DVD Review: ‘Running Wilde,’ ‘Detroit 1-8-7’ Represent Unfulfilled Promises

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionE-mail page to friendE-mail page to friendPDF versionPDF version
No votes yet

CHICAGO – With stars that have found critical success before on television in shows like “The Sopranos” (Michael Imperioli), “Arrested Development” (Will Arnett), and “Felicity” (Keri Russell) there was reason to be excited around a year ago when it came to “Detroit 1-8-7” and “Running Wilde,” two shows with little in common other than the fact that their first seasons will be their only seasons and they were both recently released on DVD courtesy of Lionsgate.

HollywoodChicago.com DVD Rating: 2.5/5.0
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0

What happens when a show doesn’t become a hit but you still have a commitment to release episodes on DVD? Lionsgate knows well that few people will be rushing out to buy the 13-episode, truncated season of “Running Wilde,” one of the biggest ratings failures of the 2010-11 season. But they need to release it anyway, and so here it is without a single special feature and without a Blu-ray edition. This is as lackluster a TV-on-DVD release as possible. It feels like it exists more to meet a contractual requirement than a fan base.

While that makes sense for “Running Wilde,” fans of “Detroit 1-8-7” deserve better treatment. The Michael Imperioli cop drama had a loyal fan base who bit their nails as the cancellation clock ticked away. The fact is that this show was very nearly renewed and so doesn’t deserve the same DVD treatment as a program that was done before the World Series. I’m sure there were some interviews and behind-the-scenes featurettes filmed during the production of the show and a Blu-ray release is in order for any program with an entire season of airtime. It’s understandable why Lionsgate may assume there’s not much of an audience for a better DVD release than this one, but that doesn’t make this one any good.

Detroit 1-8-7 was released on DVD on August 30th, 2011
Detroit 1-8-7 was released on DVD on August 30th, 2011
Photo credit: Lionsgate

“Detroit 1-8-7: The Complete First Season”

Synopsis:

What does it take to be a detective in one of America’s toughest cities? Get an in-depth look at some of Detroit’s finest and watch the crisis and revelation, heartbreak and heroism of the cops assigned to an inner-city homicide unit.

Detroit 1-8-7 stars Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) as Detective Louis Fitch, John Michael Hill as Detective Damon Washington, James McDaniel (NYPD Blue) as Sergeant Jesse Longford, Aisha Hinds (True Blood) as Lieutenant Maureen Mason, Natalie Martinex as Detective Ariana Sanchez, D.J. Cotrona as Detective John Stone and Shaun Majumder as Detective Vikram Mahajan.

“Running Wilde: Season One”

Synopsis:

From the team behind Arrested Development comes Running Wilde, a romantic comedy starring Will Arnett as Steven Wilde, the playboy son of a rich oil tycoon trying desperately to win the heart of his childhood sweetheart, Emmy Kadubic (Keri Russell), the eco-liberal humanitarian who got away.

With Emmy committed to doing good for nothing, and Steve being a good-for-nothing, will this hopelessly mismatched pair ever be able to reconcile their differences?

“Detroit 1-8-7: The Complete First Season” and “Running Wilde: Season One” were released on DVD on August 30th, 2011.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Josh's picture

DETROIT 1-8-7

Really loved this show and will get DVD. Hope lingers that SOMEONE will pick it up, but it is doubtful at best. Excellent show that deserved better.

Shelley's picture

Detroit 1-8-7

Detroit 1-8-7 was a quality show with talented actors, and well-researched writing. It deserved to be renewed. We have too many mindless “reality” shows on TV, which fit well with the dumbing-down of America. Very sad.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

User Login

Free Giveaway Mailing

TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

Advertisement



HollywoodChicago.com on Twitter

archive

HollywoodChicago.com Top Ten Discussions
referendum
tracker