"Basic cable" and "original, quality drama" used to be mutually exclusive terms. But no longer.
Not only is TNT's "Bull" one of the best new dramas you're going to see this season, it also towers above a similar show on a broadcast network.
Both "Bull," which premieres tonight at 6, 7 and 8 on TNT, and Fox's forthcoming "The $treet" are about groups of young people who work on Wall Street. But that's where the similarities end.
Whereas "Bull" is intriguing, thought-provoking, intelligent drama, "The $treet" is "Melrose Place" in business suits.
What makes this at least a bit surprising is that "Bull" creator and executive producer Michael Chernuchin, a veteran of "Law & Order," has been trying to sell this show for 10 years. He finally does, only to discover that Darren Star ("Melrose," "90210" and "Sex and the City") has sold that other Wall Street show to Fox.
Star insists he hasn't seen "Bull" and doesn't plan to for fear of influencing his own work. (He should be so lucky.) "I guess the fact that there are two shows dealing with . . . Wall Street means that it certainly is out there," he said.
"Yes, the time is now for Wall Street," Chernuchin agreed. "And, as we know, Hollywood is kind of a copycat medium."
Not that he's accusing Star of copying.
"I think the shows are different. I think we're going for a more sophisticated audience," Chernuchin understated. He called Star "a great guy" but said he has no interest in anything approaching "Melrose. "We're not doing that. Whether or not we're better or worse, I don't know."
Well, having seen both pilots, I do. And "Bull" is so much better than "The $treet," there's really no comparison.
"Bull" takes awhile to get started — largely because there are so many cast members to introduce — but once things start rolling, they move along nicely.
The central character in this ensemble is Robert "Ditto" Roberts III (George Newbern), who has become quite a success at the Wall Street firm run by his grandfather, Robert "The Kaiser" Roberts Sr. (Donald Moffat). But Grandpa plays fast and loose with morals and ethics, and Ditto wants to strike out on his own.
Fleeing the established firm with Ditto are the confident Corey Granville (Malik Yoba), who has hit a glass ceiling because he's African-American; the capable Alison Jeffers (Elisabeth Rohm), who's hiding a couple of secrets; Marty Decker (Ian Kahn), who's both a shark and a family man; Carson Boyd (Christopher Wiehl), who's both smart and naive; and Marissa Ruffo (Alicia Coppola), who's initially reluctant but eventually comes around.
Then there's Stanley Tucci, doing a delicious turn as the oily Hunter Lasky, who may be friend, foe or both to the struggling new firm.
And there are indeed struggles, not the least of which is opposition from the Kaiser, who isn't happy about Ditto's defection.
While "Bull" is set on Wall Street and financial terms fly thick and fast, the series is about more than just money.
"These six people decided to break off and revolt," Chernuchin said. "The series really deals with why are some people are content in their corporate offices and these six people decided to go out on their own. It's the entrepreneurial spirit that made America great."
Yoba, who's best known as the star of "New York Undercover," agrees.
"The thing is, the spirit of the show is about the spirit of America," said Yoba. "It's making something happen. Making something from nothing. We broke off from a big firm to do our own thing. . . . I think that people really appreciate the underdog. And I think that's what the show is really about." "I think it's not really about money so much," Newbern said. "It's really about succeeding and inspiring people to do their best.
And Chernuchin, whose credits include "Michael Hayes," "Feds" and "Brooklyn South," in addition to six seasons as an executive producer on "Law & Order," said he's thrilled to be working for a cable network.
"When I first sat down with (TNT executive vice president of original programming) Julie (Weitz) I don't know how many months ago, she said, 'We want to see something we can't see on network television.' By that she didn't mean nudity or four-letter words or violence, she meant substance," Chernuchin said. "We want to see characters can't see on the network television shows. You'll see stuff in the first six episodes that you'll never see on network television."
Such as?
"The relationship between Stanley Tucci's character and Allison — a sort of bizarre sort of love story," he said. And he's particularly proud of a scene between Moffat and guest star Nina Foch, "the most tender love scene you've ever seen — between two people who are in their 70s. I was allowed to do a scene that wasn't plot-driven. This was pure character. And on networks, they have buzzwords — 'What's the button on the scene? What's the act-out?' I think we're coming closer to theater than we are to network television."
And he's looking forward to being able to explore ethical dilemmas.
"In episode 3, Stanley's character does a totally legal business deal that's also disgustingly immoral. And Carson is really caught in the middle of it. There's plenty of conflict.
"We're trying to do a different kind of drama."
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com