Movie-TV Credits
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(1987 made-for-tv movie; originally aired 9/29/87on CBS)
A crime and legal series with William Conrad playing a tough district attorney and Joe Penny as his flashy, high-living special investitigator, Bruce Greenwood
guested in the 2-hour pilot episode as Carson Warfield, a spoiled rich kid, whose "fatal attraction" affair with his step-mother leads to the multiple murders of his father, the family dog and several other people as the homicidal lovers cover-up their complex scheme. Filmed during the break between his two St. Elsewhere seasons, this cemented his on-sceen image at that time: attractive, philandering, and amoral, but works against some other generalities as the character is far more multi-layered and not even as opportunistic as first indicated. Engendered by his success as Dr. Seth Griffin, Greenwood seemed to find these roles amusing to play and this one was obviously performed with relish as well as delicacy. There are some wonderfully detailed scenes with his on-screen amour (played effectively by Karen Austin) and several amusing encounters with Joe Penny's high-flying character, as well. This may be Greenwood's most glamourous era. He has an aura of distinct Hollywood glitter here.
Although this was filmed as a two-hour pilot for the series, it ended up being broadcast on September 29, three days after the series premiered. It aired as two back-to-back episodes with slightly different credits on each episode.
Jake and the Fatman has the dubious distinction of being the only show with 100 episodes that was never picked up for syndication, though episodes do appear here and there. Since this was filmed as a TV-movie, it could broadcast that way as well, though it hasn't aired in some years now.
The Fred Silverman Co., 1987
Sound Files from Jake and the Fatman
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 Carson runs into an old flame | 57 secs |
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Carson Warfield on trial | 39 secs |