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2 • March 18 - 24, 2018 • Brainerd Dispatch By K.A. Taylor TV Media P olice procedural dramas are a staple of North American televi- sion. Just mentioning the term, or the words "Law and Order," imme- diately transports you to the world of whodunnit (and that catchy theme song). Obsessed and fasci- nated as we are by the motives be- hind the deadliest of crimes, the success of this kind of series may seem like a given, but the odds of a show being a hit greatly increase when it includes just the right kind of twist. On Sunday, March 18, CBS introduces the world to a clever, subversive police procedural, when "Instinct" premieres. Dylan Reinhart (Alan Cumming, "The Good Wife") is a quirky, high- ly intellectual professor and au- thor, currently teaching abnormal behavior while trying to compose his next bestseller. Reinhart's in- ability to complete another stun- ning work of prose may be due to a lack of inspiration, as he's no lon- ger able to draw on years of expe- rience from his former life working as a CIA operative. That is, howev- er, until a visit from the NYPD to his classroom coaxes him back into the thrill of investigative work. Det. Lizzie Needham (Bojana Novakovic, "Shameless") informs Reinhart that his book has been implicated in a murder. The book, a bestseller on criminal theory, is be- ing brought to life by a killer, with clues left behind taken directly from the pages of Reinhart's work. Without any motives or additional leads, Needham reaches out to Re- inhart for his help, knowing that his unique perspective as author — and former CIA operative — is her best hope at stopping this mys- terious murderer. To better prepare himself for the chase, Reinhart calls on some old friends for assistance from his pre- vious life, including Julian Cousins (Naveen Andrews, "Sense8"). Uti- lizing his pool of resources, Rein- hart begins to create a profile of the killer, with a mix of fascination and determination to see justice served. The popularity of police proce- durals started long before the in- vention of the television, with nov- els birthing this intriguing subset of detective fiction. While the liter- ary origins find their roots in the mid-1800s, the genre's popularity rapidly grew post-World War II, with many of the tales now unfold- ing on the big screen. Everything changed with "Dragnet," a radio play that leaped onto the small screen and then upgraded to the big screen. The show garnered a massive following and firmly es- tablished the demand for the po- lice procedural drama. "Instinct" pulls from this transi- tory past, as the story began in the pages of a novel. The series is an adaptation of James Patterson's novel "Murder Games," with much of the series' content staying true to Patterson's own words. Fans of literary, small-screen and cinemat- ic adaptations of police procedur- als are no stranger to Patterson's works, as he is a dominant force in the genre. Notable early hits for the author on the big screen in- clude 1997's "Kiss the Girls" and 2001's "Along Came a Spider," both of which are clear emblems of the police procedural genre. So, where lies the twist? While most would expect that to be found in the killer's reveal — which it may very well be — what makes this latest genre series stand out above the rest is the lead character, Reinhart, who, like his novel counterpart, is a married gay man. This move is set to be the first broad-range broadcast of an hour-long series that features a queer lead character, a progressive and timely move by the network. CBS is no stranger to paving the way for cultural and sexual diver- sity, though, after the recent suc- cess of CBS All Access's "Star Trek: Discovery." This opportunity meant so much to Cumming, who admitted to the Hollywood Reporter that "it was one of the reasons [he] wanted to do the show." The Scottish-Ameri- can actor is a longtime LGBTQ2+ activist and advocate, openly bi- sexual and compassionately proud. The chance to portray Rein- hart's character, with all of his lay- ers, was both "an incredible thing and a terrible thing" to Cumming. Given the current political fervor in America — "a time in America where gay people are being perse- cuted ... our rights are being re- moved," as Cumming puts it — the actor saw that it was "all the more important to have a charac- ter with a healthy same-sex mar- riage on TV." While the politics are clearly present in the writing of "Instinct," the series places greater emphasis on its execution of sarcastic wit. Reinhart is a master of words and clever one-liners, always one to note the most culturally and mo- mentarily significant things with an ample dose of observational humor. This plays well alongside Needham's professional drive, as she plays a strong, leading role in the investigation, not afraid to smile but constant in her devotion to the case. The two follow the tra- dition of unlikely pairings, though it is plain to see they have a chem- istry and make a formidable team. The new era of the police proce- durals has arrived, amply stacked with drama, laughs and cultural relevance. With a stellar cast and intriguing premise, it's easy to see why CBS was quick to transform this recent James Patterson novel into a fully realized, hour-long se- ries. Find out if Reinhart and Need- ham have the skills needed to un- cover this literary-loving killer when "Instinct" premieres Sunday, March 18, on CBS. The write wit: Remixing police procedurals with 'Instinct' Cover Story this week Naveen Andrews stars in "Instinct" Conan The state of Montana is suing the maker of Oxycontin over the opioid epidemic. In a related story, the state of Wisconsin announced it is suing food. The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon I read about a woman in Pennsylvania who celebrated her 94th birthday by jumping out of a plane. She thought she was just walking into the bathroom — but still, good for her to just experience that! I read about a wildlife center in Oregon that will let you have a sleepover with some sloths for $1,000. It gets awkward, though, in the morning, when the sloth goes, "Just leave the money on the dresser." The Late Late Show With James Corden In technology news, the organization that oversees emojis has changed the lobster emoji after people in Maine complained that it didn't have the correct number of legs. Now every time I text someone about lobsters, I don't have to type the word "Lobster emoji plus two extra legs." It's a life saver. Jimmy Kimmel Live In Fergie's defense, we don't know what Francis Scott Key was thinking when he wrote the Star Spangled Banner. Maybe he wanted it to be sexy. Late Night With Seth Meyers According to a new study, people who are emotionally attached to the character Harry Potter are less likely to be prejudiced against minority groups. That story again: nine- year-olds usually aren't racist. Late Laughs Match of the Month For more information about Kinship Partners, please call (218)-829-4606 or visit our website at www.kinshippartners.org Be a Friend. Be a Mentor. Photography donated by Mike Aulie at Sothers Studio Why not start your own friendship journey? Brad Miller and Zach Johnson have been matched as Kinship Partners for close to four years. This is Brad's third partnership. Brad really enjoys watching the development of his partners over time, and that has been significant because Brad and Zach first got together when Zach was in fourth grade. They hit it off right away because they both love the outdoors. 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