BS: Cop shows

Subject: BS: Cop shows
From: Dazbo
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 08:33 AM

It strikes me that (in a vast generalisation) US cop shows seem to show the criminal committing the crime at the beginning of the show and UK shows are more of a whodunnit. Is this a correct generalisation and if so what reasons do you think account for this difference?

Subject: RE: BS: Cop shows
From: Wesley S
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 08:54 AM

I think that may have been true of some older shows but currently I think you'll see that most shows have reversed that trend. That's my perception anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Cop shows
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 09:02 AM

Yes, I always suspected Columbo had seen the programme before and thats how he knew who did it.

Subject: RE: BS: Cop shows
From: Scrump
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:14 AM

What I want to know is - why do the cops' wives and girlfriends (WAGs) bother to cook them dinner, or arrange to go out, or arrange an important family get-together, etc.? Whenever they do that, you just know the cop will get a call and have to dash off leaving the poor WAG with uneaten food/cancelled trip to theatre/disappointed guests/etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Cop shows
From: Scoville
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 02:23 PM

Depends on the shows. Most of the Law & Order series show the crime or its immediate aftermath basically in the opening credits and then spend the rest of the hour solving it. So do the C.S.I. ones (as grossly inaccurate as they are regarding crime scene analysis).

Subject: RE: BS: Cop shows
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 05:25 PM

Yep...there are 2 types--the ones which let you watch HOW they catch the criminals after telling you ahead, and the ones which let you guess and try to follow the intricate plot twists as they drop hints.

I like type 2 as long as the twists don't get TOO silly. What I hate is this newish tendency to show extreme blood & gore to open the show. I don't need to SEE dismemberment to know it's not nice.

Subject: RE: BS: Cop shows
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 06:12 PM

...dismemberment to know it's not nice.

I didn't know that!

"Sherlock! I think a crime has been committed here!"
"Why so, Watson?"
"Well, there's the dismembered corpse, the blood, the open vault..."
"Alleged, Watson! Alleged! There's been no crime until I say so!"

Subject: RE: BS: Cop shows
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 06:30 PM

Yes, and most of them are so stupid I can't stand to watch them. I said 'most'.

Subject: RE: BS: Cop shows
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 06:43 PM

I can't think of one US "cop" show which we watch. There is "Monk" but i don't consider it a cop show. We love the UK ones.

I agree with BillD. Leave something to the imagination!

Subject: RE: BS: Cop shows
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 04:42 AM

It's the difference between 'Find the Hidden Word' grids and the 'Times' crossword. In one you have to just recognise words and mark them; with the other you have to eliminate the wrong words and enter the correct one or else the rest of it doesn't fit. Crossword setters, like criminals have a modus operandii - they duplicate words or use the same source material often. Hidden Word grids have it all on show and like a forensic scientist you have to pick out the bits that matter.

Scoville - I don't understand... are you telling me that CSI's really CAN'T pick a corneal reflection from CCTV footage taken at from a high, oblique angle and identify the type of ball the reflected person is carrying?? Or that you can't get DNA test results in 45 minutes?? I'm shocked... that nice Mr Grissom always seems so believable!!


LTS