Tequila and Bonetti

1 9 9 2 (USA)
13 x 60 minute episodes

After being involved in the accidental fatal shooting of a 12-year-old girl (which understandably generated a lot of negative public reaction), NYPD detective Nick Bonetti (Jack Scalia) was given a temporary assignment as a visiting detective with the South Compton police department in Southern Los Angeles.

Bonetti, a lover of fine jazz and a gourmet Italian cook, found it difficult to adjust to the laid-back California lifestyle and being given a dog as a partner – a plot device clearly inspired by the 1989 movie Turner & Hooch.

Tequila, a large French mastiff, was a junk-food addict (he loved burritos), had a hip attitude, loved women, and provided the viewing audience with a running commentary on the action (voiced by comedian Brad Sanders) – a plot device clearly inspired by the 1989 movie Look Who’s Talking.

Officer Angela Garcia (Mariska Hargitay) was a pretty, widowed young policewoman who didn’t succumb to Bonetti’s charms and had problems dealing with his “shoot first and ask questions later” approach to police work.

Midian Knight – a.k.a ‘Captain Midnight’ (Charles Rocket) – was their pretentious, image-conscious commanding officer who was more interested in making it as a movie scriptwriter than in his police work.

Unsure whether it was trying to be a drama or a comedy, Tequila and Bonetti had an uncomfortable mix of broad comedy and violent action in most episodes, and the show never attracted a large enough audience to stay on the air.

Detective Nick Bonetti
Jack Scalia
Tequila (voice)
Brad Sanders
Officer Angela Garcia
Mariska Hargitay
Captain Midian Knight
Charles Rocket
Sgt. Nuzo
Terry Funk
Detective Lee
W.K. Stratton
Officer Vita
Joe Vita

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