152: Fear City: New York vs. The Mafia and The Perfect Murder S05E09

Is this the widest gulf in quality between the two shows under discussion in Blotter history? Maybe! But Netflix's new three-part series on the "Commission Case" that brought down the New York Mob is disciplined, compelling, and reminds me and guest Jeb Lund that Rudy Giuliani didn't always completely suck at everything...and that barbers really have a challenging job sometimes.

The Perfect Murder, meanwhile, is also compelling, but risibly acted, weirdly production-designed, and hilarious in a way that brings to mind a certain [ploop!]. It's so memorably bizarre that at least it "honors" Gavin Smith by stamping his case indelibly into our memories, but we really shouldn't be giggling at a true-crime story. Wear a crop top to the cop shop for The Blotter Presents, Episode 152.

SHOW NOTES

• Fear City: New York vs. The Mafia 
• Brian Tallerico's review at RogerEbert.com
• The NatGeo series whose junket found SDB sitting next to Michael Franzese
• The Perfect Murder S05.E09, "Jump Shot" 
• "The Ploop Incident"
• The Quaid In Full podcast
• Jeb Lund on Twitter