City Confidential

The element that distinguishes City Confidential from its sister show, American Justice, and so many other true crime shows, is the background on the setting of the crime. Sometimes it's a whole half hour before we know who's been murdered (usually it's a murder) because we're learning about the environment of the crime. Sometimes the background takes a shorter portion of the show, but it's always fascinating to learn about small towns and big cities across the country. And the cases they choose to highlight are generally interesting.

I thought Paul Winfield's narration (from the beginning till his death in 2004) was as close to perfect as possible. The new narrator is fine, it's just that his voice is not as resonating as Winfield's. I'd love to hear James Earl Jones narrate -- but I doubt the producers could afford him!

I wish Amazon Prime and other apps would get this show, I can't even find it on reruns. This was one of the best series ever. I love the way Paul wenfield narrated the show for five years I believe, and then after he passed someone else narrated it another two years. It was a excellent show, to every episode had a 10! details were on point and then they always got the right guy free and the wrong guy / the bad guy locked up where they belong!!!

GOOD - You learn interesting facts about different cities in the United States. The first part of this program is always about the place where a particular crime occurred. It's a fascinating little segment, every time, whether they are discussing a small town or a big city. The program is not only interesting but entertaining as the writers use all kinds of dramatic and often humorous ways to describe people, places and motives behind why they do things. You also get a good mix of locals commenting on a situation. The announcer, Paul Winfield, has a fabulous voice and a distinct way of presenting his material. When he died in 2004, the program suffered a huge loss.

BAD - After you've watched a half dozen episodes, cultural and political agendas jump out at you. For instance, they've never been able to resist showing anyone who goes to church and the commits a crime. The writers just can't get enough digs at anyone religious, particularly Christianity. In the dozen episodes I've watched, at least half of them put not-so-subtle propaganda in them directed at anyone who believes in the Bible or attending church. They also love - to the point where it's overt bias - to pick on rich, white people. You rarely (I'm still waiting) see a crime story involving a minority. What Liberal bias?

OVERALL - The program is so politically-correct it's pathetic, but it's so well-written and so well-narrated by Winfield that it's almost always a very entertaining show. At the very least, it's a great travelogue where you learn a lot of interesting facts about places around the United States. The show is never dull but, man, it's biased big-time. You're going to either love or hate some of these episodes.

Who can forget the deeply resonant voice with a slightly cynical twang narrating "City Confidential"? That narration seemed in integral part of this outstanding series of intriguing case histories.

On the 7th of this month (March, 2004) Paul Winfield died. It's hard to imagine "City Confidential" without him. Although he was never seen, his narration became the series on-going "star," tightly wedded to the well written scrips.

On this month's occasion it seems fitting to pay tribute to the memory of this Emmy-award-winning actor, who so enriched our lives with his rich body of work, from the sixties through this year.

In a period in which many black actors digressed into the "blaxsploitation" genre, Winfield remained completely dignified in his career choices, and steadfastly dedicated to his craft. (His work in "Sounder" and "Roots" are indelibly imprinted in our minds.)

While "Confidential" moves on to another narrator, the Winfield years will remain a lasting, rich legacy in the recollections of many series viewers.

Winfield's oily narration is fantastic, and compelling enough on its own to make the show a must-see. Every simple fact he relates seems to be bringing him great pleasure, both sinister and, ahem, lascivious. He can say "Amityville, New York" and it will sound de-li-cious, like he's really a old guy at the bar blessed with a great voice, reminiscing about some tawdry encounter he had as a youth. Good stuff!