TV Jots

Top-Notch Guest Performance

If you enjoyed the June 22 premiere of new TNT original crime dramedy Memphis Beat, I’ve got some great news: the second episode, tonight’s (June 29) “Baby, Let’s Play House,” is just as good and entertaining. TNT has another winner on its hands.

“Baby, Let’s Play House” revolves around a poor family who comes to the attention of Memphis detective partners Dwight (Jason Lee) and Whitehead (Sam Hennings) when the youngest son tells his class that his missing father, a truck driver, was abducted. Academy Award nominee Juliette Lewis (Natural Born Killers, Cape Fear) plays the child’s mother Cleo, who seems overwhelmed with trying to keep her family intact during challenging — to say the least — circumstances. As in the premiere, the central crime is intriguing and the investigation equally so.

Adding a little personal tension on the side for Dwight is his mother Paula’s (Celia Weston) continuing relationship with her neighbor, who seems to have a hidden thing for the young ladies, as Dwight learned at the end of the first episode. Then there’s Dwight’s former wife Alex, whom he can’t seem to get a proper handle on during her first appearance on the show.

Two things really stand out in this installment: an on-foot chase scene at the beginning, which highlights why Whitehead delivers the funny so well in his scenes, and Alfre Woodard‘s distinctive performance as boss Lieutenant Tanya Rice. She has a couple of memorable scenes that will leave viewers with a much better understanding of how she works and why her methods are effective. Folks who haven’t warmed up to her yet just might now.

Sneak a peek at several scenes from “Baby, Let’s Play House” below and don’t forget to tune in at 10pm ET.