The premiere of Shark, which aired last night on CBS as part of the new fall lineup, is full of in-your-face attitude owing to the presence of James Woods. Though I’ve not been a huge fan of the man, I do think he provides a welcome departure from the rather familiar trappings of the courtroom drama genre. Then again, the part is rather easy to play.
Woods plays Sebastian Stark, a divorced Los Angeles defense attorney who, in the pilot, decides to work with the city’s high-profile crime unit. Stark is a smart-ass type who is more in love with the mirror than he is with the people around him. He apparently has something of a love-hate relationship with D.A. Jessica Delvin (Jeri Ryan) who acts as his boss, while his co-workers in the High Crimes unit send him over the edge constantly with their inability to throw caution to the wind. The only light in his life comes from the fractured but close relationship he has with his daughter Julie (Danielle Panabaker).
Allegedly this show didn't have any legs until Woods signed up. That is a saving grace for most of the supporting cast, who couldn't act their way out of a paper bag. The presence of James Woods makes them step up their performances, if only marginally. Jeri Ryan truly shows that she is merely eye-candy in the more conservative role of Jessica Delvin — her monotonous voice, while it fits her character, makes her extremely dull.
I like the father/daughter element, although I think that may wear down the show into constant "family hour" moments such as those that plague 24 sometimes. I prefer Woods as an asshole, not as a family man. Alright, you could make him soft — but just a little.
Spike Lee gets a nice credit to his resume, directing the first episode. This is probably one of the many moves he's making in order to seal himself a spot for the Katrina series he's supposedly working on. All I can say in either case is "You go, Spike!"
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Article comments
1 - crazy ned
Danielle Panabaker is the best thing about this show.
2 - Cancer Man
I thought Jeri Ryan was a good deal more than "monotonous" and she's a hugely underrated actress who is a competent co-star to the James Woods who is obviously the main star of this excellent production. I did not think the other co-stars were that bad either, even though their characters seem to be underwritten so-far.
3 - Ian Woolstencroft
Found this rather bland. I expected a lot more from James Woods than this clichéd legal drama. It’s hard to imagine how this could have tempted an actor of his stature.
As legal series go I much preferred last years ABC series 'In Justice.'
4 - jerry williams
well your not on my list in fact i dont have a list as far as baggage put by the word of god i abase as nothing... i desire to bee as the bankers beginning to pit at him for the bill.