Person of Interest

The other day I decided to take the M101 bus home from Harlem.  When it finally arrived, I was a little annoyed to see that it terminated at 96th Street instead of making its full route downtown, but lately inconvenience is inherent in the price of a MetroCard; I hopped on and told myself that the short walk from East 96th Street to my apartment would do me good.

When I disembarked, I ran smack into a production assistant for CBS-TV's freshman drama, "Person of Interest."   Because the series was filming that evening on Lexington Avenue, the buses were being temporarily rerouted and the PA was requesting that pedestrians go to the other side of the street to avoid walking into the shot.

As I followed the PA's direction, I couldn't help sneaking a peek at what was going on.  Seeing the filming in action was a bit of a thrill -- even for a born-and-bred New Yorker like me.  First of all, I really like the show.  The premise of a pair of unlikely characters trying to prevent crimes in New York is fascinating.  Its noir style and sophisticated plots are a cut above what's commonly on network television, and Jim Caviezel ("Reese") and Michael Emerson ("Finch") play so well off each other that it's easy to forget they're acting.  To keep things interesting, the writers have infused the plotline with an homage to "The Fugitive," having a female detective (the terrific Taraji P. Henson) on the tail of the good guys.

Part of the fun for me each week is recognizing the streets, shops and landmarks as Reese and Finch hide in plain sight.  I'm very proud of how New York is portrayed throughout the series, and I told the PA as much. Often crime shows propel the drama by making the City look frightening in lieu of crisp, compelling writing.  Jonathan Nolan, the creator and executive producer, doesn't fall into that trap.  "Person of Interest" is a quirky valentine to the Big Apple.   Like Finch's relentless surveillance machine, New York's diverse urban landscape is an integral part of the cast -- and Nolan's team treats it with the respect it deserves.

As I hurried on my way, I forgave the MTA for dumping me on 96th Street.  After all, where else but in New York could one get a backstage pass to the set of "Person of Interest" for the price of a MetroCard?