Heart of the City

Heart of the City was an American crime drama television series that aired on ABC from September 20, 1986, to January 10, 1987. The show was created by E. Arthur Kean and starred Robert Desiderio as the protagonist, detective Wes Kennedy.

Centered around the gritty urban landscape of Los Angeles, Heart of the City focused on the life and work of Wes Kennedy, a dedicated, tough police detective who, aside from facing the dangerous facets of his job, also juggled the responsibilities of being a single father. Kennedy's wife had been killed by a stray bullet, leaving him to raise his two children, Kevin and Robin, portrayed by Jonathan Ward and Christina Applegate, respectively.

Christina Applegate, who later gained widespread fame for her role as Kelly Bundy on the long-running sitcom Married... with Children, played Kennedy's daughter, Robin. Her portrayal in Heart of the City was one of her earlier roles and showcased her burgeoning talent. Jonathan Ward's character, Kevin, offered a storyline focused on a teenager's tumultuous journey through adolescence while coping with the absence of his mother and the demanding occupation of his father.

Kario Salem played Tony, Kennedy's streetwise yet sensitive partner on the police force. The chemistry between Kennedy and Tony both challenged and complemented Kennedy's approaches to solving crimes. Branscombe Richmond appeared as Sergeant Luke Halui, an imposing yet sympathetic member of the police department, and Robert Alan Browne played Captain David Moraga, who oversaw Kennedy and his partner's division providing them with guidance and sometimes acting as a stern voice of reason.

Set against the decadent and often violent backdrop of the 1980s in LA's less glamorous neighborhoods, Heart of the City distinguished itself among other police dramas of the era through its more intimate approach to the genre, exploring the personal challenges facing law enforcement officers without glorifying the violence that often surrounded them. The series made an effort to depict the complex realities and moral ambiguities of being a cop, as well as the impact the profession could have on family life.

Moreover, Heart of the City delved into social issues relevant to the time, weaving them into its crime-driven storylines. It was not just a show about solving crimes, but about understanding the circumstances that led to them. It dealt with topics such as gang violence, drug abuse, and the struggles faced by those living in poverty, showcasing a desire to present a canvas that was socially aware and reflective of the period's urban challenges.

While the series' primary focus was on Kennedy's work life, it also gave considerable attention to his home life, making it more of a family drama than many of its strictly procedural contemporaries. The relationship dynamics within the Kennedy family were crucial to the show's emotional grounding, providing a contrast to the harsh reality of Wes Kennedy’s professional world. This focus on family issues made the danger of Kennedy's job all the more poignant, and the moments of connection between father and children provided the show with its emotional core.

Heart of the City was notable for its attempt to balance the main character’s professional and personal lives. The show explored Kennedy's attempts to maintain a sense of normalcy for his children amid their shared grief and the moral complexities of his work. The character-driven storytelling attempted to affirm that even those who serve as protectors in society have their own vulnerabilities and struggles when out of uniform.

Though the show had a relatively short run and remains lesser-known compared to some of its contemporaries, Heart of the City offered a glimpse into the life of a single father and detective, trying to make sense of a world rife with crime and despair while remaining a beacon of safety and stability for his grieving family. Its portrayal of life on and off the beat aimed for authenticity and emotional resonance, which provided the series with a distinctive voice in the genre of crime drama during the 1980s.