Previewing Memphis Beat 2.x and Hawthorne 3.x

Tonight sees the return of the two TNT shows I just could not get in to. First up is Memphis Beat which a big disappointment to me because I had such high hopes for the show with Jason Lee coming right off of his great work on My Name Is Earl. And watching HBO’s Treme recently it became clear what was lacking on Memphis Beat and that is how you integrate a series into a show. On Treme New Orleans is its biggest character where Memphis tends to just be relegated to transition scenes and musical choices.

The good news is the first two episodes of the new season are better than the batch from the first one. The bad news is it is mostly because of the two guest star. Tonight starts off with the MPD hunting down a cop killer of an officer who may have been involved in some shady business that may have caused his death. This brings in Internal Affairs official (Beau Garrett, The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer) to butt heads, and other body parts, with Lee. As seen on The Closer, detectives and IA do not care for each other and it goes even further when Jason learns her dislike of Memphis cuisine. Next week sees the appearance of another former mustache enthusiast Thomas Lennon (Reno 911) as a consultant that Lee reluctantly bring in to help solve a cold case that just got hot again and as per usual with Lennon, hilarity ensues when starts getting on the detectives nerves.

Memphis Beat airs Tuesdays at 9:00 on TNT. You can stream recent episodes on tnt.tv. You can also download Memphis Beat on iTunes.



Following Memphis Beat is the premiere of the third season of Hawthorne. The new season starts up with a wedding that naturally goes bad when an accident interrupts the festivities sending everyone in attendance into action. But it is a brutal attack in the hospital’s parking lot that sets things in motion for the season and brings Marc Anthony back into the picture to solve the crime. I am legally obligated not to go any further, but it is a huge plot twist.

Hawthorne airs Tuesdays at 9:00 on TNT. You can also download HawthoRNe on iTunes.