Cracker: Mind Over Murder 

Unconventional psychologist Gerry "Fitz" Fitzgerald is one of the best police interrogators in the business, mostly because his own quirks and perversities help him get inside the criminal mind.

Stars:

Robert Pastorelli, Carolyn McCormick, Josh Hartnett

1 nomination.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Robert Pastorelli	...	Gerry 'Fitz' Fitzgerald 16 episodes, 1997-1999
Carolyn McCormick	...	Judith Fitzgerald 16 episodes, 1997-1999
Josh Hartnett	...	Michael Fitzgerald 16 episodes, 1997-1999
Robert Wisdom	...	Detective Danny Watlington 15 episodes, 1997-1999
Scott Sowers	...	Detective Parker / ... 15 episodes, 1997-1999
Angela Featherstone	...	Det. Hannah Tyler 14 episodes, 1997-1999
R. Lee Ermey	...	Lieutenant Fry 13 episodes, 1997-1999
Paul Perri	...	Waldron 10 episodes, 1997-1999
Sally Levi	...	Hope Fitzgerald 8 episodes, 1997-1999

Storyline

Gerry "Fitz" Fitzgerald is a troubled doctor of psychology. To be able to pay the bills, he gives lectures at colleges, has a small practice in a mini-mall, has his own radio show, and helps the Los Angeles police department solve difficult cases. But that's only true when he doesn't have to deal with his own inner demons, which include drinking, gambling, extramarital affairs, and a tense relationship with his wife Judith and son Michael.

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Plot Keywords:

based on british tv series | remake | 

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Taglines:

Police line: do not cross

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cracker: Mind Over Murder

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Entertainment, The Kushner-Locke Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (16 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cancelled after airing eleven shows, the remaining five shows aired a year later on the A&E Network.

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Connections

Remake of Cracker (1993)

User Reviews

Boring

This excruciating remake of the excellent British series is not worth wasting your time on.

The police in the original had skepticism coming out of their ears when it came to having a psychologist on the team, exactly as many real police officers would. The American version has them fawning after Fitz at every opportunity, which is not only unrealistic, it also set up little dramatic tension.

While the English version has quirky, interesting, believable characters, the American one has typical American pretty people. Particularly disappointing is the lack of characterisation of the police. The original has a range of people we came to know well: Penhaligon, the young officer trying to cope with an inept boss and pathetic "lad" culture. Beck, the old-fashioned copper whose unpleasant exterior barely covers his mental instability. Bilborough, a nice guy, but so soft he has to get Penhaligon to do the talking when visiting people with bad news. What do we get from the American version? A token black character whose name escapes me and a chicky-babe who looks like Pamela Anderson's cousin.

The actors who play Fitz and Penhaligon (renamed to something unmemorable) could easily be replaced by wooden blocks and no-one would have noticed the difference. There's no spark between them. You don't care about them and you aren't convinced by them. Same with the Fitz/Judith pairing - he says something soppy and she simpers "sentimentality becomes you, Fitz". The "real" Judith would have laughed or sneered.

I could go on, but it just isn't worth the bother. Take from me: if you don't want to see a great show trashed, avoid this load of drivel.