Sadly Over-hyped

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

WHY oh WHY! was this great programme cancelled?! Such a shame to see this winner pulled from our TV screens . . .I had heard of the US show only after I had come across it on previous UK TV broadcasts, when I caught only 1 or 2 episodes. And I always wanted to watch it from the start, to get the full effect, plus an introduction to the lead character & a background to the tale. So when it recently arrived on the Freeview TV schedule over here in the UK I gladly started watching it. I am currently still on series 1, but am an avid fan. As yes, I was not let down: it is great.David Morse is engaging as the quietly cool lead: the taxi driver with a heart of gold. Very warm & reliable. OK, there is nothing new there re the Hero To The Rescue: after all, how many guys have we seen in TV dramas who regularly "save the day"?! And this hero is the ubiquitous "damaged" ex-cop, to boot! ,-) . . .But any repetition in charactererisation seems negligible. The programme is so well put together as a character-plus-story that any typecasting doesn't matter.And the concept of a taxi driver as the lead character - the cabbie who sees all sides of the world pass through his cab - is so fresh an idea, that it works a treat.Plus there is a new angle in the portrayal of the lead as an erstwhile cop who DID slide down onto the dark side, to the detriment of his career. This is is a new - and brave for network TV - twist to the old idea of a damaged-&-divorced ex-cop. This type of lead protagonist is all too often written as wrongly! charged with a crime, who thus - at the back of each episode in their tale - has a running storyline of the character having to prove his or her innocence. In 'Hack' our hero 'Mike Olshansky' is different: he is not only flawed but it was not - in what is a change to the backstory of many TV leads - innocent in this; he did indeed take what wasn't his to take, leading to his Philadelphia police career taking a tumble. A nice fresh tilt for a mainstream US TV drama.So I was disappointed to find out here at IMDb that the programme only went on for 2 series. After all, we have seen loads of shows produced that are centred on cops, forensic teams, hospital staff, etc., but have never (to my knowledge!) had a show like this, centred upon an ex-cop taxi driver. It was a original & good premise for a long-running show, & could have run & run.I haven't seen any of series 2 yet, so I don't know if it carries on in its strength or - uh-oh!! - worsens (as, sadly, too many US TV shows now seem to do) but I shall enjoy it in the meantime . . .And as for the show being cancelled - sigh!! - after changes in the production team led to the ethos of the programme changing after series 1 ended: I maintain the well-known mantra: if it ain't broke don't mend it. I am getting tired of seeing too many good US TV programmes go downhill after a change of horses mid-programme. Changing any TV drama mid-stream ruins the characterisation & continuity. It's like changing a playwright mid-play, so that the theatregoer returns after the interval only to find that he is watching a completely different style of play! ,-DI am currently on episode 10 . . . right, straight onto episode 11 . . . popcorn at the ready!! :-D

Hack was a TV series starring David Morse that ran for two seasons. 2002-2004. Morse played Mike Olshansky, an ex-police officer who was caught Andre Braugher was with the show for two seasons as Mike's ex police partner, Marcellus. The first season included Donna Murphy as Mike's ex-wife and George Dzundza as a close priest friend of Mike's.In season 2, Dzunda disappeared, as did his family except an occasional appearance by Mike's son. Replacing them were Matt Czuchry as a needy young man and Jacqueline Torres as Mike's next door neighbor.The premise is that Olshansky was caught stealing money from a drug bust and lost his job as a police officer. He also refused to implicate his partner (Braugher). At the start of the series, he was still awaiting trial. His new profession is driving a cab and helping passengers who are in trouble. This often has him calling on Marcellus for help, and vice versa.The first thing is that David Morse is excellent, creating a full, complicated character with lots of problems. The character can be abrupt and grouchy - easygoing just isn't his thing. He's still in love with his soon to be ex-wife Heather. His relationship with Marcellus goes from terrific to rotten and back again.Filmed right in Philadelphia, Hack is a dark show with great locations - so often shows supposedly take place in a city - Provincetown, Boston -- and don't. This one does, and it really adds to the episodes.Some of the episodes are good; many are typical dramas that are predictable. What makes the sows interesting are the characters.You have to really allow for dramatic license here, as I don't think an ex-cop who left in disgrace would be able to just hang out at the police station and actually participate in cases. And don't ask me how he made a living as his cab driving was always being interrupted.Frankly I liked the first season better than the second because it was more focused on the people - Dzundza's conflicts with the priesthood, the tension between Mike and Heather, Marcellus' marital difficulties.I agree with other posters, it's disappointing that this has not yet been put on DVD. I just saw it on Netflix streaming. Maybe that's a sign that it will be available soon.

A show about a disgraced cop turned cab driver.My first reaction when I saw it?I was impressed with it's originality and refreshingly good scripts.This reaction was sustained throughout it's entire lifespan.David Morse plays a cop with warmth,humanity and depth-some one you could easily relate to and actually care about.His heart is in the right place as he helps people overcome problems they encounter,this is accomplished with the assistance of an ex colleague.a priest and a damn good conscience.We learn he's had a messy marital split,he's trying to rebuild his life after being kicked off the force.He saved his friends job in the process of doing this.Thus endearing himself as a loyal friend even in the most testing of times.Filmed entirely in Philidelphia.the locations are perfect for this show.With the aid of wonderful co stars you are receiving a well engineered,excellently scripted and superbly acted show about a man who has had to face some difficult situations in his life.No episode was ever monotonous.Unfortunately it was treated accordingly by the networks.Enjoy it on ITV3.

The few episodes so far seem to indicate that this could be a decent show. David Morse is good as an ex-cop-turned-cabbie who helps people in need whom he encounters along the way. Andre Braugher is good as his ex-partner. I think this could turn into a good show if given the chance.