"EZ Streets" (1996)TV series 1996-1997

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

27 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Catholic confession city-politics softball-game.

Plot Keywords:

Physical Abuse | Irish American | Cop | Childhood Sweetheart | Corrupt Cop

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Ken Olin	...	Cameron Quinn / ... (9 episodes, 1996-1997)
Joe Pantoliano	...	Jimmy Murtha (9 episodes, 1996-1997)
Jason Gedrick	...	Danny Rooney / ... (9 episodes, 1996-1997)
Sarah Trigger	...	Elli Rooney (9 episodes, 1996-1997)
Richard Portnow	...	Frank Collero / ... (9 episodes, 1996-1997)
John Finn	...	Geary / ... (9 episodes, 1996-1997)
Mike Starr	...	Mickey Kinnear (9 episodes, 1996-1997)
R.D. Call	...	Michael 'Fivers' Dugan (9 episodes, 1996-1997)
Debrah Farentino	...	Theresa Conners (9 episodes, 1996-1997)
Robert Spillane	...	Bobby (8 episodes, 1996-1997)
Carl Lumbly	...	Christian Davidson / ... (7 episodes, 1996-1997)
John Saint Ryan	...	Bo (6 episodes, 1996-1997)
Gregg Henry	...	Carl / ... (5 episodes, 1997)
Saverio Guerra	...	Sammy Feathers (5 episodes, 1996-1997)
Louis Lombardi	...	Fat Man (5 episodes, 1997)
Andrew Rothenberg	...	Shirt (5 episodes, 1996-1997)
Glenn Taranto	...	Glenn (5 episodes, 1996-1997)
Ian Paul Cassidy	...	Paddy (5 episodes, 1996-1997)
Jack McGee	...	Leo / ... (4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Rosemary Murphy	...	Quinn's Mother / ... (4 episodes, 1996-1997)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Paul Haggis Productions

Quotes:

Murtha: I, I put six bullets in him. You're telling me I didn't kill him?
Mickey: It wasn't meant as a criticism.

Movie Connections:

Follows "EZ Streets: Pilot (#1.1)" (1996)

The show that ruined TV for me.

This show premiered during my sophomore year of high school, and I was eager to see it from the moment I heard about it. The first episode had me instantly enamored. This was the most incredible, darkly beautiful, and cinematic vision I have ever had the privilege to see on television. The writing, acting (especially that of Joe Pantoliano as Jimmy Murtha), and sheer mood created by this show was impeccable. I was incredibly excited. I tried (unsuccessfully) to convince all my friends to watch, I tuned in for every episode that CBS didn't purposefully hide from me, and I instantly declared it my new favorite show.

And then CBS killed it.

As seems to be the fate of any quality television that I show an interest in (The Critic, Action, etc.), it was completely misunderstood by the viewing public and summarily yanked. I think what still hurts the most about it is the fact that in lieu of showing the final episode, CBS ran a rerun of Walker: Texas Ranger. It was this that made me lose any interest in television whatsoever. Even the Simpsons doesn't hold the appeal for me that it once did.

Paul Haggis lovingly crafted the most perfect television series of all time, and CBS spit in his face. The world is poorer for it.

But all is not lost, I suppose. I do have my Emmy screener of the pilot episode, the VCD I mastered from this screener, my collection of all the other episodes on VHS, and the shooting scripts for two unfilmed episodes. My ideal is to acquire screener copies of every episode and have them mastered on DVD, saving this piece of art for the future. CBS has shown that they have no desire to do this, so it's up to us fans, I suppose. With that said, please get in touch with me if you'd like copies of any of this material. I'm only too willing to help out other fans.

Thanks to anyone who's read through this, and thanks to Paul Haggis and anyone related to the show. It was, and still is, appreciated.