Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Television Memphis Beat, "At the River"
Posted by Chris Herrington on Wed, Jun 15, 2011 at 10:21 AM
Memphis Beat, "At the River"
Originally Aired June 14th, 2011
Memphis Beat — TNT's set-in-Memphis, filmed-in-New Orleans, borderline-anachronistic cop procedural — returned for a (somewhat surprising) second season last night, bringing us more of Jason Lee's Elvis-loving MPD detective Dwight Hendricks and his colorful coterie of sidekicks.
As was the case last season, we're going to keep tabs on this — with an eye on the show's notion of "Memphis." Memphis Beat recap originator Greg Akers and I will be tag-teaming the show again this season. With Greg away on paternity leave at the moment, I'm leading off:
Episode Named After: This is unclear. Last season, every Memphis Beat episode was named for a song recorded by Elvis Presley. That appears to not be the case for season two. I'm guessing "At the River" is not a reference to the 1997 single by techno outfit Groove Armada. Instead, it's likely a religious/gospel reference. But is it to the gospel standard "Shall We Gather at the River" or to "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" (Lyric: "At the river, I stand/Guide my feet, hold my hand")?
Plot Synopsis: The episode opens with a dead cop and a bullet shell found in the grass on the banks of the river. Lt. Rice (Alfre Woodard) splits up partners Dwight and Whitehead (Sam Hennings), having Whitehead work the murder and having Dwight pair up with a (comely) new Internal Affairs agent, Claire (Beau Garrett), while she looks into questions surrounding the late policeman.
As usual, the procedural stuff is run of the mill. More interesting is Claire, a new addition to the show and to Memphis ("I was a beat cop in St. Louis for five years — got to a glass ceiling I couldn't break through," she explains) that opens up some potentially fruitful avenues for the show, not counting the unavoidable romantic subplot.
One is that Claire, in this episode at least, is used as a conduit for the show's writers to address assumptions and criticisms lingering from the first season. Upon seeing Dwight's Elvis-memorablia-packed house for the first time, Claire says, speaking for the television-viewing public at large, "I heard you were an Elvis impersonator." Dwight's — and the show's — defensive response: "Nah. I just admire the man. I play lots of people's songs."
Respect (Memphis music featured in the episode): Last season, Memphis Beat was heavy with staples like Elvis and Booker T. & the MGs. If episode one is any indication, the show could be headed in a different direction the season. The only three songs I was able to ID from this episode were generally unrelated to Memphis: Dwight leading a group rendition of "When the Saints Go Marchin' In" at the officer's wake, Ben Harper's "Faithfully Remain" at the funeral, and Waylon Jennings' "I'm a Ramblin' Man" as Dwight walks away to end the show. There were a few other snippets of song, but these were all too brief and too obscure to ID. Last season, the show kept a running list of songs used in each episode on its web site. That hasn't been updated yet for this season.
The City (Truthy Memphis): Though the show is filmed in New Orleans, there appeared to be some new Memphis "B" roll used in the opening credits and coming out of commercials, featuring: Beale Street, the Hernando-DeSoto Bridge, riverboats, front street near the convention center, the inside of the Arcade, and the "Sputnik" sign at Joe's Wines on Poplar.
When the deceased cop's partner is interviewed, he reveals that the pair ate breakfast "at Juniper's every Friday," presumably a reference to Brother Juniper's, the awesome breakfast spot near the University of Memphis, and a new addition to Memphis Beat's "real Memphis" lexicon.
And, in this episode, the addition of the St. Louis transplant Claire provides a skeptical foil for Memphis booster Dwight. Meeting Claire for the first time at the fictional "Sal's Diner," the following exchange happens:
Dwight: Great restaurant. Classic Memphis.
Claire: Only place I've found here that I like.
Dwight, incredulous: Are you kidding, this town's full of good food.
Claire, shrugging: Must have missed it.
Later, Claire is dismissive of a Beale Street barbecue joint Dwight has recommended. Something tells me Dwight will make it his mission to crack Claire's anti-Memphis shell in coming weeks.
Oh, and just for the record, because people (i.e., "Yankees") makes assumptions about this stuff: White supremacist groups and militias aren't really a thing here. Memphis isn't Idaho.
Analysis: Oh, Memphis Beat. If we're gonna keep doing this you're going to need to give us more to work with — fewer Ben Harper songs and more attempts to include Memphis-y material. The addition of the non-Memphis-loving St. Louisan to the cast is a promising note. Maybe we can get some Elvis Presley-Chuck Berry arguments going.
Comments (15)
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There's no way that many people know the words to 'When the Saints Go Marching In', during the sing along segment. Dwight should have sung an Elvis themed gospel song.
What do you mean somehow returned? This is a great show and I am thrilled to see a second season. May there be many more!
The only thing Memphis about this episode, was ME peeking over Dwiight's shoulder as he looks at the dead cop. -Jeff Pope
Wow! Herrington! What a negative, biased review! That was one of the poorest reviews I've ever 'skimmed' .... It was not at all worth reading every word.....
I am a fan of the show but I'm glad that it isn't filmed in the" true Memphis", The city council didn't want the show filmed there said" it would show Memphis in a bad light". I lived in Memphis back in the 80's and it did not need any help being in a bad light. It was one of the worst places I ever lived. I wish the show the best and hope that it has a long run as long as they limit" true Memphis" Contacts
I wish the show was filmed in Memphis, The scenery in Memphis beats LA by a mile. When I watch the show, I can clearly see that it is NOT Memphis. LA has more of a coastal, humid, jungle look to it, rather unfinished and swampy. Memphis has more of a put together city feel. I happen to think there are many beautiful locations in the Memphis area, too bad we cant show case them on national tv.. I would hate to think the America sees LA as what Memphis looks like. Memphis is a great place to live and visit.
Love Jason Lee and I hope the show makes it.
Somehow? Yes, I guess quality shows rate "somehow" with you. LOL The show is
excellent. Please stay in your corner with crap shows that pervade our networks. Respectfully of course.
Maybe y'all don't know the words to When the Saints Go Marching In up in Memphis, but plenty of us in New Orleans do. I love the show, especially the scenes where I can identify New Orleans and the River Parishes.
"Somewhat surpising" that this was renewed? More like shocked. As a proud Memphian and an Earl fan, I tried to like Memphis Beat and only managed to groan through 3 episodes. Plot cliches, painful dialogue, poor acting. They don't even bother to make sure the references are correct. It just seems lazy at best.
Memphis is colorful enough to inspire a real TV show shot on Memphis locations. By not embracing Memphis and letting it be Memphis, this mediocrity is nearly as bad for the city as those 48 Hours episodes.
I believe I know how Memphians feel; I live in Baton Rouge and we were the locale for the Dukes of Hazzard motion picture. It is a bit unethical in my opinion to use the name of a location without actually filming there, but that's what lawyers take care of. I was a background actor in the bar scene (When the Saints Go Marching In) and am proud to say that, other than the stars, I got the longest "nameless" closeup. I look like I am zoning, but I was trying to sing soulfully and keep time, which was difficult for many. The lip-sync track was a good, solid anchor, and was needed in order to lay a foundation. I would like to think I added a bit of energy to the scene aurally, but was submixed with another voice (which was dropped in) in the first add-lib ("oh when the Sa,a,aints"). No matter, it was great fun and maybe I can turn it into something. Don't overanalyze; the show is popular to the common folk. It shows the wonderful city of Memphis in a good light and the Great State of Louisiana gets its motion picture industry....industry.
I love the show, and I keep an iTunes playlist dedicated to the music played in the show. So if anyone knows the song Whitehead put on the radio in the interrogation room I'd love to know, sounded like Hank Williams, Sr.
I think the show is awesome and I don't care what anyone says. Jason lee is a great actor,some of the blogs posted were pretty rotten. Id like to see any one of them do his job and see if they can do better. If your not an actor then shut up and don't judge till your in there shoes. If you don't like the show then turn the channel.I'm with all you lovers of memphis beat.
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