Guns Blaze In ‘Brooklyn South’ Debut
Those promos boasting that the first nine minutes of “Brooklyn South” (CBS at 10) will take your breath away aren’t just hype.
The latest police drama from producer Steven Bochco opens with a graphic police shootout that explodes on the screen.
Later in the season it may not matter that the premiere is so filled with the introduction of a large cast and requisite expository dialogue that it seems to shift into low gear. You’d probably find that Bochco’s “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law” and “NYPD Blue” suffered from the same problem before breaking out as landmark series.
This show focuses on street cops - uniformed patrolmen who risk their lives in Brooklyn. Jon Tenney, Michael DeLuise, Dylan Walsh, James B. Sikking and Yancy Butler head the cast.
Tonight, a gunman opens fire on officers and civilians outside the precinct headquarters. When he is wounded by police, he is carried inside the station, where he dies.
The question: Did he die of his wounds or at the hands of outraged officers?
Sikking plays the Internal Affairs officer who comes looking for answers.
“Brooklyn South” reminds one a lot of “Hill Street Blues,” complete with a paternal police sergeant’s daily briefing.
More familiar is how you’ll quickly see that the series is as much about the cops’ personal lives as it is about their professional trials.
Some of the story lines - a busted marriage, a kid brother joining the force - seem a bit tired. Trust Bochco, however, to make them work.
Highlights
“Timecop,” ABC at 10: With lines such as “Suit up, Logan. Temporal insertion in six minutes!” how can you watch without laughing?
T.W. King stars as time-traveling cop Jack Logan, dispatched in the premiere to London, circa 1888, to catch a criminal time-traveler who impersonates Jack the Ripper.
The over-the-top script makes this fantasy too much to bear.
“Suddenly Susan,” NBC at 8: The network kicks off a new Monday lineup. Susan (Brooke Shields) is off to Italy with Cooper (Brian McNamara), leaving a heartsick Jack (Judd Nelson) behind.
Great “Forrest Gump” special effects place Susan in movie scenes with Johnny Weissmuller, Jimmy Stewart and Errol Flynn.
Dixie Carter guest-stars as Gwen’s (Sharon Lawrence) mom on “Fired Up” at 8:30.
Caroline (Lea Thompson) has the broken heart in “Caroline in the City” at 9. Nora (Tea Leoni) has a new job on “Naked Truth” at 9:30.
“Everybody Loves Raymond,” CBS at 8:30: Raymond (Ray Romano) gets advice from his family that turns a television talk-show appearance into a fiasco. ESPN’s Roy Firestone and former NBAer James Worthy guest-star in the second-season premiere.
“NFL Football,” ABC at 6: Pittsburgh (1-1) visits Jacksonville (2-0).
“Ally McBeal,” FOX at 9: Ally and Georgia (Calista Flockhart, Courtney Thorne-Smith) team up to represent a TV news anchor (Kate Jackson) in an age-discrimination case. Meanwhile, Ally wonders what will happen on her first “official” date with Ron (Tate Donovan).
Cable Calls
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: “Frank Serpico: Honor Bound” profiles the legendary New York City cop portrayed on film by Al Pacino.
“Hey Arnold!” NIK at 8: The animated series starts its third season with a 3-D episode in which Helga attempts to get over her love-hate obsession with Arnold.
“CountryFest ‘97,” TNN at 6: The country channel repeats this two-hour special that aired on CBS in August. Gary Chapman and Neal McCoy host the special, which features Vince Gill, Hank Williams Jr., Wynonna, Travis Tritt, Randy Travis and others.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Tim Allen (“Home Improvement”) and singer Elton John.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: George Clooney (“ER”) and Bill Cosby (“Cosby”).
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Richard Lewis and Joely Fisher.