Posted on 07/20/2005 9:42:54 AM PDT by Pop Fly
Under deafening fire, a U.S. Army squad takes cover behind the crumbling mud walls of a shack in an Iraqi village. ''Let's move!'' barks the leader, Sgt. Chris Silas, nicknamed Sgt. Scream, over the noise.
Smoke and dust swirl in the 100-degree desert heat as the team plans its retreat. ''Take a position behind that berm and cover our withdrawal!'' Sgt. Scream orders, indicating a mound 30 yards away. Dodging AK-47 gunfire, the troops make their move. Muzzle flashes from their M4 rifles light the midday air as spent ammo casings litter the ground. Darting behind the bullet-riddled shell of a sedan, the squad runs down the hill to temporary safety.
There will be no casualties on this scorching afternoon, because this conflict is being fought in California's San Fernando Valley, on the set of FX's new drama Over There
(Excerpt) Read more at ew.com ...
After checking all this stuff out, I'm definitely interested in watching this show. The more people can relate to what our troops over in Iraq are going through, the better.
Anyone else heard about this show or curious about it?
I've been interested in "Over There" since seeing its first teasers and commercials months agon on FX.
I'll watch the show, since Steven Bochco has a hand in it. If his original "Hill Street Blues" is anything to go by, and he treats the situation and soldiers in Iraq with respect; this show could be HUGH!
Jack.
Yeah I agree, Bochco has done a lot of good shows. Seeing the actual episode itself (or at least the first part of it) made me even more optimistic, I think it should be great.
It could be controversial though, this may be the first show that takes place about a war that is still ongoing.
I have been VERY interested, but have yet to see one minute of footage.
I will be beyond shocked if anything except PC lies/crap will be allowed to be broadcast more than once - if at all.
Hmmmm...well I guess I'm not as skeptical as you are that it will be all PC crap. I didn't get that impression at all from the promo thing I watched. It seems like it's going to be very intense, and very, very heavy on the battle scenes and footage.
Guess you don't remember "Cop Rock."
I remember "Cop Rock" all too well, aaronbeth.
Lasted all of four episodes.
And "Bay City Blues" and "Beverly Hills Buntz". Not every producer/director hits them out of the ball park every time.
Though, episode for episode. I'll still stack up Hill Street over NYPD Blue any day of the week.
Jack.
Hill Street and NYPD Blue were both solid shows. Didn't Bochco also do Doogie Howser? Having someone with such a long history in TV as he does makes me more optimistic about this show.
"Doogie Howser" was one of Bochco's, Pop Fly.
A solid, lighthearted comedy.
Neil Patrick Harris was quite good as the boy doctor. It was also nice to see James Sikking in a non-Lt. Hunter role.
Jack.
Watching tonight - so far I like what I see. Best quote thus far "We didn't come over here for you oil, we came to kick your A$$"!
"Sgt Scream" makes a serviceable "Been There, Done That" squad leader in the tradition of Sgt. Chip Saunders (Vic Morrow) and/or Terence Knox's Sgt. Zeke Anderson in "Tour Of Duty". Especially when he's dressing down Bo for going after Mrs. B. Or when he's going against Mad Cow's Incident Report before the Platoon Captain.
Oh, and the squad should have been sreaming in pain when their Night Vision Gear was hit by a spotlight halfway to the Mosque that could have eaily doubled for the German Bunker/Listening Post/Machine Gun Nest from "Combat!"
"Dim" could double for Caje and "Angel" could be Kirby.
Someone should have butt-stroked Mrs. B for drawing fire while screaming at Dim. The squad also needs to learn about spreading out and keeping interval. It was cool seeing what a M-203 grenade can to to a single charging target.
Outside of the show needs more Technical Advise, "Over There" isn't a t*urd in a punch bowl. Like "Tour Of Duty", it's not bad, and it could be a lot worse.
Jack.
I got a kick out of the NVG scene too. I'm waiting for the pro "Women in Combat" crowd to start screaming about how Mrs. B is being potrayed..
I agree with you guys, I watched the premiere and thought it was pretty good. Lot's of battle scenes pretty good military detail from what I know. I'm going to keep watching.
I've a feeling that "Doublewide" is going to take Mrs B to "Knuckle Junction" somewhere within the next two or three episodes, Romanov. Mrs B is dangerous and is going to get people needlessly killed.
I also predict that "Mad Cow" is going to be wounded or sent home sometime soon and Sgt. Scream is going to be promoted or put up for a Battlefield Commission.
Jack.
Actually that would be M*A*S*H. Yes it was the Korean War, but that was just a proxy for Vietnam.
Sounds plausible. I'll be interested in seeing how they portray the obvious "intel op" in the next episode. I'll have to suspend disbelief when the females keep tagging along with the unit, but it's only tv after all!
On RUSH today, Roger Hedgecock was filling in and read an EMail from an NCO...
The email described some scenes as: a trooper doing drugs before boarding his transport and an office saying 'Don't call me sir' or something similar.
I will watch, but Roger said Bochco has strong anti-war leanings...
G
The NCO must not have watched closely. The Sgt in the show accused one of the privates of "being on drugs" because he was being stupid. Having said that, showing a guy in the military using drugs wouldn't be completely made up as unfortunately a small small percentage still risk jail to get high. And, the character in question has some attitude issues and a big chip on his shoulder about race. I'm sure that will play out soon.
The Sgt also said "don't call me sir" which most sergeants will say (Don't call me sir, I work for a living). Although, I don't know one Army private who has graduated basic training who would dare call an NCO "Sir."
I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop on this series, but hope it will stay fairly reasonable.
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