Fitz
Fitz - a study in brooding darkness
Fitz, or to give him his Sunday name, Dr Edward Fitzgerald, was the fictional creation of Jimmy McGovern, whose record in British television is second to very few. It’s worth reading the original sketch at the unofficial Cracker fan site to see how the character of the forensic psychologist was conceived and how perfectly Robbie Coltrane created the writer’s vision – even though, as is well known, he was not the original choice for the role (the producers originally asked Robert Lindsay but he turned it down).
The rest as they say is history. Coltrane took on the role, and went onto win the Best Actor on Television BAFTA three years in a row in the mid 1990s. His portrait of the psychologist brought into "profile" criminals who could sort out the most complex motivations in desperate and damaged criminals but could not sort out his own private life was simply unmissable.
Soon after that the American version, often also known as Cracker in the US but mostly as Fitz, was unveiled, this time featuring the late Robert Pastorelli in the title role.
Pastorelli (who died in 2004 at the age of only 49) was a burly kind of guy, an ex-boxer with a long track record in US TV from Hill Street Blues to Murphy Brown. But he was no Coltrane and initially the US series failed to gain traction because of perceived differences with the original. They even changed things you would think wouldn’t matter, like the character's name from Edward to Gerry.
But viewed on its own terms, it is a dark and brooding series with probably Pastorelli’s career best performance. Playing Fitz as he did - as less-than-lovable curmudgeon without the usual saving graces of humour or humility – was both brave and truer to life. And by US standards, a leading character as depressive, grouchy, arrogant, flippant, self-absorbed, and sometimes downright rude as this was ground-breaking then – even if things have moved on since.
Episodes
July 12 Madwoman
When an amnesia victim, covered in blood, is found near the scene of a brutal murder aboard a moving train, the police are convinced they have their killer and bring Fitz in to get a confession. Fitz, however, is less convinced of the suspect's guilt, and takes it upon himself to help the man, the 'John Doe' recover his memory while he searches for the real killer. Meanwhile, at Judith's insistence, Fitz attends a Gambler's Anonymous meeting, which culminates in Fitz leading the members in a betting frenzy.
July 19 Lemmings Will Fly
When a teacher is suspected of killing a young male student, Fitz' mesmerizing interrogation leads to a startling conclusion that the teacher, Mr. Quint, is gay and was trying to seduce the student being a pedophile. Meanwhile, Fitz considers a getaway proposition from Detective Hannah Tyler after discovering that Judith is dating their marriage counselor Garson Shepherd.
July 26 Hell Hath No Fury
When a newborn baby goes missing from a local hospital, Fitz becomes convinced that the kidnapper is a woman, regardless of the eye witnesses and videotape evidence. But the truth ends up being more surprising than any wild suspicions following the apprehension of a suspect, whom is a maternity nurse, the real abductor is her transvestite brother. Meanwhile, Fitz and Michael are in bitter disagreement over Michael's ex-girlfriend and her re-appearance into their lives. Also, Fitz also attempts to communicate with his wife Judith, which ends up being a mistake.
Fitz joins forces with the Los Angeles police department as they track a severely disturbed young couple, a junkie named Tina, and a stuttering mentally disturbed man named Sean, who have fallen in love with each other while on a murderous rampage. Meanwhile, Judith rejects Fitz' latest plea to move back home after discovering that he continues to suffer from his gambling addiction and refuses to seek professional help.
September 1 Sons and Lovers
When a young boy is accused of murdering his mother, Fitz retraces the victim's final hours, determined to find another explanation for the vicious crime. Meanwhile, Fitz's family bonding efforts at Sunday dinner blow up in his face.
