# New NBC Show, "Southland"; Good Review **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 7, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300 "2009-04-07T20:47:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/1 "2009-04-07T20:47:02Z")
Although the show doesn’t start until this coming Thursday, the Hollywood Reporter has given it a [fairly rave review](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/tv-reviews/tv-review-southland-1003959955.story). Looks promising. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/2 "2009-04-07T22:15:57Z")
That is a good review. Surprising, because the previews are full of cop dialogue that was cliche in the 70’s. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/3 "2009-04-07T22:20:56Z")
Plus they said it was from the people who brought you ER, so I figure there will be carjacked tanks rolling down the street and cops getting chopped up by helicopter rotor blades and stuff. I’ll give it a look, but I don’t have high hopes for it. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/4 "2009-04-07T22:26:45Z")
When I saw the first promo for the show a couple weeks ago, it wasn’t until about 90% of the way through that I realized the show _wasn’t_ a satire of police procedurals. I do not expect to be watching. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/5 "2009-04-07T22:44:06Z")
I’ve not really enjoyed a network cop show since NYPD Blue, and that was an inferior show to Homicide: Life on the Streets. I watched the pilot (being aired as the first episode this Thursday) in full on [Hulu.com](http://Hulu.com), it looks like it could be interesting. The show seems to be divided between a group of uniformed beat cops and a group of detectives, both working different story lines. I think what interested me about it is I can’t remember the last time a cop show covered uniformed officers, the training officer seems like he’ll be an interesting character. The rookie’s mannerisms were more offputting than intriguing, though. The detectives that were covered were less interesting. To me it’d take a really unique show to really catch my interest with a squad of detectives, which is the basis for like half of the dramas on TV at any given time. I’ll definitely watch a few episodes to see how it plays out. As many others have recommended, if you really want to check out a good police drama watch the Wire. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/6 "2009-04-07T23:27:43Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > As many others have recommended, if you really want to check out a good police drama watch the Wire. Except that it’ll spoil you for everything else. 🙂 When I saw those two cops in the trailer, having a heart-to-heart after (presumably) the rookie cop shot somebody, I couldn’t help but think of Bunk and Jimmy in the bar, and Jimmy telling Bunk why he loved him so much. The quote isn’t fit for polite Cafe Society, but it’s [here](http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0020627/quotes) if anyone’s interested. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/7 "2009-04-08T02:54:59Z")
My guess is they won’t investigate a crime scene where the only words out of the character’s mouths will be “[fuck](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbsnSVM1zM)” repeated over and over either. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/8 "2009-04-10T15:04:53Z")
Saw the first episode last night - not bad at all. Not exactly “The Shield”, but maybe “Shield Lite”…the story moved in many directions and kept you watching. Kept our interest and will tune in next week. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/9 "2009-04-10T15:12:38Z")
I thought it was gritty and fast-paced, if a bit predictable. Hard to say if they can keep it going for 15 years, like ER. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/10 "2009-04-10T15:15:38Z")
I wasn’t planning on watching it. As a big **Wire** fan, cops shows since always suffered in comparison. I started watching last night and was drawn into it and enjoyed the entire episode. I’ll definitely give it a couple episodes to hook me. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/11 "2009-04-10T15:33:31Z")
What the title “Southland” supposed to mean? Every time I read it I get the song “Sweet Home Alabama” stuck in my head. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/12 "2009-04-10T15:39:24Z")
Southland is apparently local lingo for the greater LA area. One thing I noticed, given that the producer is also the guy behind ER. This show also looks at the job through a new rookie who is the son of wealth. (John Carter on ER and Ben Sherman here.) ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/13 "2009-04-10T16:24:12Z")
Any opinions on the bleeped cuss words? I’m not too bothered by that; it seems to be some proto-subversive way of convincing whoever needs convincing that the days of cuss-free network TV need to end ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/14 "2009-04-10T17:23:27Z")
I heard a radio review that said they should have named the show, “Listen, Rookie!” and I now have to agree. Some of the actors are engaging, but the first episode seemed loaded with cliches. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/15 "2009-04-10T17:50:41Z")
I decided to watch it on Hulu. It’s a pretty generic cop/detective show. You’ve seen all the cliches before. No reason not to watch it if you like these shows. It’s not bad. Personally I’m pretty full up with these kinds of shows, so if the characters don’t engage me I’ve got more than enough other TV to watch. The only character here that interests me at all is the rookie, but he’s awfully quiet so far. I think I’ll put this on the back burner and see if it generates much excitement in future weekly threads. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/16 "2009-04-10T18:53:53Z")
I liked the first episode enough to give it a try. Question though… Was the veteran cop (Cooper?) in a Gay bar in the last scene? ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/17 "2009-04-10T19:19:50Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > I liked the first episode enough to give it a try. > > Question though… > > Was the veteran cop (Cooper?) in a Gay bar in the last scene? Apparently, yes, and yes he is, [Don’t mouse over this, cause link has spoiler in it](http://www.afterelton.com/blog/michaeljensen/southland-creator-john-wells-on-his-gay-cop) ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/18 "2009-04-10T20:49:36Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > When I saw the first promo for the show a couple weeks ago, it wasn’t until about 90% of the way through that I realized the show _wasn’t_ a satire of police procedurals. I thought that too! Between the time slot and the ads, I was half convinced this was a parody. I sort of watched the first episode, since I was too lazy to change the channel after the comedy block. It seemed… okay. Maybe it’ll be better if I pay attention to it. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/19 "2009-04-10T21:40:37Z")
Officer Dewy was Tommy Howell??? Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300/20 "2009-04-11T00:01:21Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Officer Dewy was Tommy Howell??? Wow. Yeah, I’m going “so when did Ponyboy turn into such an old dick?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-nbc-show-southland-good-review/492300.md?page=2)