Commentary

Lori Loughlin Talks Tough In New Amazon Cop Drama

Those who only know Lori Loughlin from the wholesome sitcoms “Full House” and “Fuller House” may be surprised to see her talking tough in a new cop drama on Amazon Prime.

The show, “On Call,” consists of eight half-hour episodes that started running last week. 

Loughlin, 60 (pictured above), plays a tough-as-nails lieutenant in the Long Beach (California) Police Department. 

Her character, “Lt. Bishop,” is all business and by-the-book. When she issues commands and reams out a subordinate, she is blunt-spoken, direct and occasionally profane.

She is great in the role. And why not? She has been acting on television since she was cast at age 15 in “The Edge of Night” in 1980.

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She has had dramatic roles before, but clearly, she is best known for the two “Full House” shows. She is also well-known for her conviction on fraud charges related to the college admissions bribery scandal of 2019.

In 2020, she served two months in a federal prison in California. She has had TV work in the years since, but this one is a straight-up triumph.

“On Call” comes from the cops-and-crooks, procedural-drama factory of Dick Wolf. The focus is on a pair of uniformed police officers.

One is a veteran -- Officer Traci Harmon (Troian Bellisario) -- the other an eager rookie, Officer Alex Diaz (Brandon Larracuente).

At the outset of the show, Harmon is designated as training officer for Diaz and the two go out patrolling in an LBPD squad car.

The show’s story arc involves the death of a Long Beach policewoman killed in the line of duty, an incident that takes place in the show’s opening minutes. This bloody scene is not for the squeamish.

The cop’s murder exposes various fault lines among the officers of the LBPD. Officer Harmon herself as some detractors, among them Lt. Bishop.

Harmon is known to sometimes go rogue where procedures and rules are concerned, although she does not tolerate the same behavior from her rookie partner.

In Episode One of “On Call,” there are hints that Harmon and the deceased officer may have had a personal relationship that went beyond police work. 

The dead policewoman also happened to be a rookie trainee who was once assigned to Harmon. This makes Harmon especially eager to hunt down her killer.

The actors playing the police pair at the center of the show are top drawer. Bellisario is especially good as the streetwise vet. 

For those who might be curious about her last name, yes, she is the daughter of Don Bellisario, creator and executive producer of “Magnum P.I.,” “Quantum Leap,” “JAG” and “NCIS.”

Also in “On Call”: Eriq LaSalle, who plays a police sergeant and also directs multiple episodes.

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