Cannon: Season 2 vol.2

There have most likely been more television series in the detective genre than any other type of program. Shows like this typically capture the imagination of the audience with its fast pace action, sinister crimes and beautiful femme fatales. To really sell this image of excitement what the networks inevitably turned to is a ruggedly handsome, virile leading man. With his thick lock of hair, steely eyes and chiseled features the usual television private detective was the kind of man the guys want to be and the ladies just want. It would seem to be insanity to break away from a formula that has served the medium so incredibly well from the origins of the genre but then again CBS was always attempting to create their own rules and make them work. While the other major networks were designing their programs to attract the youthful demographic CBS realized an extremely important fact; many Americans has already passed through the 18 to 30 age bracket and they are prone to watching television. The eyeball network made the ground breaking decision to gear the venerable crime drama to older Americans particularly through the inclusion of leading men that were more identifiable to the people watching. This lead to the invention of what many referred to as geriatric detective series. The elderly were suddenly getting to the bottom of crimes too difficult for the police to solve between their meetings with AARP and senior discount dinner at Denny’s. One of this alternate format of private eye would never be caught dead at a place like Denny’s; he would much rather be engaging in his expensive hobby of gourmet dining; Frank Cannon (William Conrad). The series ‘Cannon’ was the antithesis of the aforementioned TV private eye. Cannon is more than twice the weight recommended by any health care professional could recommend his double chin about to move up to a triple and his hair receding faster than any man would care to witness. Although this was far from the image of masculine perfection we were all used to but this character was much closer to reality than you might like to ponder. CBS Paramount has been releasing this series for awhile now two volumes per season. The show lasted five seasons with this DVD marking the completion of season 2.

The character of Frank Cannon had a lot of characteristics to set him apart from the rest of the investigative pack. Not only does his girth preclude any foot chases he is naturally a man of exquisite tastes, he is expert at gourmet cuisine a fan of both preparation and consumption. Cannon enjoys a good cigar or occasional pip but seemed to avoid the mundanr cigarette. As a former police detective he still keeps his friends in the department close. In one episode the officer he needs to supply vitally needed info he trades the scoop for helping the man pass his fire arms qualification. While no one is looking Cannon squeezes of six shots all in the inner ring; while on the force he was the champion sharp shooter. He does share a few vital qualities necessary to getting the job done. As one of the most successful private investigators Cannon was very well off financially. He lives in much better digs than your typical PI. This also permits him the luxury of taking a case every so often without his usual fee. As is the case for all great TV detectives the most important thing is truth and justice; if you can also turn a little profit that is all the better. The thing is these plot devices afforded the writers a much broader client base for the rotund detective straddling the world of the rich and the working man. This also was consistent with providing a character and circumstances more conducive to identification by the audience and a broader selection of crimes to keep the series interesting.

The second half of season two kicks off ere with an episode that has Cannon trying to help a gambler get out from under his debt and go straight. One feature of the series was guest starring appearances by some of the more talented actors around. In this story the gambler was plated by Tom Skerritt from ‘Alien’ and ‘Picket Fences’ while the man running the games was portrayed by the former star of his own crime drama, Paul Michael Glaser. Cannon pulls off a plan that was worthy of the Impossible Missions force the criminal to forget the debt by backing him into a corner with his mob boss father. This series may have been long before the current trend of forensic science as an integral part of an investigation but in one episode Cannon is facing an uphill battle tracking down a mass murderer because a lab technician is constantly altering the evidence. This series may show its age occasionally but it holds up against the passage of time. It is a refreshing change of pace from the CSI type shows where you need to follow a ton of technological dialogue to understand the plot. Here is an opportunity to return to a simpler time of good old fashion shoe leather approach to crime fighting.

Posted 02/08/2010