Created by Steven Bochco, David Milch, Charles H. Eglee & Theresa Rebeck
Yet another attempt to revive the private eye genre, ABC’s 1997 Total Security focussed on the escapades of a serious, by-the-book brooding former cop, FRANK CISCO (played with tight-lipped intensity by Terminator‘s James Remar) with a small, fledgling private security firm who reluctantly hires his loose-cannon pal STEVE WEGMAN as his chief investigator.
The comedy and dramatic conflict was supposed to ensue from the fact that Steve, as played by Jim Belushi, was something of a a scoundrel and a fuck-up (think a dumber Jim Rockford), an affable doofus too easily lead around by his dick, not above boinking the woman he’s supposed to be tailing.
The gimmick (all post-1970s P.I. shows needed one) was that Total Security may have been the first series in years revolving around an entire agency, arguably the first since the days of 77 Sunset Strip.
And the producers made sure that the agency was full of interesting characters: Neville was the easy-going techie with the high top fade, George was the nervous accountant, perpetually demanding that Frank take on more lucrative cases, Jody Kipling was a recent widow/workaholic, throwing herself into her work (and possibly the arms of her boss), Geneva was the wide-eyed, slighty-intimidated receptionist trying to keep it all running smoothly and Josie was the blonde bombshell whose looks bely the steeltrap mind and professional dedication.
With its large cast and numerous interwoven and overlapping storylines, it was often an ambitious and entertaining, if somewhat uneven, blend of comedy and drama; part co-creator Steve Bochco‘s own Hill Street Blues and part Joe Gores’ DKA. And the “gimmick” — such as it was — was refreshingly straight-forward, making the show possibly the “straightest” private eye series on the tube in years. As usual, I had my hopes up high. I figured, “Hey, once they work out the kinks, this could be a something good.”
Remar, in particular, was well-cast. His slow-burn, stick-up-his-ass rectitude and no-nonsense demeanor played nicely off the revolving assortment of eccentric investigators and clients that paraded through the show, many of them played by up-and-coming actors.
It might not have always been brilliant (although it often came close), but after a too-brief run, the show was — predictably — cancelled. And promptly forgotten.
Too bad. It definitely coulda been a contender.
Then again, in what looks like a last-ditch effort to gain a younger audience, the careful balance and drama and comedy were chucked out the window. In the final few episodes that made it to broadcast (many of the episodes were never aired), the wacky “humour” was racked up a notch, and a good-looking high school age dork (no doubt intended to appeal to the “kids”) was introduced to the agency, as a would-be P.I.
Maybe they pulled the plug just in time…
THE EVIDENCE
- “From the creators of the Emmy Award-winning and groundbreaking “NYPD Blue,” comes a colorful, new ensemble drama exploring the intense world of high-tech security.
When you need the best in professional and personal protection in Los Angeles, “Total Security” is the place to call. Dedicated and compassionate, FRANK CISCO (James Remar) heads this small, fledgling firm which employs private investigators, electronic experts and ex-cops. Though Cisco’s newest hire, STEVE WEGMAN (James Belushi), lacks his own high principles and morals, even Cisco has to admit that Wegman’s unscrupulous nature comes in handy every now and again. Their eclectic clientele includes everyone from elderly widows to heads-of-state, from celebrities to corporations.
And whether it requires installing home security, ensuring personal safety, investigating threats, making background checks, tracking down missing persons, or running a surveillance, the agents of “Total Security” take seriously their vow to serve and protect. ”
— from the ABC blurb
TELEVISION
- TOTAL SECURITY
(1997, Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television )
13 episodes; 7 unaired
Writers: Steven Bocho, David Milch, Charles H. Eglee, Theresa Rebeck, Doug Palau, Charles H. Eglee, Robert Palm, Dayna Kalins, Geoffrey Neigher, Nicholas Wootton, Ted Mann
Directors: Joe Ann Foyle, Duane Clark, Joe Ann Fogle, Michael Fresco, Donna Deitch, Patrick R. Norris, Whitney Ransick, Rick Wallace
Music: Mike Post
Executive Consultant: David Milch
Executive Producers: Steven Bochco, Charles E. Eglee, Michael Fresco
Starring James Remar as FRANK CISCO
James Belushi as STEVE WEGMAN
Also starring Flex as Neville
Debrah Farentino as Jody Kiplinger
Bill Brochtrup as George LaSalle
Tracey Needham as Ellie Jones
Kristin Bauer as Geneva Renault
Tony Plana as Luis Escobar
Jason Biggs as Robbie Rosenfeld
Michael MacRae as Michael Miller
and George Wyner as Norman Rosenfeld
Guest Stars: Zelzko Ivanek, Lawrence Pressman, Bryan Cranston, Nathan Fillion, Jim Beaver
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- “Pilot” (September 27, 1997)
- “One Wedding and a Funeral” (October 4, 1997)
- “Dental Men Prefer Blondes” (October 11, 1997)
- “Looking for Mr. Goombah” (October 18, 1997)
- “Citizen Canine” (October 25, 1997)
- “Who’s Poppa?” (November 8, 1997
- “Look Who’s Stalking” (unaired)
- “Das Bootie” (unaired)
- “Evasion of the Body Snatchers” (unaired)
- “Wet Side Story” (unaired)
- “The Never Bending Story” (unaired)
- “Do the Right Schwing” (unaired)
- “A Man for Half a Season” (unaired)
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
- Brilliant But Cancelled
14 Private Eye Shows That Coulda Been Contenders
- All Together Now
P.I. Ensembles
Report respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.
