The anti-hero of the appropriately titled "Profit" is a corporate up-and-comer
in the most literal sense. Profit carries the just nebulous enough title
of "junior vice president of acquisitions" to give him carte blanche when
it comes to feathering the nest for his firm, Gracen & Gracen, even if
it means an associate or two -- or three -- is squashed along the way.
It would be easy to make Profit invincible but series creators David Greenawalt
and John McNamara have resisted that lucrative temptation. In the first month,
Profit has suffered a few defeats, including reverse-blackmail contrived
by his whorish stepmother and a nifty con orchestrated by the conglomerate's
smart new lawyer.
But rest assured that those are only temporary setbacks. Profit is a cunning,
crafty and ruthless adversary -- in other words, a fitting image of today's
business sharks. It's a treat savoring his gravel-voiced narration, sharing
in the devious plans his cold eyes guard masterfully.
As good as the concept is, "Profit" would go belly-up without Adrian Pasdar
in the lead role. Slick, grim, smooth and dangerous, a sinister monster who's
savagely delightful to watch, Pasdar makes "Profit" a worthy investment.
WATCH IT? 'Nowhere Man' is a better buy.
TAPE IT? That's how to make this an asset.
"Tuned In"
By Stan Urankar
May 2, 1996
PROFIT
9 p.m. Monday, WJW-TV (8)
J.R. Ewing was television's most delicious villain in the '80s, and Jim Profit
could cash in on that honor in the '90s.
astralj@hotmail.com
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