Keen Eddie

From Fanlore
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Fandom
Name: Keen Eddie
Abbreviation(s): KE
Creator: J.H. Wyman
Date(s): June 6, 2003 - July 24, 2003
Medium: TV
Country of Origin: USA
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Keen Eddie was an hour-long dramedy airing on Fox as a summer replacement in 2003; it aired for seven episodes shown completely out of order before Fox canceled it. The series was picked up by Bravo cable network a few years later and they aired the entire 13 episodes, although even more out of order than before. At about the same time, it was released on DVD in the U.S., although Paramount did not want to pay for the music rights, so they released it with much of its exceptional soundtrack completely eradicated.

Series Overview

Eddie Arlette (Mark Valley), a New York City police detective, is sent to London on the trail of criminals that escaped from a failed drug bust he organized in NYC. A tip leads the police to believe that the criminals went to England. Eddie brings his dog, Pete, with him to London, even though the quarantine will last six months.

While in London attached to Scotland Yard, Eddie is teamed up with swinging, stylish, and very odd DI Monty Pippin (Julian Rhind-Tutt), and reports to Superintendent Nathanial Jonhnson (Colin Salmon). Johnson's secretary, Carol, has an unusual effect on Eddie, who seems to be the only person who hears her saying seductive things to him or sees her making sexual gestures. Eddie rents a flat in London, but is surprised to find a young woman living in it (Fiona Bickerton, played by Sienna Miller before she became famous for being a fashion plate). They come to an arrangement, although Fiona hates Eddie and he can't stand her in turn -- which of course the producers used to create UST and hint at a future relationship. Monty, who is also a member of the RSPCA, helps Eddie get Pete out of quarantine in the first episode, and Pete spends a great deal of time tormenting Fiona's cat, using her as his "shag toy."

Though the series was filmed in London and starred an almost entirely English cast, it was created for American television. Most of the time, the British English was kept intact, and English mores and mannerisms were played up for effect, especially in contrast to Eddie's entirely Americanized point of view. Occasional nods to the American audience were made, such as using "vacation" for "holiday," but it was otherwise quite identifiably British with an American heart.

Keen Eddie Fandom

Like many short-lived shows cancelled before their prime, Keen Eddie never developed a large fandom, despite its definite slant toward favored fannish tropes. The release of the DVDs and its run on Bravo (and subsequently other cable channels) helped boost its profile somewhat, so that fanworks could help pimp others into checking it out when it was available. A handful of vids have been especially helpful in bringing the show to fans' attention, especially slash fans, because the show's visuals play heavily on the slashy relationship between Eddie and Monty.

Slash is fairly heavy here, although there is still a strong het and gen audience as well.

Fanfiction

Vids