It's All Right, Mama (22 Jun. 2010)

Detective Hendricks investigates a case of abuse involving a legendary D.J. that he idolized in his youth, even after his new police lieutenant gives him a break from the case.

Director:

Clark Johnson

Writers:

Liz W. Garcia (creator), Joshua Harto (creator),

Stars:

Jason Lee, Sam Hennings, DJ Qualls

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Lee	...	Dwight Hendricks
Sam Hennings	...	Charlie 'Whitehead' White
DJ Qualls	...	Davey Sutton
Celia Weston	...	Paula Ann Hendricks
Abraham Benrubi	...	Sgt. JC Lightfoot
Leonard Earl Howze	...	Reginald Greenback
Alfre Woodard	...	Lt. Tanya Rice
Christopher Stanley	...	Patrick Collins / Ray Pruitt
Dylan Kussman	...	TJ Williams
Daniel Hugh Kelly	...	Tony Bellew
Mildred Covert	...	Dottie Collins
Angel Campbell	...	Tamara Sully
Jeffrey Friend
Leon Lamar	...	Morris Tisdale (as Leon LaMar)
Darcel White Moreno	...	Sabine Basquie (as Darcel Moreno)

Storyline

Detective Dwight Hendricks (Jason Lee) investigates the abuse of elderly woman who happens to be a legendary Memphis disc jockey known as the "First Lady of the Airwaves." But his loose investigative style is cramped by his new by-the-book boss, Lt. Tanya Rice (Alfre Woodard), who brings a den mother approach to her job. Meanwhile, Dwight's mother (Celia Weston) starts dating a charming new neighbor.

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Plot Keywords:

new neighbor | black elvis | drug addict | radio legend | hit by a car | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Music

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 June 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Horizon Television, Smokehouse Pictures

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

There are no all-night liquor stores in the State of Tennessee. In fact, no packaged liquor store may sell groceries and no grocery store may sell hard liquor or wine. Only beer and malt liquor can be sold at convenience stores.

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Quotes

Punk kid: [provoking Detective Sutton and White] Hey five-o. Don't rush your snacks or nothin'. It's only crime calling.

User Reviews

One of the better pilots in the past two years, engaging and entertaining

Alright! This was a solid pilot. I knew that the cast was great, but it actually has decent writing and fantastic music.

And maybe somebody else knew Jason Lee could sing, but I didn't. He's no Elvis, but nobody is and he did alright.

Yes, the Elvis songs were there. But the episode also had Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," Rufus Thomas' "Walking the Dog," Booker T.'s "Time Is Tight" and others. Going to be a heck of an album.

Yes, it is a crime procedural. But elderly abuse is an unusual subject for any such show and it is a growing problem in this country. It was a solid initial subject for what is sure to be a different take on the crime procedural.

I'm looking forward to the show gaining rhythm as the actors and writers get comfortable with the characters and settings. Also I'm curious about the purposing of "the mothers" within the show.

As you can see, I was impressed with this pilot, one of the better ones in the last two years with a good story arc and without trying to overwhelm viewers with all the details and back story of the five or six principle characters in an hour.