Mayo is one of my
all time favourite cop shows (or ‘detective dramas’ as we prefer to call them
in the Old Country. It’s just that more Americans than Brits read the blog
these days, so sometimes I like to pay homage to the fact by talking their language.
I’m grateful. I am. Note, however, that the preferred Brit term is alliterative
and therefore more sophisticated. But still…)
Strictly speaking, Mayo isn’t actually a drama. It’s more of an intelligent spoof
masquerading as a drama. It’s quirky and stylishly presented, with slightly
oddball main characters and a wealth of subtle humour. I’m convinced it’s why
only one series was ever made. It was simply too good for a mainstream audience.
And the leading character – Mayo himself – is my kind of
detective. In the first episode, a murder has been committed in the grounds of
an expensive private clinic and he’s interviewing the Principal. The Principal
is a wealth-obsessed psychotherapist dressed all in white and smooth as
chocolate of the same colour. He’s cocky, evasive, possessed of a phony mid-Atlantic
accent, much given to hip mannerisms and street-speak, and utterly
vomit-inducing. He points Mayo to a large sign in his office which says:
NO Special
Relationship’s
‘Why the apostrophe?’ asks the detective.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘It’s a plural not a possessive. There shouldn’t be an
apostrophe.’
‘I have more important things to worry about than the sign
writing.’
‘OK, but you’re the one who looks stupid.’
Or something like that. As I said, Mayo is my kind of
detective. If you can tear yourself away from all things Hallmark for an hour,
you can watch him here:
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