Release Date:
Wednesday, January 12, 2000
Air Date:
Fridays, 8 P.M. ET
TV Network:
FOX
The Fox Network is like that Ritalin case who sat next to you in third grade. Sure, he was a million laughs, and he was always up to something interesting. But sometimes you wished he’d just cut it out.
Take the case of World’s Wildest Police Videos, hosted by deadpan, lantern-jawed retired lawman John Bunnell. Ten out of 10 for editing and pacing: Say what you will, these shows move as they rip through as many as two dozen life-and-death police stories each week. But maybe the network needs a little quiet time.
On a recent episode, World’s Wildest aired 15-year-old footage of an English soccer riot in which 39 people were trampled to death. The broadcast date coincided with the anniversary of an even deadlier riot, in which 56 people died. At this late date, the footage was not exactly news. And grisly as it is, it’s hard to argue that it’s entertainment.
The show is at its best when it concentrates on badass cops and dumbass criminals. Which, in fairness, is most of the time. Take this week, for example: A fugitive rapper leads cops on a high-speed chase in one of the series’ most exciting vignettes. That, plus a profile of America’s hardest SWAT team—awww, it’s just so hard to stay mad at them.
Take the case of World’s Wildest Police Videos, hosted by deadpan, lantern-jawed retired lawman John Bunnell. Ten out of 10 for editing and pacing: Say what you will, these shows move as they rip through as many as two dozen life-and-death police stories each week. But maybe the network needs a little quiet time.
On a recent episode, World’s Wildest aired 15-year-old footage of an English soccer riot in which 39 people were trampled to death. The broadcast date coincided with the anniversary of an even deadlier riot, in which 56 people died. At this late date, the footage was not exactly news. And grisly as it is, it’s hard to argue that it’s entertainment.
The show is at its best when it concentrates on badass cops and dumbass criminals. Which, in fairness, is most of the time. Take this week, for example: A fugitive rapper leads cops on a high-speed chase in one of the series’ most exciting vignettes. That, plus a profile of America’s hardest SWAT team—awww, it’s just so hard to stay mad at them.