Public Morals

If you want to know who writer, director Ed Burns is please see the wonderful, recent story on CBS Sunday Morning. Burns is a great example of being persistent in following his dream of being a writer. Along the way he was resourceful and self deprecating which helped in his success. Public Morals is set in NY in the 1960's and revolves around the Public Morals Division in the police department. I love it when I barely recognize the cast as it gives us an opportunity to see fresh faces and their work. Some faces will resonate like veterans Brian Dennehy and Timothy Hutton. Public Morals with it's mature theme, language etc is for adult audiences.

I decided to give Public Morals a shot and I was not disappointed. This show is great! It feels authentic to the times, everything from the accents to the set. Not too overdone either, it doesn't look costume-y nor doesn't it feel like they are trying to hard.

Basically the show is about cops in the 60's and how they deal with crime. Actually, most importantly, it's about how they are a part of crime. They play the line between cops and criminals. Just in the first episode we see them taking bribes, lying, playing illegal games, etc. Yet (so far) they seem like good cops when it matters.

I see it as a show about how people dealt with crime in a time when the law was too restrictive to be enforced. Even gay bars were illegal! These cops are trying to keep the city in order, knowing the law as it is can not be properly enforced. Of course there are some points that cross the line and have us wondering on which side they actually stand.

With plenty of good characters, Public Morals explores not only the crime scene in 1960's New York, but also the family life, values, and the sense of morality of the times.

The show has an interesting premise, and I for one am excited to see where it goes.

OK, I'm not saying this is the best show on TV but it does have potential. As with all TV shows first episode it's setting the scene. This is 1960's new york... there is corruption which in my eyes can lead to thrilling story lines. Let us hope this show can deliver.

I vow to give this show at least another two episodes before considering ditching. I don't think it's fair to write off any TV show after the first episode unless it's about something you have absolutely no interest in.

On the down side I do think the "fight" scenes could have been better done. They looked too fake.

We get it. We really really get it. Working class Irish Catholic New Yorkers with big loud complicated families and all their Irish Catholic stuff. I feel like Burns needs to stop doing the same thing over and over. In his world you're a cop a crook or a sheet rock guy. Your dad's a drunk your mom is probably dead and 4 of your 9 brothers are gangsters or ex cons. All the women are blond and understanding but some odd reason haven't popped out 4 Irish Catholic of their own. Except for that one sister who's Irish boyfriend beats her. The hookers are all pretty sassy black girls. The men all drink whiskey. There's probably bagpipe music at some point. The only place social gatherings is the bar and no one's moved out of the neighborhood they grew up in. Everyone was an altar boy at St. Shamrock's. The original priest is retiring next month and the new priest has a new way of doing things.

Although only 1 episode has aired on TNT so far 3 more are "on demand"on my cable system so I've seen 4, and while I love the 60's setting of the series I'm not sure where the plot is going.I've seen enough series to know a first season can often be that way so as long as the surroundings hold and the acting is good,stay with it for awhile.I'm hoping eventually for a Serpico meets Goodfellas or something along those lines down the road.The show seems to stand on Edward Burns as a actor and creator of the show with a push from Steven Spielbergs production company.So there's not much to say other than I feel good about its chances and recommend as a gritty NYC cops and criminals set peace