Chicago Hope
by Adam Arkin, Peter Berg, Christine Lahti, Tony Bill, Arvin Brown
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Adam Arkin, Christine Lahti, Peter BergDirector: Adam Arkin, Arvin Brown, Christine Lahti, Peter Berg, Tony Bill
Format: NTSC
Running Time: 60 minutes
Movie Reviews of Chicago Hope
Movie Review: Does David E. Kelley Hate DVD?
Summary: 5 Stars
Is that why none of his shows are on DVD in America? Exactly what is keeping his stuff from being released? I'd quickly snatch up season 1 of "Chicago Hope" and the first 2-3 seasons of "Picket Fences" if they came out.
Regarding "Chicago Hope" vs "ER"...to me, if anything, they're complements to each other. "Chicago Hope" is quirky, methodical and character-driven. "ER" is grounded, fast-paced, intense and plot-driven. I've always preferred "ER", especially because I felt it was better and more satisfying for far longer("Hope" lost its appeal around season 3), but also because of the cast. While "Hope" featured better actors, the group on "ER" just came off as more likable and easier to get attached to. "Hope" also added and lost too many actors in its first couple seasons while "ER" lost just one core character in its first 4+ seasons.
With that said, the first season and a half of "Chicago Hope" is a revelation, with its wildly eccentric group of characters, often crazy plots and its ability to really tug at your heartstrings without being too corny or over-the-top. Not only is this a great cast in terms of individual performers, but they all work extremely well together. For the kind of material David E. Kelley is famous/infamous for, you need a group that can smoothly interact with each other and make the insanity seem natural. This wonderful ensemble gets the job done...nothing ever seems forced and you get the sense that these people feel genuinely comfortable in what is a surreal atmosphere.
Special mention goes out to Mandy Patinkin and his character "Jeffrey Geiger", one of the best performances and characters in tv history. Patinkin is always brilliant, managing to find the right note every time as a certifiable genius. Even when the charcter can be a total a**, Patinkin's skill and charm keep you from disliking him.
This is a great show that deserves to be on DVD. Will David E. Kelley please stop rolling around in his gigantic pile of $100 bills and get this and "Picket Fences" on DVD already!