Fastlane

I'll keep this short and sweet: "Fastlane" was an incredibly enjoyable TV Show. It was extremely high quality, glossy, flashy, hip, and entertaining.

Apparently it was canceled because of High Production Costs (?). If this is true, I can certainly see where the money went. It went to producing quality entertainment, meant for 18 and up adults (this was definitely not a "kids" show).

FOX definitely screwed up by airing this show on Friday Nights in the United States. What were they thinking???? Only an idiot would put such an expensive show on a night when most people "go out" to recover from a work week, or even better, go to bed early to recover from a work week. This show had Sunday NIGHT written all over it. Only MTV had the brains to pick up the show second run (a week after it aired on FOX), reaching an audience that I am SURE this show was targeted at. Unfortunately though I don't think people knew enough about the show to make the effort to catch it on either network.

While I severely morn the passing of this show, I can only pray that FOX will decide to recoup some of their apparent "losses" by releasing the first and only season on DVD.

Do you hear me FOX execs??? RELEASE THIS SHOW ON DVD!!! People will buy it!!!

*EDIT* Apparently someone listened to somebody, as it's coming out on DVD Summer 2008! Yes!!!!

This was a great show that was pulled after one season. It was like a 2000's version of Miami Vice but with cooler people. The using of Los Angeles as a backdrop was a good choice, because most of the drama cop shows are set around New York. The action was fast paced, and the music was updated weekly. Tiffany, Bill, And Peter were cast superbly, and the scripts were well written. It's a shame that Fox pulled this show. They didn't give it time to gather a following. If I remember correct, they kept switching the nights it was on, which is a major factor in trying to keep viewers. The show ended with a cliff hanger that made you think that it was coming back. If you can catch this show on video, or on cable anywhere, you will not be disappointed.

This show could have been to the 00's what Miami Vice was to the 80's. A hip, highly stylized, well-written, action-packed police drama with characters that you actually care about, and enough pop culture references to be timely.

The show centers around a couple of deep-cover detectives from opposite coasts who work for a vixen police lieutenant who arms her UC's with flashy cars, tons of cash, and seized contraband in order to entice LA's highest rolling criminals into stings operations. Complications and emotional conflicts inevitably occur on their assignments together, along with car chases, gunfights, and a little romance.

The plots were usually pretty lightweight but emotionally engaging, and there was genuine chemistry with the three main leads. The highly stylized action scenes with their trademark slow-motion and up-to-date soundtracks feel almost like music videos. Impressive guest stars showed up weekly, the latest hits played in the background, and the stories were set against a rich, flashy, glamorous background that you can't help but enjoy watching.

The show went for a full season until being canceled due to high production costs. Part of me thinks that the expenses would not have been a problem if the FOX network had not habitually changed what night and time it aired, costing the show countless viewers (especially when they gave it the Friday Night Death Slot).

The show lives on in DVDs, but they do not quite do the show justice since the music has since been changed. Many scenes were cut specifically to go with the music, and the soundtracks themselves were highly appealing. With this element removed and replaced with generic music, the show feels a little more ordinary than it rightly would in its original form.

An under-appreciated gem of a show.

Fastlane was the coolest show on earth. It was shown at about 0400 in the morning which was a slight inconvenience. I stumbled onto it when I fell asleep in my big chair and woke up early in the morning. I flicked on the TV and there it was just starting. Staying up that late when you have work in the morning was worth it. It got it right, everything a excellent TV show needs, Hot women, Fast cars, Big guns, Good bad guys, Car chases, other types of chases, Gun fights, Some decent acting. It is Bad Boys but a TV show, and maybe a little cooler. But that could be controversial, don't get me wrong Bad Boys is awesome. Theys should bring Fastlane back. If you haven't seen it you really have to.

People mistake style for flash. This show coasts on charisma, and there's plenty of it. Who really cares if the show is like any other one that came before it? It works by itself and the acting really is great by today's prime time standards. Sure, it's no ER or even NYPD Blue, but it has enough awesome directing sense to keep you excited throughout.