July 14: Glades Tidings

We're glad about The Glades. I feel pretty safe in suggesting that most of us around Greater Fort Lauderdale think it's cool that a major cable network program is being filmed in our backyards. Sometimes literally in our backyards. So I wanted to extend my personal welcome to The Glades' cast and crew, for whatever that's worth to them. Hey, I caught their premiere episode that aired last Sunday night. Good characters, I thought. A little quirky too and a little funny, though I was sorry to see the main cop's partner written out so soon. He's off to jail, in case you missed it. That main cop is played by Australian actor Matt Passmore, who manages his American accent wonderfully as Jim Longworth. This tough dude is an ex-Chicago police officer forced to relocate to a small town in Florida. The community is fictional of course, "Palm Glade," and it seems a very dangerous place. Of course.

Anyway, Mr. Passmore and his fellow actors are all over Broward County filming this series. They began in Tampa for whatever reason - but decided quickly to come here instead. Turns out we're friendlier and better to work with. Take that, Tampa ... Locations so far have included Fort Lauderdale's Bonnet House, as well as spots in Pompano Beach, Oakland Park, North Lauderdale, Hollywood and Dania Beach.

For the most part, The Glades isn't showing a prettified South Florida like another top cable series that's being filmed around these parts. That show, called Burn Notice, tends to use the most beautiful scenery and most beautiful people. The Glades is something different. This program is going for that Everglades feeling. Densely tropical, watery, hot and humid and filled with alligators. Geez, Jim Longworth even got his hand chomped by a gator early in the first episode. I was amused by the Spanish moss hanging from some of the trees around Palm Glades since there isn't any in the real Everglades. None that I've ever noticed anyway. But as I said, it's a fun show with good characters and I hope this thing is a big hit. Look for it every Sunday night at 10pm on the A&E cable channel. I like trying to spot my favorite Broward places in the background. I was pretty sure that I saw Aruba Beach Café in the final scene this week. If so, the real location sits on a gorgeous stretch of beachfront in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea - many miles from the Everglades. Which is totally fine with me, by the way. If they want to shoot a big TV show around here, The Glades folks can make South Florida look any way they want as far as I'm concerned.