Rookie Blue is cop clone of Grey's Anatomy

    I just finished the pilot of ABC's new cop drama Rookie Blue, "Fresh Paint", and I'm having flashbacks to spring a few years ago to another ABC pilot, Grey's Anatomy.  Both were held very until late in the television season before premiering.  Both featured five newly minted professionals, out of school and ready for on the job training.  One was a very attractive blond, one seemed more confident than she should.  The main girl harbored feelings for a superior, and had a parent that was well respected while working where she works now, but is no longer active.  The pilot had a couple of bar scenes, and the first day was more eventful than expected.  Who copies Grey's and thought we wouldn't notice?  Did they just assume that people who watch hospital shows don't also watch cop shows, and wouldn't notice the blatant mimic?  I, for one, noticed.

     That being said, it's not a bad recipe.  Grey's is plenty popular, and should Rookie Blue miraculously outlast the summer, it could be, too.  The main character, Andy McNally (the talented Missy Peregrym, who played a different Andi on Reaper) is charming.  The other four rookies didn't get that much development in the pilot, and honestly, I don't think I could even give you one difference between the two guys.  However, none of the actors were unpleasant or grating, so there's a plus.  Eric Johnson (Flash Gordon, Smallville) is her love interest, although I sense a triangle brewing with undercover detective Sam (Ben Bass).

     The show also focused more on the cops themselves than the cases they were working, which is a good thing.  Grey's managed to find a balance between patient stories and doctor stories, and that's why it's so much better than the procedural dreg out there.  It's truly serial, with developments in maturity and relationships among all the players.  Blue has a shot at doing that, too, if they stick to what they did in the pilot.

     Rookie Blue isn't particularly original, so it's hard to give a rating, or even a long, detailed review, without feeling like I'm not taking the show on it's own merits, or just repeating myself.  Bottom line, I'm setting a season pass for now.  It'll make good summer television, at least.  Time will tell if it'll ever be anything more, and I just can't bring myself to make a prediction.  I give it 3 and a half stars out of 5.

     Rookie Blue airs Thursdays at 9pm on ABC.