Why the Cast of The Commish Still Feels Like Family
Stephen J. Cannell had a knack for creating shows that felt lived-in. You remember The Commish? It wasn’t your typical gritty, high-octane 90s police procedural like NYPD Blue. It was softer. It was about a guy who used his brain, his heart, and sometimes a very strategically placed cannoli to solve crimes in a fictional upstate New York town. At the center of it all was Michael Chiklis. Long before he was the terrifying, badge-heavy Vic Mackey on The Shield, he was Tony Scali. He was the "Commish."
The magic of the show didn't just come from the scripts; it came from the chemistry. When you look back at the cast of the commish, you aren't just looking at a list of actors. You're looking at a group that defined a specific era of "comfort TV." Tony Scali was the police commissioner of East Haven, but he was also a dad and a husband. That balance—the domestic mixed with the municipal—is exactly why people still hunt down these episodes on streaming services today.
People forget how young Michael Chiklis was when he landed this. He was in his late 20s playing a guy who looked like he’d been on the force for thirty years. He actually had to use makeup to age himself up. It worked. He became the "cuddly" cop, a label he spent the next decade trying to outrun until he hit the gym and reinvented himself for FX. But for five seasons on ABC, he was the moral compass of East Haven.
Michael Chiklis as Tony Scali: The Heart of the Department
Chiklis was the engine. Without him, the show would’ve been another forgotten blip in the vast sea of 90s television. Tony Scali was based on a real person, Tony Schembri, who actually served as a police commissioner and later became a consultant for the show. This gave the character a layer of authenticity that was rare at the time. Scali wasn't a "super-cop." He was a negotiator.
Honestly, watching him navigate the bureaucracy of city hall while trying to figure out what to have for dinner with his wife, Rachel, was the best part of the show. He was approachable. He was the guy you wanted to grab a beer with, even if he was the one who might have to arrest you later. After the show ended in 1996, Chiklis had a bit of a rough patch. Remember Daddio? Probably not. It was a short-lived sitcom that didn't really capture his range. Then came 2002. He shaved his head, bulked up, and became Vic Mackey. The contrast was so jarring that it practically redefined his career. He went from the lovable Commish to a guy who would beat a suspect with a phone book. It’s one of the most successful rebrands in Hollywood history.
Theresa Saldana: A Legacy Beyond the Screen
Theresa Saldana played Rachel Scali, Tony’s wife. She was the grounding force. In many ways, Rachel was the conscience of the show. But Saldana’s real-life story was far more harrowing than anything the writers could dream up for East Haven. In 1982, years before The Commish, she survived a brutal stalking and stabbing attack outside her home in Los Angeles.
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She didn't just recover; she became an advocate. She founded Victims for Victims and worked tirelessly to pass anti-stalking laws. When she joined the cast of the commish, she brought a sense of resilience that viewers picked up on. Her chemistry with Chiklis was genuine. They felt like a real couple who had been through the wringer but still loved each other. Sadly, Saldana passed away in 2016. Her performance as Rachel remains a high point of 90s television, representing a partnership that was based on mutual respect rather than the typical "nagging wife" trope common in that era.
The Supporting Players: Cyd, Stan, and the East Haven Crew
Then you had the office. The precinct was a character in itself.
Kaj-Erik Eriksen played David Scali, the son. We literally watched that kid grow up on screen. Most child actors disappear into the void of "where are they now" listicles, but Eriksen kept working, moving on to shows like The 4400. He had a very naturalistic style that fit the show's low-key vibe.
But let’s talk about the detectives.
- Geoffrey Nauffts as Stan Kelly: He was the young, often earnest detective who provided a foil to the more seasoned characters. Nauffts eventually pivoted more toward writing and directing, even earning a Tony nomination for his play Next Fall.
- Melinda McGraw as Cyd Madison: She was a fan favorite. Cyd was smart, capable, and didn't take any of Tony’s nonsense. McGraw has had one of the most consistent careers of the entire cast. You’ve seen her in Mad Men (as Bobbie Barrett), The West Wing, and The Dark Knight. She has this incredible ability to play high-status, intelligent women who are slightly cynical.
- John Cygan as Paulie Pentangeli: Every cop show needs a "Paulie." Cygan played Tony’s best friend and right-hand man. He was the muscle, the loyalty, and often the comic relief. Cygan, who passed away in 2017, was also a prolific voice actor. If you’ve played a video game in the last twenty years, you’ve probably heard his voice in everything from Star Wars to Metal Gear Solid.
Why We Still Care About the Cast of The Commish Today
The 90s were a weird time for TV. We were moving away from the "case of the week" towards more serialized storytelling, but The Commish sat right in the middle. It gave us satisfying endings every Tuesday night, but the characters felt like they were evolving. When the show ended, it left a hole.
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Part of the enduring interest in the cast of the commish is nostalgia, sure. But it’s also about the quality of the ensemble. They weren't "TV stars" in the glamorous sense; they looked like people you’d see at the grocery store. That was the point. Stephen J. Cannell knew that if the audience didn't believe in the friendship between Tony and Paulie, or the marriage between Tony and Rachel, the police stuff wouldn't matter.
There’s also the "Chiklis Factor." Seeing where he started makes his later work more impressive. It’s like watching an early Springsteen concert in a small club. You see the seeds of greatness, even if the production value isn't quite there yet.
The Guest Stars You Forgot
If you go back and rewatch, the guest list is a "who’s who" of people who were about to be famous.
- Telly Savalas showed up.
- A young Giovanni Ribisi appeared in an episode.
- Even Lucy Liu had a small role.
The show was a training ground. It was a place where character actors could shine. This is a big reason why the show has such high "rewatchability." You're constantly pointing at the screen saying, "Hey, isn't that the guy from that other thing?"
The "Lost" Final Season and the TV Movies
The show didn't exactly go out with a bang. The fifth season was actually a series of TV movies rather than a standard season. This was a weird move by ABC, and it sort of fragmented the legacy. It felt like the show was fading away rather than concluding. By the time the final movie aired in 1996, the landscape of television was changing. ER was the big hit. The X-Files was getting weird. The earnest, heartfelt police work of Tony Scali felt a bit "old school."
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But old school isn't bad. In a world of "prestige TV" where every character is an anti-hero and everything is dark and gritty, there's something refreshing about a show where the main character is actually a good person. Tony Scali wasn't perfect—he was stubborn and sometimes a bit full of himself—but he cared.
Practical Steps for Fans and Researchers
If you're looking to dive back into the world of East Haven or research the careers of these actors, here’s how to do it effectively:
- Streaming Options: The series frequently hops between services like Tubi, Freevee, and Prime Video. It’s rarely on the "big" platforms like Netflix, so you have to look for the ad-supported streamers.
- The "Tony Schembri" Connection: If you want to see the real-life inspiration, look up interviews with Tony Schembri. It’s fascinating to see how much of the real Tony’s personality Chiklis absorbed for the role.
- The Shield Contrast Study: For a masterclass in acting, watch the final episode of The Commish and then the pilot of The Shield. It is the same actor, but the body language, the voice, and the "energy" are completely different. It’s a great way to understand how Chiklis used the cast of the commish experience to build a foundation he could eventually subvert.
- Voice Acting Deep Dive: Since many cast members like John Cygan transitioned to voice work, check out the credits of 90s and 2000s animated films. You’ll find the DNA of this show in some very unexpected places.
The legacy of the show isn't just a trophy on a shelf. It’s in the way we view "family" police dramas. It paved the way for shows like Blue Bloods, which takes that same "family dinner + police business" formula and runs with it. The cast of the commish proved that you don't need a high body count or a dark secret to make a compelling drama. Sometimes, you just need a guy in a suit who really loves his wife and really hates crime.
To truly appreciate the show's impact, focus on the episodes written by David J. Burke or those directed by James Whitmore Jr. These creators understood the balance between humor and pathos that defined the series. Tracking the career trajectories of the guest stars also provides a unique map of 1990s Hollywood, revealing how central this production was for working actors of the era.