Culturebox: The Big Sleepyhead

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television The Big Sleepyhead Donal Logue as a shambling P.I. in Terriers. By Troy Patterson Posted Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, at 10:35 AM ET The latest among Southern California's inexhaustible ranks of gumshoes is Hank Dolworth, who moved into the private sector after a dishonorable discharge from the police force. It was part of the code of Philip Marlowe, the paradigmatic L.A. P.I., to be "neat, clean, shaved, and sober." Hank has the sober part down. Within moments of meeting him on Terriers (FX, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET), we understand that his relationship with the force suffered at the hands of his romance with the bottle. Staying dry--which involves periodically stowing away his compulsive sarcasm to shudder vulnerably in an AA meeting ("the thing at the thing," he calls it)--is one foundation of Hank's own code of conduct. But the first three items on Marlowe's list are beyond Hank's grasp and outside of his interests. That leonine mess of hair, that incipient gray in his thick beard, the flapping tails of the plaid shirts worn over the inevitable black t-shirts--this fellow may well grow up to be a Jeff Bridges character. For now, he is a Donal Logue character, which is nothing to scoff at. To continue reading, click here. Troy Patterson is Slate's television critic. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate Why Palin Backed the Tea Party Candidate in Delaware Why Cigarette Taxes Aren't Very Good at Getting Smokers To Quit If You Want Your City To Be Pretty Next Spring, Volunteer This Fall	Advertisement
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