Jill Hennessy, the star of NBC's new drama Crossing Jordan, was not for the tiniest fraction of a single second of the first two episodes even the slightest bit convincing in the role.
While the idea of a strong female lead in a traditionally male role is appealing, the writing is unfortunately treacly. Mix the corny sentimentality with the graphically brutal violence of the weekly storylines, and the result is ugly.
The problem is, [Jordan] comes off as a list of adjectives pitched to a Hollywood executive rather than a believable character worth spending time with.
Hennessy and Ferrer aside, however, why doesn't Crossing Jordan quite work? Perhaps because tonight's story has open seams and is essentially predictable... Here is a series you want to like, if only it will let you.
The medical drama is leavened by some nice comic flourishes. Hennessy shows a streak of comic sensibility that she couldn't have learned at "Law & Order."
Hennessy has the feistiness the lead role requires, and Miguel Ferrer bears watching as her tense, neurotic supervisor. Too bad the first couple of cases were too easily cracked.
Noth is one of the most dependable, appealing actors working the tube. The only shortcoming of his guest shot on Crossing Jordan is that he isn't in it enough.
