Trio Trophy - Day Ten

Last day in the round of 64. We'll move right along to the next round tomorrow, keeping to our four matches a day pace.

From the Co-Ed Fever bracket:

(1) I'll Fly Away v. (16) Maximum Bob

I'll Fly Away was inspired by the film version of To Kill a Mockingbird, when the show's creators wondered about the story from the viewpoint of the Finches' African-American maid. Such was the inspiration for Lily Harper (Regina Taylor), maid to Forrest Bedford, the prosecuting attorney for Bryland, a town in an unnamed Southern state. Lily's role as housekeeper expanded to that of surrogate mom to the three Bedford children, as their actual mother had been institutionalized due to mental illness.

Set in the late 1950s and early '60s, the show centered around the changes in race relations during that period and the growing civil rights movement. Forrest, played by Sam Waterston, prosecuted several cases that shook his conservative beliefs, and the entire family got more personal insights thanks to Lily.

Highly praised by critics, the show won several awards during its run, including a Peabody Award, but the awards didn't translate into viewers, thanks in part to the show's slow pace (it also aired opposite Full House and Home Improvement, which likely drew off some family viewers). NBC aired 38 episdoes from 1991 to 1993, with PBS taking the unusual step of producing a movie after the show's cancellation to wrap up the story.

The show's title comes from a popular hymn, for which I've found no shortage of video. I've not been so lucky about the show.

Maximum Bob defeated Upright Citizen's Brigade in the preliminary round, 6-3.

(2)Brooklyn Bridge v. (15) Now and Again

Brooklyn Bridge took viewers back to the 1950s, following the lives of the Silver family in postwar New York. Gary David Goldberg created the show and based it on his experiences growing up in Bensonhurst, where he and his brother grew up trying to balance the expectations of their multigenerational Jewish family with the opportunities present in post-war America.

The show was noted for avoiding the nostalgia trap for a more intelligent look at life in that period. The ensemble cast was also well-regarded, with Marion Ross getting additional kudos (and an Emmy nomination) for playing grandmother Sophie Berger. The show won a Golden Globe for outstanding drama, but it wasn't enough to save the show from low ratings. CBS aired 34 episodes from 1991 to 1993.

No good video out there, though YouTube did have Goldberg's promo ad for the show.

Now and Again defeated When Things Were Rotten 8-2 in the preliminary round.

From the Public Morals bracket:

(1) Twin Peaks v. (16) The Slap Maxwell Story

Twin Peaks asked the TV question of the 1990s: who killed Laura Palmer? Trying to answer this question was FBI agent Dale Cooper, a loner and eccentric who almost appears normal when compared to the residents of Twin Peaks, whose twisted relationships and hidden conflicts come out as the murder investigation continues. In time, Cooper discovers that Palmer was killed by her father, who claims to have been possessed by spirit who gets its host to kill. Cooper's investigations into the origins of this spirit - who by then had inhabited the body of Cooper's former partner - make up much of the show's second season.

The show was created by David Lynch, and critics and fans alike trumpeted the show's surreal narrative. It premiered to strong ratings, but apparently this sort of thing is best served in small doses, as ratings declined over the life of the series. Turns out new viewers couldn't tell what the hell was going on, and old viewers could only put up with the Log Lady and Cooper's dream-led investigation for so long. ABC wrapped the show in plastic after airing 30 episodes in 1990 and '91.

Proving that TV makes strange bedfellows, you can see full episodes of this ABC show are available on the CBS website.

The Slap Maxwell Story defeated Call to Glory 10-0 in the preliminary round.

(2) EZ Streets v. (18) Miss Guided

EZ Streets bridged the gap between previous cop and mob shows like Crime Story and Wiseguy and current faves like The Wire. Set in an unnamed American city (which I always assumed was Detroit, an assumption given support by creator Paul Haggis being from London, Ontario), the show follows possibly dirty cop Cameron Quinn (Ken Olin) as he tries to clear himself by infiltrating the operation of Jimmy Murtha (Joe Pantoliano), the local mob boss. Along the way Quinn discovers a web of corruption in the police force, spreading back to include his dad. For good measure, the mayor and a variety of political types are involved in shady dealings over a proposed casino, in which Murtha has an interest as well.

Critics loved the show, but viewers stayed away in droves. Two episodes aired before CBS yanked it, with Les Moonves announcing a spring relaunch. Four months later, the show returned - on episode three. Well played, Eye Network. Nine of the show's 10 episodes aired during the 1996-97 season.

Several clips, from which you can watch full episodes, available here.

Miss Guided defeated Keen Eddie 6-2 in the preliminary round.