New Tricks: Season Four

Hilarious - for all except young children
On the cover, this group of detectives looks pretty hardcore. Yes, they are veteran detectives and take their jobs seriously, but you'd never guess the joking around that goes on behind those very serious faces. The crimes are serious, and the viewer is kept in suspense until the crime is solved, but we get to laugh along the way at all of their idiosynchrosies, the pranks, and the hard time they give each other. Every crime is a cold case, and they're all solved in a unique way - no boredom here. In fact, they use some imaginative techniques to get access to information. I'm in my thirties and highly prefer this program to The Closer and Law & Order, which can be very predictable. I've grown to really care about these characters, loving the top-notch writing and acting along the way. Can't wait until Season 7 is put onto DVD in the UK.

Amazon.co.uk
I've found this series so consistently entertaining through six series I decided to get Series One as a gift for a friend. I was amazed to find it's no longer offered on Amazon.com except as a "market place" item for the better part of $200. Went to the British Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk) and got it for $16.06 though, of course, it's a Region 2 DVD and won't play on most American (Region 1) players. It will, however, play on many computers.

Just to be sure my friend would have no problems with it, I also got her an inexpensive Region Free player for Christmas. These range in price from $50 to $80. Now, if she wants further episodes, she can get the Region 2's at the British Amazon where they're cheaper than their American counterparts. In addition she'll have access to a whole new variety of costume dramas, comedies, mysteries, sci-fi, etc. that's generally better written, better acted and more engaging than what's on American TV.

For any who may be interested but...

FUNNY MURDER HUMOROUS MYSTERY LAUGHABLE COPPER FUN CRIME
A VERY LAUGH-OUT-LOUD set of stories. This show began in 2003 and has been on an upward spiral winning direction since. Season 4 is no exception. The show is based on a female cop DS Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman-`At Home with the Braithwaithes' 'Little Dorrit`) who runs the unsolved cases department from the basement due to a bad situation of her past. With no backup or budget, she recruits 3 ex-cops out of retirement. Pullman is blond, aggressive, a good-looker, likes cheap wine, with a wild private life, and bound to get the job done, one way or another. The 4 combine to solve the cold cases, but in such a funny way. Character study is magnificent in the writing of this show. It only gets better and better. It is still in production as of 2011. Will it last as long as Midsomer Murders, also yet continuing? It's as good.

The other quirky cops:
Brian Lane (Alun Armstrong-'Garrow's Law' 'Little Dorrit' 'Braveheart`) is over medicated with a great memory, and married to...

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