|
|
 |
| Show Reviews |
|
Medium
Barry Willis
03/01/2005
|
|
Produced by: Picturemaker Productions, Inc. in association with Grammnet Productions
and Paramount Network Television
Network: NBC
Scheduled: Monday, 10 p.m.
Reviewed on: D-KNTV San Francisco, CA; Comcast
Channel: 703
 Psychic ability is a gift and a curse. That’s the premise behind this intriguing
new NBC series. Based on the life of real-world medium Allison DuBois (a
consultant to the show), Medium stars Patricia Arquette as a young mother who
works part-time as a research assistant in the Phoenix district attorney’s
office, helping to solve abduction and murder cases with distinctly
non-scientific techniques. Miguel Sandoval is believable as her D.A. employer,
as is Jake Weber as her engineer husband, Joe. Neither character is the
touchy-feely type, but both have come to trust her talents. The fact that
Allison’s 6-year-old daughter Bridget (Maria Lark) shares her mother’s gift adds
tremendous texture to the show’s story lines.
The setup could be hokey, but
Medium is surprisingly compelling. The DuBois home is a kid-dominated shambles,
the stars aren’t glamorous, and the dialogue isn’t forced or artificial. There
are moments of levity in the grim business of crime solving. The show’s
designers leverage rich colors and subdued lighting in creating its moods––much
of the action takes place at night in foreboding circumstances. Deliberate
pacing and the late prime-time slot are two indications that this show is
intended for adults.
Medium is broadcast in 1080i and Dolby 5.1
surround sound. D-KNTV has apparently failed to sell all its available ad slots
for the HD broadcast. Many 30-second segments are nothing more than the NBC
peacock slowly self-assembling on a black background, which makes for a nice
HDTV screen saver. That may not be the case in other markets..
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Poll
|
|
|
|
