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Numb3rs
CBS
Review by Phil Straus,
3d
Numb3rs, a cop show with a
mathematic al bent, premiered Sunday night on CBS. David Krumholtz plays
mathematical genius Charlie, whose brother Don (Rob Morrow) is an FBI agent.
Together, they use math to help solve crimes. It's a delight to see mathematics
portrayed in such a positive light in a popular TV show and though the dialog is
predictable and the plot unlikely, I enjoyed my hour watching the show. In
addition, in contrast to movies like "Good Will Hunting," the mathematics is
integral to the plot, not merely problems whose details are never mentioned. The
show uses computer graphics effectively to illustrate complex ideas, most with
some connection to the plot, and some even to mathematics. Interestingly, the
geeky mathematician has the best lines. After Charlie explains that there's no
rational reason to expect a batter to get a hit after a string of outs, the
batter hits a high fastball into the stands, exactly what Don predicted. "It's
an anomaly," says the surprised Charlie. The line is funny because it sits right
on the mathematical issues explored in the show -- what's predictable, what's
expected, and how human behavior can and cannot be modeled by equations: Charlie
didn't realize the game was taped and Don had already read the box scores. The
show moves to Fridays at 10P EST tonight.
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