Carter

Years after fifteen year old Harley Carter (Jerry O'Connell) solved a serial killer mystery that had plagued his small, northern home town of Bishop, he became a famous actor, playing a tv detective who solved similar mysteries on a Hollywood crime drama. But after his embarrassing public meltdown forced the show into hiatus, he came back to Canada to evaluate his acting career and reconnect with his old high school friends, Sam Shaw (Sydney Tamiia Poitier), who is now a no-nonsense police woman and Dave Leigh (Kristian Bruun), a witty friend with a shady past who drives his own coffee truck. Carter moves back into his childhood home which is still run by the same old Japanese couple who looked after him growing up; Dot (Brenda Kamino) is an overly protective, white haired housekeeper who brings out her shotgun and points it menacingly at anyone who threatens Harley while her more sensible husband Koji (Denis Akiyama) tries to keep her in check.

Creator Garry Campbell has successfully brought another Canadian story to television, using a mostly Canadian cast (Kamino, Akiyama, and Bruun were all born in Toronto) and filming the show in North Bay, Ontario. Although some reviewers still dismiss any Canadian film or tv series as being inferior to their American counterparts, viewers should not be discouraged by this type of knee-jerk commentary as murder mysteries that happen in a small town have their own unique appeal.

Jerry O'Connell has a long list of film and tv credits for acting, writing, directing, producing, and voice over work beginning with his first role as a child actor in the coming-of-age movie "Stand By Me" and has most recently appeared on the highly successful tv shows "The Big Bang Theory" and "Billions". His easy charm and good looks win over the mayor of Bishop (Joanne Boland) but his Hollywood actor detective skills and sympathetic nature undermine his credibility with both the chief of police (John Bourgeois) and the town's law breakers. Fortunately, his police detective friend and partner, Sam is more than capable of taking down the toughest of bad guys.

Garry Campbell has already enjoyed success writing and producing another Canadian tv series, "Kim's Convenience" which has been renewed for a third season and Jerry O'Connell has undeniable appeal as Bishop's newest consulting detective so "Carter" looks like a solid new entry in the Bravo tv lineup and seems destined for a second season and broader distribution.

I also find the actors were well chosen and completely agree that although allusions can be made to Castle, it's not. Many shows have an awkward uneasiness until the actors figure out their characters. I didn't find this lasted past episode 1 with this show. The characters are interesting & likeable and it is enjoyable - filling a gap in t.v. that Castle left when it ended. I also enjoy the fact that it is filmed in North Bay - picturesque and somehow familiar to most Canadians. I also hope it is renewed for another season.

Harley Carter (Jerry O'Connell), star of a hit Hollywood TV detective show, has a meltdown on the red carpet over his cheating wife. While on hiatus, he goes back to his hometown of Bishop in Canada. His childhood friend is police detective Sam Shaw (Sydney Tamiia Poitier). The two along with Dave Leigh as 12 year olds had caught the killer of Harley's mother. He returns to stay at the family home with his Japanese housekeepers Dot and Koji. Harley exonerates Koji for murder and then turns to crime solving.

This is a fun Canadian show. That's mostly due to Jerry O'Connell's irreverent performance. It has plenty of light fun with some fair action thriller crime solving. Jerry makes this fun. Otherwise, it's mostly a second tier production but that doesn't really matter as long as the audience has a fun time.

Jerry O'Connell plays a Hollywood actor named Harley Carter where he had his own TV cop show in which he played a TV detective named Charley Carter. Due to an off screen street brawl with his cheating wife's lover his show was put on hiatus so Harley decides to take a break from acting and he heads from Hollywood California back to his hometown of North Bay Ontario. In North Bay Ontario Harley teams up with his two old teenage friends, Dave Leigh (Kristian Bruun) who runs a truck catering business and Sam Shaw (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) who is now a detective with the local township where Harley, Dave and Sam all grew up.

Jerry O'Connell is a very likeable and natural actor and his role as a TV actor sleuth who gets involved in solving real life crimes with his two childhood friends in his hometown in northern Ontario Canada brings back memories both good and bad. The pilot episode was well balanced introducing us gradually to the three amigos, Harley, Dave and Sam who remind me a bit of the old Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries. We also find out that there is an old unsolved mystery pending which appears to be Harley's mothers mysterious disappearance according to the newspaper clippings that still hang on the wall of Harley's old childhood home.

Although this new television series Carter is a summer series I think with Jerry O'Connell as the lead actor it will lead to a much longer series run than even the producers expected. Add to that the credible acting of Kristian Bruun and Sydney Tamiia Poitier as Harley Carter's partners in their crime solving up in northern Ontario and the producers just may have a hit show on their hands.

This is my favorite Canadian cop dramedy since Republic of Doyle. I watched both seasons in one week and want more. Surprisingly good and worth the watch.