TV Jots

New School Meets Old School

Burn Notice creator Matt Nix has a new cop show set to debut on Fox, and fans can preview it tonight, May 19, at 8pm ET, before the proper May 31 premiere. Called The Good Guys, the hourlong action comedy stars Roswell alum Colin Hanks and West Wing vet Bradley Whitford.

The two actors play mismatched lawmen Detective Jack Bailey (Hanks) and Police Officer Dan Stark (Whitford). Given the obvious age difference, it’s no surprise that Bailey has a more modern approach to preventing crime, while “washed-up” Stark prefers to take down criminals with less cautious methods.

During the pilot preview (which repeats in the show’s regular 9pm, Monday-night time slot on May 31), the Bailey and Stark saga begins with their investigation of a seemingly minor theft that is actually linked to a more corrupt situation involving hitmen and smuggled drugs. Bailey and Stark’s conflicting approaches to catching lawbreakers gets in the way, of course, leading to much life risking and regulation breaking as they attempt to wrap up the case.

Watching from the sidelines — and continually shaking their heads with resigned dismay — are the pair’s boss Lieutenant Ana Ruiz (Whitford’s former Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip colleague Diana-Maria Riva) and Bailey’s assistant district attorney ex-girlfriend Liz Traynor (Jenny Wade, who was a real treat as demon Nina on much-missed Reaper).

Sneak a peek at the new series in the two clips below focused on Stark’s legendary 70s-era, porn-style moustache and cool classic Trans AM. If the show is only half as good as the cast and Nix’s long-running USA Network mega-hit Burn Notice, The Good Guys should make for fun summer viewing during its 13-episode rookie season.