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Hercules Says KAREN SISCO Is Fall
SPOILER ALERT !!
I liked the “Karen Sisco” pilot so much I went ahead and read the scripts for the next six episodes – and I am here to tell you that ABC is tonight trotting out fall’s best new series – and the network’s best new series since “Alias.” It’s based on an Elmore Leonard novel and, rather improbably, does its source material proud. It also reminds me of everything I loved about "The Rockford Files."
Suspenseful, smart and propulsively plotted, the enterprise most importantly boasts some of the most entertaininly sneaky, snide and/or brutal criminal and cop types you’ll find on any size screen. Attribute the series’ inspired characterization to series executive consultant Scott Frank, who adapted from Elmore Leonard novels the excellent screenplays for “Out of Sight” and “Get Shorty” before he drafted the “Sisco” pilot.
The Miami-based federal marshal, originally played by Jennifer Lopez in Soderbergh’s excellent “Out of Sight,” is now essayed to even better effect by Carla Gugino (best known perhaps as milfy mom to the movies’ Spy Kids). Another key improvement lies with Robert Forster, who inherits Dennis Farina’s role as the title character’s super-wily ex-cop pop.
Karen may remind some of a streetwise Clarice Starling, navigating a macho world of craven criminality and law enforcement, constantly outwitting her much larger, more experienced and too-often dismissive colleagues (most of whom, nonetheless, seem desperate to sleep with her).
Let’s just hope she can outgun her chief competition, the seemingly tireless NBC warhorse “Law & Order.”
TV Guide says:
The Miami-based federal marshal, originally played by Jennifer Lopez in Soderbergh’s excellent “Out of Sight,” is now essayed to even better effect by Carla Gugino (best known perhaps as milfy mom to the movies’ Spy Kids). Another key improvement lies with Robert Forster, who inherits Dennis Farina’s role as the title character’s super-wily ex-cop pop.
Karen may remind some of a streetwise Clarice Starling, navigating a macho world of craven criminality and law enforcement, constantly outwitting her much larger, more experienced and too-often dismissive colleagues (most of whom, nonetheless, seem desperate to sleep with her).
Let’s just hope she can outgun her chief competition, the seemingly tireless NBC warhorse “Law & Order.”
TV Guide says:
Let’s just hope she can outgun her chief competition, the seemingly tireless NBC warhorse “Law & Order.”
TV Guide says:
Easily the season’s coolest new show. Wry, ironic, sexy. Gugino sizzles in the role …
The Hollywood Reporter says:
It's hard enough to believe that petite and finefeatured Carla Gugino is a nononsense, kick-butt law officer. And it's that much harder when criminals take time out from their fleeing to hit on her. … As Karen Sisco, Gugino is tough, sexy and just emotionally vulnerable enough to establish that the job of serving warrants, escorting prisoners and chasing down parole violators has not yet become routine. True to Leonard's style, there is an effort to surround Karen with quirky characters, but only some of it works. … Exec producer Michael Dinner also directs … He tries to imbue the opener with as much dark humor as possible, but there just isn't much in Frank's script.
Variety says:
By any standard of cool, "Karen Sisco" is out of sight. … TV needs another cop drama like it needs another makeover show, but when the genre gets an injection of energy like this, attention must be paid. … As if J.Lo hasn't had a terrible year already with "Gigli" and a called-off wedding, she's just a memory after watching Gugino dance with the big boys.
Entertainment Weekly gives it an "A-" and says:
Lopez was very good, but a bit too steamy to get on Leonard's wavelength, which is one of ice-cold serenity. Gugino, however, has that tone down. ... Robert Forster, who, as he proved in Quentin Tarantino's ''Jackie Brown,'' has moved into late middle age with irresistible wryness and macho charm. ... Writers Bob Brush and Jason Smilovic, who along with Danny DeVito are a couple of Sisco's numerous executive producers, have a good handle on Leonard's off-kilter view of the human condition, his avoidance of the easy wisecrack, and the quiet effectiveness of playing with time. ... The series also has a great ear for background music: Leonard Cohen, Marvin Gaye, and Sly Stone's version of the Doris Day hit ''Que Sera, Sera'' add a lot to the mood of soulful romanticism that typifies Sisco's life when she's not ducking gunfire or jousting with FBI bureaucrats trying to muscle in on her cases.
USA Today gives it three stars (out of four) and says:
… Gugino responds with a performance so easily self-assured and so completely alluring that you wonder why TV took so long to make her a star. But then, roles like Karen Sisco don't come along every day. Created by Elmore Leonard, this supremely competent U.S. marshal is the kind of multifaceted character we don't see often enough on TV. Smart, sexy, dryly funny, tough when she needs to be, but never hard, Karen is the kind of woman you want to know better. And Gugino is smart enough to lay back and let us get to know the character in our own time. She doesn't push her performance or overwork her sex appeal. As you'd expect from Leonard, however, Karen isn't a one-woman show. His Miami is a world unto itself, populated with some of the most agreeably colorful supporting characters you'll ever find. …
The Los Angeles Times says:
… a pretty good new series … The criminal element is at once crucial and incidental: It's what gets these characters out of bed, but even Karen's professional relationships — with her gruff and protective boss (Bill Duke), with the sundry cops or robbers she likes or who like her — are portrayed as personal. All that matters ultimately is what happens to Karen. … Robert Forster — one or two of you may remember his 1972 detective series, "Banyan" — plays her father, a nice bit of casting, given that he was rescued from obscurity by the movie "Jackie Brown," based on Leonard's "Rum Punch." … There is potential here for an ongoing good time; my reservations, which are slight but stubborn, are based on the distance between the excellent pilot episode, which runs two weeks from now, and tonight's somewhat less excellent episode, which is not quite as sharp, sprightly or funny, or as profitably full of real Miami locations. (The disappearance of Jake Busey as a fellow agent is also disappointing.) Based on a Leonard short story called "Karen Makes Out," it plays a little too much like a trial run for "Out of Sight." (It is, essentially, "Out of Sight" upside-down.) Next week's episode will guest star executive producer Danny DeVito and wife Rhea Perlman in a bit of first-strike stunt casting that may make clear the series' comic potential — right now, it's a shade more serious than it needs to be, or perhaps it's just that the jokes aren't working.
Coax’s own “Pimp Daddy” says:
The show is great on *every* level. The acting (Carla Gugino is great, she’s tough when she wants to be and she makes the character ooze with style, smarts and class), the directing, the action (they don’t blow anything up (yay, but I suppose that’s just me) but a gun fight still manages to cool great even though there were only two shooters), the characters (some are there for laughs, others to be asses, sorry bosses), the use of music is great (hopefully something the producers of Fearless will think about carefully before they play any old pop song, oh and while they’re at it they should do something about the writing too) and not forgetting the humour (it’s similar to the movie, not over the top, just effective).
The show is character driven, so action comes second, but the pilot seems to be 50/50. It works very well.
I’m struggling to find flaws with this show…Out Of Sight was a great movie, Karen Sisco looks like it’s going to be a great series. ABC has a winner on their hands.
10 p.m. Wednesday. ABC.
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is an excellent book. But the Marshall from "Riding the Rap" would make a good/TV show too, but I cant remember his name right now. Does anyone out there? Also im thrilled because I might be first for the first time.
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Oct 01, 2003 3:56:26 AM CDT
Herc likes it? Sure, I'll give it a shot. Betcha I do end up l
by aceattorney
RIP MIRACLES!
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had the same vibe when I first saw the promos for Alias in 2001. Plus Carla is one fine lady!
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Oct 01, 2003 4:33:06 AM CDT
Does Michael Keaton make a cameo to play Ray Nicolet once again?
by brody armstrong
He better! He fucking OWNZ that role.
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I already read somewhere else that they gave the nicolette role to an actor other than MK - which is a big shame - just as it's a shame they didn't give the role of the father to Dennis Farina (I think that's his name)... I mean Robert Forster is good, but he's Max Cherry from Jackie Brown! Don't mix up the Elmore Leonard universe!
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That the power of justice had such gigantic busoms?
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mmm ... Carla Gugino. does she get locked in a trunk while wearing a tight dress at some point?
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I thought it was pretty intresting.
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Nice tits.
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Jennifer who?
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Herc says Karen Sisco is the best fall show and in the Joan of Arcadia article he says Wonderfalls is the best show this season. But in his to watch article Carnivale was number 1. I haven't seen Karen Sisco or Wonderfalls yet, but I doubt either of them are as good as Carnivale. Of course it doesn't matter. I'm just surprised I haven't seen more talk about Carnivale.
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Part of the pilot's plot centers around the Leonard Cohen tune "Chelsea Hotel #2". Bits and pieces of it are played throughout the ep, but at the end the whole song is used - except that it's not. The classic lyric "giving me head on the unmade bed" has been cleverly edited out! And that's all there is to say about that.
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Karen Sisco = best new FALL show. **** Wonderfalls = best new show of the 2003-04 season. **** Carnivale = show to which Herc was most looking forward about a month ago. **** Gilmore Girls = best show in production. **** Buffy = best show of all time.
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I can't decide which is worse. The fact that I knew her name was Chica, or the fact that I own the movie and it still makes me laugh my ass off. "Cigars, cigarettes, cookies." "Annie Herman . . . boi yoi yoing!" man I'm sad
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The devil you say. I find this concept incredibly hard to grasp as Dennis Farina owns that role - and that kind of role. But I'll watch the show before fully condeming that ridiculous statement. :)
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This is going to sound nuts but I am trying to find the name of a movie I saw as a teenager. I don't know who is in it, but I do remember some of the details. First of all it's not a cinematic masterpiece it/s just something I can't get outta my head.
There is this guy sitting in a car and he is watching this miss priss type walk down the street, when all of a sudden a gust of wind comes by and blows here skirt up revealing I love you written on the ass of her panties. The same girl is followed home by the viewer where she starts a complete make-over going from priss to punk. The same guy accidentally runs into her not knowing it's the same chick. Skip ahead. The guy and girl are running from somebody (I don't know who)and they are climbing a ladder, he looks up her mini-skirt to see, you guessed it, I love you panties.
Theses are all the details I can remember, again I know it's no classic. But it's driving me crazy. Can you help me???
>
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Y'all should rent (not buy, just rent, or try to catch on cable) BIG TROUBLE, with Farina as an NYC hitman out of his element in Miami. It's an ensemble terrorist-comedy that Disney shelved due to 9/11. It also stars Patrick Warburton and Stanley Tucci. Unfortunately, it also stars Tim Allen and Janeane Garafolo.
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I would like to put my pee pee in her and move it around. Can't comment on the show, however, as I'm watching it with the sound down. There's a good article about Elmore Leonard (one of the true literary geniuses of our age) here http://www.freep.com/entertainment/tvandradio/kside1_20031001.htm
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But I won't be watching Sisco. Sorry, but HBO ruined the Network TV experience for me. After stuff like The Wire, The Soprano's and 6 Feet Under it's difficult going back to PG-13 non-Cable programming.
Have never read any Elmore Leonard but Jackie Brown and Out Of Sight are two of my favourite films from the 90s.
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Does anyone know WHEN the George Clooney/Steven Soderbergh is expected to end? Solaris, Full Frontal and Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind were all huge flops. And yes, I do realise that all three were inexpensive Indie films. Roll on Oceans 12.
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Oct 01, 2003 11:15:39 PM CDT
"Like the Cisco Kid, only spelling different. *S*-I-S-C-O."
by osmosis jones
Watched it tonight, was mildly entertained. Carla is tough and likable, and an able replacement for Jennifer Lopez (who hasn't had a worthwile film role since Out Of Sight), but the plot was for to similar to the movie, right down to the fiddling with the cigarettes (like Clooney and his zippo lighter). And is Bill Duke actually crippled, or is it just his character? Also a shame we won't get to see Michael Keaton as Ray Nicolette again (his cameo in Out Of Sight was priceless). I guess I'll give this show a chance to grab me over the next few weeks.
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He had the greatest non-Terrence Stamp line in The Limey, was in one of the worst fight scenes I've ever seen (the limp fight between him and Arnold in the motel room in Commando), and went bug-fuck crazy in Predator. Hire him, Hollywood! Oh yeah, once again, Gugino is HOT.
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No, not the O.T. question. That was actually the title: "Breaking all the Rules." It was a Canadian made film and was a frequently-aired, late-late-show-flick on HBO back in the day; almost as much as "Stewardess School." The bad news is it's not on DVD that I know of, and it was only sold on VHS back when a-holes used to actually sell off-the-shelf movies in *EP* recording mode. That's a shame because it was a pretty funny film. Hope this helps.
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...now THAT was hot. I'm waiting for a post by the guy who claims he went to high school with her, when she hadn't developed yet...
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The show this really needs to live up to is the earlier Leonard TV adaption - MAXIMUM BOB.
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Too bad the show itself was okay without being outstanding. Robert Forster is just the man, though, and eases casual coolness. Looks like next week's show is supposed to be more humorous, but I'm suspect of stunt casting (Devito) so early in a series' run.
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Check out "JADED": Her shower scene is incredible!!! "Perfect" doesn't begin to describe those cans!
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Will be played by Peter Horton for the series. As far as continuity, maybe this pretends the movie didn't happen at all, but the movie mentions that the she had dated a bank robber in the past and she pointed out that she had busted him so there was no conflict of interest. So is it a prequel?
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... and it's really good. And C. Gu (see story) is just ... DAMN!! It's so good that ABC won't know how to promote it and it will be cancelled within two years. BTW, what happened to Bill Duke that he's on crutches?
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im going to puke
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Oct 02, 2003 1:08:46 PM CDT
As a guy who proudly lists OUT OF SIGHT as favorite movie (most
by jonquixote
I liked it. You could tell that the talent was more in the source material than anything else, so I don't know how it will hold up as the episodes become more dependent on the tv staff and less on Elmore's works, but I'll make a point of checking it out. And Guigino...oh momma!
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Oct 02, 2003 2:15:31 PM CDT
Just a little addition to Mr Travis' bigging up of Bill Duke...
by psychonaut
...it should also be noted that he directed Deep Cover, which is a great little movie.
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Oct 02, 2003 4:01:45 PM CDT
Wait a second, was Carla Gugino the bitchy depressed girl in Tro
by 007-11
I knew she was going to grow up into an incredibly fine woman!! It is a small world after all.
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...the plot was a one-hour condensed version of OUT OF SIGHT. Same premise, same quirks, same freakin' ending. Was this just for the saps who didn't see the film?
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I loved it. The dialogue was smooth, the plot moved nicely and the acting was great. I'll give it a shot. Hopefully ABC won't Firefly it.
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Oct 02, 2003 7:32:14 PM CDT
Sorry Herc, you're off your rocker. The girl is SMOKIN, but the
by aceattorney
This is a chick show...yawn.
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Watch another 2 episodes and thhen make your judgement.
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It's just another cop show that pisses on the audience intellectually. Buffy fans should enjoy it immensely.
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I've dug Carla Gugino since that Pauli Shore Farm Movie. I'm glad she's finally getting the attention she deserves.
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