10-8: Officers on Duty

Network: ABC; Genre: Drama (Crime); Average Rating: TV-PG; Classification: Contemporary (star range: 1 - 4)

Season Reviewed: Complete Series (1 season)

The modern status quo says there are only 2 types of cop shows TV networks and viewers will tolerate/understand: the 'ripped from the headlines' 'Law & Order'/'CSI' shows that are more about crimes and evidence than characters and the 'gritty cop drama' ('The Shield', 'NYPD Blue'). So it's no surprise that when the genera bending '10-8: Officers on Duty' hit the streets neither audience or critics (to cowardly to stand up for a show they think will fail) didn't know what to make of it. Have we been that conditioned by the mediocrity of Dick Wolf?

'10-8' breaks every one of those rules. In a throwback to cop shows of the 70s, it's largely light-weight with comedic elements and the larger focus is on characters and themes rather than solving mysteries and shocking the audience. Danny Nucci makes an impressive leading turn as Rico Amante - a former street punk in training for the LA sheriff's department. The show's most fun moments are surely when Amante butts heads with his training officer, a sensational Ernie Hudson. Hudson makes such an impression he carries most of the show. While the two partners could have held the show themselves the show expands in later episodes with a well rounded cast.

In terms of the dialogue, '10-8' is one of the most well written on TV. Rico's musings about life, God, being a cop and the human condition in the narrations are terrific and might even inspire quotation. It's clear that the writers are going for a story structure that doesn't feel artificially plot driven. Each episode contains a 'day in the life' format where we float from one incident to another with a general sense of story. On one hand this is refreshing, on another it handicaps the series of any sense of urgency. We feel there is no stake and, likewise, no need to tune in. The show seems to float aimlessly for the hour and wrap itself up suddenly. So even if it doesn't live up to it's full potential a lot of the time, '10-8' is an original and welcome change of pace from the usual cop drama. The cast and crew should wear this badge proudly. It was an admirable effort.

* * * / 4