The Unusuals A Review

Today’ hot word The Unusals, have been reviewed by many, The latest information appeared in the Chicago Tribunal "The merger wouldn't quite work, I suspect, but if you combined the best parts of "Southland" (9 p.m. Central Thursday, NBC; three stars) and "The Unusuals" (9 p.m. Central Wednesday, ABC ; two and a half stars), you might end up with a pretty great cop show.
Both shows follow in the footsteps of "Hill Street Blues" and "NYPD Blue" in that they attempt to depict what it’s like to be an urban police officer. The randomness, the tragedies, the camaraderie, the sacrifices, the sardonic humor—they’re all part of the fabric of both ensemble dramas.
"Southland," which comes from "ER" executive producers John Wells and Christopher Chulack, is the more serious and satisfying drama, though it could use a little more of the lightness of “The Unusuals." I don't know if the folks who tuned in each week to see doctors heroically saving patients at County General Hospital will want to see beleaguered cops combating crime on the gritty streets of L.A. Bodies are often fixable; street crime and gang violence, not so much.
"The Unusuals," on the other hand, tries a little too hard to be quirky. "Hill Street Blues" had its share of offbeat moments, but it strived to get the atmosphere of the station house and the details of police work right. “The Unusuals" doesn’t have the balance between the comedy and the serious stuff right yet, but Terry Kinney lends a welcome acerbic note as the station’s seen-it-all leader, Sgt. Harvey Brown.
"Southland" is a little reminiscent of "The Shield"; in this NBC drama, dogs are constantly barking, crimes make little sense and bystanders are too afraid to act as witnesses. Quietly holding the whole thing together is McKenzie ("The O.C."), who gives Sherman an appealing vulnerability and an inward-looking intensity. Also excellent is Regina King as a dedicated detective.
There are intriguing indications that the earnest and engaging "Southland" wants to be more than just another cop show, which is to its credit. But the real question is, what will -- what can -- NBC do with this program? In a few short months, Jay Leno is taking over a third of the network's real estate. It's hard to imagine "Southland" having much of a future unless it is a breakout hit, something NBC has had precious few of in recent years."


Source: Chicago Tribunal (chicagotribunal.com)