On Wednesdays, I take a look at a show that lasted one season or less. Here's a look at 1997's Total Security!
TOTAL SECURITY
September 27, 1997 - November 8, 1997
6 episodes
ABC
Starring: James Remar, James Belushi, Debrah Farentino, Tracey Needham, Bill Brochtrup, Flex, Kristin Bauer, Tony Plana
Created by: Steven Bochco & David Milch & Charles H. Eglee & Theresa Rebeck
Plot: The inner workings of a high tech Los Angeles security firm. The firm is run by Frank Cisco (Remar) who hires private investigator Steve Wegman (Belushi) to join his team. The rest of the cast make up the rest of the security team.
This pilot had all the trappings of a 1990s-era ensemble drama in the vein of hits like NYPD Blue (from the same creators), ER, Chicago Hope and others. The best thing about it was it felt a little bit different because of the setting. This wasn't the usual cops or doctors or lawyers ensemble. There was a law enforcement aspect but it was definitely more about the tech firm and different tasks related to security. That gave a little bit of a fresh approach to an ensemble drama, even one that followed the usual tropes and character archetypes.
However, the pilot did not let the ensemble do much. It was a little too focused on a main story led by James Remar's character and a more comical B story with James Belushi's character. The rest of the main cast had very little to do. We saw actors like Bill Brochtrup and Flex for very brief periods of time. I never understand why a show with a large ensemble, like this one, gives so much time to guest stars in their first episode. It would have been a hard task to get to know a lot of the characters over 45 minutes even under the best of circumstances, but this pilot seemed to have no interest in developing most of the supporting characters. Despite the more unique setting, it wasn't as strong as some of those other dramas I mentioned at introducing us to the characters who matter most and that's a tough way to present a new show.
Steven Bochco was an expert producer who had was behind major hits such as Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Doogie Howser M.D. and NYPD Blue. The latter show was part of a long deal with ABC and was a huge hit for the network as it entered its fifth season in Fall 1997. In the meantime, Bochco had signed a deal with CBS to start doing shows for them and that deal would become exclusive in 1998. Bochco was already moving onto his CBS deal with the high profile Brooklyn South, launching on Mondays in Fall of 1997. But he was still closing out his ABC deal, which is how Total Security got on the air.
Total Security was definitely not the high profile show for ABC that Brooklyn South was for CBS. It's possible CBS was just throwing something at the wall to finish out the deal because they stuck it on Saturday nights where they had not had success for years. It followed another new crime drama, C-16 and its lead-out was The Practice, which was coming off a six episode first season and wasn't yet the hit it became. Many outlets at the time pointed to this show as being Bocho mailing it in. Variety said "he didn't have his heart in, or his mind on, this project that veers unevenly between edgy drama and wiggly comedy." Total Security only made it to early November before being cancelled but Brooklyn South ultimately didn't fare much better as it was also a one and done.
Tomorrow: Very Very High Society!
Next Wednesday: A One Season Wonder look at Alright Already!
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