Nash Bridges

Nash Bridges is, in many ways, like Miami Vice. Nash Bridges is somewhat like a new Miami Vice, with new suits, a cell phone and more technology. It is a great series, although sometimes has boring episodes. I tape it every time it comes on, and I do recommend it to anyone who wants a good action/somewhat drama series. I give it a 9.5/10 star rating.

NASH BRIDGES has occupied my Friday nights since the second season, when I started watching. Every Friday, it felt like I was sitting down with a group of friends with it's great combination of the right actors in the right roles. The supporting characters were just as interesting as the main characters, with each having their own background developed over the years. The best episodes were clearly in the early years, and while the show seemed to be losing some steam in the final season, it never lost it's entertainment value, even with the weak moments it had. Yasmine Bleeth was, thankfully, not there that long. She was a really bad character and proved she didn't have much talent. The final season introduced us to Cress Williams and the beautiful Wendy Moniz, who were both welcomes addition, but unfortunately, the show was cancelled, and we never got to learn a lot about either character. The show sometimes did get a little too talky, and the show did hurt itself by making Jodi Lyn-O'Keefe become a cop in the final season, a decision that was really bad and made her character become hated by many fans of the show. Cassidy worked best as Nash's daughter, but she was just never believable as a tough cop. But the five seasons before it out-weigh the lackluster sixth season, with plenty of episodes providing a well-balanced mixture of humor, action, and character. The moments between Nash and his father were always touching, making for some pleasant father/son moments that are hardly ever seen on television these days. Cheech Marin was always a riot with his get-rich-quick schemes and general bad luck, and Jeff Perry's Harvey Leek should go down as one of the best supporting characters on television. I just wish they had never killed off Kelly Hu's character. She was really good, and we instead got Bleeth as an extremely poor substitute. But the good times live on in reruns on USA, giving me plenty of nights to catch up with the humor, action, and characters (and of course, the car) that made NASH BRIDGES such a fun show.

IMHO, Nash Bridges is one of the best TV crime drama shows of the past 10 years. I would place it next to Cannon, The Streets of San Francisco, Vega$, Petrocelli, Magnum, Miami Vice, and Jake and The Fatman. Of course, it's somehow different. More action, a more simple plot (times requires)... but I think that's okay. Furthermore, I think "Nash Bridges" developed from a "pure action and humor detective series" to a real story behind the scene. It's a good one - I am eagerly waiting for the 6th season's latest episodes.

Nash Bridges is a more or less routine crime/police drama series, the usual suspects, the usual plots and so on. Its nowhere near as good as the original "Spenser" series, nor as flashy as "Miami Vice".

What rescues this series from mediocrity is the cast. Don Johnson - as Nash Bridges - is just ok as the Infinitely Wise and Wonderful cop who Solves Every Case in the last five minutes of the show. The one human touch to Bridges is his oddly busy but not overly successful love life.

What makes this show fun, and very worth watching is the supporting cast - in particular Cheech Marin (playing Joe Dominguez) as the sidekick. But unlike many sidekicks, he is a real character - played for humour, it is true, but not just one dimensional. It may not sound right to say that Johnson and Marin have "chemistry" on screen, but they very definitely do. This adds a nice quirky touch when they are repeatedly taken for a gay couple (in odd situations) by a gay man.

Toss in a few more excellent supporting actors - especially Jeff Perry as Harvey Leek, a detective and James Gammon as Bridges father (though the continuity on his Alzheimers is seriously missed) and the show really starts to work.

The finishing touches are added in by some continuing plot elements - Mr Woody the racehorse somehow acquired by Domingues and Bridges father, Dominguez' marriage to Inger - a swedish woman - is romantic and successful - but with both sides seeing the others problems. Leek's fascination with the Grateful Dead. Angel the Angel. The ghostly disco music in the police station (which is in a boat that was evidently used for raves). Dominguez' schemes for making money.

The show manages to maintain a sense that the people involved had fun, and dont take it too seriously. One fun episode paired Don Johnson with his partner in Miami vice (Philip Michael Thomas) and Cheech Marin with his ex-comedy partner (Tommy Chong) and a wonderful scene takes place in a marijuana buyers club - playing off the "Cheech and Chong" drug themes.

In another episode, Dominguez directs traffic in grand style on Halloween to the sound of the Village People song "YMCA" (all the funnier if you've seen people dancing to the song and making the letters "Y", "M", "C" "A" as they dance).

If you want serious crime drama - go for something else - if you want a relaxed, easy to watch show with the requisite Car Chases, Guns and Nasties and with fun characters, tongue in cheek humour and a cast that rarely lets you down, this is made to order.

What else can it be. Don Johnson/Cheech Marin had what is by far the best chemistry on the show that makes it so watchable. One other note that I would like to say is that since I used to live in the Bay area during the duration of the series, I always wanted to be an extra on the series. I tried but never really made it through. The only thing that I would say is that since SF was a great place wher Nash and his Sexy '70-'71 Plymouth Baracuda (my favorite classic car!) made it's way onto TV I would really like to see this show go into DVD one of these days since this is by far one of the best crime dramas in history in simialar to The Price is Right of Cop Shows! The only thing I have to say is that since the show got canned back in May '01 I really wanted to see the ending in it's right of way but since the show was getting too expensive I thought six seasons is one hell of a run to begin with! Also the locations during the shows 6 seasons with the Routunda, (season 1 and some of season 2) the Hyde St. Pier (seasons 2-4) and the Embarcadero shelter (seasons 4-6) I would have to pick the Hyde St. Pier as the favorite SIU offices!

Rating 10/10 One of the best shows on TV next to NYPD Blue which is sadly leaving after this season (2004-05) 12th season ending shows!