Nash Bridges

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Nash Bridges
File:NashBridgesPoster.jpg
Promotional poster for the show
GenrePolice procedural
Created byCarlton Cuse
StarringDon Johnson
Cheech Marin
Jeff Perry
Jaime P. Gomez
Jodi Lyn O'Keefe
James Gammon
Yasmine Bleeth (1998 - 2001)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes122
Production
Executive producerDon Johnson
ProducersCBS Productions
Rysher Entertainment (1996-1999)
Paramount Television (1999-2001)
Production locationsSan Francisco, California
San Francisco Bay Area
Running time60 minutes (with commercials)
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseMarch 29 1996 –
May 4 2001

Nash Bridges is an American television police drama that was created by Carlton Cuse. The show starred Don Johnson and Cheech Marin as two detectives with the San Francisco Police Department. The show ran for six seasons on CBS from March 29 1996 to May 4 2001 with a total of 122 episodes being produced. In addition, the series also introduced veteran actors and newcomers during their breaks, throughout the show's run.

The show was shown in over 70 countries. It currently airs in the Middle East on MBC's newly launched Action block MBC Action, Superstation WGN at 10am & 11am ET Time [1] in the United States, Showcase Action in Canada, and FX (UK) in the United Kingdom at 4pm and 5pm.

Story

Nash debuted in early 1996, starring Don Johnson (formerly of the 1980s hit police drama Miami Vice) as Nash Bridges, captain of the SFPD's Special Investigations Unit. He is a man in midlife getting over two failed marriages and the growing up of his daughter, Cassidy (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe). After being retired in the police force, Joe Dominguez (Cheech Marin), Nash's partner and best friend joined forces with him, only to find in a quick-and-rich scheme. They cruise the streets in Nash's electric yellow 1971 Plymouth Barracuda convertible, a gift from Nash's brother Bobby before Bobby left for the Vietnam War (and is MIA). Also living with Nash is his dad Nick (James Gammon), a crotchety retiree suffering from a mild form of dementia who has a tendency to get kicked out of nursing homes.

Aiding Nash in his police work is the technically savvy Harvey Leek (Jeff Perry), a former hippie going into midlife; young Evan Cortez (Jaimie P. Gomez), who has a penchant for recklessness (including a stormy relationship with Cassidy); and ever present Sgt. Ronnie (Ronald Russell, who actually appeared in the pilot episode as the villain's henchman). Also helping are an assortment of detectives and superiors such as Michelle Chan (Kelly Hu, later of CBS's Martial Law); Tough but tender Caitlin Cross (Yasmine Bleeth of Baywatch fame), who Nash has a relationship with at the end of the 1999-2000 season; Antwon Babcock (Cress Williams), who came to the cast late in the series, to replace Gomez; World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar Stone Cold Steve Austin as roughhousing detective Jake Cage who was with fugitive recovery and was originally considered for the SIU until Nash rejected him as being too wild. In seasons 4 and 5 he and Nash butt heads as their cases intertwined and they had to find a way to work together. Cage once took Caitlin Cross out to a monster truck rally for a date; and the independent Rachel McCabe (Wendy Moniz). Also on hand was the stoic but equally laid-back Lt. A.J. Shimamura (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), a Hawaiian export who was on the first and second season but left for Hawaii after his promotion to Captain fell through, leaving Nash as the head of the SIU.

Production

The show was produced and filmed on location in the San Francisco Bay Area.[2] The show shot on the street of San Francisco including The Embarcadero and Piers 30 through 32.[2] Neighboring Treasure Island was used at the headquarters for the show.[2] The show employed several hundred local workers including production crews and staff members, carpenters, electricians, set designers, and other stagehands.[2] Episode production was nearly $2 million per episode.[3] The show premiered on March 29 1996 at 10:00pm on CBS.[4]

The show was produced by the Don Johnson Company and Carlton Cuse Productions in association with Rysher Entertainment for the first 4 seasons.[4] In 1999 Paramount Television took over Rysher's spot after acquiring that company.

Cancellation

"Don was already exploring other opportunities. Doing a TV series five days a week for as long as he did is an exhausting task. Don was ready to move on."

Elliot Mintz, Don Johnson's Publicist[3]

The sixth season of Nash Bridges would be its last. Ratings wise the show was getting fair ratings from Nielsen.[3] Following its Friday night ratings battle (which it was losing to NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) the show was canceled.[3] Paramount Television which was producing the show felt that its $2 million per episode production cost was just too much.[3] CBS was hoping to get a seventh season out of Nash Bridges but that failed because Paramount wasn't willing to pay,[3] even though at the time, Viacom had owned both CBS and Paramount (Paramount Pictures is still owned by Viacom today, while CBS and what is now CBS Paramount Television are owned by CBS Corporation). Another factor that lead to the ending of the series was that Don Johnson wanted out.[3] Johnson was getting tired, and CBS and Paramount had enough episodes to put the series through syndication.[3]

Cast & characters

Cheech Marin (left) with Don Johnson (right).

Main cast

  • Don Johnson as Inspector/Captain Nash Bridges: Nash is a humble man in his forties, a seasoned officer with a lifelong devotion to the San Francisco police force. He's got a photographic memory and a tendency to call everyone "Bubba" or "Sister", but his personal life isn't as balanced as his professional one, starting with his two divorces. Nash rides around in a yellow 1971 Plymouth Barracuda convertible with a 426 Hemi engine that was given to him by his brother, who left for the Vietnam War and is presumed dead. Late in the series, his brother turned up alive, having lived in Southeast Asia for 24 years as a drug lord but was killed by his business partner after they had a falling out about a drug deal that sent heroin to San Francisco. The brother did produce a teen-aged son who arrived in San Francisco a month after his father’s murder to see the shipment's arrival, with a promise to his father to start a new life with money from the deal.
  • Cheech Marin as Inspector/Lieutenant Joe Dominguez: Get-rich-quick scheme partner and best friend to Nash. He handles the business end of their private detective agency on the side. Originally retired from the police force, Joe chose to remain on with Nash. In the pilot episode when Joe is injured in the line of fire and hospitalized, Nash stayed overnight by his side. Joe often finds the fun and humor in any situation that can brighten things up for people quickly, while still being an all business man in the process. It is revealed in the fifth season of the show when Joe is conversing with Evan, why he has been close to Nash. As a despondent Evan confides to Joe about being from an overshadowing family of cops, Joe related a similar story as a fast track officer of the San Francisco police force. But after getting busted for a D.U.I., his reputation was shot and he became a black sheep in his own precinct with everyone refusing to be his partner. But he was assigned a partner who didn't care about Joe's incident, refused to listen to naysayers and was against leaving him as a partner. This turned out to be Nash, who was in the same rank as Joe at the time. Joe is married to Inger, who is from Sweden and they are the proud parents of a baby girl named Lucia. Joe and Inger have a bumbling college aged son named J.J.
  • Jeff Perry as Inspector Harvey Leek: A die-hard Grateful Dead fan with a background in technical knowledge. His wife left him after 5 and a 1/2 years of marriage because of his commitment to the force. Best friend to Evan and one of Nash's partners, and very passionate about his '72 Ford Ranchero. The Ranchero is seen in the series almost as often as Nash's Barracuda until the car was irreparably damaged in a shootout.
  • Daniel Roebuck as Inspector Rick Bettina: (1996-2001) Crooked SIU police officer turned criminal and a frequent headache to the SIU. In the beginning of the series, he considers Nash (who dislikes Rick) his best friend and at one point was Nash's boss as Rick's mother married the chief of police and gave him a job. Towards the end of the series, he tries to kill Nash and Joe, to cover-up his attempted rip-off of the police retirement fund.
  • James Gammon as Nick Bridges: Nash's retired longshoreman father who lives with him. He sometimes gets into some minor trouble.
  • Jodi Lyn O'Keefe as Cassidy Bridges: Nash's young adult daughter who originally aspired to be an actress. Cassidy had a tough relationship with Evan that had them eventually reconciling and about to marry, before Evan was killed. This inspired Cassidy to join the SIU after his death. After a year at the SIU Cassidy decided to relocated to Paris to be with her mother.
  • Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Lieutenant A.J. Shimamura: (1996) Former police superior who worked closely with Nash and the SIU as both co-worker and friend. A.J. left the force to move back to his native Hawaii after a job promotion fell through in the SFPD.
  • Mary Mara as Inspector Bryn Carson: (1996-1997)
  • Jamie P. Gomez as Inspector Evan Cortez: (1996-2000) Best friend to Harvey and the youngest partner of Nash. He reminds him of what he used to be long ago. Evan had a stormy relationship with Cassidy, which after many ups and downs, ended when Evan was killed in the line of duty. Evan had reconciled with Cassidy at the time and was engaged to her for a Las Vegas wedding. Evan went through a painful period after his breakup with Cassidy and the loss of his job as a drunk on a downward spiral, and recovered in a 12-Step AA program, finishing the character's run as a Christian, played with kindness and care.
  • Yasmine Bleeth as Inspector Caitlin Cross: (1998-2000) She had a tense relationship with Nash bordering on professionalism and personalism. Caitlin, originally came to the SIU as a city attorney investigating them, but eventually joined them. She had a brief romance with Nash, which ended when she left to help her sister in Washington, D.C.
  • Kelly Hu as Inspector Michelle Chan: (1997-1998) An aggressive inspector who Nash takes under his wing. She's killed by the Prowler.
  • Wendy Moniz as Inspector Rachel McCabe: (2000-2001) She was a police officer originally working undercover for a corrupt Internal Affairs official. Rachel fell in love with Nash and later sacrificed her career to save Nash when she realized he was being framed.
  • Cress Williams as Inspector Antwon Babcock: (2000-2001) Antwon rescued the SIU from an explosion when he drove a car off a pier on his first day. He prefers to stay out of personal situations, but is very active in the force. He occasionally suffers from epileptic seizures.

Recurring cast

  • Caroline Lagerfelt as Inger Dominguez: Joe's spouse from Sweden and mother of their infant child, and stepmother of Joe's adult son. A kind woman and loving wife, also the one really in charge of their household.
  • Annette O'Toole as Lisa Bridges: A caterer by trade, she is Nash's ex-wife. She moved to Paris after she and Nash revealed their true feelings to each other.
  • Tracey Walter as Angel: A wise spiritual figure who often appears when dispensing advice to the SIU. Dressed as an angel, complete with wings, he wanders the streets of San Francisco.
  • Christian J. Meoli as Boz Bishop: Young rap music inspired employee of Nash and Joe's private investigation agency. A fast talking young man with aspirations to be a private investigator. In reality Boz, is loaded with money and comes from a well to do English family.
  • Ronald Russell II as Sergeant Ronnie: He's the all around handyman and muscle of the SIU.
  • Patrick Fischler as Pepe: Joe and Nash's gay friend, and secretary of their detective agency.

Guest Stars

Popular culture references

  • In 1997, the show had an episode called "Wild Card" that guest starred Philip Michael Thomas, who had been Johnson's co-star in Miami Vice and Tommy Chong, who had been Marin's longtime partner in the Cheech and Chong comedy team. The Wild Card episode also contains a nod to Cheech & Chong's iconic "Dave" from their 1972 self-titled debut album. Philip Michael Thomas also guest-starred on an episode called "Out of Miami". It also featured Steven Bauer, the ex-husband of Don Johnson's ex-wife, Melanie Griffith. He played a Miami drug lord, which is a reference to his main role in the film Scarface.
  • In the 1997 Season 2 episode, "The Counterfeiters", another one of Johnson's co-stars from Miami Vice, John Diehl, guest stars as a criminal posing as an S.I.U. officer.[5]
  • In the 1997 Season 2 episode, "Wild Card", Philip Michael Thomas and Don Johnson reunite for the first time on television together since Miami Vice, and you can hear a version of the Miami Vice theme playing in the background.[6]
  • Aaron Spelling was so eager to cast Yasmine Bleeth in the role of vixen on Titans in 2000 that his company convinced CBS to grant her an early release from her Nash Bridges contract. (Coincidentally, CBS now owns the rights to most of the shows produced by Spelling).
  • The first script was written by neighbors Don Johnson and Hunter S. Thompson as a TV movie about a drug-addicted cop, Nash, who dated a known mobster's daughter, and his Latino partner. Thompson appears as a piano player in the pilot.
  • There were 5 different Barracudas made up to resemble the 1971 Hemi Cuda convertible that Nash drove. Four of these were built from 1970 and 1971 Barracuda convertibles and the 5th FX car made from a 73 coupe converted into a convertible. None of these actually had Hemi engines, but rather 318-360 engines including new Mopar Performance crate motors

References

  1. ^ Nash Bridges | Programming | SuperstationWGN.com | TV
  2. ^ a b c d Hamlin, Jesse (2001-05-17). "'Nash Bridges' canceled". San Francisco Chronicle. www.sfgate.com. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Goodman, Tim (2001-05-18). "Why 'Bridges' was canceled: S.F.-based show losing ratings war". San Francisco Chronicle. www.sfgate.com. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  4. ^ a b James, Caryn (1996-03-29). "TV WEEKEND;Sonny Crockett, but in San Francisco". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  5. ^ "The Counterfeiters". Nash Bridges. Season 2. Episode 15. 1997-01-24. CBS. {{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |episodelink= (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Wild Card". Nash Bridges. Season 2. Episode 22. 1997-04-25. CBS. {{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |episodelink= (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)

External links

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