Eric Carlson Reviews

Battery Park (2000)

Why do good shows get cancelled?

[30 June 2000]

"Battery Park" was easily the best show to hit the NBC Thursday night line-up when it was a ratings topper in the mid/late '90s. "Battery Park" was in some ways a counterpart to "NYPD Blue". While "Blue" had a gritty atmosphere, "Park" had comedy injected. The cast was made almost entirely of no-name stars, but the mix of sharp humor and rapid-fire action made for a top-notch series. Sadly, the show only made it through a handful of episodes. If you enjoyed cop comedies like K-9 or Dan Aykroyd's Dragnet update, catch the series if you get the chance.

Ryan Caulfield: Year One (1999– )

A good cop show

[30 June 2000]

"Ryan Caulfield: Year One" was a short-lived series on Fox about a 19-year old rookie on the Philadelphia Police Department. The show did a good job of mixing the shoot-outs and car chases of '70s and '80s cop shows with the intricate stories of '90s cop shows. "Caulfield" was the only time Fox ever tried a cop show and they hit the mark. But, they cancelled it after only three episodes. This show would impress fans of "Hill Street Blues".