Watch The Commish
- TV-14
- 1991
- 5 Seasons
-
7.1 (2,385)
The Commish was a police procedural drama series that aired on American Broadcasting Company (ABC) from 1991 to 1996, starring Michael Chiklis as the main protagonist, Anthony "Tony" Scali. The series followed Tony Scali, a police commissioner, as he enforced the law in the small town of Eastbridge, New York. Anthony Scali, a wise and caring police commissioner, was appointed by the mayor to restore public order to the town. Eastbridge was not an ordinary small town, and like many other television procedural cop shows, strange things were always happening. Scali had to face a variety of turbulent issues, ranging from petty theft to violent crimes including murder, drug use, human trafficking, and other misdemeanors. In this show, there were several layers of corrupt cops and a web of criminals, lechers, and losers, which kept the viewers on the edge of their seats while keeping up the thrill. Tony Scali was not an ordinary police commissioner. He was unconventional, street-smart, and had excellent interpersonal skills that he used to build a rapport with the local residents. Scali was the kind of official who could communicate easily with everyone, regardless of their social status, and he had a heart of gold that led him to view every case in a different way. He solved things with NYPD Blue-style bluntness, using his compassionate wisdom to understand both sides of every case. The show was not solely about Scali's job. It was also about his personal life, which gave the series a relatable human element. Scali was a family man, and his family was an essential part of his life. He had a wife, Rachel, who was a guidance counselor, and two children to look after. Scali was up against not only the criminals of Eastbridge but also the normal everyday struggles of being a parent and demotion or promotion at work. The Commish boasts an impressive range of talented actors, including Theresa Saldana as Scali's sidekick, Paulie Pentangeli, David Paymer as Scali's boss, Edie McClurg as Rachel Scali, and Kaj-Erik Eriksen and Nicholas Lea as Scali's sons, David and Joey. The show also had several guest stars rising to fame, including Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, and Teri Hatcher, among others. The show is famous for its exciting set of characters, not only the main cast but also the recurring cast. However, it is Chiklis's performance as Scali that is the show's real centerpiece, creating an empathetic character that viewers could easily relate to. Chiklis delivers a nuanced and multi-dimensional performance that earned him a Golden Globe Award for 'Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama' in 1992. The series was occasionally criticized for its production value, but the writing was always top-notch, delivering compelling and engaging storylines that had viewers coming back for more. Despite this, the show had a few notable moments that received critical recognition, including the 1994 episode "Sleep of the Just," which tackled the issue of euthanasia. Overall, The Commish was a well-written, well-performed, and well-directed police procedural drama series that captivated audiences during its five-year run. The show managed to balance the action sequences with a touching family drama that kept the storylines compelling and emotionally resonant.
