The Good Guys

I so wanted to hate this series but three episode in, it's growing on me. Essentially its a cop/buddy comedy starring Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks that takes a fresh spin on a tired genre.

Whitford (Dan) is the cop lost in the 70s complete with 70s attitudes about the world and a 70s porn star mustache. He drinks to much and is reckless. He is still on the force because once he was part of a celebrated case where he and his partner saved the Governor's son. They gained fame through a TV movie and a book about the case.

However, Whitford's glory days are far behind him. He can't be fired because of the cop he once was so he is assigned a partner who can 'handle' him. However, he can do maximum property damage each episode. If a modern day cop cost the city so much in inevitable lawsuits he would be strung up.

He lives in a different time and does not understand modern things like cellphones or computers. He once fronted and asked a labtop that he need information from if it was 'GO TIME' like the thing was a perp. Then when the lab top would not talk to him he accused it of "getting into my mind".


Hanks (Jack) is the one chosen to keep Whitford from getting into trouble. He is the modern Detective with computer skills and a textbook understanding of police proceedures. His fault is that he is a person who tends to tell superiors exactly what he thinks because he doesn't understand that pointing out their mistakes may not be the best thing to do if you want to move up in the ranks. This is a trait they don't like so he is relegated to petty crimes - very petty crimes like rocks through window or the theft of a humidifier.

Another fun character is Julius, a criminal that Jack and Ben saved so he owes them and is their go/to criminal guy. He is always getting the short end of any favors he does for these guys. For example, they once needed a tracking device to go after some car thieves. The couldn't get one from their boss so they figured that sticking Julius in the truck and tracking his ankle bracelet was a perfectly fine solution to the problem. I don't know if being sealed in a trunk while waiting for the 70s Trans Am (Jack's beloved car) to be stolen was the best thing for Julius. Poor poor trusting Julius.

Each show starts at the most dramatic moment and we are then taken back several days to see how everything unfolded. Things always begin with a small crime the two investigate but inevitably blows up into something huge. Flashbacks are used extensively throughout the show to illustrate how characters got to where they are now in the story. I can be days, minutes or hours. It's a fun plot device.

The show also has great criminals. One time it was major drug dealing and dueling assassins (one whose only wish was to retire as the number one assassin in the world - currently he was ranked as number 2). Another was a car theft ring with a villain who was insecure about his relationships. As you can see the shows goes out of the way to make their villains cartoony which is really fun.

Hanks is also trying to be 'friends' with his female superior (Liz) who he once dated. That bit of story gives both guys licence to have conversations about dating and what women want. Whitford is the Neanderthal while Hanks is the sensitive modern man. This is an example of their conversations:

Whitford - "So Jackaline, after she took your manhood, where did she put it? A jar?"

Jack - "Are you implying that I am no longer a man because I am going out with Liz and her friend?"

Whitford - "Come On. When she just left she punched you in the arm. The only place a woman should punch a man is in the face."

I like the character mix. Whitford is very good as someone so out of touch with reality that it's scary. However he does seem to do quite well with the ladies which shows all of us guys that ladies do love the bad boy.

Hanks plays his exasperation well but I can see these two growing to respect each other for the qualities the other lacks. (I know if I was writing the show I would have them both be in an accident where they switched personalities after some kind of head injury. But that will have to wait until things are fully established. Maybe next season and I hope there will be a next season).

The show also has a great 70s music soundtrack to accompany the action.

Finally TV networks have realized that people still want/need fresh content through the summer and this show is airy and breezy and entertaining enough to fill my needs. If you remember those great detective shows from the 70s you will enjoy this funny homage to them.