'Key West' is not a realistic portrayal
Key West Citizen - 01/20/93
By Steve Cason
Guest Columnist

While watching the first episode of "Key West" the series, two thoughts occurred to me. One, the show is a perfect example of everything that's wrong with the Keys beginning with the Monroe County Tourist Development Council commercial advertising the Keys as "The Real Florida."

And two, even a terrible TV Show can't detract from the Keys incredible beauty.

Local reaction to the show has overwhelmingly negative - and rightly so, but let's keep it in perspective. This is, after all, TV, a medium which has never been noted for its accurate portrayal of reality.

Viewers who were surprised (shocked) by the show's heavy sexual content obviously aren't familiar with the Fox network, which relies heavily on T and A programming. And "Key West" the series had lots of T and A, which means it has the potential to be a big hit with teen-agers and men over 50, the same group who made "Charlie's Angels" one of the top rated shows of the mid 70's.

The major difference between "Charlie's Angels" and "Key West" is that "Charlie's Angels" had an actual storyline, whereas "Key West" meandered like a drunk on Duval Street at 4 a.m.

I watched the show twice (it made more sense the second time).

Still, I can't figure out Savannah, the sultry prostitute. First, there was the alluded to sex scene aboard the prince's yacht.

This was followed by the safe sex scene with the 18-year-old virgin, which was followed by the crippled woman sex scene, none of which, as far as I could determine, had anything to do with anything.

As for Seamus O'Neil, the assembly line worker who wins the lottery and moves to Key West to become the next Hemingway, I think everyone is agreement that this guy is a jerk. This is best evidenced by his comment to the marble-mouth, gay mayor: "Sir, I'm from New Jersey. Take my advice, You've got to hit her back."

There were occasional glimpses of reality, like the aerial shot of Duval Street when a recreational vehicle pulling a Jet Ski turns onto Greene Street. I also thought the blind newspaper editor was a nice touch.

I liked several of the characters, particularly the wacky sheriff (his heroes are Ted Nugent, Buddha and Davy Crockett), and Jo Jo the Rastafarian who looks suspiciously like somebody who once waited on me at the Environmental Circus. Gumbo, the bar owner, would be all right if it wasn't for the stupid Cajun accent.

I thought the stuffed (Key) deer on the wall of Gumbo's was interesting, but the evil pro-development alcoholic mayoral candidate's comments about taking the island back from the "kooks" and barbecuing Flipper was a bit much, though she did remind me of a former county commission candidate.

My all-time favorite scene, however, was the alligator dream sequence. I especially liked the way the red-headed girl tied to the stake turned around and wiggled her rear end for the camera which to me pretty much sums up the socially redeeming qualities of "Key West" the series. Had it not been for the Channel 7 News teasers advertising videotape footage of a real-life murder, I might have turned the TV off.

"Key West" the series bears about as much resemblance to the Key West, the city, as Key West, the city, bears to reality.