New show: 'New Amsterdam' and the detective who won't die
Posted: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 10:35 PM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
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TV
Remember the old song, "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)"? It featured a line that said "even old New York was once New Amsterdam / why they changed it I can't say / people just liked it better that way." Well, Fox has a new series, "New Amsterdam," about a detective who remembers well when NYC was called New Amsterdam, because he was alive back then, and he's still alive now.
Seems that our detective, played by Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, was a Dutch soldier back in the 1600s and saved the life of a Native American woman. As a reward, she gave him the gift/curse of immortality, at least until he finds the love of his life. Now going by the name John Amsterdam, he's able to use 350+ years of living to help him solve crimes -- especially those that require a good working knowledge of what New York used to be like.
Producer Alan Loeb says just because Amsterdam has a gift doesn't mean the rest of his New York will be full of people with powers -- for now at least, Amsterdam is the only immortal in the show. Also in the pilot, he suffers what appears to be a heart attack while in the presence of a certain woman, leading him to wonder if the closure of the Native prophecy is finally coming true. Could he have met the woman of his dreams? And will that mean that, after four lifetimes of watching others die and leave him, that he will become mortal himself? We'll find out this fall.
TIDBITS:
How has Amsterdam managed to hide in plain sight for so long -- wouldn't others notice that he didn't age? The producers wouldn't spill all their secrets, but they did allow that "Amsterdam" had probably not always been his name, and that he's become a gifted forger to help him hide his lengthy lifetime.
Are you wondering if the show is a ripoff of the "Highlander" franchise? Both concern immortals, but the producers deny any borrowing, saying they've never seen the movies or shows. They also said they weren't familiar with Pete Hamill's book "Forever," about Cormac O'Connor, who's granted immortality as long as he remains in Manhattan. "The subject of immortality has been compelling ...since the dawn of time," said producer David Manson.
Asked if he himself would want his character's gift of immortality, star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau said no, noting that "I think the worst curse must be if you outlive your children. That must be awful, so no thanks." His character may not be so lucky: Although Amsterdam may not have found his one true love, the producers said he has indeed had children, and will eventually run into their descendants on the streets of New York.
GAEL'S GRADE: OK premise, but the pilot didn't grab me. I'd be surprised if this show could mimic its lead and live forever. B minus.
