Netflix teamed up with Monk creator Andy Breckman for The Good Cop and we get an enjoyable police procedural starring Tony Danza and Josh Groban. The dramedy that is streaming now is Groban’s first series role and the singer does not disappoint. He is able to go the distance with Danza, who is an expert at stealing scenes for 40 years now, in the ring and on this show.
Tony Caruso (Danza) is a former cop who just got out of jail after 7 years for being the most corrupt officer in New York City. His son TJ /Anthony (Groban) is the complete opposite of his dad. The detective is so straight; you would never believe they are related. The one thing they have in common, besides blood of course is they are both good at solving crimes in their own way.
In the first episode, a “friend” of Tony’s is found murdered and he is the lead suspect. That is until the gun used to kill him actually belongs to TJ. Neither Caruso did it, so they have to do what they can prove their innocence. TJ works with his partner Cara Vasquez (Monica Barbaro) to catch the killer and Tony does what he does. Will it be enough to get away with murder, a murder they did not commit?
In the second episodes, a supermodel falls for Tony. He lost his phone and she will do anything to help him find it. But why? The next one takes things to the gutter as in a bowling alley. One of the workers is found dead of apparent suicide, but Vasquez thinks he was murdered. No one believes her until they do. Now they have to solve the crime and win their bowling championship.
What do you do after you bowl? It is time for a wedding. Tony promised his girlfriend a vacation, but he is too cheap to give her the one she wants. When the cops come to him to rat out a friend from prison, he gets the out he needs at the Four Seasons. They offer him a protection for his testimony and he accepts so he can take his girlfriend with him. However, they have to get married in order to make it happen. Once they think they are safe, they find out the guy who he is ratting out knows where Tony is hiding out. Who will get to Tony first the criminal or his wife?
A woman is found murdered in a trash bag by the river and the man who is suspected of killing her is a beloved TV dad (Bob Saget) and now television talk show host. No one but TJ thinks he did it. Then when the guy befriends Tony, it is going to be harder for TJ to prove he might have done it. If he did.
Next up they go on a skiing trip that is also a police convention. Tony is a hit with the other cops, TJ is not. That is OK because he meets a woman. Of course, she will be accused of murdering another cop and only TJ thinks she is innocent. Is she?
Talking about is she, Vasquez meets a guy and they instantly fall in love. So much so, things get really serious between them, real fast. Everything is perfect until his roommate is found dead. Will his roommate’s death be the death of them?
Back in NYC, Tony goes to his favorite restaurant and someone robs the joint and shoots the busboy. The owner has had enough of the business and sells it to Tony. He cannot buy it by himself, so he asks TJ to help him buy it. Tony has all the glory, while TJ does all the work. Besides running the restaurant, TJ also has to figure out who shot the busboy and why. Which job will be harder for TJ?
A nice building in Manhattan is plagued with murder, so TJ and Vasquez’s boss (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) sends them in as a married couple to catch the killer. Will they kill each other before the killer gets them? All of this leads to shocking reveal that seems to set things up for season 2. Which I am sure there will be one.
The Good Cop is a mix of Kojak with a little Psych and Monk mixed in. Recently, I started watching Kojak and what I liked about it, is you get to know the bad guy’s motives. Something they do not do on today’s procedurals, so I really liked that aspect. Then you add in a buddy cop story with some humor and you get a cop show that is a throwback to the old police series with a modern twist.
Danza trades in his comedy chops for something a little more serious. Something that seems so natural for him that you will forget this is the Tony we know from Taxi and Who’s the Boss. Groban on the hand puts all of his goofiness on hold to be the straight man of the show. Nevertheless, do not worry, he still has a funny moment in each episode. Just do not expect him to sing that honor goes to Danza this time around.
Between their chemistry, the writing, the story and the cases, you will find yourself binging all 10 episodes in one sitting. Just like a good book you cannot put down, this is a show you cannot press stop on. Therefore, you will want to get comfortable to watch all 10 episodes in a row.
