Pitch your own 'Mentalist'-style crime drama! (*Fox already has)
Sep 23, 2008, 02:39 PM | by Jeff Jensen
Categories: Television
Tonight marks the debut of The Mentalist, CBS' latest Crimetime TV
product, starring Simon Baker (left) as a detective who can tell what you're
thinking just by looking at you. And if you're thinking criminal
thoughts, watch out, because he's gonna cuff you! Meanwhile, perhaps
sensing CBS is onto something--and/or inspired by its creepy-awkward reality hit Lie Detector--Fox just announced it has ordered up a midseason replacement called Lie To Me, which is destined to either be derided as a Mentalist
knock-off or hailed as Mentalist done better. From the Fox-issued press release: "Tim Roth (The
Incredible Hulk) [pictured, center] and Kelli Williams (The Practice) star in this
fascinating character drama inspired by a real-life specialist who can
read clues embedded in the human face, body, and voice to expose the
truth behind the lies in criminal investigations."
Both The Mentalist and Lie To Me may prove to quality entertainment. (And yes, that was an obligatory ass-covering hedge/disclaimer.) Even so, methinks the current iteration of the super-sleuth crime genre--the
near-supernatural human-behavior code-cracker--is one show away from jumping the shark. But what will that show be? That's the mental health-break/productivity-sapping sport I bring before you today.
Here's my candidate: THE BLOODHOUND! Prospective press release copy: "Emmy winner Dennis
Franz (NYPD Blue, pictured right) makes his long-awaited return to prime-time
television in this remarkably intriguing character drama about an
extraordinarily brilliant and hilariously quirky police detective whose
sense of smell is so powerful he can sniff out evildoers. You could say
he really nose his way around a crime scene! ('Nose' = 'knows'--get it?) His colleagues call him
Bloodhound, which is certain to make you chuckle, because he's actually a cat lover... with a big heart for strays! Now that's the kind of poignant irony only broadcast television can bring you. So beat THAT Damages, Monk, Mad Men and The Closer! Also
starring Julie Bowen (Boston Legal, Ed) as his loyal and beautiful if often
incredulous and irritated partner who actually might be his secret
daughter (we haven't decided yet--it'll really depend on if and when we
need a desperate ratings stunt) (wait, did we say that out loud?), The Bloodhound will premiere at midseason. Unless we can come up with something equally fantastic but more marketable. Preferably 'more marketable.'"
That's my guess--what's yours? Post below!
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