Volume I No. 47
 01-02-03
 The Disquieting Trend In Law-and-Order Television 
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2003

 Several of the most popular cable offerings are cop shows. 
 "The Division" on cable channel Lifetime is one. As is "The 
 Shield" over on FX. These two programs couldn't be any more 
 different than if they were produced on different planets or 
 in alternate universes. And - no surprise - the one that will 
 undoubtedly get the most ink is the controversial, "The Shield."

 "The Shield" features a homicidal detective, Vic Mackey, 
 played by the bald-headed and over-achieving Michael Chiklis. 
 -- That's right. The central character on "The Shield" is a sociopath. 
 A cold-blooded murderer of a fellow officer. He is a thief. And 
 he's in deep with low-lifes of all description. -- And this is the 
 anti-hero for whom we are to eagerly tune in each week?

 Thus are the depths to which television producers have sunk to 
 produce cutting-edge programming. Foul language. Immorality
 everywhere you turn. And all manner of societal dysfucntion. 
 Oh, what a plague the Soprano's has leased upon us. With all 
 the real criminals out there, is it really necessary to have a police 
 drama thrust upon the public where the Good Guys are themselves 
 murderers? -- What is the message? That the Boys in Blue are 
 in need of therapy? That they are merely frail human beings like 
 all the rest of us? -- Such is the the justification has been stated
 again, and again, in defense of that aforementioned, Italian mob
 show over on HBO.

 Which brings us to the other extreme. "The Division." Frankly,
 this particular cop show is not very realistic. { and took a step 
 backward in that regard during its second season } There are 
 just too many good-looking babes represented in one police 
 precinct for this show to seem anything more than a vehicle to 
 appeal to female viewers who want to see women on television
 as something other than bimbos, models, and trophy wives for
 successful men.

 But besides that obvious and intentional flaw. "The Division"
 is very well-acted for the most part. Except for the Captain 
 who is an idiot, and an awkward stereotype of a threatened 
 man underappreciative of the hardworking females in his charge. 

 The gentleman who is cast as the Captain - whose real name 
 escapes me - is a poor actor. He gets it all wrong. Perhaps the 
 subtleties required of his particular character are beyond his
 range. Bonnie Bedelia - who portrays the Lieutenant in command 
 of all those gorgeous female detectives  - completely outclasses 
 him in every scene they share.

 In fact, all of the women on the show do a bang up, job. 
 { Especially partners Lisa Vidal and Nancy McKeon } And 
 the story lines have been interesting. Yes, the program does 
 at times have the cheesy low rent feel typical of some free 
 channel cable network offerings. But the Division does not 
 take itself too seriously, and has not as yet -- knock on wood 
 - sunk to sensationalism, graphic language, and a glimpse of 
 naked thigh or buttock every week to grab ratings.

 But, who wouldn't want to see Bonnie Bedelia's beautiful 
 naked butt, -- idiot! 

 Errrrr..back on point.

 Law and Order is the standard by which all police dramas should
 be measured. And deservedly so! This award winning show is 
 the epitome of class. And has been since the very beginning. 
 How they've managed to maintain the quality - and freshen the 
 cast every couple of years or so - is amazing.

 If only NYPD Blue could have evolved in a similar direction.

 But it was not to be.

 How tired is Detective Sipowicz's never-ending display of racism, 
 sexism, and homophobia. This guy bristles at working with blacks, 
 working with women, working with immigrants, and sharing the
 same breathing space with f--gs.

 Sometimes the whole point of an entire episode seems to be to 
 serve as an elaborate prop to display this bigot insulting some 
 group other than his own. { to the delight of the audience? } I 
 mean how many immaginative ways can you insult a minority, 
 and still get it past the network censors?

 Why would you want to invite such an individual into your living 
 room every Tuesday night?

 There are three variations of Law and Order. And the two newest
 versions were no doubt meant to meet the competition head on.
 Law and Order Special Victims Unit, for example, has some racy 
 episodes now and then. -- Really out there. But the writers always 
 manage to get the job done without losing the soul of the show. 
 -- To something dark.

 Although it may be possible to infer the liberal characters, 
 from the conservatives. { the tolerant versus the intolerant }
 Has there ever been a permanent cast member on any version 
 of Law and Order that has been portrayed as an outright bigot?

 The closest was perhaps the departed Detective Curtis, played 
 expertly by Benjamin Bratt. His character was extremely moralistic 
 and judgemental. A man with a huge chip on his shoulder and
 quick to show his contempt for bad people. Detective Curtis
 was wrapped up a bit too tight in his own skin. { and a  poor 
 choice for a partner, I would think, were we talking reality } 
 But Detective Curtis was not quite to the level of actually being 
 bigoted. -- A fine distinction always made clear by his actions, 
 I might add.

 Detective Curtis was no Andy Sipowicz.

 It just shows that in the name of free speech, every line in the 
 sand that can be crossed doesn't have to be crossed. It is not 
 necessary. { why is free speech always an excuse for lowering
 the bar? } Just because you can produce a police drama where 
 the cops are dishonest and little more than pond scum - doesn't 
 mean you must. I would take the fine repertory quality of a
 "Homicide: Life on The Street" - and the dignity inherent in that
 old show - to the excesses seen on television today. Excesses 
 that are cleverly designed to appeal to the pruient interest.

 There is no need to push the envelope each and every week. 
 It is already stretched to the max as it is. Must we destroy 
 respect for every American institution?

 What's next? An ensemble drama where the mayor of a major 
 city is a drug addict. 

 God no!

 We don't need to see that.

 I can do without bigots with badges. And I can certainly do 
 without murderous bigots with badges. Murderers who use 
 their police priviledges to keep playing The Game. And making 
 fools - and victims - out of law abiding citizens.

 This is a good thing you've done, FX?

 Or is it all about the money, I wonder.

 The ratings.

 Where is Lieutenant Theo Kojak? Bring him back. Now there 
 was a bald-headed cop you could respect.

 Oh, I forgot.

 Not enough edge...
 

 ReadingPost.Com
 © Copyright 2003

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