I love James Garner. I love offbeat Westerns like Butch Cassidy, Silverado, Blazing Saddles, Maverick and Support Your Local Sheriff). I love Stuart Margolin playing any kind of slimy con- artist.
So why don't I love Nichols?
1) Not nearly enough Garner. In the episodes I watched, Garner got maybe 20% of the screen time. Margolin got a couple lines here and there. The other actors/characters just aren't strong enough to carry the show the other 80%. 2) Terrible scripts. Offbeat is one thing, but completely lacking in coherence and believability is another. 3) Lack of focus. The producers/directors/writers had no clear idea of what the show was about. It shifted from anti-Vietnam rants to F-troop style gag humor, to earnest social commentary. 4) Just NOT funny. Brevity is the soul of wit. Too many of the scenes went on and on with no clear purpose and no really funny lines.
I'm sure the network thought an offbeat Western with James Garner set in the era of Butch Cassidy couldn't miss. They thought wrong.
So why don't I love Nichols?
1) Not nearly enough Garner. In the episodes I watched, Garner got maybe 20% of the screen time. Margolin got a couple lines here and there. The other actors/characters just aren't strong enough to carry the show the other 80%. 2) Terrible scripts. Offbeat is one thing, but completely lacking in coherence and believability is another. 3) Lack of focus. The producers/directors/writers had no clear idea of what the show was about. It shifted from anti-Vietnam rants to F-troop style gag humor, to earnest social commentary. 4) Just NOT funny. Brevity is the soul of wit. Too many of the scenes went on and on with no clear purpose and no really funny lines.
I'm sure the network thought an offbeat Western with James Garner set in the era of Butch Cassidy couldn't miss. They thought wrong.