ABC‘s Detroit 1-8-7 (premiering tonight) has a few stumbling blocks to get past if it hopes to draw in the kind of ratings that are going to keep it around. The first, and most obvious, is the simple fact that it’s a homicide investigation series swimming upstream through a flood of new and returning cop shows and legal dramas. As much as the genre has a lot of historical momentum, there are probably only so many people can watch.
The second is that it is a police drama that abandoned its shtick. Originally working a “documentary” angle, the show ditched that idea midstream in favor of a simple, straight-forward drama. The first couple of episodes still tell that tale by way of the camerawork, and the occasional glimpse into the lens. It still looks like its working the gimmick, there just isn’t any mention of it. I...
The second is that it is a police drama that abandoned its shtick. Originally working a “documentary” angle, the show ditched that idea midstream in favor of a simple, straight-forward drama. The first couple of episodes still tell that tale by way of the camerawork, and the occasional glimpse into the lens. It still looks like its working the gimmick, there just isn’t any mention of it. I...
- 9/21/2010
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
Detroit is a beaten-down city. It's been bleeding jobs and residents for years, and as the opening voice-over in "Detroit 1-8-7" tells us, the city has one of the highest murder rates in America.
Those dire real-life circumstances make for a very rich setting for a crime drama, though, and ABC's new series (which premieres at 10 p.m. Et Tuesday, Sept. 21) uses the Motor City extremely well. The location shooting and some very strong performances lift it above standard cop-show fare.
The show you'll see Tuesday night is different than the one the show's creators originally intended. The first pilot was shot documentary-style, and the cops occasionally talking to the camera worked pretty well. But after the pilot filmed, the city of Detroit banned film crews from following cops on the job, the result of a real-life incident in which a young girl was killed during a raid filmed by a reality-show crew.
Those dire real-life circumstances make for a very rich setting for a crime drama, though, and ABC's new series (which premieres at 10 p.m. Et Tuesday, Sept. 21) uses the Motor City extremely well. The location shooting and some very strong performances lift it above standard cop-show fare.
The show you'll see Tuesday night is different than the one the show's creators originally intended. The first pilot was shot documentary-style, and the cops occasionally talking to the camera worked pretty well. But after the pilot filmed, the city of Detroit banned film crews from following cops on the job, the result of a real-life incident in which a young girl was killed during a raid filmed by a reality-show crew.
- 9/21/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.