising for this new season, but I started watching it with my TVholic
friend a few years ago on A&E. It stars Robbie Coltrane (famous Scottish
comedian for all you Yanks who've never heard of him) as not a cop, but a
criminal psychologist who is only brought into solve cases that the cops can't
figure out. So at the very beginning of the show you know (the viewer knows)
who did it, but the rest of the time (they're usually 2 or three hours shows)
is trying to figure out why he did it. The best part of the show is that no
matter how righteous or didactic it may appear, the main character, Fitz, has
a shambles of a personal life himself. He's a compulsive personality who
smokes like a fish, drinks like a chimney and has an addiction to gambling so
out of control that his long-suffering wife keeps leaving him. Not to mention
he's estranged from his pot-smoking son. Then there's the sexual tension
between he and "Panhandle" the smart young redhead in the department. This
show has the best scripts I've ever watched on television. Probably even
better scripts than most theatrical movies I've ever seen. Can't recommend
this show highly enough, and that's really saying something coming from me
because I've always thought that the crime drama was the lowest and most
boring form of entertainment there was. The dialogue in this show absolultely
crackles. Could even put David Mamet to shame. American TV producers really
need to start watching this show.
Malcs