Imagine if Scrubs was not about doctors and nurses but homicide cops...

And the show was not a half-hour sitcom with some dramatic overtones but a one-hour "human comedy," with some dramatic overtones (and without the fantasy sequences).

Well, that's The Unusuals.

I liked but did not love the debut of ABC's new series last night. Unfortunately it didn't start out very strong in the ratings (how rare for a show I like), apparently, though it was well-received by critics.

I suppose it can be accurately judged to be trying too hard to be "quirky" (and the title doesn't help)--one of the plotlines last night was about a serial killer of cats.

But, I found it always interesting; often amusing (even affecting in at least one scene), with real nice plot turnarounds that I wasn't expecting. Plus more than a few laugh-out-loud moments; with a strain of darkness.

They play in my key, as it were.

(and ah, suddenly I understand--writer/creator Noah Hawley is a veteran of Bones.)



A solid, talented cast is led by Amber Tamblyn and Jeremy Renner. Tamblyn's a former vice-cop (when we first meet her, she's undercover as a prostitute; whose mother picks the worst times to call) transferred to the homicide squad. She also doesn't want anyone to know that she comes from money. Renner is her new partner who keeps his own cards close to the vest.

Tamblyn's role is to be the audiences "POV" character--as she gets to know the squad, so do we. So far she's a bit of a straight woman for the wit to play off of. But I'd be willing to bet that will change; anyway she does it well (and need it be added, looks sexy doing it).

Support includes Harold Perrineau and Adam Goldberg as a detective team. One of whom has taken to wearing a Kevlar vest almost 24/7, the other who's facing death from illness and looking to go out a hero.

Monique Gabriela Curnen is the only other female detective who, when Tamblyn asks about her new partner, says

"Well, the good news is, he's not one of those guys who stares at your boobs while he's talking to you."

"What's the bad news?"

"I got nice boobs--why isn't he looking?"

If it can stick around long enough to find its feet, this might be something. Later episodes will tell the story, I guess--and this one did make me want to see the second...which is a pilot's job.