The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Jason Schwartzman and Jonathan Ames on the set of Bored to Death, their HBO series premiering in September. Watch the video below. The show's about a writer, named Jonathan Ames (Schwartzman), who's so bored he posts an ad on Craigslist claiming to be a private detective and begins accepting cases. We've already wondered if it's a hipster version of Castle, but after watching the video below, and hearing Ames talk about how he first thinks of a case for each episode, then builds the character, I started thinking about how most "procedurals" have far more character in them than you'd think. (Well, actually, the only people who'd think that are folks who never watch 'em.) I mean, I didn't tear up talking to NCIS' Cote de Pablo because of a case; I teared up because of what it was doing to her character Ziva's relationship with Michael Weatherly's Tony. Procedurals often get a bad rap as sterile, cold hours, when the best ones are anything but.
So, who are your favorite characters on "procedurals" and why? Nominate away!
Comments (1-30) of 91 Add your comment
You already mentioned them…Ziva and Tony. Although there may be no more Ziva and Tony next season. Quite disappointing.
I will hop on the Tony and Ziva train…the last four episodes of this season’s NCIS were heartbreaking for their characters. I can only hope the writers will continue to show us why we love those two when fall comes around!
I can’t believe Mandi didn’t give her boy Seeley Booth a shout-out! He’s my pick right now.
I’d also include the Memphis PD on “The First 48″; I know its a reality show, but I like that crew the best. (No offense to the other departments)
Maybe I am old school, but there is only 1 nominee in my book. Lenny Briscoe (the awesome Jerry Orbach) on the original law & Order. Didn’t matter who his partner was, Lenny was the man.
Seeley Booth is cool, but I’m a Hodgins fan all the way!
Also, Lenny Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) may be the best ever on a procedural show.
Give me Gibbs any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I’m serious. Give me Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Abby Sciuto on NCIS is the best Character in a procedural. Quirky and smart as a tack, I love the heck out of her.
The interaction within the whole crew in NCIS makes it the best show on TV
CSI (Vegas) is (or was) by far the best and brightest of the bunch charecter development wise. Just occasionally you’d get glimpses of the regulars back story to see what makes them “tick”. We are after all, the sum of our pasts.
A few years ago, I would have said CSI. But that show has gone downhill creatively about a year before Sarah left, and I think CSI: NY has taken its place as the best CSI. There, at least, you see the character’s personality and lives away from work. Still, NCIS is the best when it comes to showing the characters and heart behind the stories they are telling. Hands down, NCIS is the best crime procedural out there. The characters are all unique and have perfect chemistry with each other. I love it!
everyone on Bones! the ensemble’s chemistry is the best part of the show
The whole Bones cast!They all have such different personalities, but work together so well. I love it.
Lennie Briscoe, Abbie Carmichael, and Booth and Brennan if we’re counting Bones. My love for Angie Harmon episodes of Law & Order cannot be overstated — Texas justice at all times.
Booth and his squints all the way.
This is so easy: Gregory House and James Wilson.
Before you come back with “‘House’ is NOT a procedural, consider this: about 90% of the episodes follow the same structure.
We open with someone who appears to be sick, but the Patient of the Week turns out to be the person next them. House comes into his office and, depending on the week, either refuses to take on a case to antagonize Cuddy or insists that it IS a case to antagonize Cuddy (and avoid clinic duty). Either way, it ALWAYS turns out to be a case. The team fumbles around for a while. At around 8:35, the team thinks they have it solved, but the patient gets worse. At around 8:48, it looks like the patient is going to die. At around 8:52, House is in Wilson’s office, talking and something he says leads him to the answer, so he stops mid-sentence and bursts into the OR/patient’s room to deliver the right diagnosis.
And scene. “House” = procedural.
The Closer – I like every character on that show!
My initial picks were Booth and Bones, but since someone here made a great case that House is a procedural drama (makes sense to me), I’ll also throw in House and his ducklings.
How about Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds? The ultimate NERD with a soft heart and a drug addiction. What’s not to love???
The cast of Pushing Daisies (they solve whimsical murder cases, yes, but they are still murder cases).
Provenza on The Closer
Gibbs, no doubt is the central character in the whole NCIS show, no Gibbs, no show, and the character of Abby is very original and funny.
This is hard. Booth on Bones, Provenza on The Closer, Briscoe on Law and Order, Castle on Castle. There are so many more.
For me, it is (or was) Gil Grissom on CSI. First off, I liked the fatherly mentor role the character had (especially in the early years) had and his science nerd “follow the evidence” approach. In terms of characterization, we didn’t really learn too much about Grissom. A bit about his mother, and his relationship(s) with Sara but mostly it was mundane things. It was in this aspect that William Petersen did a brilliant job bringing the introvert Grissom to life. It wasn’t about the big outward dramatic moments. It was the smaller aspects: a glance, an awkward pause, a thought that almost but never quite got out. But Petersen could also deliver powerful scenes when required. Check out the raw controlled emotion during the season 8 premiere: http://www.youtube.com/v/sAYCj7i8-3whl=enfs=1
Despite what some might call a cold and distant demeanor, Grissom was the heart of the show.
booth and bones without a doubt. granted i love all the squints as well. but booth and bones’ chemistry is amazing.
RIP Lenny Briscoe – best character ever in a procedural. Honorable mention to Jack McCoy, Abbie Carmichael, Mike Logan from L&O, and Provenza & Tao from the Closer.
RIP Lenny Briscoe – best character ever in a procedural. Honorable mention to L&O characters Jack McCoy, Abbie Carmichael and Mike Logan; and Provenza and Tao of The Closer.
How about John Munch? Richard Belzer has been playing the same character on something like 6 or 7 different procedurals over about 20 years. I love Munch–he’s the best definition of a “character.” I also like that they delved into his past a little in the last couple of episodes of SVU.
My favorite is Greg Sanders on CSI because he makes me laugh and we’ve seen his character mature over the years on the show, going from the lab tech to field agent. “But seriously… Phi Beta Kappa, Stanford. Can I help it if I’m hip?”
Gil Grissom. First name I thought of when I read this blog entry. I mean, he’s the original procedural investigator. He’s the guy who made it popular. And Billy Peterson played him with such aplomb in nine seasons of work that you could almost categorize Grissom as underrated.
Bones and Booth, plus the squints and Sweets. A procedural with deep characters and humor … who woulda thought?!
Mick Belker-Hill St Blues.