Rainn Wilson
Genevieve Angelson
Kristoffer Polaha
Page Kennedy
Beatrice Rosen
Thomas Dekker
Dennis Haysbert

Developed by:
Hart Hanson

2015
Comedy, Crime, Drama
Fox
TV-14

“Backstrom” is yet another TV police-detective procedural. It’s named after its central character, Lieutenant Backstrom, a detective who doesn’t care about his health (or anything or anyone else for that matter). He has the attitude and professionalism of House and half the ability of Sherlock Holmes. He says, “I don’t care about the truth; I care about a conviction.” We’ve seen and heard this stuff countless times before.

Look, I’m all for offensive humor – when it’s funny. But the humor of “Backstrom” is stale, so the jokes come across as insults: unimaginative, lazy, hackneyed insults at that. And the writing is embarrassing. Here’s one exchange from the pilot: “Wow, that’s deep.” Response: “It’s deep something.” Ugh. (The only good part about that exchange is that Dennis Haybert provides the response. I hope they’re paying him well.)

While Rainn Wilson is a good actor, there’s no way that he could bring much to the titular role: Just like the show itself, it’s uninspired and derivative. He does provide his characteristic gravelly voice, though. Here’s one of his lines: “I don’t see the worst in everyone. I see the everyone in everyone.” Goodness gracious!

I wouldn’t call “Backstrom” bad; I’d call it boring, instead. No, actually, it is kind of bad. It’s a show that only aspires to be edgy. I guess it would be … if it were 1990.

Verdict: Somewhat Bad (Dull)

About: (Source: backstrom)

BACKSTROM centers on an offensive, irascible detective, as he tries, and fails, to change his self-destructive behavior.

Backstrom, the renowned misanthropic police detective, takes on new and daunting cases.