I am – Hercules!!
It’s an hourlong, from writer Jim Leonard (“Night Visions,” “Thieves,” “Skin”), about a new mother and young prosecutor working cases of suburban crime. It stars Jennifer Finnigan (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), Christian Kane (“Angel”), John Carroll Lynch (“Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire”), David Starzyk (“Free Enterprise”) and Kimberly Elise (“The Manchurian Candidate”).
CBS airs it Tuesdays at 10 p.m., opposite ABC’s “Boston Legal” and NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
Considering how unwatchable “Night Visions,” “Thieves” and “Skin” were, I was shocked to discover this pilot was not entirely unwatchable. This may owe a bit to lead Jennifer Finnigan, a 26-year-old French-Canadian who is cute beyond reason. Is she enough to lure me away from Denny Crane? Not so much.
Entertainment Weekly gives it C-minus and says:
… Home isn't a bad show - it's just bad-intentioned. … To belabor the debate about whether moms can work? Julia did it in 1968. Real women have been doing it for centuries.
The Washington Post says:
… it's from hit-maker Bruckheimer -- who works every possible ounce of melodrama into the pilot. Cue the slow-motion montages and poignant songs. And, in a welcome change of pace, the violence against the woman in the pilot episode is more implied than graphically depicted. … Things would be a lot better still if Chase didn't say things such as "I want to be a mommy and I want to work" -- and if her boss refrained from doling out pithy wisdom such as "You can't have it both ways." We get it. …
USA Today gives it three (out of four) stars and says:
… It's well cast, well executed and solidly competent across the board. But exciting, it's not. … you may find yourself drawn to the show by its easy-to-like star, soap veteran Jennifer Finnigan … Tuesday's case gets the show off to a fairly strong start, though unfortunately, as is so often the case, the blabby promos have already spoiled the episode's one big twist. … some working women who feel the show is dredging up battles they already think they've won, or at least are tired of seeing fought on TV. And they may flee. …
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer says:
… you wish executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer had found a way to do so with a little less creamed corn. At the same time, it's easy to imagine working moms getting hooked on the way "Close to Home" creates situations in which Annabeth's maternal instinct hones her sense of justice. … "Close to Home" is the replacement for "Judging Amy," whose faithful fans loved the relationship between Amy, a career-driven divorcee, and her tough old mother. Those still smarting over that series' cancellation may take a while to warm up to the way "Close to Home" wraps justice in a small fuzzy blanket. …
The New York Daily News gives it two and a half stars and says:
… To call "Close to Home" formulaic is accurate - but when the formula belongs to megaproducer Jerry Bruckheimer, that's not necessarily a criticism or a predictor of failure. … The show isn't a terrific one, but its working-mom protagonist, and its element of "Blue Velvet"-style suburban creepiness, might well find a very receptive and loyal audience … Perry Mason never had to request a personal fridge to store breast milk. That's the sort of working-parent reality likely to make "Close to Home" resonate. … while it may not be groundbreaking, most of it works - and "Close to Home," like "Cold Case" and the original "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," succeeds by stressing both the kindness and toughness of its central female characters.
Variety says:
… customarily slick but actually finds a more intriguing target - crimes perpetrated by those near and dear to the victims. Although the title is less biting than original moniker "American Crime," series represents a harder-edged version of former slot occupant "Judging Amy" …
The Hollywood Reporter says:
… Why isn't this series on Lifetime? This is, after all, exactly the type of show for which Lifetime is rightly famous. It has a strong and fearless female lead, powerful supporting female roles; men who range in character from nonentities to sheer evil; and brave but endangered children. Did someone make a wrong turn on Santa Monica and pitch at the wrong office? … Finnigan, who was so right in NBC's loopy comedy "Committed," lacks the heft for the role of the no-nonsense prosecutor. Not that, as written, the role would be easy for anyone. It requires Annabeth to be a vigorous and energetic protagonist and, simultaneously, a weepy young mother with postpartum blues. It's hard to conveniently and credibly compartmentalize those opposing personality traits. …
TV Guide says:
… Jerry Bruckheimer’s hit factory (CSI, Without A Trace, Cold Case) has delivered yet another engrossing crime drama just different enough to stand out. The Midwest setting is fresh, the story-telling wrenching, and the luminous Finnigan, after several prime-time tries, should emerge a star …
10 p.m. Tuesday. CBS.
for just $129.99!! That’s like all 144 hours for – what? – 90 cents per hour!! A better Christmukkah gift is unimaginable!!!
