"SHAKE, RATTLE & ROLL" Babies in Peril October 3, 1997

by
Gordon Hom

This tale of ex-mobster Jimmy Ryshert seeking redemption by working against the organization that has defined him is very much based upon the real life of gangster Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, the Mafioso who has reputedly killed a lot of people in his rise to the top as an underboss. Actor Joe Cortese plays Ryshert, and Cortese even looks similar to Sammy "The Bull." Cortese has been the star of several TV series himself, such as C.A.T. SQUAD (whatever the alphabets stand for, Cortese was the head of an elite anti-terrorist unit). NASH BRIDGES borrows a lot from crime fiction and reality, but it only takes from it superficially in bits and pieces. As generally the case with NASH BRIDGES, the series refuses to romanticize or humanize the gangster a la THE GODFATHER series. Ryshert's vigilante mission of redemption is simply stopped with no messages or sentiment.

If this season is any indication, the experienced guest stars keep on coming with lovely Jennifer O'Neill in a thankless role as father Nick's squeeze. Jenny is a potential Black Widow, leaving a wake of dead seniors in her mysterious path. Her departure is sudden and without grace after a showdown with Nash.

Picking up from last season, actor Louis Mandylor continues in his role of gangster Ray Getz. In the third episode of this season, NASH BRIDGES rediscovers some of the humor that has been absent from that hilarious episode last season with Nash and Joe pretending to be gay couple. The re-appearance of Pepe, Joe's former manager of his burnt down gay bar, milks the facade once more when Pepe sympathetically asks "You still have sex with women?"

Another of the funnier moments is when Joe is about to feed his baby, and just as he's about to shove the nipple into the child's face, it's an Asian baby's face. It's come down to close-ups of babies' faces - NASH BRIDGES is shameless. As for the presence of the baby during violent situations - such as during the shoot-out in the restaurant, or when Ryshert confronts Nash in his car - this is previously-tread territory. Currently hot Hollywood action director John Woo specializes in placing babies in peril. In the Hong Kong action thriller HARDBOILED, a lengthy and extremely violent shoot-out takes place in a hospital maternity ward! It goes beyond feeling uncomfortable, but it somehow works in HARDBOILED. NASH BRIDGES just taps the surface of the baby stuff - it is funny to see Nash's 'Cuda oozing ridiculous children's music.

For more, see synopsis for Episode 34

Copyright © 1996-2022 Gordon Hom. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy