Lee Bey: The Urban Observer

How many truly great television shows have been set and shot  in Chicago? That's an honest question, not a criticism. I would say NBC's "Crime Story" from 1986 is one.

Besides that, what else is there? "Early Edition," from the late 1990s, but after that, I am drawing a blank.

This got me thinking about the cancelled-too-soon TV comedy "Cupid," which starred Jeremy Piven. Premiering in 1998 and lasting barely a season on ABC, the set-in-Chicago comedy centered on Piven who may (or may not) have been Cupid sent to earth. The cast included Paula Marshall as the psychiatrist assigned to him and the underrated Jeffrey D. Sams as his roomate.

 

"Cupid" was quick, smart and funny. Piven was excellent. The show had an eye for the city, throwing in locales such as Wrigleyville, south Michigan Avenue, the University of Chicago, and Bucktown. Marshall Field's made an appearance in one episode.  Shoot, the opening credits were cool enough, featuring the cast in and around Wacker Drive with The Pretenders song "Human" as the show's theme.

And further proof that Satan himself is the god of this world, "Cupid" got canceled after 15 episodes and "According to Jim" is--what?--still on after seven years?! Don't get me started.

Anyway, Cupid does live on on Youtube. If you click on the link above to see the opening credit,  you'll notice there are some complete episodes posted. Check em out.

BTW: In the opening paragraph, I was going to mention short-lived 1982 drama "Chicago Story." I remember it being a cool show, then I found the intro on YouTube and now I'm not so sure. You can see it at the 1:48 mark of this posting of 1982 tv show opening credits.