If “Psych” and “Suits” had never happened, “Common Law,” probably wouldn’t feel as, well, common as it does.
But the truth is that these and other two-on-a-mismatch, cop/lawyer bromance shows have so diluted the formula that what could be fresh and funny feels more like a rerun of something you’ve seen before.
That doesn’t mean this odd couple show doesn’t work. It does — but you may be bored with the “Lethal Weapon”-meets-“CSI” formula by now.
Here, we have LAPD detectives Wes (Warren Kole), who is the uptight, anal-retentive, obsessive/compulsive half of the duo. (Neurosis has replaced the quirky car as the must-have cop accessory these days — although Wes is also a car fanatic.) Wes gave up lawyering for law enforcement.
His partner, Travis (Michael Ealy), is a cool, womanizing orphan who is looser and somehow healthier even though he was left on a doorstep and named for a Cabbage Patch Kid.
In the opening show, the two are at group couples counseling (which seems like an oxymoron). Wes and Travis are so like bickering marrieds that all the other bickering marrieds think they are gay partners. They are partners, but on the job, not in life sort.
The boys have been sent to group therapy couples counseling because their captain (Jack McGee) doesn’t want them beating each other up anymore. He’d bust them down to street cops, but, of course, they are the best homicide detectives in the squad.
Anyway, their therapist, Dr. Ryan (Sonya Walger), doesn’t seem to think that putting these guys in with a bunch of married people is at all odd — although it will probably seem unbelievable to you.
Of course, a cop show can’t be all laughs, so there is one murder per episode to solve, which is almost beside the point. Wes does the Sherlock part and Travis takes on the Dirty Harry-operating-outside-the-box thing. Opposites, remember?
Of course, most of the cops, robbers and female docs look like they worked their way through school as super models, which is beyond ridiculous — but hey, it’s TV.
This isn’t ground-breaking TV, but if you’re looking for a few good laughs and a lot of action without the commitment of marriage, “Common Law” the way to go.