10-8: Officers on Duty

Network: ABC; Genre: Drama (Crime); Average Rating: TV-PG; Classification: Contemporary (star range: 1 - 4)

Season Reviewed: Complete Series (1 season)

The modern status quo says there are only 2 types of cop shows TV networks and viewers will tolerate/understand: the 'ripped from the headlines' 'Law & Order'/'CSI' shows that are more about crimes and evidence than characters and the 'gritty cop drama' ('The Shield', 'NYPD Blue'). So it's no surprise that when the genera bending '10-8: Officers on Duty' hit the streets neither audience or critics (to cowardly to stand up for a show they think will fail) didn't know what to make of it. Have we been that conditioned by the mediocrity of Dick Wolf?

'10-8' breaks every one of those rules. In a throwback to cop shows of the 70s, it's largely light-weight with comedic elements and the larger focus is on characters and themes rather than solving mysteries and shocking the audience. Danny Nucci makes an impressive leading turn as Rico Amante - a former street punk in training for the LA sheriff's department. The show's most fun moments are surely when Amante butts heads with his training officer, a sensational Ernie Hudson. Hudson makes such an impression he carries most of the show. While the two partners could have held the show themselves the show expands in later episodes with a well rounded cast.

In terms of the dialogue, '10-8' is one of the most well written on TV. Rico's musings about life, God, being a cop and the human condition in the narrations are terrific and might even inspire quotation. It's clear that the writers are going for a story structure that doesn't feel artificially plot driven. Each episode contains a 'day in the life' format where we float from one incident to another with a general sense of story. On one hand this is refreshing, on another it handicaps the series of any sense of urgency. We feel there is no stake and, likewise, no need to tune in. The show seems to float aimlessly for the hour and wrap itself up suddenly. So even if it doesn't live up to it's full potential a lot of the time, '10-8' is an original and welcome change of pace from the usual cop drama. The cast and crew should wear this badge proudly. It was an admirable effort.

* * * / 4

This show was really bad, and it was so clichéd that who ever green-lighted it should be put in a dress and a blond wig and thrown into the showers at Riker's Island. The main character, Amonte, who is fresh out of the academy and very idealistic, is paired up with the veteran, Barnes, who seems cynical but is really a good guy and a faithful community servant. And of course they come from different cultural backgrounds. This is so predictable, and basically out of the "T.J. Hooker"-handbook for creating a mediocre cop show. The worst part about the show, however, is the voice-over done by the Amonte-character. There is a voice-over throughout the show and always a closing epilogue, just to make sure that we, "the stupid audience", understand the vaguely hidden moral points of today's episode, here are some examples: "Cops may seem insensitive but it is a necessary facade", "It is important that kids have positive role models", "Violence never solved anything". If you find this show to be anything than a huge insult to your intelligence, then you probably think that "The Simple Life" is a greater cultural gem than Shakespeare's "Macbeth".

I like what a previous poster said about this show feeling like it was from the 1970's, along the lines of cop dramas from that era. I couldn't agree more. I thought pretty much the same way myself, and saw a little "Hill Street Blues" tossed in as well.

Perfect ensemble show. Ernie Hudson is a great actor, and I found myself liking the rest of the cast, as well.

Give it a look. Congratulations ABC TV, "10-8" and "LA Dragnet" have got me watching your network, again.

2005 update.

So, ABC cancels it.

10-8 is a great show. What might have happened to it? I like others, hope it didn't get cancelled. It might be like the show "Cops" but this one is far more interesting and enjoyable. Nucci, and the rest of the cast are wonderful actors. ABC should definitely bring it back. There are some shows that are OK but not as much as this one and ABC still keeps the others. Just like "Yes, dear" and "King of queens" is on the air, why not this one? Please bring back 10-8.It displays the events as if they are real. We want the show back on the air. If we the fans didn't love it, we wouldn't be asking for its return. This show is just as good as the others.

Thanks, stafina

Rico Amonte (Danny Nucci) leaves behind his colorful New York upbringing and tries to turn the page as a rookie beat cop in the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department. He has a bad encounter with Senior Deputy John Henry Barnes (Ernie Hudson). To his shock, Barnes becomes his training officer. Senior Deputy Ryan Layne (Jamie Luner) substitutes Barnes when he has troubles.

Immediately, I'm thinking of The Rookie except I like these characters less. I don't necessarily hate them, but I do have some issues. This is a pro-cop Thin Blue Line kind of a cop show. That's not a problem, but some comments do not age well. This is pre-George Floyd and post-Rodney King. The biggest difference from today is the lack of police body-cams. I want to like Ernie Hudson more, but his character is sometimes wrong. Danny Nucci is fine as the self-confident rookie. I don't like dropping in Jamie Luner. Maybe she was added to increase the sex appeal, but I don't like that for this show. If this show has any strengths, it is being true to the blue. On top of that, I don't like the opening theme song.