Bullz-Eye Blog » Common Law

The Light from the TV Shows: At long last, “Common Law”

Will Harris — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:35:02 +0000

You may remember – or you may not, given how long it’s been – that way back in December I offered a sneak preview of an upcoming USA Network series called “Common Law,” the set of which I’d just returned from. Almost immediately after posting the story, however, I was forced to add the following post-script:

I’ve just gotten word that the show’s premiere date is being shifted. Instead of January 26th, USA has decided to hold off the premiere of “Common Law” until the summer, as they believe it’ll draw a bigger audience then. Sometimes you get skeptical about the reasons behind schedule changes like these, but given that everyone on the junket seemed to enjoy the pilot, I’ll buy what they’re selling as the real deal. Sorry about the additional wait. Let’s hope it’s worth it.

Well, the time has finally come for the show’s premiere. “Common Law” arrives this Friday night, which makes this a perfect time to revisit that trip to New Orleans and give you a few comments offered up to us at the time from the show’s stars about their characters and the show itself.

Michael Ealy (Travis Marks) and Warren Kole (Wes Mitchell)

Michael Ealy: I think we definitely try to keep up the energy off-camera similar to the energy that’s on camera. Like, just today we were about to do a scene, and we like to pencil-fight in between takes, so we tried to incorporate that into the scene because it’s something that we do. And now it’s something Travis and Wes. We can’t help it. We spend every day together, every day.

Warren Kole: I’m very thankful that I’m working with an actor like Michael. He’s easy to work with every day. So we don’t end up killing each other.

ME: I think, this whole process has felt completely unique because of the therapy component of the show. When you get into therapy and you start talking about how we make each other feel and stuff like that…I mean, I’ve just never seen that before. Yes, we are a buddy/cop show. That’s a component, as you can tell. That’s because we’re buddies and we’re cops. But the minute we get into therapy, I think we’re going into uncharted waters in terms of the buddy/cop dynamic.

WK: The dynamic in couples therapy, not that I’m speaking from experience, is often “I’m okay, but he or she has issues. “ There’s that, but there’s often a recognition of, y’know, “Maybe I have something to work on…”

ME: That’s coming slowly. We’re starting to identify with our own flaws, if you want to call them that.

WK: It’s like a sibling relationship in that way, because there’s a feeling of you’ve been so together with someone for so long and they don’t appreciate what you do and it’s their fault that they don’t appreciate what you’re doing for them. “And if you’d just respect me and recognize how much I do for you, then maybe I would swallow my pride and say the same thing back.” But we never really get there. Yet. Haven’t got there yet.

ME: You know, one of the things Dr. Ryan says in the pilot is, “You don’t have to like the same things, you just have to hate the same things.” And I find that that’s actually quite true in any kind of relationship. If it’s me and my sister and, you know, we both hate vampire movies, that’s a good thing, but if she wants to see a chick flick and I want to see Harry Potter…which I don’t, but if I did want to see Harry Potter, that’s where we get to compromise a little bit. I think what we’re learning as detectives is there’s a need to compromise at times, but when we do…we both hate crime, we both get off on trying to try and get the bad guy, and I think you see us get along in certain moments, and then you see us not get along in certain moments, but when we don’t get along, it usually has nothing to do with the crime. It’s something personal. You know, my messiness or his tight-ass-ness.

WK: It’s tempered well with how excellent they are individually as cops and how they come together. What is it? The sum of the parts is greater than the whole, or whatever the expression is. They’re really good professionally, so it’s, like, you have to take the good with the bad. And there’s been so many blowouts in the public or in the precinct that what’s hilarious is it’s almost as if nobody even notices anymore. They’re just the Bickersons.

ME: You almost feel like if we didn’t argue we wouldn’t be able to solve the crime. We almost have to do it in order to be able to be good at what we do. The minute we start to get along all the time, we don’t need to be partners anymore.

Jack McGee (Captain Sutton)

Journalist: Is your character a mentor to Travis and Wes?

Jack McGee: Yeah, yeah, yeah, because they…you know, it’s, like, you guys and girls are younger. I remember my father he said to me one time…he used to say to me, “What, do you think I was born yesterday?” Just by the response you get – you’ve all heard that, and I used to – I remember just thinking to myself, “All right, here comes the lecture, let’s get it over with give me the last ten bucks, give me the keys to the car, go square it away with Mom, I got shit to do.” And sure enough, somewhere in my mind I was able to, I thought, sneak around and get what I wanted…until about twenty years later. I had a nephew of mine, who’s one of the loves of my life, he’s one of the New York City firemen that made it out of 9/11, and he was about fifteen, sixteen, seventeen years old, and I told him not to drive from this party. But sure enough, I came back about two hours later, then he showed up at the house and he told me he didn’t drive. I saw his car, so I went down and touched the hood, you know? Detective work. And he told me he didn’t drive. And I looked at him and I said…well, what do you think? [Laughs.] I got caught right in the middle of my father’s words. We think we know everything.

So that’s kind of how I’m approaching these guys, and it’s very easy because of the way it’s written. He’s got his own act and they can’t figure him out. They’re the young, hip guys, and all of the sudden here’s a guy that’s doing stuff that they won’t, that people their age aren’t doing. And in trying to guide them in the right direction…we’re doing an episode this time out where a couple of the guys come in that give my guys some shit. I’m very, I’m very, very protective and very defensive about people that are in my life, in my family, so I figured like these two nitwits are like my sons, and I can abuse them, but don’t you come in. So it’s kind of like a mentor or a father, and I see a lot of myself in these guys from years gone by, and I’m trying to help them not make the same mistakes that I made.

Journalist: Will your character go into therapy or join them in group therapy?

JM: I’m sure that that’s going to happen. There’s been a couple of scenes where I come back to Dr. Ryan and fumbling around, I sit for a few minutes, I burn some incense. Because my guys is…he takes the easy way out, which is what he’s always done ,so he’s now in the position where he’s got to do something about a change in his life, because he’s got some suspicions about where he fits in his life and…I don’t know how it’s going to evolve down the line, but I think everybody needs to go and talk to somebody. You know, you come from different backgrounds, and I can’t speak for you, but I think a lot of guys anyway from my background, we look at that as if it’s a defective character to ask for help, you know. Sure enough, with me in my own personal life, if I had not come to that point in my life… Because everything seemed good on the outside, but if I didn’t ask for help, I know I wouldn’t be sitting here with you today, that’s for sure. The toughest thing sometimes is to ask for help. The toughest thing sometimes is to say, “I don’t know how to do this.”

Sonya Walger (Dr. Elyse Ryan)

Journalist: How much research did you do into psychotherapy and couples therapy?

Sonya Walger: I did a fair amount. I’ve never had any experience in group therapy, and it’s very different to couples or individual therapy. So I got hold of a group therapist, and they went into it for a few hours, and he recommended some books that I went and read. But he also came up with this genius idea. He said at the end of this two hour session that we had together, “I’d really love it if you could watch us at therapy session, but you can’t, because it would compromise the anonymity. But if you want to bring eight actors together, I’ll do an improvised session for you.”

So I went and pitched that to that to the creators of the show, who all agreed this would be a great idea, so a few weeks ago we went. I got hold of eight actors and we went to Manhattan Beach Studios, and we got the entire writer staff, so…we had the inner circle of the actors pretending to be in group with the therapist, and then this outer circle of all the writers observing, and we did three hours of fake group therapy. It was intense. [Laughs.] Very intense. I wrote everyone in under the illusion that they would just be improvising, totally made up, and then we got there and the therapist was, like, “Okay, drop the improv, let’s just have the eight of you talk. So it got rather more revealing than anyone…well, I can’t say. It’s a comedy thing. [Laughs.]

But it was fun. And I know it was super helpful to me to actually watch a group therapist in action and see how much they listen and how much they intervene and how much they sit back and how the situations evolve. And I think it was really helpful to the writers to see, you know, how the dynamics work in a group, because how you think they work is not actually how they really operate.

Journalist: Can you tell us what you first thought when you read the script?

SW: First thought was…um, well, my first thought was – as any actor, if he’s honest enough, will confess – it’s always about your role. You rarely read the script and think, “Oh, interesting script.” You read it and you go, “Oh, nice scenes.” That’s what I read. I was, like, “Blah blah, cop stuff, but, ah, interesting therapy scene.” And, you know, I think if my work I’ve done over the years has got any common thread, it is I really like doing stuff that is essentially about relationships. I really like playing the truth of how people talk and speak and miss each other and hurt and all of that. So I have not played a cop probably for that reason, because I’m not terribly good at that stuff. I’m much better at the emotional side of things. So I read the script and just loved the absurdity and brilliance of these two being sent to couples therapy. It felt, like I say, both preposterous and wonderful and appropriate, and this huge comedy goldmine hasn’t been tapped before. So that was how I read it. I read it as a therapy show. Nobody else did. Everyone else knows it’s a cop show.

The Light from the TV Shows: May? Oh, my!

Will Harris — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:03:49 +0000

You’d think there wouldn’t be much new to see on TV during the month of May, since most series have either hit their season finales or are on the verge of delivering them. Thinking that, however, would be very, very wrong. Here’s a round-up of the new shows that’ll be hitting the airwaves during the course of this month, along with info from their press releases and video previews wherever available. Keep that TiVo warm!

May 4

My Momma Throws Down (TV One) – An original food competition show where the only thing that matters in the end is taste. But, along with healthy portions of food, these contestants and their families will be serving up a serious side-order of attitude as family dynamics becomes as important as the competition itself.

This is an entertainment show first—and a dynamic cooking show second. At its core, it is a true celebration of the Matriarch of the Family, placing her passion, humor, down-home expertise, and reputation on the line for all of America to witness.

Goldfathers: Race for Gold (NGC) – Its a modern-day gold rush! The new series follows three gold-mining operations as they battle nature, machines and each other in a brutal race against time to get as much gold from the ground as possible before the icy cold of winter returns to shut them down.

May 7

24/7 Wild (NGW)

Undercover Stings (Spike TV) – Filmed on location in cities such as Kansas City, Missouri, Palm Beach, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana, Savannah, Georgia and Las Vegas, Nevada, this new, original, half hour series gives viewers unprecedented access to the highly dangerous world of undercover police work – from the initial planning and set-up, to the dramatic tactical process and the final execution of the takedown. Whether it’s undercover female officers faking a bachelorette party to sting drug dealers, or cops going undercover to bust prostitutes or big-time criminals – ride along with several of the top police units in America as they ply their trade and bust the crooks in the first series dedicated entirely to revealing the seldom seen world of undercover police operations.

Tanisha Gets Married (Oxygen) – Even Bad Girls deserve love! Viewers are cordially invited to be a part of the wedding of a lifetime as “Bad Girls Club” fan favorite Tanisha Thomas prepares to walk down the aisle in “Tanisha Gets Married.” The “godmother” of all Bad Girls, Tanisha has come a long way since her days on “Bad Girls Club: Los Angeles.” Now with a budding career as a television host and on-air personality, this Bad Girl is all grown up – and planning the wedding of her dreams – but that doesn’t mean she’s going to settle down! Tanisha has been planning her wedding since she was five, and now the time has come to make her dreams come true. After seven years of ups and downs with boyfriend Clive, a mild-mannered and lovable supermarket worker currently living with Tanisha in her mom’s house, Tanisha has decided they are ready to take the plunge. Unfortunately for her, not everyone else agrees! Her family has doubts about the marriage, and Clive’s family doesn’t approve of Tanisha at all.

May 8

The Devil’s Ride (Discovery) – It’s a bike club. It’s a brotherhood. For the first time Discovery goes inside the world of motorcycle clubs with the members of San Diego’s Laffing Devils. “The Devil’s Ride” sports a diverse crew but one bonded by a commitment to each other and the club. Meet Laffing Devils president Gipsy, who must balance the club’s growing ranks with pressure from older members to maintain the status quo. An ex-Marine who served in Iraq, Gipsy credits the club for helping him deal with the emotional scars of war. Then there’s club VP, Billy the Kid, who waits in the wings wondering if he’ll have the chance to lead the Laffing Devils. And younger member Snubz breaks all the biker stereotypes with his degree in finance and a full time corporate job.

United Stats of America (History) – Here’s a stat for you … the average American male is on earth for about 900 months, and in that time he will spend almost two months shaving, roughly five months on hold, and another five months complaining about his boss. He’ll also spend a whopping 198 months watching TV … but only a mere two months having sex. Randy and Jason Sklar were born a statistic: they are identical twins and stand-up comedians who also just happen to have an obsession with numbers and an amazing knack for finding the incredible stories behind the stats. The wisecracking brothers are the hosts of “United Stats of America,” which reveals the stories behind the most interesting and surprising statistics in American history – stories that tell us more about who we are as individuals and as a nation. Randy and Jason bring their irreverent brand of humor to locations across the country, uncovering hidden facts about America and Americans while engaging in stunts and experiments that help them uncover the story behind the stats. The Sklars will also utilize cutting-edge computer technology and visually stunning “infographics” to help bring these numbers to life.

May 9

Around the World in 80 Plates (Bravo) – Hosted by food experts Curtis Stone and Cat Cora, the network’s most ambitious production to date follows 12 chefs competing in a spectacular race over 40 days and across 10 countries including Argentina, China, England, France, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Thailand, United States and Uruguay.

White Heat (BBC America) – Charts the lives of seven friends from 1965 through to present day. The stylish and suspenseful drama, straddling almost five decades, follows lives, loves and destinies shaped by the political events of each era, connecting the dots of their relationships born, bound and broken over time and ultimately reunited after the death of one of them. Their relationships – complex, volatile, life affirming and life changing – are first formed when they come together as flatmates in London’s Tufnell Park. The diverse group of young students includes rebel with a cause Jack (Sam Claflin), ambitious feminist Charlotte (Claire Foy), fragile beauty Lilly (MyAnna Buring), compassionate medical student Jay (Reece Ritchie), love-struck geek Alan (Lee Ingleby), Jamaican-born-and-bred law student Victor (David Gyasi) and kind-hearted Orla (Jessica Gunning).

May 11

Common Law (USA) – Two ace detectives are forced into couples’ therapy to save their work relationship. Travis Marks (Michael Ealy) and Wes Mitchell (Warren Kole) have a problem – each other. Despite their differences, this odd couple set of detectives are incredible at what they love most – enforcing the law – and have a seven-year track record as the LAPD’s finest in the Robbery-Homicide Division.

But when their constant bickering begins to have a major impact on their caseload, their new-age captain (Jack McGee) institutes mandatory couples’ therapy to bring back the flame in their “work marriage.” Tough-as-nails therapist Dr. Ryan (Sonya Walger) is brought in to help them understand and resolve their conflicts and confront their demons in order to enhance their ability to continue solving crimes.

The Half Hour (Comedy Central) – Shines the spotlight on some of the funniest and most unique comedians out there today. The series kicks off with a half hour of irreverent, razor-sharp comedy from Rory Scovel. Showcasing the hottest must-see breakout talent in their first solo Comedy Central specials, filmed at Royale in Boston in front of a live audience, “The Half Hour” features comedians Neal Brennan, Na’im Lynn, Joe Mande, David O’Doherty, Garfunkel and Oates (Kate Micucci & Riki Lindholm), Michael Palascak, Jesse Popp, Rory Scovel, Maronzio Vance, Nick Vatterott, Theo Von and Brendon Walsh.

May 12

Mom Caves (HGTV) – Beth Stern, host and owner of her own two mom caves, will incorporate cutting-edge design, fun and glamour into ultimate spaces for moms. Beth, who finds inspiration in such spectacular mom caves as Dina Manzo’s New Jersey closet, always creates the ideal sanctuary for a lucky mom. Whether it’s a dressing room where mom can get ready for a big night out, or a place where she can kick back and relax with family and friends, a new mom cave is the perfect haven.

Fish Tank Kings (NGW)

May 14

Invention Hunters (Food) – Steve Greenberg and Patrick Raymond are two “invention scouts”, scouring America in search of the next great kitchen invention. In each episode, they come across three home inventors who each believe they have a million-dollar kitchen gadget. Steve and Patrick put the inventions to the test ensuring they work as promised and determine whether there is a market for the idea. They will then choose one invention to bring to buyers in the retail manufacturing world to convince them to buy it and make the inventor’s dreams a reality.

Kurt Sutter’s Outlaw Empires (Discovery) – Behind the America you know lies another world, where people live outside the law. “Sons of Anarchy” creator Kurt Sutter enters the realm of the gangs and families who have dominated our streets and helped shape our nation’s history. Steered by Sutter’s compelling insight, each episode tells the complete story of an iconic American outlaw dynasty – directly from the mouths of people from the inside. Through their no-holds-barred accounts, the series takes an unvarnished look at moment-by-moment experiences that were not only pivotal for the organizations themselves, but life-changing for the individuals telling the stories.

May 18

Tron: Uprising (Disney XD) – Delves inside the computer world of The Grid and the people who live there in a visually striking new animated television series that follows the heroic journey of a new character, a young program named Beck, who becomes the unlikely leader of a revolution. Produced in CG animation with a 2D aesthetic, the series is set in the era of “TRON” between the stories in the 1982 feature film and “TRON: Legacy.”

(Note: Although technically the first episode of the series, the May 18 installment is being billed as a prelude to the series, which doesn’t officially launch until June 7.)

May 20

Mrs. Eastwood and Company (E!) – Chronicling the lives of Dina Eastwood, the wife of Oscar-winning film legend Clint Eastwood, and their daughters Francesca (18) and Morgan (15), and the all-male six member vocal group from South Africa managed by Dina, “Overtone,” the series is an unprecedented look at the surprisingly normal extended and blended family behind one of Hollywood’s most iconic superstars, inviting viewers to witness their lives and proves that familial bonds are shaped by more than DNA. The series follows Dina, Francesca, Morgan, the six members of “Overtone,” and those intimately involved in their world, wherever their lives may take them, from their hometown of Carmel, CA to Los Angeles and beyond.

May 21

The Eric Andre Show (Adult Swim) – “The Eric Andre Show” may be the most manic and unorthodox late night talk show ever made. The show’s traditional talk show format quickly devolves into chaos as its inept and bipolar host Eric Andre, along with his apathetic co-host Hannibal Buress, subvert all late night conventions. Taking place on a dingy public-access TV channel within an alternate reality, “The Eric Andre Show” creates its own distorted pop culture universe by conducting interviews with an unpredictable mix of actual celebrities, “fake” celebrities and extreme real-life weirdos. These interviews are broken up with deranged man-on-the-street segments, surreal flashes of inexplicable studio chaos, talk show desk-pieces and the general deconstruction of late night’s most beloved tropes in every quarter hour episode.

May 22

Hip Hop Squares (MTV2) – Stays true to the tic-tac-toe format of the original game show, while infusing it with some of the biggest and most charismatic personalities in Hip Hop culture today, which transcends genre and crosses into the mainstream with its influence on everything from music to entertainment, fashion to comedy, and more. The series will feature musical moments and unpredictable interactions between energetic, hilarious and well-known personalities including: actor, comedian and television host Nick Cannon; pro-skateboarder and “Jackass” crew member Bam Margera; actress, dancer and singer-songwriter Kat Graham; record producer, artist and radio personality DJ Khaled; rappers Fat Joe, Biz Markie, Ghostface Killah, Mac Miller and MGK; Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker LaMarr Woodley and more to be announced. The show will be hosted by Peter Rosenberg, known for his quirky and unique spin on Hip Hop culture and New York life as radio DJ on New York City’s #1 Hip Hop Station, Hot 97.

May 24

Duets (ABC) – Hosted by Quddus and starring the music industry’s biggest superstars, John Legend, who is joined by Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles and Robin Thicke in the search for the ultimate “Duet” partner. This one-of a kind singing competition takes the Superstars out from behind the judges’ panel and onto the stage. Clarkson, Legend, Nettles and Thicke individually set out on a journey across America looking for undiscovered talent worthy of being their duet partners. Ultimately, each Superstar will choose two singers to be his/her partners. Together the Superstars and their partners take the stage each week and perform in front of a live studio audience. In the end, only one duet will be at the top of the charts, and the winning partner will receive a recording contract with Hollywood Records.

Men at Work (TBS) – Centers on four buddies who work together at a magazine. Danny Masterson plays the recently dumped Milo, whose friends are determined to help him get back in the dating game. James Lesure is Gibbs, a photographer and successful ladies man. Michael Cassidy plays Tyler, a features writer who brings a dose of style and sophistication to the group. And Adam Busch is Neal, a somewhat nebbish reporter and the only one in the group with a steady girlfriend (Meredith Hagner). Together, the four friends help each other navigate the treacherous waters of work, friendship and women.

May 25

The Link (NGC)

Mystery Diners (Food) – What happens in the food world when a bad employee starts to take down an otherwise thriving establishment or when restaurant owners suspect someone of not doing their job appropriately? They call in the Mystery Diners. These undercover operatives go into restaurants, bars and food service establishments with hidden cameras to find out what’s really going on when the boss isn’t around.

May 27

Mob Wives Chicago (VH1) – A new group of ‘Syndicate Sisters,’ where the legendary home of Al Capone will serve as the backdrop. The spin-off from the original east coast-based series will introduce a new cast of women suffering the stronzi and agita of their Mafiosi connections.

May 28

Annoying Orange (Cartoon) – The Web sensation transformed into a new television series that follows Orange and his buddies as they go on a wide range of adventures that take them from the fruit stand to parts unknown and everything in between.

May 29

Alien Surf Girls (Teen Nick) – When Zoey and Kiki, two irrepressible girls from another galaxy become castaways in the quiet, Australian seaside town of Lightning Point, they recruit local girl Amber to keep them undercover. But the whole town is abuzz with the sighting of aliens and the girls soon realize that they may not be the first intergalactic visitors…

The Catalina (The CW) – Centers on the young, wild staff of The Catalina hotel in Miami’s South Beach. The fun-loving group forms their own dysfunctional family unit, and they work hard during the day, while at night they party even harder than their guests.

Roadtrip with G. Garvin (Cooking) – Acclaimed cookbook author, host and larger-than-life personality, Chef Gerry Garvin, aka ‘G.’, takes viewers on a tour of his native South, to explore the best eats this part of the country has to offer. Travelling to Atlanta and Houston, North Carolina, South Carolina and more, G. visits a different city each episode to discover the hidden gems and the people behind the magic. From traditional ethnic food and urban farms to BBQ pit masters extraordinaire, G.Garvin leaves no stones unturned in his quest to find the hottest, most delicious spots in the country.

Big Brooklyn Style (TLC) – Follows husband and wife business owners Lisa and Jim Dolan, as they revise and revolutionize the norms of plus-size shopping experiences in their Brooklyn clothing store, Lee Lee’s Valise. Each episode will focus on three different customers as their intimate shopping experience at the store, combined with Lisa’s distinctive clothing line, helps transform their lives.

Meet the Hutterites (NGC)

Real Crime / Reel Story (ID) – Uncovers the truth behind popular crime-and-justice movies that have become part of the fabric of pop culture, using scene reconstruction and interviews with the real people the characters were based on.

May 30

Dogs in the City (CBS) – New York City dog guru Justin Silver is a master at resolving issues between canines and their owners – no matter whose behavior is at fault. Known as the “go-to guy” for all things dog-related, Silver has a creative and instinctive ability to connect with his canine customers while solving dilemmas for their two-legged masters. In each episode, he meets with clients who present a range of relationship problems, lifestyle changes or domestic issues – from a couple looking to move in together, but she’s terrified of his golden retriever, to a recently divorced couple whose dog is having a rough time adjusting to joint custody. Justin gets as imaginative as necessary to reach a satisfying resolution, often finding that the owners can be a special breed themselves.

May 31

Breaking Pointe (The CW) – Goes behind the stage curtain for an intense, unfiltered look at one of the most competitive ballet companies in the country, Ballet West, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Beneath the beauty and glamour of the dance and costumes is a gritty dog-eat-dog world of extreme athleticism, focus, dedication, passion, pressure and, of course, the hunt for the unattainable… perfection.

L.A. Hair (We) – Follows celebrity hair stylist Kim Kimble, as she coifs Hollywood A-listers. When it comes to celebrity hair, Kim is one of the biggest names in Hollywood. From movies to music, Kim is an image maker and a trendsetter. Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Rowland and Shakira are just a handful of A-listers who keep Kim’s number on speed dial so she can whip up their custom styles and images for glamorous events. While handling her star-studded clientele is a full time job, this elite style queen also manages a successful retail product line and runs an exclusive Hollywood salon staffed with talented but high-strung stylists, including her mother! Rivalry is fierce and the desire to be on top is even fiercer — hair isn’t the only thing in this salon that gets cut.

The Light from the TV Shows: Sneaking a Look at USA’s “Common Law”

Will Harris — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:07:46 +0000

When you’re a TV critic, sometimes the coolest opportunities come up at the very last second, and you’re put in a position where you have to scramble to take advantage of them. Such was the case on Monday of last week, when the boss-man of Bullz-Eye forwarded me an email and asked, “Is this something you would be interested in?”

In this instance, I was being offered the opportunity to fly to New Orleans, visit the set of the upcoming new USA series, “Common Law,” be among the first people to view the pilot for the series, and meet and participate in roundtable interviews with a few of the cast members. The only catch: the trip was taking place on Thursday.

Rationalizing that I could surely finish up all of the assignments on my plate before my departure, I said, “Sign me up!”

As it turned out, I could not finish up all of the assignments on my plate before my departure. In fact, I didn’t even come close. I ended up having to finish one of them late on Thursday night, after having had a couple of Abitas, a couple of glasses of wine, a bourbon and ginger ale, and a Pimm’s Cup. That was possibly not my best work. Then I woke up Friday morning and finished two more assignments. And in the midst of the set visit, between roundtable interviews, I finished the last of the deadlines that had to be completed before the weekend. Of course, I still had two more that had to be finished by Sunday night, but I finally just had to say, “Screw it, I’m in New Orleans, that shit’s gonna have to wait ‘til I get home on Saturday.”

But I digress.

So you’re possibly wondering exactly what “Common Law” is all about. I don’t blame you. I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that, until I received the offer to attend the set visit, I hadn’t even been aware that the show was in the works. But, really, how much do you need to know beyond the fact that it’s on the USA Network? Those guys have a general feel to their shows, and although they’re far from identical, if you like one show, there’s at least a fighting chance that you’re going to like the other shows as well.

If you’re curious, though, here’s what the show’s page on the USA website has to say:

“‘Common Law’ centers on Travis Marks (Michael Ealy) and Wes Mitchell (Warren Kole), two cops with a problem… each other. Wes, a methodical former lawyer with a passion for cars, gardening, and his ex-wife, and Travis, a maverick ladies’ man who served time in juvenile hall, can’t stand each other. As partners, they were LAPD’s dream team on the homicide squad, but constant bickering got in the way of their work, and the two ended up on probation. To revive their flagging professional relationship, their Captain (Jack McGee) sends them to Dr. Ryan (Sonya Walger), a couples therapist who will help them try to understand and resolve their conflicts. We soon learn that a successful relationship or partnership doesn’t mean you have to like the same things; you just have to hate the same things.”

Okay, so maybe you’re sold at this point. Possibly you’re not…and that’s okay, too. Based on this general description, I’m not going to tell you that it was particularly blowing my skirt up, either. But having seen a rough cut of the pilot – which, we were assured, no one else outside of the USA Network family of employees had yet seen – I can tell you that Ealy and Kole have an easy chemistry together that goes a long way toward keeping you interested in the goings-on of the show. Plus, you’ve got ever-dependable character actor Jack McGee, who you probably know best from his work as Chief Jerry Reilly on FX’s “Rescue Me,” as your go-to guy whenever you need a bit of in-your-face attitude.

Oh, and there’s also Sonya Walger, with whom we had dinner on Thursday night after screening the pilot. You remember Ms. Walger, don’t you? She played Penelope Widmore on “Lost,” Dr. Olivia Benford on “FlashForward,” she’s been in a bunch of HBO series (“In Treatment,” “Tell Me You Love Me,” “The Mind of a Married Man,” and – God help her – she was one of the regular cast members of the short-lived American adaptation of “Coupling.”

More importantly, though, she looks like this:

Now that’s what I call must-see TV.

I can’t really tell you too much more about the pilot at the moment, especially since I’ve only seen it once and, more importantly, it’s a rough cut that’s not intended for us critic-type folk to actually review. But per executive producer Karim Zreik, the show is taking its cue from ’80s buddy comedies to the point where the writers room is plastered with posters for such films, and in terms of a frame of reference, “Running Scared” was mentioned at one point.

Hey, if Ealy and Kole think they’ve got it in them to be the Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines of the 21st century, I’m all for letting them show me what they’ve got.

“Common Law” premieres on January 26th. In addition to the gradual roll-out of info about the show from the roundtable interviews we did during the set visit, I’ll also be in Pasadena for the TCA press tour starting on January 3, and I know some of the folks from the show will be there. Don’t worry, more info will be forthcoming. For now, though, just know that if you like the partner camaraderie that tends to exist on USA’s series, then from what I’ve seen, you’ll find “Common Law” to be a solid addition to the network’s lineup.

Of course, all I’ve seen is a rough cut of the pilot. It could suck. We’ll just have to see what happens. But I’m cautiously optimistic…and maybe you will be, too, after you’ve watched this trailer:

UPDATE (12/9/11): I’ve just gotten word that the show’s premiere date is being shifted. Instead of January 26th, USA has decided to hold off the premiere of “Common Law” until the summer, as they believe it’ll draw a bigger audience then. Sometimes you get skeptical about the reasons behind schedule changes like these, but given that everyone on the junket seemed to enjoy the pilot, I’ll buy what they’re selling as the real deal. Sorry about the additional wait. Let’s hope it’s worth it.