Harlan Judd
Created by John McNamara

A promising (Hah! Where have I heard that before?) new private detective drama, supposedly heavy on the wry, tentatively scheduled for the 2004-05 TV season and eventually making its debut in March 2005, starring Tim Daly as HARLAN JUDD, the president of Judd Risk Management, a very high-tech, very discreet P.I. firm that has no problems with bending the law for their high-powered clients, be they individuals, corporations or even governments.

Their speciality is corporate crime, and aiding Judd in his quest to resolve crimes that could prove embarrassing to their high-flying victims are two women: slick shyster Leslie Town and hard-nosed investigator Nora Gage. It may surprise you to learn that neither's too hard on the eyes.

Also part of the team are Chris Didion, who owes Judd big-time, straight-laced Meg Bardo, and corner-cutter Jeff McCann. Adding to all the promised fun is the fact that most of the staff have their own agendas and motivations.

The whole thing's from John McNamara, the man who brought us Search and Vengeance Unlimited.And, as of this writing, before a single episode has aired, Eyes seemed like simply the most promising P.I. show in years, judging not just from all the press it gathered, but from the people involved. Although, having been burned before, I can't help noting that this is the same network that brought us the late, unlamented (and embarrassingly bad) Snoops, another show about a high-tech LA detective agency filled with good-looking operatives.

The good news was that Eyes for the most part delivered on its promise, and was developing into a pretty entertaining show. The bad news is that ABC, naturally, pulled the plug before it could build up an audience, and the show has apparently been trashcanned.

Assholes.

FROM THE OFFICIAL ABC PRESS RELEASE

• "Judd Risk Management is a 21st century P.I. firm whose job is to make their clients' problems go away, quickly and quietly. With each case able to destroy a company, topple a personal fortune, or change the face of governments, this isn't just a business; it's a deadly game with real victims. Founder Harlan Judd has recruited a team whose personal dramas are as colorful as some of their targets. But he is an honest man in a world that demands unorthodox methods and a willingness to bend the law. From the producer of "Fastlane" comes a drama full of bluffs, blackmails, and intrigue."

THE FINAL WORD

• "JEERS to ABC for shutting Eyes during May sweeps. The network prempted the promising corporate-spy drama for four weeks in a row, replacing it with dreck like Primetime Live's American Idol "exposé" and a special Supernanny. ABC didn't give Tim Daly's show a chance to attract many eyes."
  (TV Guide)

TELEVISION

• EYES
  (2005, ABC)
  Created by John McNamara
  Writers: John McNamara
  Directors: Jon Amiel
  Executive Producer: John McNamara -
  Starring Tim Daly as HARLAN JUDD
  With Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon as Nora Gage
  A.J. Langer as Meg Bardo
  Laura Leighton as Leslie Town
  Eric Mabius as Jeff McCann
  Reg Rogers as Danny Agermeyer
  Rick Worthy as Chris Didion
  Natalie Zea as Trish Agermeyer
  Laz Alonso as James Gage
  and Gregg Henry
  Guest stars: Brian McNamara, Mark Famiglietti, Wayne Pér, Mitch Pileggi, Alexis Cruz

  "Pilot" (March 30, 2005)

  "Whereabouts" (April 6, 2005)

  "Wings" (April 13, 2005)

  "Trial" (April 20, 2005)

  "Shots" (April 27, 2005)

Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.