DUSHKU SEES DEAD PEOPLE IN 'TRU CALLING'.Byline: David Kronke Television Critic SOMEONE GET Tru Davies a subway pass. In tonight's premiere of ``Tru Calling,'' she's dashing madly on foot around New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. trying to prevent an untimely death that only she's privy to. Granted, a shot of the lithesome lithe·some adj. Lithe; lissome. Adj. 1. lithesome - moving and bending with ease lissom, lissome, lithe, supple, sylphlike, svelte, slender graceful - characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution Tru riding the subway toward a potential crime scene is hardly as dramatic as one of her dashing through curiously empty city streets, but if she's really interested in making good time, running ain't that efficient. But then, not a whole lot really makes sense in ``Tru Calling,'' a surprisingly dispirited dis·pir·it·ed adj. Affected or marked by low spirits; dejected. See Synonyms at depressed. dis·pir  it·ed·ly adv.Adj. enterprise starring Eliza Dushku (``Buffy the Vampire Slayer'') as Tru Davies. In a brief prologue, it's established that Tru is haunted by witnessing the murder of her mother at an early age. But she's not that haunted, as she's chronically late (even for her college graduation) - and, despite graduating, hasn't made firm plans for medical school yet. Hence, she takes a job at a city morgue morgue (morg) a place where dead bodies may be kept for identification or until claimed for burial. morgue n. - the very one, we discover, where her mother was taken (shudder!) - working the graveyard (eek!) shift. Each week, paramedics bring in another disfigured dis·fig·ure tr.v. dis·fig·ured, dis·fig·ur·ing, dis·fig·ures To mar or spoil the appearance or shape of; deform. [Middle English disfiguren, from Old French desfigurer corpse (ulp!) who, more amusingly than creepily (oops!), turn to the camera, pop open their eyes and implore im·plore v. im·plored, im·plor·ing, im·plores v.tr. 1. To appeal to in supplication; beseech: implored the tribunal to have mercy. 2. , ``Help me.'' From there, Tru wakes up and finds herself back at square one the previous morning and spends her day attempting to right the wrongs that were committed in her dream/vision. ``Tru Calling'' is a grim amalgam of ``Crossing Jordan Crossing Jordan is an American television crime/drama series that aired on NBC. It stars Jill Hennessy as the crime-solving medical examiner, Jordan Cavanaugh. The show uses an ensemble cast approach featuring a group of Jordan's co-workers, members of the Boston Medical ,'' ``The Sixth Sense'' and ``Groundhog Day.'' ``Most of these people shouldn't be dead yet,'' Tru is told meaningfully, but, ``there's nothing you can do about it.'' Except, maybe, sprint frantically around the city. The producers don't seem to appreciate the irony that in two episodes made available for review, Tru's post-vision meddling med·dle intr.v. med·dled, med·dling, med·dles 1. To intrude into other people's affairs or business; interfere. See Synonyms at interfere. 2. To handle something idly or ignorantly; tamper. seems to be at least a partial catalyst for the tragedies or near-tragedies that ensue. Dead men do tell tales in ``Tru Calling,'' but you quickly see why it's preferable they don't. David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke(at)dailynews.com TRU CALLING - Two stars What: A curious amalgam of ``Crossing Jordan,'' ``The Sixth Sense'' and ``Groundhog Day.'' Eliza Dushku stars as a morgue attendant who sees her clients' grisly futures, then goes about trying to prevent them. Where: Fox (Channel 11). When: 8 tonight. In a nutshell: Dead men do tell tales here, but you'll see why it's preferable they don't. |
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