‘Gotham” is an idea long overdue for network TV.
DC Comics has long mined street-level, everyday Gotham City with success, most notably with the critically acclaimed “Gotham Central” comic book that ran from 2003-06.
Although set in present day and with James Gordon largely absent, the series dealt with the professional and personal lives of an elite unit of detectives tasked with solving major crimes in a city besieged by homicidal freaks and costumed vigilantes. Think “NYPD Blue” and “Homicide” mixed with the Joker and Mr. Freeze. Instead of being the focal point, Batman is a shadowy figure on the edge of their world.
As high concept as that sounds, it was one of the best mainstream comics of the last decade and proved that the concept, executed in a sophisticated fashion, could work in a long-term serial. The comic actually served as one of the templates for Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, which have been lauded for their adult approach to the subject matter,
Since the comic’s close seven years ago, fans have been clamoring for a show based on the idea and it looks like Warner Bros. and Fox have come pretty close.
Now all they need to do is cast Bryan Cranston as Gordon, the guy at the top of most fans’ wish lists.