A Day In The Journey

I just finished watching the premiere episode of K*Ville. I like it.

For those of you that watch t.v., but haven't seen the ads for this show, it follows several police officers in New Orleans 2 years after Katrina--now. Anthony Anderson is the lead character, and he does a fabulous job. Being that my parents were born and raised in New Orleans, that my grandmother still lives there, and that I have spent a considerable portion of my life there, I am typically cautious when I see a movie or a television show that will be set there. Generally, the problem is that no one bothers to find out what New Orleanians are actually like. Thus, they end up with ridiculous Cajun or Southern Belle accents that have absolutely no relation to what the actual residents sound like. Also, due to its appeal as a tourist destination, films and shows set there too often end up campy tourist romps through the city in a bizarre attempt to appeal to the kitshy in us all. Needless to say, I was a little nervous despite the promising ad campaign.

I am very pleased with what this show actually is. Anderson's character lives in the Upper 9th Ward (my dad's cousin lives in that area) which is struggling back, albeit with an awkward limp. The show doesn't try to avoid the problems besetting the limping city, but equally portrays the small triumphs that are bringing hope back to this venerable city. The show is filmed in N.O., which was really nice. It's good to see the actual city rather than some cobbled together shots and then interior filming. It also really shows the viewers what the city is like, where it is right now. The characters are sympathetic and real, flawed yet noble. The dialogue and dialects are incredibly accurate to the city. If you want to know what New Orleanians are like, this show will help you along. There were a few moments of camp; but then, what show doesn't fall into camp at times. The filmography is very interesting--the typical cop show gives us more footage than we need: the cop chase always includes the officers getting into the car and speeding off; K*Ville skips that part. It works very well--the shot cuts from the officers running in the chase straight to the car chase. This serves to heighten the action while not detracting from the story in the least. It was a very interesting watch.

All in all, I am so far very pleased with this show. I think all of my readers should give it a watch--it's a well-crafted show that offers an informative glimpse into this great city who needs our support to walk again. A final, added bonus: on the breaks from filming, the cast and crew volunteer with Habitat for Humanity helping to rebuild the city. That right there is worth helping this show succeed.