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 really wanted to like this show a lot more than I did. Found the characters to be rather one-dimensional and stereotypical. Acting is spotty and production leaves something to be desired. Writing is uninspired, dialogue is cliché and story seems predictable - not expecting too many surprises going forward... Hope they can turn this one around 'cause it actually could have the potential to be an interesting a new twist on the ubiquitous "TV Cop Drama" genre if it were done right... Not to mention, (and now I'm just nitpicking) how do you start a show about the police "set in the early 1960's in New York City" with a song by The Doors?

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.

so far so good. it starts off slowly, finding its legs, a bit too self conscious of getting it right, the era, the cars, the clothes - did a NY cop ever drive around in a VW beetle?! - but by ep 2 it is motoring along nicely. maybe a bit too close of a homage to the tom hanks paul newman gangster flick of a few years back but hey, its imitation is also sincere flattery. & any series that uses the great ronnie drew version of the parting glass has to be pretty sound. but oh edwards burns, the mis spelled whiskEy on the paddy's bottle.....ouch. enough to make my father, a loyal devotee, turn over 10 times................. looking forward to the next 6 episodes