The Handler
Pilot episode
Sept. 26, 2003
Lee Tergesen plays a detective who turns to the FBI for help in
finding a young woman who's been missing for three months.
Lee is in one of three storylines woven together in this episode,
the first of 14 that aired (two episodes were unaired when the show
was canceled by CBS in January 2004).
The show follows series star Joe Pantoliano, who plays Joe Renato,
a Los Angeles-based FBI agent who trains and handles undercover
agents. He also works with local law enforcement agencies that come
to the FBI for help in solving crimes.
That's where Lee comes into the pilot episode's story line.
Playing an LAPD detective, Lee serves mainly to describe the crime,
walking Renato through the missing woman's apartment and describing
what the police have learned about her case. Lee has a few brief
appearances throughout the show -- keeping tabs on the case and
conducting stake-outs -- until the culprit is caught.
It certainly wasn't the meatiest of roles -- those belonged to
the series regulars, of course. Pantoliano was captivating as the
tireless FBI agent juggling his cast of "characters," and
Anna Belknap was engaging as an earnest rookie agent. But Lee once
again shows what a pro he is.
|