"RIP OFF" Small Time Stuff December 19,1999

by
Gordon Hom

On NASH BRIDGES, the 'Cuda is presented as a sentimental object for Nash. This car is full of meaning and memories of Nash's brother. But the car is, in fact, valuable in itself as a collector car, easily worth several hundred thousand dollars. So here's this police officer, with a priceless collector car, and he's using it on-duty as a police car, cutting in front of a getaway car (a Jeep Cherokee, at that, a heavy duty SUV that can make mince meat of the 'Cuda in a side collision) to stop a fleeing crew of robbers. Is that any way to treat a car of this caliber? Only in NASH world. And if the hood has been graffitied, and has been sold for fifteen thousand dollars as a work of art? Only in NASH world.

Guest star Pauly Shore puts in a surprisingly restrained and disciplined performance as a small time hood with big plans. What's happened to this guy? Is Shore actually trying to build a reputation as a serious, credible character actor? This NASH BRIDGES performance goes totally against the grain of the irreverent comedic persona Shore has built up. Who does he think he is - Cheech Marin? We'll probably see Shore playing a cop next, busting a foul-mouth stand-up for obscenity.

The Evan slide has apparently reached a holding pattern - he's no longer sinking lower, but just standing still. Evan's given a small chance by Nash, but he blows it with befuddled behavior and an underachiever's attitude. Evan is being judged, as we see Judge Mills Lane on Evan's TV set. The tie-in is more - the Judge's show is part of Rysher entertainment, which also owns the NASH BRIDGES show - so naturally, Evan's got to watch the show addictively. There is still no cognition of Evan's drinking problem or of any storyline to deal with substance abuse. Evan is still drifting, while Boz Bishop proves he's a better investigator (but he ain't no cop).

For more, see synopsis for Episode 89

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