What could be better than Cops? How about Cops starring America’s favorite straight-to-video martial artist, Steven Seagal? My colleague Ken Tucker recently weighed in on A&E’s Steven Seagal Lawman when it debuted. And now that the second episode has aired (the third premieres Wednesday night at 10 p.m.), it’s becoming clear that Seagal with a police badge and a taser is far more interesting than anything he’s done since Under Siege.
I’ll admit that I had no clue that Seagal has been moonlighting from his Hollywood day job for the past 20 years as a deputy in Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. But what surprises me even more than that, is the fact that it’s taken this long for some cable network to send a film crew down there to tag along with Deputy Blackbelt on his nightly rounds. You’d never know it from watching movies like Above the Law, but Seagal’s natural speaking voice is a drawling Cajun purr. And while he may be a little more bloated than you might remember, he’s still as quick and silently deadly as a ninja — a ninja with yellow-tinted sunglasses and a tase-first-ask-questions-later attitude.
In the second episode of Lawman, Seagal broke up a parking-lot brawl, chased some dude with an unregistered gun, and taught a bunch of recruits how to use his martial arts magic against perps like they were the star of their own personal version of Out For Justice. But what was easily the best part of the show was when Seagal, sitting in the passenger seat of the police SUV, spotted something through the windshield, and which we then got to see in what I’m going to call ‘Seagal-o-vision’. Basically, the camera zooms in on a suspicious person’s face or jacket pocket and switches into slow-motion so that we’re seeing what Seagal’s heightened awareness and street smarts are seeing. It’s totally cheesy, like something out of the old Six Million Dollar Man TV show, but like the rest of Lawman, it totally works even though it shouldn’t.
Basically, what I’m saying is you need to check this show out, stat. Because whether you love him, hate him, or just plain forgot about him, Steven Seagal hasn’t been this interesting or entertaining in years.
He actually is a pretty decent singer too. I’ve heard some of his music, and while I wouldn’t go out and buy his stuff, he actually sings quite well. I haven’t seen this series yet, is it better or worse than “Armed & Famous?” And yeah, he really looks like he needs to lose some weight.
I love his accent. I guess living there for years will give you a southern accent. I also watch hoping to see him running and that rug on his head flies off. Can’t wait for that. But the last episode where he showed that office how to use a gun was really good.
Steven Seagal is NO cop. He was given an honorary sheriff’s badge by Harry Lee some 20 years ago. He has NEVER worked as a cop – period. He has NEVER attended even one minute of any police academy or other training. Ask to see his recodes to prove it. His police experience is as fake as his hair color.
OMG, what an insult to COPS…
How is it that steven seagal is allowd to search a suspect and touch evidence if he is not a real cop? also the officers that are there treat him just like one of their own so how is it that he is not a real cop did he go to the academy or not would like to know .Just because you have a badge don’t make areal cop but why would he say it if he is not one i would not watch this if this turns out to be faked .It would be disrespectful to the men and women who risk their lives everyday that serve to protect us knowing that one of those days they may never see their family again. so please if this is faked then take it off the air it makes a mockery out of those who truly protect everday.by the way i have two cousins that are police officers and my brother used to be one until a tragedy happened to him and his friend who was also a police officer too. so be respectful the real deal as i hope this is if not take it off the air.
Good job Seagal…whether it’s kick ass fight scenes in the theatre, VHS, DVD, cable, dish, or now Lawman, it’s great entertainment. Just because Bruce Lee, Charles Bronson, Chuck Norris, Stallone and Arnold don’t have Oscars on their shelves for Best Actors doesn’t mean millions don’t watch and enjoy. Their like crime fighting cartoon characters for adults…Ain’t that right Douche Bags?
Great one, keep doing what you love to do..Your the best
I love Steven Seagal His show is great and I would never think of him as a fake…He also looks great in uniform very cute man….
He is NOT a real cop. he is a “reserve” which for lack of a better term is a helper to a real peace officer. he cannot be alone and cannot make arrests with out a REAL certified officer there. only a POST certified peace officer can restrict/infringe your fouth admendmant rights. the show stinks because it insults cops
I am still a Steven Seagal wowan,I love Him Now And Did along time ago.people say all kind of stuff,now that”s what im talking about,