|
Fraser is something of your stereotypical "dudley do-right"
(although don't allow his naivete to always fool you)
whereas Ray is more the street-wise Chicago cop (but don't
allow his "in your face" attitude to always fool you
either). They make an interesting pair, but it soon becomes
apparent that their developing friendship is something special.
The television program itself has its own interesting story...
canceled by CBS after the first season, Alliance (the show's
producers) managed to find enough additional funding to keep
it going. When CBS found itself looking for a replacement for
some 1995 season failures, they gave due SOUTH a second
chance. Although doing well, the program was canceled yet again.
This time it looked like death for certain. The contracts were
finished, the sets were dismantled, and even some of the props
were sold or donated. But due SOUTH still had some life
left - and Alliance managed to bring it back for one last season,
this time with Paul Gross (Const. Fraser) pulling a tri-role
as actor/executive producer/writer. Because of the almost certain
demise after season 2, season 3 did come to us with several changes.
Most notable was the introduction of a new character, Detective
Stanley Raymond Kowlaski, who filled the void left when David
Marciano (Det. Vecchio) was unable to return as a regular member
of the cast.
This program has developed something of a reputation for it's
unique sense of humor, which I best know how to describe as being,
simply, Canadian. There are often "in jokes" in the
episodes, and they don't waste an opportunity to poke fun at
any Canadian and/or American stereotype. But at the heart of
the program is the character development - it focuses on Fraser
and his relationships with the people he encounters, especially
those he has come to call friend. The episodes have run the gamut,
producing both hysterical moments and gut-wrenching dramatic
instances as well.
|