What's it about?
NYC 22follows six diverse NYPD rookies as they patrol the gritty streets of upper Manhattan. With unique backgrounds, personalities and reasons for being on the force, the new cops will make their share of rookie mistakes while they figure out how to relate to their boss, each other and the people they swore to protect.
You should watch if...
• you don't think there are already too many cop shows on TV.
• you enjoy the diverse ensemble cast and relationship drama of GREY'S ANATOMY but are too embarrassed to admit you watch it.
• you don't already have too many shows to watch on a Sunday night, what with GAME OF THRONES, MAD MEN, THE KILLING, THE GOOD WIFE, ONCE UPON A TIME, GIRLS and VEEP (when it premieres next week).
So, how was it?
Honestly, has anyone even heard of this show? I make it my job to know everything about TV (though I don't get paid for it...yet) and even I forgot this show existed until yesterday. Did CBS promote it at all? I do most of my TV watching online, so maybe they advertised it on their channel, but there were definitely no advertisements on any of the many entertainment sites I frequent. Strange. Not surprising then, that NYC 22 premiered to an underwhelming-for-CBS 8.9 million viewers. That may not sound like a low number, but CBS is the highest-rated network and is used to much more. Then there's also the fact that even with 8.9 million viewers, the rating for the all-important 18-49 age group was a scant 1.5. There's next to no chance that NYC 22 will survive to see another season. At least they changed the title. Originally, the show was to be called simply THE 2-2. Sounding like a preteen's frilly pink ballet costume probably isn't the best way to draw in viewers for what's supposed to be a gritty cop show.
Given CBS' apparent lack of interest in promoting its own show, I was totally prepared for the pilot to be horrendous. Color me surprised, then. Maybe it's just because my expectations were at an all-time low, but I didn't totally hate it. It's not exactly groundbreaking, but it does the job. It struck me pretty heavily as GREY'S ANATOMY taking place on the streets of Manhattan. There's a racially diverse cast of pretty young
There's Leelee Sobieski (THE GLASS HOUSE) as Jennifer 'White House' Perry, the tough and professional former marine. There's Judy Marte (a dead ringer for Jennifer Carpenter) as Tonya Sanchez, who's trying to rise above her family's criminal lifestyle. There's Adam Goldberg (THE UNUSUALS) as Ray 'Lazarus' Harper, the oldest of the bunch, a 41-year-old former crime journalist. There's Stark Sands (FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS) as Kenny McLaren, the do-gooder pretty white boy. There's Harold House Moore as Jason 'Jackpot' Toney, the former all-star basketball player returned to the streets of his hometown. And there's Tom Reed as Ahmad 'Kiterunner' Khan, the Afghani immigrant with a chip on his shoulder. All six of these actors are serviceable in their roles, making their characters just alive enough to distinguish them from a politically-correct billboard for police recruitment.
The cases these rookie cops tackle on the first day involve rival gangs, tattooed murderers and domestic violence. Again -- nothing earth-shattering here, but somehow the characters remained likable enough to keep me from rolling my eyes every five seconds. I suspect that, if CBS had actually given this show a chance, it could have attracted quite a following of people invested in seeing these young people struggle and grow under pressure. Unfortunately, I suspect the remaining 11 episodes will be burned off into the summer with little to no fanfare, with the show then dying a quiet and unmourned death. At least CBS doesn't need another hit.
Rating:
** Okay.
Not atrocious, but not enough to keep me coming back, especially on an already crowded Sunday night. If CBS moved it to a less popular night, like Friday, it would have less competition and would also be able to skate by on lower ratings. Not sure why CBS is treating this show so abysmally, but maybe it will surprise us all and slowly gather a strong following. Only time will tell.
What did you think, Fellow Addicts? Did you like the show? Had you even heard of it? Vote in the poll below and then hit the comments!
(For the complete rundown of when all the new shows are premiering, check out my 2012 Midseason TV Preview.)
No comments:
Post a Comment