Shark Bytes
Before this show even came out, Steven Bochco went to seemingly every reporter in America boasting about how this was the first black ensemble drama, how this was the show for blacks, and the reporters all nodded ruefully and kissed his overrated backside. This was Important Television. Never mind that "Homicide" and "Oz" told many meaningful stories revolving around black characters. No, they did not go around draping themselves in the NAACP flag, so they were not good enough. I watched the first episode of this show; the too-loud gospel background music, atrocious acting and plotting, and white/Jew bashing was enough to drive me away for good. This show only lasted as long as it did because of boycotts and threats from NAACP. Based on merit or quality, this piece of crap would have been cancelled after week 1. This dirge probably did more harm than good for blacks on television, because now people have even less faith in a minority-driven drama being successful.
Day One. This show was not cancelled because of its predominantly black cast, no! Rather, to paraphrase James Carville, it was the writing (never very good), stupid! Series co-creator Paris Barclay quit after Season One due to creative differences, taking Vivica Fox with him.They then overhaul the writing staff and cast (bringing in, among others, "Bring It On"'s Gabrielle Union), but one thing remained all too constant---the poor writing. Producer Steven Boscho (sp?) has not launched a successful new drama since "NYPD Blue" in 1993 (as of Spring 2002). Maybe he should forgo his usual "hard hitting" formula now.....
The show didn't jump, the network did. They replaced the show with shoddy programming. They didn't wait for a realistic rating. They showed just enough to say they gave it a chance. They should have rescheduled the show to another time slot. I'm watching even less of that network.
With very special episodes called "When Worlds Colitis" (not a joke), I think the shark has been leapt over already.
This show has the makings to become a classic ensemble drama. I can't tell you how it thrills me to see a drama with a predominately Black cast. If it is lasts, maybe it will help to destroy the myth that audiences will not tune into a drama if the cast is mostly Black. The episode where the Vivica A. Fox character tried to get a gang member to accept parental responsibility was excellent. I am really looking forward to seeing the episodes with the great Ossie Davis as a homeless person who thinks that he is royalty!! I just hope that CBS will wake up and give this show a decent time slot, because it is not an 8 'o clock show. Can you imagine ER, NYPD Blue, or Law & Order airing at 8 'o clock in primetime? Me neither. Again a good show that could become great if given the chance to grow.
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