For those of you with BBC America on your cable systems, I’d suggest you look for a new program called Copper. Think along the lines of Gangs of New York. Copper is set in 1860s New York City just after the Civil War. Tom Fontana and Will Rokos created the series. Tom Fontana, a veteran writer and producer of ST. ELSEWHERE, HOMOCIDE, and OZ, is a local hero around here. Fontana went to the same college as Diane (Buffalo State College) and is reknown for his monetary support for local theater groups. Copper stars Tom Weston-Jones, a Civil War veteran and an Irish immigrant cop who patrols the Five Points neighborhood. It’s the classic honest cop caught in a totally corrupt police department scenario. I found last week’s opening episode an over-stuffed sausage: too many storylines set into motion and too much backstory. But, the writing is good, I like the cast, and there really isn’t much on TV to watch. So I’m watching Coppers. If you missed the first episode, don’t worry. BBC America airs these episodes in a dozen time slots. It’s easy to get caught up.
There really is nothing else on so I will probably give it a try.
I think you’ll find COPPER interesting, Patti. Tom Fontana knows how to produce a compelling crime drama.
I saw Fontana speak at a Bouchercon several years ago. Very interesting guy. Tom Weston-Jones was in the 10th and final series of MI-5 (SPOOKS in the UK), which we have on DVD but haven’t watched yet. Franka Potente (RUN LOLA RUN and the first two Bourne movies) is Eva, the madam of a brothel.
You’re right about the high quality of the creative team of COPPER, Jeff. It’s edgy enough to keep it off the major U.S. networks.
I have the pilot DVR’d, but am waiting for the next episode to watch them back-to-back. I want to see what a script for an already sold show looks like alongside that pilot. I had planned to cover them Tuesday for Todd Mason. Guess I’ll have to go another route.
I’ll be eager to read your reactions to COPPER, Randy. I think you’ll enjoy the series.