Gritty drama ‘The Unit’ earns its hype
Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, May 3, 2006
While everyone else is waiting to crown America’s next singing sweetheart and watching Dr. Gregory House save the world one life at a time on Tuesday nights, a new and loyal audience is watching Dennis Haysbert save the world one secret mission at a time.
“The Unit” has found a nice little home, continuing a two-hour military block on CBS from 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays, with “NCIS” opening the night.
Nine episodes into its debut 12-episode season, it is the most-watched new drama on television, pulling in nearly 14 million viewers a week, according to Nielsen Media Research.
“The Unit” has developed a following of its own and the sparks are flying even more as it heads into May sweeps, including a two-hour season finale May 16.
Less refined than “24” and less technical than any of the forensics dramas, “The Unit” is the kind of TV show that makes you want to scratch yourself and spit on the sidewalk.
It’s a tribute to men.
Or the male fantasy.
This show is so testosterone-driven that you start to wonder which “unit” the title is actually talking about.
The guys are in a covert military division and they go all over the world to nab bad guys, usually jumping out of planes, shooting ‘em up and setting off bombs. And they generally let other forces take the credit because their division is secret.
Haysbert, who is best known lately as President David Palmer on “24” and the Allstate Insurance commercial guy, plays Jonas Blane, the leader of the group who makes sure the others in the unit are always in good hands.
The newcomer is Bob Brown, played by Scott Foley, who you know has been in a lot of shows and movies but you can’t really think of one. (Think “Scream 3” and guest spots on “Scrubs.”)
Then they come home to their waiting wives, who generally have dinner ready by the time the mission is through.
That’s not to say they don’t have their own lives. The women at home provide the mild soap opera moments that run alongside the guns and bombs and stuff.
It’s the boldest attempt at a true hybrid of the male-centric military and cop drama with a hint of “Desperate Housewives.”
One of the wives is hooking up on the sly with Col. Tom Ryan, played by Robert Patrick (“Terminator 2”), who is the guy who coordinates all the unit’s members and assignments.
Blane’s wife, Molly, is into real estate, and Brown’s wife, Kim, sells ads for the base radio station. Kim is still getting a feel for this whole secret life thing, which still provides for bumps along the way.
The finale will leave fans wanting more when tragedy strikes in an unimaginable way. It takes a while to reach the climax, but there is plenty of French bashing en route, which should keep the fans happy.
Victor Balta’s TV column runs Mondays and Thursdays on the A&E page. Reach him at 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.
