It looks like the later Rizzoli & Illes show was inspired by this show. Better than a lot of things I've seen in a TV landscape dominated by The Police Procedural-this show stands out as being a bit different-but in a good way. It is to crime shows what Yes was to progressive rock music-always something fresh and always done well. I actually cannot remember seeing this show on TV at any time even though it ran for six years it seems. Not even in reruns. I have noticed that in different areas there are shows that don't seem to be available in other areas-I guess this is one of them. Would have watched it-maybe better to see it on DVD without the dreaded barrage of commercials that I think render most shows neutralized at best. Worth a look if you've never seen it. Probably better than watching the 57,000th episode of Law & Order.
86 Reviews
solid procedural
SnoopyStyle22 August 2013
Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh (Jill Hennessy) is a top Boston medical examiner despite her checkered past and aggressive nature. Dr. Garret Macy (Miguel Ferrer) is the chief medical examiner who helps her start over. Bug, Lily Lebowski, and Dr. Nigel Townsend are some of her other fellow workers. She often works with police detective Woody Hoyt (Jerry O'Connell). The earlier seasons have her bouncing off ideas with her ex-cop father Max.
Tim Kring brings us Jill Hennessy and a good cast. It is a solid standard police procedural. The group has good chemistry. It lasted 6 seasons, but it did get convoluted in the last few years. As the show went on, the characters' back story started to conflict with the flow of the show. Eventually it cracked under the weight of the back story.
Tim Kring brings us Jill Hennessy and a good cast. It is a solid standard police procedural. The group has good chemistry. It lasted 6 seasons, but it did get convoluted in the last few years. As the show went on, the characters' back story started to conflict with the flow of the show. Eventually it cracked under the weight of the back story.
Fantastic characters and writing
Glue2Screen2 April 2018
Enjoyable show with quirky characters and great story that will keep you entertained. Season one felt a middle 'cookie cutter' with how each episode is written, following similar formula that makes every episode slightly similar. From season two onwards, the plot moves away from the 'cookie cutter' and has more mystery per episode. I wish the show got a chance to conclude properly and not be so rushed in season six. Overall, a lovely show that is worth checking out.
A rare gem in a sea of forgettable TV
Shrykespeare22 October 2004
The greatest thing about "Crossing Jordan" is that it never, for even one moment, ceases to make us care about its characters. It seamlessly gives us a mix of tragedy and comedy, as well as humanity and warmth, which is no mean feat, considering the profession all of the main characters have.
With the abundance of shows cropping up in the last few years with a theme of "investigation", the profession of Medical Examiner has been thrust into the limelight of the public's eye that it never has been before. One needs to look no further than the ratings of all of the "CSI" shows to find proof; the minutiae and drudgery of police and forensic work, once thought to be bland, boring and completely without entertainment value, now has viewers glued to their sets.
But "Crossing Jordan" is much more than that. While I applaud shows like "CSI", and to a small extent, "Law & Order" for their ingenious writing and convincing story lines, none of those shows has ever really developed its characters to an extent where we care more about them than about the details of whatever case they happen to be working on at the time. "Crossing Jordan" has developed it's characters very, very well. Consider:
The main character, Jordan Cavanaugh (Jill Hennessy): when the show first started, we knew her to be a mouthy, bitchy, seat-of-the-pants, lives-by-her-own-rules kind of girl, who would always be in trouble but somehow, always gets to the truth. And while the appeal of such a character is undeniable, such a routine would have gotten old really fast, as well as the "haunted-by-her-mother's-as-yet-unsolved-murder" story line. I understand that early on, we knew that this is what drove Jordan to be the person she was, but it felt like that particular story line was used as a crutch to hold the series up. I think her character is now sufficiently developed to get past it now. She's still mouthy, and still lives by her own rules, but not as often as before. She's truly grown up.
Dr. Garret Macy (Miguel Ferrer): Originally played up as the crotchety, curmudgeonly boss, who walked around with the "how-in-hell-did-I-end-up-in-this-line-of-work" look on his face. Despite his somewhat abrasive character, there's no doubt that he possesses a tremendous inner warmth to go with his incredible intelligence. It's those rare occasions when he shows his softer side that make for some of the series' best moments.
Lily Lebowski (Kathryn Hahn): In the beginning, she seemed like a fragile dandelion of a person, nursing a not-too-subtle crush on Dr. Macy. I was afraid that her character would never expand beyond two dimensions, but she has become the moral center of the show.
My two favorite sidekicks, Nigel and Bug (Steve Valentine and Ravi Kapoor): it was these two that kept me coming back, week after week, during this show's growing pains. The tall, lanky Brit and the diminutive entomologist from Bangladesh are without a doubt the best on-screen duo in prime-time. One smiling and ebullient, one moody and sullen, they play off of each other so well... I can't aptly describe it in words.
Det. Woody Hoyt (Jerry O'Connell): Though his character hasn't really developed much, beyond the on-again, off-again relationship he seems to have with Jordan, it's nice to see him get more and more screen time now.
Several other characters have come and gone: Jordan's father (Ken Howard) and M.E.'s Trey Sanders (M. Ali), Peter Winslow (Ivan Sergei), Elaine Duchamps (Lorraine Toussaint), and Dr. Devan Mcguire (Jennifer Finnigan), have all contributed during their brief stints on the show.
Every single character has experienced tragedy and loss, in various degrees, all while helping total strangers deal with their loss, and that has made them all bond together into a very tightly-knit group... almost a family, if you will. It is a family that I wish I could be a part of... and that is the TRUE yardstick of a great show.
Always fresh, never dull. I hope that "Crossing Jordan" will continue to draw the audience it deserves.
With the abundance of shows cropping up in the last few years with a theme of "investigation", the profession of Medical Examiner has been thrust into the limelight of the public's eye that it never has been before. One needs to look no further than the ratings of all of the "CSI" shows to find proof; the minutiae and drudgery of police and forensic work, once thought to be bland, boring and completely without entertainment value, now has viewers glued to their sets.
But "Crossing Jordan" is much more than that. While I applaud shows like "CSI", and to a small extent, "Law & Order" for their ingenious writing and convincing story lines, none of those shows has ever really developed its characters to an extent where we care more about them than about the details of whatever case they happen to be working on at the time. "Crossing Jordan" has developed it's characters very, very well. Consider:
The main character, Jordan Cavanaugh (Jill Hennessy): when the show first started, we knew her to be a mouthy, bitchy, seat-of-the-pants, lives-by-her-own-rules kind of girl, who would always be in trouble but somehow, always gets to the truth. And while the appeal of such a character is undeniable, such a routine would have gotten old really fast, as well as the "haunted-by-her-mother's-as-yet-unsolved-murder" story line. I understand that early on, we knew that this is what drove Jordan to be the person she was, but it felt like that particular story line was used as a crutch to hold the series up. I think her character is now sufficiently developed to get past it now. She's still mouthy, and still lives by her own rules, but not as often as before. She's truly grown up.
Dr. Garret Macy (Miguel Ferrer): Originally played up as the crotchety, curmudgeonly boss, who walked around with the "how-in-hell-did-I-end-up-in-this-line-of-work" look on his face. Despite his somewhat abrasive character, there's no doubt that he possesses a tremendous inner warmth to go with his incredible intelligence. It's those rare occasions when he shows his softer side that make for some of the series' best moments.
Lily Lebowski (Kathryn Hahn): In the beginning, she seemed like a fragile dandelion of a person, nursing a not-too-subtle crush on Dr. Macy. I was afraid that her character would never expand beyond two dimensions, but she has become the moral center of the show.
My two favorite sidekicks, Nigel and Bug (Steve Valentine and Ravi Kapoor): it was these two that kept me coming back, week after week, during this show's growing pains. The tall, lanky Brit and the diminutive entomologist from Bangladesh are without a doubt the best on-screen duo in prime-time. One smiling and ebullient, one moody and sullen, they play off of each other so well... I can't aptly describe it in words.
Det. Woody Hoyt (Jerry O'Connell): Though his character hasn't really developed much, beyond the on-again, off-again relationship he seems to have with Jordan, it's nice to see him get more and more screen time now.
Several other characters have come and gone: Jordan's father (Ken Howard) and M.E.'s Trey Sanders (M. Ali), Peter Winslow (Ivan Sergei), Elaine Duchamps (Lorraine Toussaint), and Dr. Devan Mcguire (Jennifer Finnigan), have all contributed during their brief stints on the show.
Every single character has experienced tragedy and loss, in various degrees, all while helping total strangers deal with their loss, and that has made them all bond together into a very tightly-knit group... almost a family, if you will. It is a family that I wish I could be a part of... and that is the TRUE yardstick of a great show.
Always fresh, never dull. I hope that "Crossing Jordan" will continue to draw the audience it deserves.
Quincy on estrogen
johnfuen30 July 2006
My first reaction when I caught my first episode of "Crossing Jordan" was that this show was going to be kind of "Quincy" on estrogen. Now after watching this show for a couple of seasons, I have to say that my original impression was selling this show short.
The ensemble cast of Jill Hennesey, Mel Ferrer, Kathyrn Hahn, Steven Valentine, Ravi Kapoor, and Jerry O'Connell represent one of the strongest in recent dramas since E.R. The characters played by these actors and actresses are well written and you really care about them.
The mystery aspect of the show is good, but its the characters that make the show so good.
The ensemble cast of Jill Hennesey, Mel Ferrer, Kathyrn Hahn, Steven Valentine, Ravi Kapoor, and Jerry O'Connell represent one of the strongest in recent dramas since E.R. The characters played by these actors and actresses are well written and you really care about them.
The mystery aspect of the show is good, but its the characters that make the show so good.
Entertaining
xredgarnetx27 September 2007
CROSSING JORDAN was on the air for six years, then canceled by NBC without a proper finale. I have caught most of the episodes, not always in order, in reruns on A&E. Most of the characters are captivating, and together they make a family of sorts. Jordan herself (Jill Hennessey of LAW & ORDER fame)is a feisty Boston ME who plays by her own rules and doesn't hesitate to become Nancy Drew if she thinks the occasion calls for it. The character is clearly influenced by Sandra Bullock's haunted detective in MURDER By NUMBERS. Her boss, Dr. Macy (Miguel Ferrer) is a sheep in wolf's clothing. He seems tough, and he can be when he needs to, but he is a real softie underneath. Jordan's colleagues Bug (Ravi Kapor) and Nigel (Steve Valentine) are the Abbott and Costello or Hope and Crosby of the morgue. A likable but often perplexed detective (Jerry O'Connell from SLIDERS) is often on hand, and as the seasons wore on, several additional supporting players came and went. Holding the whole thing together is Lily (Kathryn Hahn), who keeps everyone in line with a delicate but firm touch. The show as a whole was rarely as gripping as HOUSE or even SCRUBS, but it had its moments. Too bad it never found its audience. But it did last six seasons, no mean feat. I am sorry to see it go.
This show cannot be canceled!
J-bjoerklund18 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I know it has been a while ago that the show has canceled, but I still have the strong opinion that this show is one of the rare highlights under our television series. No other show I am aware of has shown such a development of characters as well as having so many exiting and interesting cases. This show has so many facets, both at the character development and at the professional fonts. In addition to that, it has a hilarious humor at some points and makes you laugh and cry at the same time. Yes, I admit, the whole plot with Jordan arguing with her father and not coping with her mother's death has slowed down the show in the first season. But after they got past that, there were hardly any episodes that I could afford to miss. In my hope that anyone in charge of something reads this: Please bring back the show! There is already a complete season 7 as fan-fiction out there, what further evidence do you need that this show will be watched! The show still has so many fans and supporters, please don't just let this die!
Nice Effort, Needed More Oomph
someofusarebrave12 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I am actually really not eager to review this show, mostly because I do genuinely like Jill Hennessy. She is one of those pretty, unassuming women who looks as though she could have done pretty much anything she wanted to do--model, run for governor, 'stick it to the man' by turning every radical liberal leader within fifty miles to violence--but instead she has chosen to act. Acting is a difficult, artistic pasttime, of the sort you rarely see pretty girls engage in seriously without involving a host of men designed to teach them how to, well, act as they are attempting it. She was one of the first of a slew of women in some line of police work to star in her own show, and there is a lot to be said for that. She also manages to be engaging and impossible to look away from as an actress. Unfortunately, this character spawned a slew of knock-offs which all carried the original's inherent flaws. First off, this character's first actual, well, characteristic that we are introduced to as viewers is the fact that she is angry. We soon find out the reason for this is that her mother was murdered when she was just a child, leaving her father alone to raise her. Now, in real life angry people usually make a slew of mistakes, because they are too busy fighting back against anyone and everyone they consider to represent their enemy for even a moment or two to focus real hard on any other pursuit. They are typically willing to fight anybody, if that is their anger has gone on long enough. Jordan's, of course, being decades old, has. However, this is television, and so of course Jordan manages to be an insightful and driven M.E. in addition to being an Ineffectively Angry Person. She does not, however, manage to be a particularly interesting one. Anyone who has spent more than two seconds around somebody suffering from poor anger management knows that there is little "fun" or "sexy" about it all--you are simply trying to get away from the person as fast as humanly possible, to preserve your own skin. Yet in this gem of a series, an entire office of people are falling all over themselves to help Jordan in her first case back at an office she left years ago? Right. Women do not tend to all gather around a near-stranger this way unless they know this person is equally capable of having their backs
and the confused look in Jordan's eyes whenever directly confronted about her behavior or anything else that's real and current news would seem to imply her inability to do so. So that's odd. Also, Jordan returns to town and immediately moves back in with her father. Now, I think most of us can agree that a thirty-sum-odd woman might be just slightly uneasy about becoming a dependent to her daddy again, can't we? Jordan however accepts the idea with seeming ease, even going so far as to break into her father's house without telling him she is in town and attempt to sneak up on him. This would be cute behavior with someone her own age, but with her Dad or with any other male relative, it sends up some serious red flags. First, the two of them have poor boundaries: from Jordan's "cute" story of staying up late at night as a child watching him work while trying to remain hidden to him to their game of putting themselves in the victim's and murderer's shoes and verbally playing out the scene of the crime, both Jordan and her father seem to be people unwilling to admit when enough is enough. She seems desperate even now to hold his attention no matter what; she is clearly put off by a woman who her father is dating, although her mother has at this point been dead for decades. Many young girls left behind by dead mothers and left to their fathers to raise become the victims of some form of incest, emotional if not physical; this situation has all the signs of an incestuous relationship between father and daughter, but of course it is television and so our "badass" heroine cannot possibly be the victim of incest!. She is I suppose too pretty. It is not the actress' fault that that the character does not have what it takes to hold my attention for long. She is simply not written it seems to have much of a personality, other than being a Woman who Suffers. These women were probably rare once upon a time, but they are not so rare now. More, most of them manage to have some sort of inner strength or fire which remains strong throughout the series and carries them relatively unscathed through everything they have suffered. Most of them are champions of survival, women capable of living through it all and of inspiring that same trait in others. At least, the women on television shows that I choose to spend my time with are. Perhaps the reason is because these women are the victims of specific and individualized male violence of some form or another--the way that most women suffering in the world today are. Crossing Jordan is a relatively inoffensive, none-too-gory crime-solving show with a weekly mystery at its core. Its lasting power lies in the fact that it can hold the attention of the entire family, or of a couple or a couple of couples, for an hour once a week without once bringing up a single point for them to argue about. This may be a rare quality in television shows--but ought it really be confused with what qualities equate excellence in them? A solid effort, with a good ensemble cast; to bad the entire effect is so, well, boring.
Better once the detective is on more.
Also--the show is like CSI--but with powerful women. Nice.
Better once the detective is on more.
Also--the show is like CSI--but with powerful women. Nice.
Beautifully Done!
DontKicktheBrit19 August 2006
I started watching Crossing Jordan in its fourth season, and I wish I could have started it from the beginning but I would have been far too young. I was only 13, but I was able to understand what was going on most of the time. The cases are well thought out and interesting, but my favorite aspect of the show is its characters! You can really get into each character's head and feel what they're feeling as you watch them do what they do best. Each character brings a different flavor to the show. Jordan is tough and outgoing and prepared to do whatever it takes to solve each case, disregarding any risk involved. Nigel is the "plucky science geek", British, full of comic relief, and my favorite character! Bug is much the same, but more quiet and reserved and very kind-hearted. Lily is a caring and compassionate person whose goal in life is to make others feel better. Dr. Macy is the voice of reason; the boss who keeps his cool in tough situations. (Usually.) Woody is the cop who works to serve justice and do his job properly (and yet always gets dragged into Jordan's schemes.) Together they solve case after case, occasionally getting on each others nerves while doing it, but when it comes down to it, they're a family.
Predictable and not authentic
pmaranci28 September 2006
The series is supposedly set in Boston, but is about as authentically Bostonian as a Philly cheese steak (I think it's mostly filmed in Toronto - it's DEFINITELY not filmed in Boston). Apart from that, I found it painfully predictable. Some episodes haven't just *blurred* the line between real science and the supernatural, they've plowed up the ground that the line was drawn on and dynamited the underlying bedrock.
In other words, for a show which purports to have a mystery element, the writers simply don't play fair with the viewers.
The show also suffers from more than a tinge of "Providence" syndrome - the heroine is SOOO perfect (albeit in a "bad girl" way), almost always right when she bucks the system (except for a few "very special" plots where she makes a mistake and Learns Something About Herself), and every man is in love with her. Annoying! I did like the characters of Bug and Nigel. They were funny and well-acted. But they don't make up for poor writing and utterly stale plots.
In other words, for a show which purports to have a mystery element, the writers simply don't play fair with the viewers.
The show also suffers from more than a tinge of "Providence" syndrome - the heroine is SOOO perfect (albeit in a "bad girl" way), almost always right when she bucks the system (except for a few "very special" plots where she makes a mistake and Learns Something About Herself), and every man is in love with her. Annoying! I did like the characters of Bug and Nigel. They were funny and well-acted. But they don't make up for poor writing and utterly stale plots.
This is a fantastic series
davesherry-119 January 2007
This is a very compelling series that hooks you with the dynamics of the characters joined with the realistic quality of the plot lines. If you are an addict of forensic shows, this one is sure to satisfy! I am a huge fan of the REAL forensic shows without all of the fluff, pomp, & circumstance. This show delivers at every level meeting the need for realism in its plots and the cutting edge forensics involved in solving the cases. They keep you longing for more with the depth of the characters and the tensions, both friendly and sexual, between them. From the very first episode, the quality of casting is apparent as you have no trouble feeling that this is a group that has had it together like a real American "disfunctional" family of friends for a very long time. It successfully ties in past experiences to present episodes without leaving new viewers in the dark as to what is going on. With last weeks premier episode for 2007 (being the first one in quite some time) it is sure not to disappoint and they have certainly not lost their creative edge!! To the writers, producers, and directors: keep on doing whatever it is you do......it certainly works!
Not so very long ago, in a place that never existed
jsrtheta4 May 2022
A driver's license doesn't mean you can just drive over people's lawns and violate the law willy-nilly when it is inconvenient.
The same should be true of dramatic license. As any rookie cop or any person who has worked for more than a day in the criminal justice system could tell you, Crossing Jordan bears about as close a relationship to reality as Peter Pan does to practical aeronautics.
To start with: NO, morgue doctors and employees DO NOT go out and interview crime witnesses. NO, morgue workers do not take flyers and "buck the system" to learn the REAL reason John Doe was shot/poisoned/strangled to death. They would be fired immediately.
NO, random civilians do not just wander into autopsies demanding what they THINK will solve the crime. Such civilians would be tossed out, if not arrested for trespass. NO, Deputy M. E.s do not sleep with witnesses and relatives of the deceased. And NO, Deputy M. E.s do NOT race around packing heat and shooting bad guys.
Crossing Jordan is a bird's eye view of the utter nonsense American TV churns out with nauseating regularity. This show is only an particularly egregious example of the Hollywood fantasy that viewers are fed across the viewing spectrum.
The irony is that actual law enforcement work is fascinating and often hysterically funny. This is... not. Hugely awful. Oh, and it's "set" in Boston, a city the show flees at every opportunity to go to Los Angeles, where Jordan packs heat and solves murders, sparing the production the bothersome chore of portraying the city of Boston.
When it DOES shoot in Boston (Second Unit only, of course), it gets nothing right. Ken Howard does try to employ a Boston accent. Don't worry - they get rid of him as soon as it is possible. The building they use as "City Hall" is NOT the true City Hall. That would mean learning where Boston's City Hall is, so they use some anonymous skyscraper they found on old stock footage of somewhere else and try to fob off as the real one.
Otherwise, this weak tea of a soap opera gives us a cast of "doctors" who sleep with material witnesses, journalist, detectives, and anyone else who happens to catch Jordan's eye, none of them appropriate. In reality, sleeping with any of them would result in Jordan's immediate termination if this was actually, you know, the world we live in.
This show is the reason real lawyers and doctors and professionals of every other stripe hate network TV. They know that life is not a six-season foray into the world of the "chick flick".
Abysmal. Avoid at all costs.
The same should be true of dramatic license. As any rookie cop or any person who has worked for more than a day in the criminal justice system could tell you, Crossing Jordan bears about as close a relationship to reality as Peter Pan does to practical aeronautics.
To start with: NO, morgue doctors and employees DO NOT go out and interview crime witnesses. NO, morgue workers do not take flyers and "buck the system" to learn the REAL reason John Doe was shot/poisoned/strangled to death. They would be fired immediately.
NO, random civilians do not just wander into autopsies demanding what they THINK will solve the crime. Such civilians would be tossed out, if not arrested for trespass. NO, Deputy M. E.s do not sleep with witnesses and relatives of the deceased. And NO, Deputy M. E.s do NOT race around packing heat and shooting bad guys.
Crossing Jordan is a bird's eye view of the utter nonsense American TV churns out with nauseating regularity. This show is only an particularly egregious example of the Hollywood fantasy that viewers are fed across the viewing spectrum.
The irony is that actual law enforcement work is fascinating and often hysterically funny. This is... not. Hugely awful. Oh, and it's "set" in Boston, a city the show flees at every opportunity to go to Los Angeles, where Jordan packs heat and solves murders, sparing the production the bothersome chore of portraying the city of Boston.
When it DOES shoot in Boston (Second Unit only, of course), it gets nothing right. Ken Howard does try to employ a Boston accent. Don't worry - they get rid of him as soon as it is possible. The building they use as "City Hall" is NOT the true City Hall. That would mean learning where Boston's City Hall is, so they use some anonymous skyscraper they found on old stock footage of somewhere else and try to fob off as the real one.
Otherwise, this weak tea of a soap opera gives us a cast of "doctors" who sleep with material witnesses, journalist, detectives, and anyone else who happens to catch Jordan's eye, none of them appropriate. In reality, sleeping with any of them would result in Jordan's immediate termination if this was actually, you know, the world we live in.
This show is the reason real lawyers and doctors and professionals of every other stripe hate network TV. They know that life is not a six-season foray into the world of the "chick flick".
Abysmal. Avoid at all costs.
Entertaining
Altair4449 December 2004
I happened upon "Crossing Jordan" one evening while channel surfing. I'm glad I did; this is a good show. This show works because it is well cast, for starters. The interaction between Jill Hennessey and Miguel Ferrer is excellent and never contrived. Steve Valentine and Ravi Kapoor are brilliant, and Katherine Hahn balances out this group as the sweet, empathic Lily. Jerry O'Connell is a welcome addition as young, gung-ho detective Woody Hoyt, who provides nice little comic moments here and there to keep the show on it's toes. Fortunately for me, A&E runs older episodes of CJ late in the evening, so I've had a chance to play catch-up and watch it from the beginning. This show started out interesting to me and seems to be getting better all the time. I'll definitely keep watching in the future.
Crossing Jordan
dadbedeski3420 September 2006
Love it, Love it, LOVE IT. I might be late to the shows site but have been watching since it started. I'm glad they brought it back . Wish NBC quit moving its time slot.... but I will always follow. Jill Hennessy is great and gets even better. Love her in Komodo !!!! And the rest of the cast.... better than E.R. which I am a fan of too. I can only wait to see what season 6 brings. I believe that Crossing Jordan is a mixture of M.A.S.H. and Quincy M.E.. I love the suspense and drama in each and every episode. I work in the medical field and LOVE how it all works together to create an enjoyable hour of entertainment.I tell everyone how great a show this is and see it lasting for at least another 100 episodes.Lilly makes the show where the viewer can be a an understanding level of humanity. Miguel Ferrer (Dr. Macy )is one awesome Supervisor and I'm glad that NBC did not kill off his character.an't forget Bug and Nigel love the relationship they have between each other and the support they give to Dr. Cavanaugh. NBC needs to Have Woody And Cavanaugh get back together but hold off on them getting SERIOUSLY serious!!
One of the best shows on television!
RainInRivendell25 May 2006
I love this show and I never miss it. The character and plot twists are very entertaining and captivating. The chemistry between the actors in so real, if you don't have a Sunday night show, I recommend that this be yours! Don't overlook Steve Valentine or Ravi Kapoor, they really add another dimension to the show. Jill Hennessy is very believable as Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh. Her off beat behavior lets you know that she is not going to follow the rules. My personal favorite is Steve Valentine as Nigel Townsend. While he maybe sort of creepy looking, you learn to love him after seeing him on screen for 5 minutes. The roles are all brilliantly cast and tremendously portrayed by the wonderful actors that play them. This is definitely one of the best shows on television.
A show with Wit and Drama at the Same Time!
ShelbyTMItchell1 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Jill Hennessy of Law and Order fame gets to headline her own show. As she plays disgraced former ME Jordan Cavanaugh. Who butts heads with the other doctors, in particular the main doctor who also is like a father figure to her, played by the great, and underrated Miguel Ferrer.
As despite the fact she can be a pain in the rear along with solving crimes that she needs to let the police do. Still she makes up for her erratic and careless behavior for the victims. As that is what makes her flawed but great at the same time.
She and her police detective turned bar owner father, played by Ken Howard as wished he did not leave the series early. Had also great rapport. As Jordan is really haunted by the death of her mother as a child.
The great ensemble also had Jerry O Connell as another cop and loved interest in Woody Hoyt. And also Steve Valentine, Kathryn Hahn, and Ravi Kopor ad wit and charm to the show!
As despite the fact she can be a pain in the rear along with solving crimes that she needs to let the police do. Still she makes up for her erratic and careless behavior for the victims. As that is what makes her flawed but great at the same time.
She and her police detective turned bar owner father, played by Ken Howard as wished he did not leave the series early. Had also great rapport. As Jordan is really haunted by the death of her mother as a child.
The great ensemble also had Jerry O Connell as another cop and loved interest in Woody Hoyt. And also Steve Valentine, Kathryn Hahn, and Ravi Kopor ad wit and charm to the show!
What I think about Crossing Jordan
pierre04067325 October 2006
I use to watch this show only because there wasn't anything else interesting on at the time. I feel that Jordans character in this show is completely unrealistic. I mean what is she a cop or a medical examiner. It's the same thing every time. She gets a body, doe's an autopsy & then go's on her own personal crusade to find out who killed the person. She seems to get all kinds of free time to run around questioning potential suspects. She always solves the murder before the cops do & every case she gets seems to have something to do with her mothers death. She should be running the police force in Boston. CSI Miami is a much better show because it's their job to do forensics and they're also police officers at the same time. Jordan is not a cop, she is a medical examiner, she's supposed to tell the cops how people died, thats it. If Jill Hennessey wasn't the good looking, headstrong woman she is, this show wouldn't have lasted it's first full season.
Awesome Season Finale
m_829 May 2006
I've been watching Crossing Jordan since the start. It's always been a great show. You never know what to expect. The actors are great and the writers are great! I don't like the fact that the writers tried to hook up Woody and the shrink Simmons though. I thought Woody and Jordan would finally hook up yet again but that didn't happen. I'm sure the writers will get them back together. When the timing's right that is. This season's ending was awesome! I wasn't fond of JD so I'm glad he was killed. I never saw it coming. The fans all know Jordan didn't do it though. She couldn't have done it. I can't wait until next season! What twist will the writers have for us viewers?
Irrational —adj: 1. inconsistent with reason or logic; illogical; absurd: 2. incapable of reasoning
bvandyck9 February 2014
Crossing Jordan takes "artistic license" to the level of absurdity. It also presents disappointingly predictable plots, and most of its characters are simply unlikeable.
Jordan (the star) is a self-centered, non-committal, irrational jerk that would be fired from any job in a real or even semi-real world.
Dr. Macy (the boss) is a chronically morose individual that should be taking psycho-therapeutic medication to make him socially functional.
Detective Woody (the irritatingly on again, off again love interest) is a character that epitomizes the show's writer's irrational sense of drama.
Lily (the grief councilor) is an overly emotional character the wears thin pretty quickly.
Nigel and Bug (supporting MEs) are the plot's magical advancement tools and comedic relief. They have superhuman scientific and computer skills and are the most likable and rational characters in the show.
Unbelievably, all other characters that are introduced to the show are presented as very unlikable people.
Frankly, the show is poorly written with over exaggerated drama. My wife enjoys the show and I have watched just over 100 episodes with her and I enjoyed it until the characters developed to the point where it became impossible to have any empathy for them. They are irritatingly dysfunctional and disappointingly predictable.
Jordan (the star) is a self-centered, non-committal, irrational jerk that would be fired from any job in a real or even semi-real world.
Dr. Macy (the boss) is a chronically morose individual that should be taking psycho-therapeutic medication to make him socially functional.
Detective Woody (the irritatingly on again, off again love interest) is a character that epitomizes the show's writer's irrational sense of drama.
Lily (the grief councilor) is an overly emotional character the wears thin pretty quickly.
Nigel and Bug (supporting MEs) are the plot's magical advancement tools and comedic relief. They have superhuman scientific and computer skills and are the most likable and rational characters in the show.
Unbelievably, all other characters that are introduced to the show are presented as very unlikable people.
Frankly, the show is poorly written with over exaggerated drama. My wife enjoys the show and I have watched just over 100 episodes with her and I enjoyed it until the characters developed to the point where it became impossible to have any empathy for them. They are irritatingly dysfunctional and disappointingly predictable.
Not trying to be like CSI
Anann7314 February 2003
Some people say that "Crossing Jordan" is a rip-off of CSI but even though there are some similarities it is not trying to be the same. There are cases and forensics involved, but "Crossing Jordan" is far richer in character development. This show is my favorite because it has both; I don't watch CSI or CSI:Miami because when I want just cases and the forensics involved in solving them, I watch "Forensic Files" and other true crime shows on DSC or TLC. But since I enjoy these things as well as drama and character development (not to mention Jill Hennessy is my favorite actress), I love "Crossing Jordan." Also, the fact that the lead character is a little screwy is fine by me...I prefer it! Makes things interesting.
It has a great plot
kmskaty1 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
It has a great plot. But I just love the chemistry between the co-workers, and the crime mystery. But later on the couples really turn things around in the morgue. Sometimes in the show we get to know more about the characters. Like, we get to meet Lily's mom, and we get to know why Nigel and his dad don't talk anymore, why Bug doesn't belong, we get to meet Woody's younger brother, Jordan's older brother, Macey's ex-wife and daughter. We also get to know a little more about Jordan's mother's problems, and death. We get to see couples we thought would never happen and some we thought eventually will happen. Example: Nigel and Kate, who would've known that would happen. But it did. Bug and Lily, there's a big slap in the face. Everyone who watched Crossing Jordan for along time would've seen that coming. Woody and Jordan, DUH!
My favorite show of all time
kbarker838 November 2007
Crossing Jordan was a show like no other. From the characters to the story lines, it was wonderful. It tackled serious issues with sensitivity and even appropriate humor. The main cast was all together from the first season on. Jill Hennessy, Miguel Ferrer, Jerry O'Connell, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Valentine, and Ravi Kapoor each portrayed very different characters but did an excellent job in doing so and all appeared to have great chemistry on screen.
I only wish that upon the series finale they had tied up all loose ends, but since they didn't, the finale ended in a way I could live with.
I eagerly await season one on DVD (Feb, 2008!) Thank you to all the wonderful writers, crew, and actors who worked on this wonderful show. It will always be special to me!
I only wish that upon the series finale they had tied up all loose ends, but since they didn't, the finale ended in a way I could live with.
I eagerly await season one on DVD (Feb, 2008!) Thank you to all the wonderful writers, crew, and actors who worked on this wonderful show. It will always be special to me!
Crossing Jordan is canceled (2001-2007)
bonker200013 August 2007
Episode 6-17 was supposed to be a season finale when NBC decided to cancel the series altogether. They then made a few inane changes in order to make it be a series finale. It was done in a very shoddy manner, leaving people hanging and leaving many irritated fans.
It had all the makings of a very good season finale with the story to continue in the fall. For whatever reasons (unknown as of this writing) that NBC decided to cancel, they apparently felt no loyalty to the fans to make a real series finale.
Six seasons is a good run for a crime drama, but NBC could have a least used a little talent to wrap it up.
It had all the makings of a very good season finale with the story to continue in the fall. For whatever reasons (unknown as of this writing) that NBC decided to cancel, they apparently felt no loyalty to the fans to make a real series finale.
Six seasons is a good run for a crime drama, but NBC could have a least used a little talent to wrap it up.
Worst show ever
wyleneross1 November 2019
casting
eccats121 January 2007
I love this show,just wish Ken Howard would make a cameo appearance once in a while, i miss his Irish Boston brogue. I also miss the bar and their re-enactment's of crime scenes. I don't miss however, the ongoing saga of her poor murdered mother, that dragged on too long . Now tonight, Lily is pregnant, wonder how the writers are going to solve that problem. Wish Nigel and bugs would have love interests too, everybody else has.Jordan is gorgeous, and being pregnant on the show didn't affect her acting, but she did get slightly pudgy-cheeked.Macy needs to shave once in a while, the writers need to make his character more authoritative, he is becoming a Wis.
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