Public Morals (1996 TV series)
Public Morals is an American sitcom that aired on the CBS network in October 1996. Created and executive produced by Steven Bochco and Jay Tarses, the series was poorly received and was canceled after airing only one episode.[2]
| Public Morals | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | |
| Starring |
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| Composers |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 (12 unaired) (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Production locations | Los Angeles, California[1] |
| Running time | 22–24 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Original release | October 30, 1996 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | NYPD Blue |
Synopsis
The show is based around a group of detectives and others in a city's vice squad. Among the actors who appear in the series are Peter Gerety and Donal Logue. Bill Brochtrup's character John Irvin, an administrative assistant, had been imported into the show from the drama NYPD Blue, and would return to NYPD Blue after the cancellation of Public Morals. Both Public Morals and NYPD Blue were produced by Steven Bochco.[3]
Cast
- Peter Gerety as Lieutenant Neil Fogarty
- Donal Logue as Detective Ken Schuler
- Bill Brochtrup as John Irvin
- Julianne Christie as Detective Corinne O'Boyle
- Jana Marie Hupp as Sergeant Val Vandergoodt
- Joseph Latimore as Officer Darnell "Shag" Ruggs
- Justin Louis as Detective Mickey Crawford
- Larry Romano as Detective Richie Biondi
Reception
The original pilot episode of Public Morals was scrapped because critics and some CBS affiliates believed the language was too vulgar. However, the episode that did air was also poorly received. Critics argued that the characters were one-dimensional and that some of the humor involved racial stereotypes.[4][5]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Blue Cover" | Don Scardino | Jay Tarses | October 30, 1996 |
| 2 | "The Yellow Cover" | Don Scardino | Lisa Albert | Unaired |
| 3 | "The Aqua Cover" | Don Scardino | Matt Tarses | Unaired |
| 4 | "The Red Cover" | Don Scardino | Beth Fieger Falkenstein | Unaired |
| 5 | "The White Cover" | Andy Ackerman | Steven Bochco & Jay Tarses | Unaired |
| 6 | "The Green Cover" | Don Scardino | Richard Dresser | Unaired |
| 7 | "The Purple Cover" | Don Scardino | Dan Greenberger | Unaired |
| 8 | "The Orange Cover" | Don Scardino | Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland | Unaired |
| 9 | "The Shrimp Cover" | Don Scardino | Richard Dresser | Unaired |
| 10 | "The Cornflower Cover" | John Ferraro | Lisa Albert | Unaired |
| 11 | "The Goldenrod Cover" | John Ferraro | Matt Tarses | Unaired |
| 12 | "The Camel Cover" | John Ferraro | Lisa Albert & Marc Flanagan | Unaired |
| 13 | "The Tuna Cover" | Jay Tarses | Richard Dresser | Unaired |
References
- Gerard, Jeremy (November 4, 1996). "Review: 'Public Morals Cbs, Wed. Oct. 30, 9:30 p.m.'". Variety. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
- Brian Stelter. "Canceled After a Single Episode: TV’s One-Show Wonders". New York Times. April 18, 2008. Retrieved on November 11, 2008.
- "True-blue actor has little time to mourn 'Morals'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 1, 1996. E2.
- Allan Johnson. "Boorish Bochco: Stereotypical 'Public Morals' is nothing to laugh at". Chicago Tribune. November 6, 1996. p. 3.
- Tom Shales. "'Morals' not so much a comedy as a crime". San Diego Union-Tribune. November 7, 1996. E3.