Nash Bridges

I love watching Don Johnson in all the shows he has done. Johnson carries this series and saves it from being a disaster. From an artistic standpoint, it holds its own. I already miss Johnson but I enjoy the others in the cast as well. Johnson and Marin make a solid, if not stilly, team. This was back when television was television, you know what I'm saying? This kind of character piece needs a tight focus so all of the nuances of the characters shine through. With this culture of ignorance in the Information Age persisting, fed by the corporate media, Johnson has appeared in one of his best series yet. It gets 7/10.

What else can it be. Don Johnson/Cheech Marin had what is by far the best chemistry on the show that makes it so watchable. One other note that I would like to say is that since I used to live in the Bay area during the duration of the series, I always wanted to be an extra on the series. I tried but never really made it through. The only thing that I would say is that since SF was a great place wher Nash and his Sexy '70-'71 Plymouth Baracuda (my favorite classic car!) made it's way onto TV I would really like to see this show go into DVD one of these days since this is by far one of the best crime dramas in history in simialar to The Price is Right of Cop Shows! The only thing I have to say is that since the show got canned back in May '01 I really wanted to see the ending in it's right of way but since the show was getting too expensive I thought six seasons is one hell of a run to begin with! Also the locations during the shows 6 seasons with the Routunda, (season 1 and some of season 2) the Hyde St. Pier (seasons 2-4) and the Embarcadero shelter (seasons 4-6) I would have to pick the Hyde St. Pier as the favorite SIU offices!

Rating 10/10 One of the best shows on TV next to NYPD Blue which is sadly leaving after this season (2004-05) 12th season ending shows!

Nash Bridges is a more or less routine crime/police drama series, the usual suspects, the usual plots and so on. Its nowhere near as good as the original "Spenser" series, nor as flashy as "Miami Vice".

What rescues this series from mediocrity is the cast. Don Johnson - as Nash Bridges - is just ok as the Infinitely Wise and Wonderful cop who Solves Every Case in the last five minutes of the show. The one human touch to Bridges is his oddly busy but not overly successful love life.

What makes this show fun, and very worth watching is the supporting cast - in particular Cheech Marin (playing Joe Dominguez) as the sidekick. But unlike many sidekicks, he is a real character - played for humour, it is true, but not just one dimensional. It may not sound right to say that Johnson and Marin have "chemistry" on screen, but they very definitely do. This adds a nice quirky touch when they are repeatedly taken for a gay couple (in odd situations) by a gay man.

Toss in a few more excellent supporting actors - especially Jeff Perry as Harvey Leek, a detective and James Gammon as Bridges father (though the continuity on his Alzheimers is seriously missed) and the show really starts to work.

The finishing touches are added in by some continuing plot elements - Mr Woody the racehorse somehow acquired by Domingues and Bridges father, Dominguez' marriage to Inger - a swedish woman - is romantic and successful - but with both sides seeing the others problems. Leek's fascination with the Grateful Dead. Angel the Angel. The ghostly disco music in the police station (which is in a boat that was evidently used for raves). Dominguez' schemes for making money.

The show manages to maintain a sense that the people involved had fun, and dont take it too seriously. One fun episode paired Don Johnson with his partner in Miami vice (Philip Michael Thomas) and Cheech Marin with his ex-comedy partner (Tommy Chong) and a wonderful scene takes place in a marijuana buyers club - playing off the "Cheech and Chong" drug themes.

In another episode, Dominguez directs traffic in grand style on Halloween to the sound of the Village People song "YMCA" (all the funnier if you've seen people dancing to the song and making the letters "Y", "M", "C" "A" as they dance).

If you want serious crime drama - go for something else - if you want a relaxed, easy to watch show with the requisite Car Chases, Guns and Nasties and with fun characters, tongue in cheek humour and a cast that rarely lets you down, this is made to order.

"Nash Bridges" has been for the last several years one of your better action series on TV. Don Johnson was at his best and most popular during his "Miami Vice" days but he has scored several points with "Nash Bridges" Johnson is detective Nash Bridges who fights crime throughout the city of San Francisco in the process his job is helped along just fine by his partner played by the funny and likeable Cheech Marin. Another bright reason that I watched "Nash Bridges" over the years was due to Jodi Lyn O' Keefe who was a delight as the beautiful daughter of Nash. Jodi is one sexy thing! she sure has a bright future ahead. Plus for two seasons the famous and beautiful Yasmine Bleeth sparkled this series up as the love interest of Nash. Many episodes featured guest appearances from beautiful women I remember watching one episode recently with Shannon Tweed. Mainly this series was great due to Don Johnson once again in a role which had him defeating crime always filled with the action and drama to keep a viewer interested. Sadly CBS has canceled the new episodes but you can view the rerun episodes on the USA Network.

IMHO, Nash Bridges is one of the best TV crime drama shows of the past 10 years. I would place it next to Cannon, The Streets of San Francisco, Vega$, Petrocelli, Magnum, Miami Vice, and Jake and The Fatman. Of course, it's somehow different. More action, a more simple plot (times requires)... but I think that's okay. Furthermore, I think "Nash Bridges" developed from a "pure action and humor detective series" to a real story behind the scene. It's a good one - I am eagerly waiting for the 6th season's latest episodes.