TNT is placing bets that a very dark undercover cop drama called “Dark Blue” will pair well with its “Ocean’s Eleven”-styled “Leverage,” starting tonight.
Dylan McDermott, best known as the star of ABC's "The Practice," leads a team of cops who are so deep into their characters that other cops don't realize they're cops. He does it in brooding David Caruso-style. His character Carter Shaw is naturally obsessed with his work and haunted by his past. (The executive producer of "Dark Blue" is not surprisingly Jerry Bruckheimer.)
“This is so radically different from what I’ve done before,” McDermott said in a brief phone interview. “It’s a complex character. And if somebody finds out you’re a cop, they could kill you. Can you imagine living like that?”
McDermott’s Carter Shaw oversees three others — one who seems to have a hard time distinguishing the dark side from the “good” side, a cop who yearns for a normal life and a newbie.
Reviews so far? Pretty dismal.
Robert Bianco of USA Today gave it just 1/2 of a star out of four:
The characters here are blanks, and the plots don't just steal from other shows, they steal from each other. The second episode is much too similar to the first, right down to McDermott's closing speech about the dangers of crossing over.
For some reason, McDermott keeps getting hired for series work. As he proved on "The Practice," he wouldn't be convincing bagging groceries.
And you have to give The New York Times credit for playing off the "dark" theme in a sophisticated hue:
If value in color theory is the relationship of light to dark, quality in television drama is the contrast of light and dark relationships. "Dark Blue" has a monochromatic look and, more disappointingly, a monochromatic spirit.
The L.A. Times is a bit kinder, but isn't buying McDermott as the grizzled type:
As with most star-vehicle shows, "Dark Blue" will succeed or not depending on how well McDermott connects with his character and the audience. In the first two episodes, the actor is quite visible as he attempts to settle himself into his role, flexing this muscle like a ballplayer breaking in a new glove and uniform. To be fair, the damaged and seemingly heartbroken hero is so familiar these days that there is a law of increased expectations. It's going to take more than an unshaven cheek and a few hollow coughs to make the character real, but "Dark Blue's" great supporting cast and high production values may buy its star enough time to disappear as effectively into his role as his undercover team disappears into theirs
Michael Wright, head of original programming for TNT, TBS and TCM, said while TNT skews female Monday and Tuesday with shows such as "The Closer" and "Saving Grace," it's trying to go a bit more male with "Leverage" (which is younger and more male than its other shows) and "Dark Blue."
ON TV
“Leverage” (second season debut), TNT, 9 p.m. Wednesday
“Dark Blue,” TNT 10 p.m. Wednesday
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