America in Primetime The Crusader (Season 1, Episode 4)
TV-PG
TV Episode | 55 min | Documentary

America in Primetime

The Crusader (Season 1, Episode 4)

TV-PG

TV Episode | 55 min | Documentary

The character of the crusader, who always took some sort of risk to achieve the desired triumphant end, was very much the typical "white" hero in the very "black and white" characterizations of the 1950s and early 1960s. That sort of hero ...See moreThe character of the crusader, who always took some sort of risk to achieve the desired triumphant end, was very much the typical "white" hero in the very "black and white" characterizations of the 1950s and early 1960s. That sort of hero was most evident in the many westerns of the era. This characterization was borne out of the winning attitude of WWII, where many Americans wanted to believe their heroes - predominantly males - did no wrong. Men wanted to be like them, and women loved them. The Vietnam era ushered in a new compassionate view, reflective of a character like Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H. The character of Andy Sipowicz in NYPD Blue was one of the first characterizations where the crusader was by no means perfect, but lived by his own moral code. More recent such characterizations, which often portray the crusader choosing the greater good - in the eyes of his own moral code - over personal happiness, and/or legal or political correctness, include Frank Pembleton in Homicide: Life on the Street, Vic Mackey in The Shield, Omar Little in The Wire, Gregory House in House and Dexter Morgan in Dexter. Perhaps the character with who most people within recent memory have rooted for, despite his internal struggles and flaws, is Jack Bauer in 24. In the few instances where the crusader has been a woman, she is often portrayed side by side, or even slightly subservient to the male crusader, such as Dana Scully to Fox Mulder in The X-Files. Written by Huggo See less

Contacts

+ Add

Become a member to see contact information for The Crusader.

Cast	+ Add Cast
29 cast members

Name	Known for
Robert Cochran Self - Co-Creator, 24 Self - Co-Creator, 24 See fewer	24 (2001)
Joel Surnow Self - Co-Creator, 24 Self - Co-Creator, 24 See fewer	24 (2001)
Marshall Herskovitz Self - Co-Creator, Thirtysomething Self - Co-Creator, Thirtysomething See fewer	Thirtysomething (1987)
Tom Fontana Self - Executive Producer, Homicide: Life on the Street Self - Executive Producer, Homicide: Life on the Street See fewer	St. Elsewhere (1982)
Alan Alda Self / Hawkeye Pierce Self / Hawkeye Pierce See fewer	MAS*H (1972)
Judd Apatow Self - Executive Producer, Freaks and Geeks Self - Executive Producer, Freaks and Geeks See fewer	Girls (2012)
Hugh Laurie Self / Gregory House, House M.D. Self / Gregory House, House M.D. See fewer	House (2004)
Linda Wallem Self - Co-Creator, Nurse Jackie Self - Co-Creator, Nurse Jackie See fewer	Nurse Jackie (2009)
Steven Bochco Self - Co-Creator, NYPD Blue Self - Co-Creator, NYPD Blue See fewer	Hill Street Blues (1981)
James Manos Jr. Self - Writer, The Sopranos & Dexter Self - Writer, The Sopranos & Dexter See fewer	Dexter (2006)
David Shore Self - Creator, House MD Self - Creator, House MD See fewer	House (2004)
Diablo Cody Self - Creator, United States of Tara Self - Creator, United States of Tara See fewer	Juno (2007)
Chris Carter Self - Creator, The X-Files Self - Creator, The X-Files See fewer	The X-Files (1993)
Gillian Anderson Self / Dana Scully, The X-Files Self / Dana Scully, The X-Files See fewer	The X-Files (1993)
Vince Gilligan Self - Creator, Breaking Bad Self - Creator, Breaking Bad See fewer	The X-Files (1993)
David Milch Self - Co-Creator, NYPD Blue Self - Co-Creator, NYPD Blue See fewer	Hill Street Blues (1981)
Dennis Franz Self / Andy Sipowicz, NYPD Blue Self / Andy Sipowicz, NYPD Blue See fewer	NYPD Blue (1993)
Andre Braugher Self / Frank Pembleton, Homicide: Life on the Street Self / Frank Pembleton, Homicide: Life on the Street See fewer	Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)
Shawn Ryan Self - Creator, The Shield Self - Creator, The Shield See fewer	The Shield (2002)
Michael Chiklis Self / Vic Mackey, The Shield Self / Vic Mackey, The Shield See fewer	The Shield (2002)
David Chase Self - Creator, The Sopranos Self - Creator, The Sopranos See fewer	The Sopranos (1999)
Alan Ball Self - Creator, Six Feet Under & True Blood Self - Creator, Six Feet Under & True Blood See fewer	American Beauty (1999)
David Simon Self - Creator, The Wire Self - Creator, The Wire See fewer	The Wire (2002)
Michael Kenneth Williams Self / Omar Little (as Michael K. Williams) Self / Omar Little (as Michael K. Williams) See fewer	The Wire (2002)
Michael C. Hall Self / Dexter Morgan Self / Dexter Morgan See fewer	Dexter (2006)
Clyde Phillips Self - Executive Producer, Dexter Self - Executive Producer, Dexter See fewer	Dexter (2006)
Sara Colleton Self - Executive Producer, Dexter Self - Executive Producer, Dexter See fewer	Dexter (2006)
Bill Paxton Self Self See fewer	Aliens (1986)
Alan Yentob Self - Presenter (UK version) Self - Presenter (UK version) See fewer	Imagine (2003)