Carter

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.

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.

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.

Personally, I was hesitant to watch it but am glad I did. The actors are good, the Canadian scenery fantastic, writing ok. I believe the show will only get better and I'm officially a fan! Anyone can find fault in any new show but I'm betting most will enjoy season 1 of Carter.

Okay I'm a red blooded American retired police officer...and sorry, but I like this show. A light, breezy, entertaining romp with good characters. I've always liked O'Connell. I have the ability to suspend disbelief when it comes to cop shows like this one because it's just fun. The "serious" cop shows just turn me off. I'll continue to watch Carter for a relaxing evening while sipping a quality bourbon....or occasionally a good Canadian whiskey.