TV Gold

I am absolutely delighted to see that NBC will be kicking off the fifth season of Crossing Jordan on Sunday evening (25th September) <!--emo&:D-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> <!--emo&:D-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->

<a href='http://www.nbc.com/Crossing_Jordan/episode_guide/' target='_blank'>http://www.nbc.com/Crossing_Jordan/episode_guide/</a>

I know it will be a while until we here in the UK get to see it ( <!--emo&:angry:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> so unfair!!) but I absolutely love this series and feel that the characters are so well defined and interact so enjoyably.

I sincerely hope that 'The Hallmark Channel' finally get their hands on Season Three and Four. In the meantime I continue to look around for any re-runs, maybe cropping up on ITV1.

Any other 'CJ' fans out there????????? <!--emo&:huh:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> <!--emo&:huh:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->

In my opinion I find "CROSSING JORDAN" to be the finest American drama series currently in production, but why is it that I have come to this conclusion when there is so much contemporary serial competition at present? Well to coincide with the commencement of US transmissions of season five, I'd like to take some time to analyse the strengths of the series, the characters and the reasons behind why it is, at least for me, essential viewing.

To be honest this series rather took me by surprise when I first discovered it nestling in the early evening line up on the UK digital channel "The Hallmark Channel". Not sure what to expect I thought I?d give it a chance and immediately became a regular avid viewer.

On the face of it to have a drama surrounding a Boston Medical Examiner department doesn?t make for the most exciting or distinctive concepts especially in light of the various competing C.S.I. incarnations currently in production. However what sets "CROSSING JORDAN" apart are highly memorable and distinctive regular characters. Now I came to this series with no knowledge of her role in the long running and (apparently) highly popular "Law and Order" series (although not something that has really grabbed me) but here Jill Hennessy plays the gutsy, unconventional and determined Doctor Jordan Cavanaugh, a captivating performance that is indeed worthy of the drama awards the actress has received. As chief medical examiner Doctor Garret Macy is played with an assured dour supervisory conviction by Miguel Ferrer. In the midst of the modern office environment there is, I find a slight surreal element to his office with its antique record player which occasionally wafts out with period jazz music when, on occasion Garret needs to relax from the stresses of his job. In fact I feel there is a slight retro element to this fairly complex character with Garret driving a classic faded white Citroen DS in preference to a typically more modern vehicle. Initially introduced as merely a receptionist/secretary Kathryn Hahn's character of Lily Lebowski is promoted to Grief Counsellor during the second season. It is obvious that there is some affection between Lily and Garret and a blossoming romance is briefly explored for a time between the characters.

He has an unorthodox approach but there is indeed something distinctly amusing and charming about Doctor Nigel Townsend, someone who is clearly passionate about his work. Playing the quirky criminalist/forensics expert London born Steve Valentine's character delights in showing off his technical brilliance illustrating his invaluable place the Examiner team. Another highly skilled employee, Bug presents an initially emotionless demeanour but scratch the surface and Liverpool born Ravi Kapoor?s character has a warm and caring persona towards his colleagues best illustrated when he poses as Lily's boyfriend late in the first season when Lily's mother visits Boston. With his character hailing from India it is intimated that he has an unpronounceable name hence his 'nickname' of Bug. Bug's expertise centres primarily on his knowledge of insect anatomy however there are occasions, a good example of this would be the seventh episode of Season Two where his seemingly obscure knowledge can be so valuable. In "Upon The Wasted Building" Bug (with a typical lack of respect for the officers assembled) astonishes the best police incident investigators by lifting a fingerprint from a charred hand. Personally I view Nigel and Bug's friendship in the same way as that which developed between Chief O'Brien and Doctor Bashir on Star Trek Deep Space Nine.

There is a family link for Jordan with Ken Howard playing her world-wise ex-cop father Max Cavanaugh who having left the force chooses to open a period styled local bar. Max offers invaluable assistance to Jordan in solving cases both as a reference resource and in their ability to re-enact a case 'sequence of events' from victim/assailant perspective (these sequences are usually prefixed by the exchanged words ?who do you want to be??). However there is a dark aspect to Max and the Cavanaugh family history which is dramatically covered most notably in the two part season finale?s to both season One ("Secrets & Lies") and Two ("Pandora's Trunk"). On both occasions Jordan puts her job on the line and on each occasion placing extreme pressure on Garret Macy as to whether keeping Jordan as a member of the staff is really worth all the trouble she can cause.

The young, dedicated and ambitious Detective Woody Hoyt provides the current link between the Boston Medical Examiner team and the Boston police and I love the playful interaction between Jordan and Hoyt that Jill and actor Jerry O'Connell (whom I still remember fondly from his lead role as 'Quinn Mallory' in sci-fi series 'Sliders') have established over the years. Woody is very much a 'by the book' police officer who although respecting Jordan's abilities finds her unconventional investigative methods rather unsettling. Despite that there is a romantic attraction between these young people which is playfully dealt with, certainly through the episodes I have seen so far. A classic example of the success of their working relationship would be the second season episode "Don?t Look Back" where Woody and Jordan are out on the sunny street of Southern California, driving around in a bright red 50s convertible including some steamy moments out in the Mojave Desert.

Even in its 'shake down' first season the quality of story telling and character interaction was immediately apparent, however "CROSSING JORDAN" became an even sharper product in its second year. With dramatic new titles and more aggressive theme tune Season Two featured some extremely memorable stories. There are indeed numerous episodes that stand out for me of this and it is indeed difficult to pick out specific highlights when the quality is so consistently high, however I would like to flag up four particularly noteworthy stories. First up would be "Upon The Wasted Building" (episode Seven) where the morgue staff are involved in a post devasting explosion recovery effort looking and accounting for victims at the site whilst Lily tries to comfort and deal with the relatives back at the office. Next I'd recommend the dramatic twelfth episode "Perfect Storm" where the staff face quarantine when an unknown airborne toxin spreads through the building. There is a sequence in this where quite appropriately a beautiful piece of Kate Bush sung music is laid over the scene which further adds to the touching emotional strength of the particular scene. The thirteenth episode with the regular cast assembled in Max's bar has them involved in an annual Cavanaugh tradition. In "Strangled" the morgue staff examine one of Max's unsolved homicide cases in the same type of period flashback way that made Star Trek Deep Space Nine's "Far Beyond the Stars" such a memorable and distinctive episode. Lastly, and taking quite a risk taking us away from the familiar series character/location base, the twentieth episode of the run, entitled "Sunset Division" focuses entirely on Woody Hoyt's investigation of his former mentor. This leads him to the glitzy Sunset strip of Los Angeles and his amusing interaction with the local law enforcement. Despite the lack of regular character use Jerry O'Connell's character carries this story most successfully and as an occasional experiment it is indeed an enjoyable viewing experience concluded with a touching meeting between Woody and Jordan down by the sun setting waterfront.

Although as we move towards the latter part of 2005, there still seems no sign of new episodes being shown in the UK I continue to avidly monitored the progress of this series via the NBC website (which includes a marvellous video clips section) especially following the stunning and highly dramatic Season Two "Pandora's Box II" climax (Max standing over a dead body with a gun in his hand and Jordan last seen sitting in an office chair passing out from a drugged drink, her subsequent location a complete mystery). I was indeed puzzled to see that Season Three only generated thirteen episodes and begun to wonder about the future of the series. My apprehension was unfounded with a further seventeen stories making up a fourth season with NBC heavily promoting it heavily. Apparently it even featured a special 'cross-over' story with another NBC series "Las Vegas" (something I?ve not seen) which was indeed heartening to hear. Now with this months commencement of the fifth season (from 26th September 2005) it is clear how valued "CROSSING JORDAN" is to NBC as a ratings winner. In closing I fervently hope that the distinctive style and appeal of the story writing and character development will continue and that hopefully in the not too distant future brand new episodes of "CROSSING JORDAN" will gain the prime time UK transmission slot that they truly deserve.

you can really get a buzz hanging out with the cool and free
You can act like a monarch or a pillar of the bourgeoisie

<!--QuoteBegin-Sarah Tarrant+Sep 23 2005, 04:52 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarah Tarrant @ Sep 23 2005, 04:52 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->In my opinion I find "CROSSING JORDAN" to be the finest American drama series currently in production, <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

And I didn't even realize it was still on U.S. TV. It's not exactly a ratings blockbuster, more like something NBC is holding onto because they have so many other problems to deal with.

<!--QuoteBegin-TrentinaNE+Sep 27 2005, 02:17 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TrentinaNE @ Sep 27 2005, 02:17 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->And I didn't even realize it was still on U.S. TV.  It's not exactly a ratings blockbuster, more like something NBC is holding onto because they have so many other problems to deal with.
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Maybe you have a point there as I don't know what else NBC has in their schedule however I still looooooove this series <!--emo&:D-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->

There's me thinking that they'll never get to release this series because of all the contractual problems involved in its use of contemporary popular music however just came across this...

http://www.tvboxset.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=831&gclid=CPevpNH1nowCFRizEAodwC7Q2Q

It says that it's multi-region but it doesn't look as if there is any extras and the price is very, very steep, but at least its a good first step in the right direction!

For me this is currently the 'holy grail' of what I'm most looking forward to being released and have noticed recently that there is a 'Season One - coming Soon' page on play.com http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3401915/-/Product.html?searchstring=Crossing+Jordan&searchsource=1

I guess that this is to be expected as if you look at a site like this http://www.dvddonkey.com/themes/drama.html you'll find towards the bottom of the page a six season box set. Although this says that it is 'region free' I personally prefer to buy one season at a time and I suspect our UK titles will have better quality packaging than the US releases.

I just visited the UK Amazon site and it shows that they are offering European (Dutch) copies of Season One which are UK Region 2 with English language on them. This sounds like fantastic news and something I have long been hoping for, maybe other seasons will follow???

Certainly seems mighty appealing and I for one am sorely tempted, other commitments aside, to possibly in late July/early August 2010 to nab a copy...

A praiseworthy site that I've just found with plenty to please fans like me...

http://www.crossingjordanencyclopedia.com/