K I N G P I N

[Azure Trance]

Caught the first episode tonight (Sunday, Feb 9th) after watching Simpsons (Fox) and Alias (ABC). The first analogy I had was to Traffic (having never watched the Sopranos, as it conflicts with the Simpsons Timeslot). Many different threads, all somehow connected (or going to be, I figure). The plastic surgeon, the 'hitman' skater boy, the DEA agent, and of course, Miguel. It looks like it has fantastic production values (The opening scene with the Kickboxing match in Thailand, for example).

Can't wait to catch the next episode at 10 PM Tuesday. I tried to find some information about the show, but all I found was it was contracted by NBC for 6 one hour long shows (instead of the normal 44 min to fit into a one hour time slot) for the Feb Sweeps. While the first show had good ratings, unfortunately, the second (or was it third?) dropped sharply. :/

 

[Enforcer]

Really? I've watched the show since the beginning but I gave up after 20 min. of tonight's episode. NBC claims it's a mix of Traffic and the Sopranos and that's simply not true. It's not that gritty (like the Sopranos) and it's not very realistic (like Traffic). The plastic surgeon character is simply ridiculous--no one would act like that. After tonight, I'm done. Go for the Shield...still the best show on TV for my money.

 

[fba827]

I am probably just an ignorant minority here, but what's king pin?
(aside from being a show, i mean)
what's the general premise, etc.

?

 

[Azure Trance]

Not having watched the Sopranos I can't say how gritty it could've been, though it is near primetime so I could understand not having total gory scenes. Though, for what its worth (as in, I wouldn't know For A Fact) I thought Traffic was realistic (ish enough. Don't know about assassins, but other then that plot) and find this similar in vein.

Tonights episode featured a desperate plastic surgeon (don't know about previous eps) whose going to do something a bit drastic for money (though, compared to other cop drama shows I watched can't be called unthinkable); a drug agreement between East (Heroin) and West (Cocaine) groups; a DEA tangent, and the drug agreement going sour due to internal politics. All in all, I couldn't call it unrealistic, but IMO its a mix of what could happen with something to get the audiences interest (smile in the sky).

 

[Mark]

First time on network television that I have ever heard "She gave the DJ a BJ" when the uncover agent who wasn't supposed to be flying solo was getting in tight with the record producer and explaining how her friend got them into the club. Quite surprised to hear it. I've always been led to understand that network television was thought of as a general standard of decency, so I guess that type of reference is either OK with the censors now, or somehow slipped past them (which I doubt).

 

[Azure Trance]

Never qiute understood standards myself, but for what its worth:

Primetime is 8PM-10PM. Shows during that period have the most viewers, and predictably if a 'adult' show is on during that time it's almost always at 9 PM. Even if its too on the 'edge' family watchdog groups will complain since its on during primetime. 10 PM on though, such as when Kingpin airs, standards are more relaxed. One still can't curse (Fook, Shyt) but it can be more intense in nature (murder scenes, frex). Still many liberties can be taken. Bitch and ass are still prevelant, like when I heard 'Bitch ass punk' which sounds as good as a curse word to me

 

[Azure Trance]

I am probably just an ignorant minority here, but what's king pin?
(aside from being a show, i mean)
what's the general premise, etc.

?

This CNN Entertainment link will explain all:
'Kingpin': Pushing network TV limits

Some quotes, for those who don't want to click

The focus of the series (airing 10 p.m. EST Sundays and Tuesdays) is on Miguel Cadena (Yancey Arias), a Stanford-educated Mexican angling to head his extended family's drug-trafficking operation.

Standing behind Cadena, and pushing him hard toward the top of the criminal heap, is his ambitious American wife, Marlene (Sheryl Lee). Cadena's rough-and-tumble brother, Chato (Bobby Cannavale), is another ally. U.S. federal agents and assorted relatives are among the obstacles.

Like "The Sopranos," "Kingpin" features a morally conflicted central figure who revels in power and money but must rationalize how he gains them. Like "Traffic," the series connects the dots between a foreign drug cartel and U.S. users and sellers.

"The drug business to me is merely a big canvas on which to play these big themes and big high-stakes stories of pride and greed and ambition and self-delusion and betrayal," he said. "Five hundred years ago, it would have been European royal families."

 

[Azure Trance]

One More Link

TV Preview: 'Kingpin' creator says it's a struggle for a man's soul

Mills said he created "Kingpin" because he wanted to write a tragedy.

"I wanted to tell the story of a man and the condition of his soul, a guy who has two sides of himself," he said. "No one is strictly evil. If Miguel was just evil, he would not be interesting. What I think will draw us back to him is that we see these humane impulses in him. We are gonna root for those humane impulses to survive. We're not going to root for him to become a more successful drug dealer, because the things he has to do to become a more successful drug dealer ... are the things that will destroy his soul and will eventually destroy his family."

 

[Shadowdancer]

Caught the first episode tonight (Sunday, Feb 9th) after watching Simpsons (Fox) and Alias (ABC).

I'm assuming that you mean the first episode you watched, because that episode was the third one to air.

I've watched all three episodes, and I like the show a lot. Very interesting, and diverse, characters. Lots of intrigue and in-fighting going on, which is very believable for the drug trade.

 

[Azure Trance]

Re: Re: K I N G P I N

I'm assuming that you mean the first episode you watched, because that episode was the third one to air.

I've watched all three episodes, and I like the show a lot. Very interesting, and diverse, characters. Lots of intrigue and in-fighting going on, which is very believable for the drug trade.

Whoops Yes. It's a shame I missed the first two shows, even the commercials looked really good. The scene when the partner found his good luck dog on a dinner table by his ranch just screamed to me of the Godfather scene with the Horse in the bed