“HawthoRNe” Review: Welcome to Television, Jada

Several of the things I’ve read about the new TNT series “HawthoRNe” say that the show is an “ER” rip-off. And I say maybe, but who cares?

In its prime, “ER” was a great show, so what’s wrong with getting another one?

Now “HawthoRNe” is not great, but it is pretty darn good…

Jada Pinkett Smith stars as Christina Hawthorne, the Chief Nursing Officer at Richmond Trinity Hospital. She will do anything for her patients, no matter what toes she might step on. In the premiere, it’s the first anniversary of her husband’s death and everyone is trying to convince her to go home. But for Christina, the hospital is her home.

And at her home she has a team of dedicated nurses, including Ray (David Julian Hirsh), who has a thing for fellow nurse Candy (Christina Moore), Kelly (Vanessa Lengies) the young newbie, and Bobbie (Suleka Mathew), who is considering a relationship with hottie paramedic Nick (Adam Garcia).

Christina must also deal with her rebellious daughter Camille (Hannah Hodson), who is still having trouble with her father’s death. And although the show is from the point of view of the nurses, there are also doctors, led by Dr. Tom Wakefield (Michael Vartan), the Chief of Surgery.

There is plenty for Christina to deal with in the premiere, including a suicide attempt by a friend of her husband (the fabulous D.B. Woodside, making the most of a small role), Ray running afoul of a cocky doctor and her daughter getting in trouble at school. But no matter what happens she is always there for her patients.

TNT has once again scored with a strong female lead as Pinkett Smith was made to headline a drama. And Christina suits her very well. Even when the show gets a little too earnest for its own good, Pinkett Smith still manages to make it work. And it’s great to see Vartan back on television, and in a role that might actually work.

As I said, HawthoRNe is not quite ER in its prime, but as the characters get more fleshed out it could get there--especially with such a strong leading lady leading the way…

Welcome to television, Jada. It’s great to have you…

“HawthoRNe” premieres Tuesday, June 16th at 9 p.m. on TNT…

Photo Credit: Erik Heinila/TNT