Here's Hoping They Don't Send "Reaper" To Hell

CW's "Reaper" was one of my favorites among the new shows last fall, and now we're fighting to save it. How much does that suck?

Already it appears that "Aliens In America," another smart CW show, has been canceled, since cast members are taking other jobs, including a gig for Adhir Kalyan, who played Raja, on "Nip/Tuck."

Now "Reaper" has been listed as "on the bubble," and star Bret Harrison's web site is half-seriously suggesting that we follow the lead of "Jericho" fans and their peanuts and bury CW executives under an avalanche of tube socks. Because, you see, Harrison's everyman hero Sam Oliver finds much-needed comic relief with Tyler Labine's feral, Belushian sidekick Bert 'Sock' Wysocki.

I can't say the example of "Jericho" is ultimately all that inspiring - they got the show back on the air, for seven episodes, and even fewer people watched it this season. So buh-bye. In a way that sucks even more than a simple cancellation. But "Reaper" deserves to live.

The set-up, for those who've forgotten, finds Sam and Sock slacking happily at a big-box store called Work Bench, until Sam finds out on his 21st birthday that his parents long ago sold his soul to the devil. (They had their reasons.) And now the Devil, in the sleek and oily form of Ray Wise, shows up and puts Sam to work as a bounty hunter, chasing down Hell's escapees. So each week Sam and Sock and their pal Ben (Rick Gonzalez) are handed a vessel in which to entrap whatever hideous monster or undead psycho they're supposed to track down this week. Serio-comic hijinks ensue. It's all good to these amateur Ghostbusters, except for the way his unusual hobby complicates Sam's attempts to woo lovely coworker Andi (Missy Peregrym).

The pilot written by a couple of cop-show vets named Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters - chicks! - was a seamless laugh riot, especially as directed by Kevin Smith. Once they showed us that Hell has a branch office at the DMV, I was theirs. The next few episodes got a little rocky, and by the time the show smoothed off a rough edge here and there, the writers strike was screwing with the entire season. Now "Reaper" is back with the season's last few new episodes, and it's really doing its best to pay off on the promise of the pilot. Among other things, Sam is now caught between the Devil and a revolt of freedom-loving demons led by the stylishly gay Tony (Ken Marino).

Sure, "Reaper's" ratings aren't great, but it's attracting an audience as big or bigger than that accorded "Gossip Girl," despite the fact that show gets oceans more publicity and network promotion. In fact, most network dramas are having a hard time recovering from the disruption of the strike, according to no less an authority than the Times. Harrison and Labine are very funny together, and Wise's performance offers the pleasure of watching an old pro make his work look effortless. So c'mon, CW, renew "Reaper" now, before I peel off these Champion half-socks and send 'em to ya used. You want hell...

Comments

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Used socks, eh? Now there's a scary thought... I'm desperate enough for a second season to try anything though.