The good, the funny, and the ugly
Canadians have endured a zillion promos for CTV’s three new shows – The Bridge, Dan for Mayor and Hiccups. Are they worth watching?
By: Patricia Treble
Date: February 28, 2010
Source: Macleans.ca
Note: The below is a copy and paste of just the part about THE BRIDGE. To read the full article please click on the link above.
Canadians have endured a zillion promos for CTV’s three new shows – The Bridge, Dan for Mayor and Hiccups.
Are they worth watching?
The Bridge
Premiere: Friday, March 5 at 9 pm (its regular time slot is Fridays at 10 p.m.)
While the idea of another cop show might not sound appealing, The Bridge delivers with a crisp concept designed to dazzle everyone jaded by the plethora of procedurals that dominate the airwaves. The show focuses on Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas of Battlestar Galactica) and is based on the life of Craig Bromell, the controversial and confrontational former leader of Toronto’s police union. The Bridge flips the traditional police drama on its head by focusing not on a crime of the week, but rather on the behind-the-blue-line relationships and politics that shape life within a metropolitan police department. And everyone has a dirty little secret or two, including Frank Leo. Douglas’s nuanced performance in The Bridge is even better than his role in BSG as Chief Galen Tyrol. Douglas is the perfect NCO: authoritative yet not arrogantly commanding and with a presence that steals every scene. Originally the pilot was going to be just 60 minutes long, but then CTV re-cut it to a two-hour format. It was a smart move as the extra time gives the plot and characters enough time to gel. By the end-and it’s a shockingly unexpected last few minutes-viewers are left eager for more. And that’s a good thing, because the Canadian network is taking a gamble, airing their drama, which is shot in Toronto, before its American partner, CBS, finds room on its schedule for The Bridge. If the pilot is any indication, CTV has a sure bet on its hands.