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While most T.V. programing is focused and preoccupied with an adolescent mindset, there actually are some shows that might interest the NDY Generation™.  In fact,  T.V. often has more creative license then Hollywood films in the financial driven atmosphere that gnaws at the movie industry.  Perhaps the NDY Generation™ may exert some influence on the creative process.  

We are not going to provide the obvious, such as the PBS productions or the shows coming from the BBC.  The clichéd is not what the NDY Generation™ is all about.  The following presentations are our current selections:

SOUTHLAND  – TNT

This provocative and gritty L.A. police drama debuted on NBC in 2009, and after a couple of seasons, NBC cancelled production rather abruptly.  Fortunately for the NDY Generation™, the TNT channel had enough insight to recognize that the writing and characterizations, although quite disturbing, have great depth often reminiscent of the iconic, but depressing Russian novels of Dostoyevsky and Gogol.

         The creator and executive producer, Ann Biderman, a NDY™er herself, not only won a writing Emmy for an episode of NYPD Blue and certainly, Southland has the soulful and tarnished heart of the groundbreaking NYPD Blue, but she also wrote the screenplay for the emotionally intricate novel, “Smilla’s Sense of Snow,” a NDY™ recommended book.   Ms. Biderman spent part of her youth living at the famed Chelsea Hotel in New York City, and one can only imagine how “The Chelsea” environment provided the foundation for creativity and expression. 

        Unfortunately, some of the characters have morphed into recognizable stereotypical depictions of the urban police officer. Their sensitivity and frailty, depicted with such subtlety in the first couple of years, now smack you in the face with obvious intent.  Yet, Southland still forces the viewer to tread upon the emotional precipice these cops face every day.  It is TV worth watching and a NDY™ recommendation. 

THE GOOD WIFE  – CBS

Besides having a title that conjures up all kinds of confusing emotions, The Good Wife has a pedigree that just about guaranteed success.  Created by film veterans Robert King and Michelle King, The Good Wife has the esteemed Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, and the now tragically departed Tony Scott as executive producers.  The plot revolves around the legal profession and has an aroma of Boston Legal and L.A. Law.  With attractive, intelligent and sexy characters, the series often creates legal and ethical questions that lead towards scabrous personal choices.  Reminiscent of Boston Legal, without the wonderful William Shatner to lead perverse credibility, The Good Wife reaches for comedy by being flippant and droll.  However, rather then the Shakespearean farce of Boston Legal, the show can appear preposterous and almost inane, which is too bad because there is so much merit to the writing and acting.

Julianna Margulies plays the lead with a mature, sensual womaness with none of the ingenue frailty she displayed in E.R.  She is excellent.  “Heat” is provided by the surprisingly evocative Archie Panjabi, portraying a passionate and steamy  bisexual, unlike anything we saw from her in Bend It Like Beckham.  Chris Noth has a recurring role as the lead’s politico husband, balancing ethics with politics, an almost impossible equilibrium.  

Although there are times when The Good Wife morphs into the ridiculous and tempts to be disdainful of our intelligence, there is enough substance here to give The Good Wife a NDY™ recommendation.

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