There have also been female buddy pictures.
The most famous female buddy picture was, of course, THELMA & LOUISE and the female buddy picture goes back to the work of Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly in the 1930s and, before that, Thelma Todd and ZaSu Pitts.
One of the most successful buddy franchises was kicked off with LETHAL WEAPON, teaming up Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, and followed by LETHAL WEAPON II, LEATHAL WEAPON III and LETHAL WEAPON IV.
Now FOX is offering up a weekly LETHAL WEAPON series starring Damon Wayans and Clayne Crawford.
How do you screw up LETHAL WEAPON?
FOX finds a way.
The problem isn't Damon Wayans. As he demonstrated on MY WIFE AND KIDS, to name only one example, he's comfortable on TV and down right funny.
Playing the older cop (the Danny Glover role), Damon shines -- whether his Murtaugh is on the job or interacting with his wife Trish (an amazing and delightful Keesha Sharp).
Where the show falters is with the former Joey Crawford.
He's now known as Clayne Crawford, the baby faced, baby chested actor playing Riggs.
Mel Gibson originated the role in the film series when he was 31-years-old.
Joey/Clayne is 38-years-old.
But while Mel played a man and came off like a man, Clayne comes off like he's auditioning to play the lead in a rebooted DAWSON'S CREEK.
How do you do a buddy show when you're forever worried Damon Wayans is going to have to stop in the middle of a car chase, pull over to the side and change Clayne's diaper?
Shows like this depend solely on chemistry and believable leads.
The scripts aren't very challenging.
The viewer tunes in solely for the interaction between the leads.
So what were people thinking when they cast the underwhelming Crawford opposite heavy weight Damon Wayans?
If they'd went with a lesser actor than Damon, Crawford would still be weak but not as weak.
Clayne opposite Damon is like Jessica Simpson acting opposite Meryl Streep.
Jake McLaughlin stars on ABC's QUANTICO and is four years younger than Crawford but you never doubt that Jake's characters are grown ass men. That was true when Jake starred in NBC's BELIEVE in 2014 as well.
With Crawford, you never believe he's an adult, or a widower or a former Navy SEAL.
Mainly, you don't believe you've wasted an hour watching this crap.
