CRACKER: MIND OVER MURDER: TRUE ROMANCE {PART 1 OF 2} {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The first in this dramatic crime series, based on the British program of the same name, about hard-drinking psychologist Gerry "Fitz" Fitzgerald, who juggles a teaching career, a dwindling practice, a radio program and consultant work with the LAPD.
In the first half of this two-part episode, Fitz advises a patient about her unhappy marriage. He then references his own frustrating home life, including the unplanned birth of his infant son, in his Psychology 101 class, telling the amused students that he has received passionate love letters from a mysterious admirer. Later, he is called to the scene of a homicide and observes that the dead man was electrocuted after some kind of sexual encounter. As the detectives analyze the case, Lieutenant Fisk pulls Fitz aside for some personal marital advice, threatening to fire him when he proves unhelpful. Back at home, Fitz banters with wife Judith and teens Michael and Hope; when Fitz receives another love letter, the cops realize that the author is behind the murder – and intends to kill again.
Fitz visits son Michael at his fast-food job and questions him about his unhappiness; Michael admits that his girlfriend Debbie dumped him after suffering a miscarriage. The detectives identify the body as Steven Lowery and eliminate his roommate Frank and girlfriend Carol as suspects. Elsewhere an unknown blonde woman seduces, restrains, and murders another young man. Fitz commiserates with Detective Penny Hatfield at a bar, wondering if true love can exist in a marriage. When the murderer dumps the second body, she ends up also killing a good Samaritan who stops to assist her with her stalled car. Judith leaves Fitz in anger after a late-night argument. When Fitz is later called to the new crime scene with the two bodies, he realizes that the killer is deviating from her usual target and is now all the more dangerous.
The detectives begin to worry that Fitz is a liability, as the killer is committing her murders "for him," according to the letters. Fitz declares that she will soon expose herself. On his radio show, Fitz tells his audience that he will soon be removed from his position at the LAPD because of the murders; this prompts the distraught killer to place a call to the precinct, using a voice modifier. She gives her name as "Nina" and frantically declares her love for Fitz, stating that he must be placed back on the case. The cops scramble to track her position as Fitz keeps her talking. They conclude that she must live somewhere close to the payphone in question, but "Nina" decides upon a new strategy and visits Michael at work, quickly striking up a flirtation. Later, Fitz is shocked to receive a fax from the killer, revealing that she has his son. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 18, 1997 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:57
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:50662
- GENRE: Drama, police/private detective
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, police/private detective; Psychology; Marriage; Murder
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-1998
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "The Edge" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "The Game" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - All detergent
- TV - Commercials - Alpha Hydrox skin lotion
- TV - Commercials - American Express credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Behr house paints
- TV - Commercials - Burlington Coat Factory stores
- TV - Commercials - Electrosol Tabs dishwasher detergent
- TV - Commercials - GlaxoWellcome smoking cessation program
- TV - Commercials - Mediterania pasta sauce
- TV - Commercials - Mentadent Advanced Whitening toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Red Lobster restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Shedd's Spread Country Crock Churn Style spread
- TV - Commercials - Staples stores
- TV - Commercials - Vaseline Intensive Care lotion
- TV - Commercials - Visa Platinum credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Wisk detergent
- TV - Commercials - Zantac 75 heartburn medication
- TV - Promos - "20/20"
- TV - Promos - "C-16: FBI"
- TV - Promos - "Crowned and Dangerous"
- TV - Promos - "Hiller and Diller"
- TV - Promos - "Home Improvement"
- TV - Promos - "NYPD Blue"
- TV - Promos - "Spin City"
- TV - Promos - "The Drew Carey Show"
- TV - Promos - "The Practice"
- TV - Promos - "Timecop"
- TV - Promos - "Total Security"
- TV - Promos - ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings
CREDITS
- James Sadwith … Executive Producer, Director, Created by, Adapted by
- Donald Kushner … Executive Producer
- Scott Siegler … Executive Producer
- Rob Dwek … Executive Producer
- Gub Neal … Executive Producer
- Steve Turner … Associate Producer
- Len Goldstein … Associate Producer
- Jimmy McGovern … Based on the series created by
- Paul Abbott … Based on the episode written by
- Roy Hay … Music by
- Robert Pastorelli … Cast, Gerry 'Fitz' Fitzgerald
- Mariska Hargitay … Cast, Detective Penny Hatfield
- Carolyn McCormick … Cast, Judith Fitzgerald
- Robert Wisdom … Cast, Detective Danny Watlington
- Josh Hartnett … Cast, Michael Fitzgerald
- R. Lee Ermey … Cast, Lieutenant Fry
- Sarah Paulson … Cast, "Nina" / Janice McCarthy
- Laurel Holloman … Cast, Carol
- Scott Sowers … Cast, Detective Parker
- Sally Livingston … Cast, Hope Fitzgerald
- Vince Vieluf … Cast, John Barton
- Linda Carlson … Cast, Leslie Fry
- Christine Healy … Cast, Irene
- Paul Perri … Cast, Waldron
- Fab Filippo … Cast, Frank
- Ann Shatilla … Cast, TV Anchor