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Herc reviews GIDEON'S CROSSING tonight

Hey folks, Harry here with the latest report from that Adonis from up on high, actually... Adonis is someone else... we just have ol Hercules the Strong here with a show called GIDEON'S CROSSING... while the rest of us were watching THE GOLDEN GLOBES, Herc was breaking into ABC and stealing a look at this show.... Sounds like a good watch, if you like the glowy box thing...

Herc Reviews Tonight’s GIDEON’S CROSSING!!

(spoiiiiiiilers!)

GIDEON’S CROSSING 1.11 FAQ

WHY ARE YOU REVIEWING THIS SERIES?

After “The Gilmore Girls,” ABC’s “Gideon’s Crossing” is the best new show on television. (It’s also way, way better than its new competition, CBS’s “Family Law” and NBC’s “Third Watch.”)

WHAT’S MONDAY NIGHT’S EPISODE CALLED?

“Dr. Cherry Must Be Stopped.”

WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?

Series creator Paul Attanasio, the same guy who scripted “Quiz Show” and “Donnie Brasco.”

ANY GOOD?

Yeah! A great episode of a great show.

WHAT DOES TV GUIDE SAY?

“The flirtatious daughter of Metropolitan General’s psychiatry chief (Jeffrey DeMunn) kills herself – after leaving a note accusing Dr. Cherry of sexual misconduct.”

IS THE DEAD GIRL THE SEXY BRUNETTE IN THE PROMOS WITH THE PURPLE TOENAILS?

That’s the one. The character’s name is Jessica Kagan; the actress, I believe, is Constance Zimmer.

GOOD ACTRESS?

Very good, from what I saw – which made it especially disappointing to see her die before the opening credits!

WHAT DOES JESSICA’S NOTE SAY?

“Dr. Cherry must be stopped. He is sleeping with his patients.”

IS DR. CHERRY SLEEPING WITH HIS PATIENTS?

Young Brucie Cherry convincingly denies this accusation immediately, but the episode is about the search for the truth. And if you think “Gideon’s Crossing” would never let a regular character drive a young patient to suicide by sleeping with her -- keep in mind that the blonde girl in this season’s “regular cast” photo has already been killed off.

IS THERE COMEDY?

Not so much tonight. This series HAS, however, displayed in the past an enormous amount of wit, which has gone a long way to humanize its doctors. This in turn, causes us to care a great deal when bad things befall the physicians, and those they care about.

ARE YOU IMPRESSED WITH THESE PERFORMANCES?

Always. There is not a mediocre actor among “Gideon’s” sprawling regular cast, and the same can usually be said about the series’ guest stars (who this week include DeMunn and Kathy Baker, who play Jessica’s parents). Hamish Linklater, the guy who plays Cherry, has exhibited loads of nerdy charisma in past episodes, and it’s a good thing they gave him this showcase. Linklater makes us believe Cherry DID on some level love Jessica Kagan, a situation that becomes even more poignant as we learn more of Jessica’s motivations.

WITH CHERRY UNDER SUCH SCRUTINY, IS THE PORTER MALPRACTICE LAWSUIT STILL ON EVERYBODY’S MINDS?

Very much so. The good news is it gives us more time with Polly Draper, who revisits her role as hospital lawyer Elaine Hoffman and gathers the staff to get its story straight. Also: Boies tells Klein he hired a private investigator to look into Porter’s life.

DR. KLEIN IS PRETTY!

Yes, she is! She is played by the stunning Rhona Mitra, who makes the merely fabulous Maura Tierney look like a Florida secretary of state.

TELL US HOW TO SQUANDER OUR MONDAYS, O HERCULES!

Fox’s “Boston Public” at 8:00; the WB’s “Roswell” at 9:00; and ABC’s “Gideon’s Crossing” at 10:00. All great shows, all guaranteed to be worth YOUR valuable time!

HERC’S RATING FOR “GIDEON’S CROSSING” 1.11?

***1/2

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:

**** better than most motion pictures

*** actually worth your valuable time

** as horrible as most stuff on TV

* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

I will pillage the lands and dwellings of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association!!!! I will burn their crops and freely remind readers that they’re the same group of cabdrivers, waiters and respectable full-time journalists who gave Pia Zadora a Golden Globe for her work in “Butterfly!”

I am – Hercules!!





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