FIRST EPISODE THOUGHTS - Memphis Beat (2010) Discussion

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] sturmv 14 years ago

I agree, the set up was good and the first 5 minutes were interesting. However the rest was really weak, can't see this going anywhere...

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[–] tuffysmom 14 years ago

It's got a good cast, but I found it flat and uninteresting all the way through. Just too generic, all the way around.

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[–] AdamBowl23 14 years ago

I agree with everyone about the show having a great cast and I'm a big fan of Jason Lee as well, but he doesn't seem right cast as the lead in a police drama. There were a few lines he said that just didn't sound right at all coming out of his mouth. I've seen him do some drama before, so not saying he can only do comedy, but I just couldn't buy him as a top notch police detective. Also, he seems to be a pretty weak Elvis impersonator too. Whoever they have singing for him doesn't sound like the King, and Lee himself doesn't do anything to his appearance, besides putting on a black leather jacket. I guess he's trying to portray young Elvis, but if I came into the show not knowing anything about it, I wouldn't have even realized he was an Elvis impersonator.

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[–] allworkpeace 14 years ago

Many of the scenes were almost too choppy for me, especially how they clipped the bit about him dealing with the con-man neighbor from Massachusetts, and his momma throwing him out! Very unclear what was really going on between those two, and where did he go when momma wouldn't let him into his own house?

On the other hand, I enjoyed the music, and I'll watch it again, if just for Alfre Woodard! BTW, does Jason Lee do his own Elvis singing, or is that lip-sync?

I'll wait and see with this one!

Debbie Jordan: Author of "The World I Imagine: A creative manual for ending poverty and building peace"

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[–] starl8 14 years ago

I read a great article online that reveals that Jason Lee is lip-syncing. Here's the link: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jun/22/sacred-ground/
I think the show will have some growing pains but it looks promising.

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[–] belle_msu 14 years ago

Wasn't good. Acting wasn't great. The plot was decent.
They seem to think that showing parts of downtown Memphis (especially the bridge) would be the only way to let the audience know it was Memphis (even though it's mainly filmed in N.O.).
Where were all the black officers? There's a lot of them that enforce the law just like a white officer does.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] mbkgo-1 14 years ago

I'll take a "Wait and See" approach with it, which I do for most new series/first episodes (unless I really, really hate them, LOL). I like the cast and so far the characters, and loved the sound track. I did like the fact that, rather than try to *hook* the audience with big, blown up action scenes like so many new shows do, they had the officers busting their butts for this case more out of sentiment, which is a nice change of pace for a crime show, particularly for an introduction.

Hetty: "Oh Hell, make it a double..."

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[–] chrisjozo 14 years ago

It seems interesting. To answer your question as to what type of show it'll be I'm pretty certain its a straight drama procedural. The cast is good (I love Alfre-Woodard's character)but the plot was weak. Hopefully the cases get a little more complex. I didn't like the cliched new boss has friction with main cop thing at all. The case itself started interesting but seemed to gloss over details in favor of emotional scenes.

Shawn: "I solve a case every week and usually one around Christmas"

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[–] unicornpeg2003 14 years ago

I'm willing to give this one a chance. As others have already mentioned, I really enjoyed the cast. The bra on the boob lamp made me smile. I'm not saying it's great but it does have promise if the writers and actors gel as a team and they create better cases using the personality of Memphis.

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[–] kdogg427 14 years ago

I want it to succeed, since I'm a fan of Jason Lee, and wish My Name Is Earl was never cancelled. But despite the heart the first episode has it was really unexciting.

Not enough tension, suspense or action, for me to want to watch a second episode.

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