Battle Creek [CBS] [** Spoilers **]

JP Liz V1

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Josh Duhamel will star as FBI Special Agent Milton Chamberlain, opposite Dean Winters, who will play local police detective Russ Agnew. The drama follows the two men, who have diametrically opposed worldviews, as they team up to restore order to the semi-mean streets of Battle Creek, Mich.
Kal Penn, Janet McTeer, Edward Fordham Jr. and Aubrey Dollar are also starring on the show, which was given a straight-to-series 13 episode order. Gilligan and Shore, who will serve as showrunner, will write and executive-produce, with Bryan Singer directing the pilot Source

This starts mid season now


Battle Creek comes from Vince Gilligan and David Shore, along with Mark Johnson and Bryan Singer, all of whom are executive producing


http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Vince-Gilligan-CBS-Drama-Battle-Creek-Photos-Revealed-64098.html

mafaa

How 'Battle Creek' Will Revive the Small Town Crime Drama

By placing the show in a small, economically depressed city — especially one surrounded largely by rural areas and tied to the rest of the world by the interstate that runs through it connecting Detroit with Chicago — Gilligan has set his story up to deal with issues that we don’t normally see a big city crime drama delve into. The detectives on the show will be working with basically no budget and without much support. Unlike, say, the detectives on Castle, a show where there is a seemingly neverending supply of resources, Battle Creek's law enforcement will be forced to work with the outdated technology and Duhamel's earnest FBI agent won't be getting a warm reception from the locals (who also include Kal Penn and Janet McTeer).

Settling in a Midwestern city, where there's a stark racial disparity between the population within the city limits and the population just outside, gives Gilligan and his writers an opportunity to address social issues that frequently get ignored these days by most police dramas... namely the rifts that still exist throughout much of the nation along both racial and socioeconomic lines. In a nod to Breaking Bad — and given the actual level of the crime in the actual Battle Creek — expect to see some storylines that deal with crystal meth producers.

Unlike some other crime shows that have been set off the beaten path — such as Twin Peaks or Justified — the feel of Battle Creek isn't meant to come off as unique or quirky. The real Battle Creek is a mix of urban decay, Midwestern values and apathy brought on by the steady decrease in the area's industry and economy (full disclosure: I grew up in the area and still pass through on a semi-regular basis). It's a situation that is germane to a lot of small cities that once had a wealth of manufacturing that helped it grow but then did not have anything to replace the jobs or money when those companies moved or closed.

Gilligan originally tried to sell his pilot script about 10 years ago at the onset of the country's economic downturn. Years later, the situation hasn't changed markedly for Battle Creek and dozens of cities exactly like it. Deciding to tell a police story amidst that reality is an interesting choice… what Gilligan and his team decide to do with it will be fascinating to watch

JP Liz V1

Patton Oswalt, Kal Penn and Peter Jacobson have joined the cast

JP Liz V1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9esEjX02m4I

Starts tonight

Agent Coulson

Ok pilot with a few laughs..

It's probably a better Odd Couple than the Odd Couple remake CBS have on at the moment.

Frank O. Pinion

1.0 18-49 rating. Another one that's DOA.

Nody

Well I watched it, it was sort of good but I'd need a few more episodes for a final call. There's potential there if it plays the cards right imo.

Alfred Borden

Found the first episode very boring. Cant see it lasting past this season

TwoShedsJackson

I do like Dean Winters, would be nice to see him have a hit, don't think this is it though. Some laughs, and by all accounts it gets better as it goes on.

Agent Coulson

I enjoyed the second episode the show has the potential to become very quirky and fun.

Frank O. Pinion

0.8 rating for its second episode. It's done.

Agent Coulson

This really is such a fun show Dean Winters & Josh Duhamel have great chemistry.

Frank O. Pinion

Enjoy it while it lasts, it got a 0.7 for its most recent episode. CBS would have pulled it already if they had anything else to air. 13 episodes and done.

Dozen Wicked Words

The US ratings are like double Dutch to me, so this is dead in the water?

Only started watching the other week, could take it or leave it. Supporting cast have virtually no interesting storylines, I'll finish watching but sounds like there will be zero conclusion to detective/office manager storyline.

Frank O. Pinion

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

The US ratings are like double Dutch to me, so this is dead in the water?

Yes. It'll air all 13 episodes of season 1, but there's a 0% chance of a second season.