Gideon's Crossing

Most TV shows, especially pilot episodes, start with one hell of a grabber and from there on out either fail to live up to the expectation that they've built OR they hit the home run.

"Gideon's Crossing" nailed a grand slam. The main character "Gideon" played wonderfully by Andre Braugher (this man doesn't get enough credit for his talent) is a Doctor, but not a perfect one and they carefully execute his flaws little by little to the audience. But the difference is his flaws are what makes him human. In a world where we expect nothing but perfection from our physicians we tend to forget that they have the same hopes, dreams, and desires we do. We expect them to be super-heroes in a world where nothing known as krpytonite exists. We expect them to be perfect.

To this end we are greeted with "Gideon", a doctor who not only has flaws, but appears to resent and embrace them at the same time. Very real, very human. Mad props to Johnson & Johnson for sponsoring a commercial free series premiere. Great choice on their part. I hope ABC has the round items required to keep this show around. One last word, for those few of us who saw "Hollow Man" remember the hottie who lived across from Inviso Doc? Well she's in this show too AND she speaks! How about that? She's good too, and certainly not too hard on the eyes either. Excellent show. May its health prognosis be good well into the future.

Sadly this series was doomed from the start. Great cast, good writing and an uplifting message with only a hint of preaching! Andre Braugher is as good in this, or maybe better, than his role in Homicide (Life on the Street).

Network TV was simply not ready for this, and if you take it to cable, the tendency is to spice it so much it can become offensive. Like I said, doomed from the get go.

The ensemble was also being used well, without the "stock character" prejudices and clichés. I suspect had this been given a really good run it would have been possible to flesh out the interns and residents as well as the nursing staff to the point of developing some outstanding story lines.

This is one of a long line of shows submarined by its refusal to seek mediocrity.

The high level of writing, the intricate and complex characters, and the superb cast make this show worth watching. With the exception of this show, I don't watch network tv anymore. But I make it a point to sit down every Monday night so that I can watch and admire the quality of Gideon's Crossing. Do yourself a favor and watch it to.

I like this show. It might drag on too long in its characters' personal conflicts, but that's minor. It is the latest in a line of medical dramas which includes E/R, St. Elsewhere, and Chicago Hope. All the performances are good, and the writing is first-rate. Give it a chance. The series certainly does have potential.

Gideon's Crossing was a fine show. It got an Emmy Nomination after it was axed. I liked the ensemble cast that had a young black Doctor as the Chief Surgeon and Indian,Jewish,Female and Gentile Whites all interacting as colleagues and friends as the other Doctors.

It was better than ER to me because of that ethnic mix. Per the reviewer,what made the woman not seem like she could be from Long Island,because you are? Are there not various ethnic people on L.I.? The subject matter and story lines were good.

It's biggest problem was that it came on at 10pm eastern on Monday nights,replacing Monday Night Football. ABC's ratings drop in the offseason and viewers go elsewhere. Had it come on at 9pm on Tuesday,things might have been different.

Also why does the reviewer seem to like Andre Braugher's projects when he's a "sidekick" or supporting actor on Hack or Homicide,but trashes the show that he's the dramatic lead in?