No more Prime Time for Prime Suspect

Since its prime time debut with over six million viewers, NBC’s remake of the hit British show Prime Suspect, ratings have dropped down into the four million range and remained there for the past 6 episodes.

I find the show really enjoyable, and I love Maria Bellos portrayal of Detective Timoney. She is strong woman who does not let the other characters push her around. 

One thing that I was not really satisfied with was the fact that before the season began; we were told the show was more than a police procedural drama. The show was supposed to be about her personal more than her work. However I do not see this. In the same breath I must add that I am thankful for this, because if the show was more focused around her personal life, the supporting cast antics would go unseen. Their characters help make Jane the character she is. 

The show does show how close she and her father are. She talks to him about everything and even helps out in his bar. Here the two have most of their conversations. They both are attempting to quit smoking together. In every episode you can see her attempts at not smoking. She is often at crime scenes with toothpicks in her mouth and hands, and even holding a carrot like a cigarette in another. Biting it with each “puff”. 

 Her male cast members were horrible to her when she joined the force. They would clearly talk about her right next to her trying to force her out, but she persisted. With the very early death of one of her colleagues, Jane asks for the case and is faced with backlash from everyone in the department. They all seem to hate her, including her lieutenant, who had her back when everyone else doubted her. In the next few episodes everyone seems to slowly begin to forgive her and accept her, except for Detective Duffy. He still, even this far in doesn’t like her. I don’t think the two will ever get along. Their clashes will be interesting to watch since she don’t back down when it comes to him. 

The show overall leaves me excited for the next episode. I can’t wait to watch.

However, sad news to everyone that is a fan of the show. NBC has released its 2012 midseason schedule, and the Thursday night 10PM slot is now being filled with a new drama called The Firm, a series based off the book by John Grisham. Prime Suspect has been removed completely from their lineup.

Some sources on the internet say the show isn’t cancelled just yet, and that NBC plans to produce the original 13 episodes and decide its fate later on. Is there anything that can save the show? Or is it a decision that’s been made, and just not released. Either way, I will finish out the season watching the show, hoping it will return.

Prime Suspect

 NBC is starting the Fall 2011 season with a few new shows. One of them however, is not exactly new.

 Maria Bellos is taking on the role of Jane Timony, a female detective in New York City, who is trying to make it in "a man's world".

Sound familiar?

   A while back, actress Helen Mirren played no-nonsense detechive Jane Tennison, who worked for the Metropolitan Police. The British television drama, Prime Suspect, (also the name of the Bello's show) was considered more of a procederal show, and is very decorated with awards.

 

The new Prime Suspect is based in NYC and Bellos stated in an interview that this show is about the character, not the procedures.

However, majority of the clips available do not show much of her personal life at all. This could be NBC's way of keeping the suspense, since the show is a remake. The first show is scheduled to air on Thursday September 22.

Detechtive Timony (Bellos) is pushed around by her male coworkers. They believe that the job is a boys club, a mans world, and there is no place for a female. She doesn't give up (if she did there would be no show) and goes out of her way to make sure she gets heard. 

The only person in her department who seems to give her any type of credit is her boss Kevin Sweeney, played by Aidan Quinn. Its unclear whether he got her the position, but he is shown in a preview telling her male coworkers that he knows she is good.

Not too many clips and trailers are available right now, but the show seems to have what it takes to have some longevity. I also think the show has potential to capture a wide audience. Timony plays the underdog, maybe not in her mind, but to the predominant all male work environment. She has to be strong to prove her place, and I think this will help draw in a large female audience. I also think her attractive qualities and her feisty and fiery attitude will help to draw in the male viewers as well. As far as I can tell (and without seeing an episode I may regret this later) the show doesn't seem to be too raunchy for younger viewers, so it has possibilities to be a good family crime drama.