 |
| "THE FINDER" STARRING GEOFF STULTS (left) AND MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN (right) LASTED ONE SEASON, (JANUARY 12, 2012 TO MAY 11, 2012). |
In 2011, the premise was originally wrapped within, “THE FINDER” episode of another personal favorite, “BONES.” The writers and producers came up with a unique, slick and beautiful to look at concept, (filmed in Miami with gorgeous underwater photography). The supporting characters were interesting and the storylines coming from their relationships left me wanting more.
 |
| "BONES" NOW IN ITS EIGHTH SEASON, INTRODUCED, "THE FINDER" ON APRIL 21, 2011, (SEASON SIX, EPISODE NINETEEN, SHOW #125 IN THE SERIES). |
"THE FINDER'S," star, Geoff Stults as Walter Sherman, is a retired army major. The gimmick is, he suffered some mysterious level of combat-related brain damage while serving in Iraq. These head injuries left him suspicious and paranoid. But along the way, his “problems” also include a mystical ability to see patterns that nobody else can see. He uses these universal connections to find things. In the case of the episode of, “BONES,” he is subcontracted out by the FBI, to launch an independent investigation, to find a stolen treasure map fragment. Throw in some intelligent quirkiness and you have a program that is exciting and fun to watch.
This, possibly best-ever episode of “BONES” became the pilot for, “THE FINDER.” I thought I got in on the ground floor of something special. I was completely invested in the show and never missed it. Unfortunately that pilot was also the problem because the potential of the first production was never recaptured.
In an obscure bar in the Florida keys, the audience is introduced to the three main characters of, “THE FINDER.” The "MOD SQUAD-like" trio are staring at a chalkboard and having a philosophical debate on which is sadder; a twelve-year old girl smoking or a drowned cat.
 |
| TV's, "MOD SQUAD" WAS A HIPPIE, UNDERCOVER POLICE TEAM THAT FEATURED A WHITE MAN, WHITE WOMAN AND A BLACK MAN. THE SHOW LASTED FIVE SEASONS AND 123 EPISODES FROM 1968-1973. |
Ike, is Walter Sherman’s shapely but tough, Scottish accented female sidekick. Apparently, Ike owes her life to, “The Finder.” But instead of being a corny love interest, she was more like his conscious and emotional protector while also serving as his bartender, airplane pilot and a walking encyclopedia. Unfortunately, her character was dumped after the pilot episode in favor of a cardboard detective/love interest, (so much for uniqueness).
Luckily my favorite character was not dropped by the show. Michael Clarke Duncan plays male sidekick Leo Knox, (a likeable, Buddha-spouting widower and former attorney). He also owes his life to Sherman and serves as his confidant, manager, legal advisor and bodyguard. I became transfixed with every baritone word and action he made. I especially liked his use of lawyer-speak when advising Sherman not to do something. Which gave rise to The Finder’s catchphrase; I’ll risk it, (which was cleverly used in the pilot but rarely called upon throughout the show’s short run).
Another character that never appeared after the pilot was the Catholic bishop. Dynamic anti-religious sparks fly when Walter asks the Bishop for historical data about the church's connection with the map piece that might lead to a sunken Spanish gold galleon. Apparently the Bishop owes Walter his faith therefore he is patient with the anthesist's impertinence. To be consistent with the show's demise, the non-religious aspects The Finder’s nature is never mentioned again.
It didn’t take long until I became disillusioned by, “THE FINDER’S”, direction. I only watched in hope that it might rediscover the magic of the pilot, and if it couldn’t, watching Duncan was enough for me.
I first found Michael Clarke Duncan in 1999’s, “THE GREEN MILE.” He gave a memorable performance as John Coffey, a Depression-era, wrongly convicted child murderer, on death row in Louisiana. It’s ironic, that role catapulted his career in film, TV and voice-overs in animated features. But he was lost to me for more than ten years because I was unfamiliar with any of his work until, “THE FINDER” episode of, “BONES.”
 |
| MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN (1957-2012), HAD KNOCKED AROUND HOLLYWOOD GETTING ODD JOBS THAT INCLUDED HIGH-PROFILE BODYGUARD WORK. HE STARTED DOING COMMERCIALS AND BIT ACTING PARTS UNTIL HIS BIG BREAK IN,"THE GREEN MILE." |
I may not know which is sadder, a twelve-year old girl smoking or a drowned cat. But I do know I was deeply saddened by Michael Clarke Duncan’s untimely heart attack and death. Which I assume was only a coincidence because it came shortly after the Fox Network announced that “THE FINDER” was cancelled.
Duncan led a clean life, was a vegetarian and lived many of the precepts of Buddhism. The Finder served its calling when it found Duncan for me but alas, now they are both gone...
 |
| IN A CRAZY MAN-CRUSH KIND OF WAY, I MISS DUNCAN. IN THE TWO ROLES I KNOW HIM FROM, HE WAS DEEP, INTELLIGENT AND MADE ME FEEL THAT THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM WERE SAFE. WHENEVER I THINK ABOUT IT, I CAN'T STAND LOSING HIM. |
Michael Clarke Duncan's passing makes me think of the 1979, chart-topping song by the, "POLICE," "I CAN'T STAND LOSING YOU." Click on the link below to hear the thought provoking lyrics.
http://search.mywebsearch.com/mywebsearch/redirect.jhtml?action=pick&qs=&pr=GG&searchfor=youtube+the+police+I+can%27t+stand+losing+you&cb=CD&p2=%5ECD%5Exdm003%5ES04317%5Eus&n=77fc41c7&qid=825087a8ef484cbfbe4484f82295acff&ptb=D6B92608-79BD-4909-92A0-160CFD832118&si=CKuH4unForUCFQPd4AodLCEADg&pg=GGmain&ots=1407692347187&pn=1&ss=sub&st=bar&tpr=sc&redirect=mPWsrdz9heamc8iHEhldEcgdjfjqpMajKYmz288FhTLdjzyG8DEAy6s%2BGyLAMdxQJj8lG1xD4KFm32d%2F1k%2BwmQ%3D%3D&ord=0&ct=AR&
I found Michael Clarke Duncan (again) but now he's lost for good. Unfortunately, the best way to remember him is not through, "THE FINDER." series. That's why I'm recommending you watch the single “BONES” episode with him.
No comments:
Post a Comment