Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 1, 1994 TAG: 9401010206
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: S-14 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: TOM JICHA FORT LAUDERDALE SUN-SENTINEL
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The premise is more suitable for a comic book than a TV series: a hunk and his crime-fighting car. At least part of the idea could have been lifted from the beer commercial in which a lumbering old truck is transformed, via the press of a button, into a sleek sports car.
James McCaffrey, an earnest actor of modest credits and range, stars as Joseph Payne Astor in the NBC pilot airing Sunday (at 9 p.m. on WSLS-Channel 10). However, this is not his identity at first encounter. He was born Michael Payton and grew up into a life of crime, working for a pack of thieves known as The Outfit.
During one of their missions of miscreancy, Michael is segregated from his running mates by the cops. After a reckless high-speed chase, he is involved in a horrendous crash.
Simultaneously, a corrupt councilman who would be mayor is searching for a fearless driver to pilot a new muscle car, armed with the latest in anti-crime technology. James Bond would trade in his fleet for a chance to sit in the cockpit of this souped-up Viper.
The politician is running on an anti-crime platform, and bringing down The Outfit is the centerpiece of his campaign.
Dorian Harewood co-stars as Julian Wilkes, the technological whiz who developed the car. He would prefer to chauffeur it himself, but he is partially paralyzed as a result of random street violence. Everyone Julian puts behind the wheel is intimidated by the car's awesome power and gadgetry.
Among other things, the Viper is equipped with battering rams, a detachable flying surveillance robot and several missile launchers. In a bow to the anti-violence mood of the country, the missiles do not cause an explosion. They merely disarm and capture.
This might be cynical, but it also seems that having a black man in a wheelchair as a heroic role model is another attempt to pacify those who might take the show to task for its violent bent.
In any case, the councilman sees Michael's incapacity as his opportunity. Doctors are cajoled into playing head games with the unconscious bandit, who is renowned as the best car jockey in the underworld. When Michael awakens, his appearance has been altered and he doesn't know who he is.
He is told that he is a heroic cop, Joe Astor, who is suffering from amnesia as a result of an accident in the line of duty. As soon as he is able to leave the hospital, he is introduced to Julian and the Viper. Joe takes to it like Evel Knievel to a motorcycle.
However, his exploits on the side of the law attract the attention of The Outfit, whose members might not recognize the face but immediately notice Michael/Joe's unique skills. There is also a killer blonde, who used to bunk down with Michael, who can identify him from a very personal frame of reference.
Michael/Joe is confronted by the classic struggle between good and evil. Angered by the way he has been manipulated, he is tempted to resume his lawless ways. But Julian makes an impassioned plea about how Joe shouldn't squander the second chance with a clean slate that he has been given.
In still another lame bid to attach solid values to the project, it is noted that Michael always stopped short of murder. This makes his full pardon more palatable.
Joe's inner conflict is resolved when The Outfit overplays its recruiting pitch with tragic consequences. He resolves to bring down his former playmates at any cost. Fortunately, he had squirreled away enough of his ill-gotten gains to indulge his whims.
It's a good thing he did, because another plot twist forces Joe and Julian to become free-lance crime-busters, with an adventuresome car nut named Frankie as their moll at police headquarters. Joe Nipote, who acts as if he studied diction from Kirk on "Dear John," is the comic relief as Frankie.
"Viper," scheduled to premiere in its regular time period at 8 p.m. Jan. 7, is the kind of program that is sure to be brought up at some future congressional hearing. TV doesn't need the grief for a show of such little merit.
by CNB