Amazon.com: Tony Scali (Michael Chiklis) is everything The Shield's Vic Mackey isn't: kind, considerate, caring. (He's also a little heavier and has more hair.) Commissioner Scali loves his wife, his son, even his partners (but more on that later). He's not so crazy about the crooks, but he's always ethical in his dealings with them. It's hard to believe the two characters are incarnated by the same guy, but the Emmy Award-winning Chiklis (Spirited Away, Fantastic Four) is one versatile actor.
Set in Upstate New York, The Commish is a throwback to the cop shows of the 1970s, when police had personal lives and gore wasn't obligatory, but a sensitive look at social issues--and some lighthearted humor--never hurt. Not so-coincidentally, it was created by Stephen J. Cannell (The Rockford Files) along with Stephen Kronish (24). Each episode of the second season deals with a different issue, such as domestic abuse ("Escape"), suicide ("A Time to Be Born..."), and rape ("Sleep of the Just").
So about those partners: As much as Tony loves Paulie (John Cygan), Paulie's violent tendencies concern him. Before the end of two-part season premiere "Adventures in the Skin Trade," those tendencies will get the best of him and Paulie will be forced to leave. He'll be replaced by former FBI agent Cyd (Melinda McGraw). Meanwhile, Tony and Rachel (Raging Bull's Theresa Saldana) are expecting their second child, while son David (The 4400's Kaj-Erik Eriksen) has a crush on the precocious girl next door. Notable second season guest stars include Ray Walston ("The Witches of Eastbridge"), Pat Sajak ("The Two Faces of Ed"), and Eric McCormack ("The Ides of March"). In addition, Telly Savalas (Kojak) appears in a three-episode story arc as mob boss Nicky Collette ("The Frame," "Family Business," and "Out of Business"). --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Good show Good show, not too graphic, not too harsh, just the right mix to make it entertaining
Commish has an entertaining personality While some of the detective series of his time are very boring, Commish's down to earth personality, his understanding of people, and his devotion to his family make this series very entertaining. It touches on serious issues while bringing in the importance of family and family issues.
Great show!! I purchased Seasons 1 and 2 when Amazon had a sale recently and I certainly am glad that I did. This show combines both crime solving and humor and I look forward to purchasing any other seasons.
Quality Family Crime Drama Michael Chiklis plays his role of a police commissioner of a suburbian New York community to the letter. The stories told here in this set are very well written dealing with family drama as well as police action. These episodes can be enjoyed by the entire family. As a teenager, I watched these episodes with my mom and dad and we all enjoyed them. This is quality television!
This is one release I've been happy to see Very few television shows have found the perfect balance of drama and humor that this great series achieved in the early 90's. Recent TV-to-DVD issues have left me disappointed several times; sometimes old favorites don't age well. This is not true of THE COMMISH. I've worked my way through the two seasons that have been released, and I've discovered that this is a series that I've been happy to return to. Issues raised by the social commentary that underpins many of the episodes are still relevant, the plots are still gripping, and the humor is still fresh.
The second season opens with the addition of Cyd Madison as the second-in-command at the Eastbridge PD and includes some of the my favorite episodes of the entire series, including the Halloween "Witches of Eastbridge" featuring Ray Walston and the multi-part run with Telly Savalas as the boss of a crime family attempting to establish a beachhead in Scali's turf.
Critics have commented on the quality of the DVD print of this series. I suppose that there is validity in their position, but I haven't been bothered by that. I've found the quality of both seasons to be acceptable, and I'm delighted to see the old friends from this series again.
I hope the rest of the series finds its way to DVD very soon.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
