“Saving Grace” creator, actor visit Oklahoma City
“Saving Grace” actor Leon Rippy, who stars as Earl in the series, signs a DVD cover for Matt Westphalen Thursday at an event at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.
Former University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer poses for a photo with “Saving Grace” creator Nancy Miller, Leon Rippy, who stars as Earl, and Becky Switzer at an event Thursday at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Switzer appeared in an episode of the show earlier this season. (Photos by Steve Gooch/The Oklahoman)
From Friday’s The Oklahoman.
The challenges of casting city’s TV stand-in
Oklahoma City native Nancy Miller senses a special vibe when she steps off an airplane in her hometown.
But recreating the people, places and peculiarities of her hometown on her TV show “Saving Grace” isn’t easy.
“It’s just difficult. Our season opener started in Bricktown, and it just didn’t look like Bricktown, but we did the best we could,” said Miller, the series creator and executive producer, said Thursday at The Oklahoman.
Miller and actor Leon Rippy returned to Oklahoma City Thursday to host a screening of the next new episode of “Saving Grace” at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The second season of the TNT series resumes at 9 p.m. m2 Monday after a six-month hiatus.
Guests at the screening included Mayor Mick Cornett, former Oklahoma City Police Chief M.T. Berry, who has consulted with Miller on the show, and former University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer, who appeared in an episode earlier this season.
The series follows Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter), a self-destructive Oklahoma City police detective who is visited by an angel (Rippy). sent to help her reform her life.
In upcoming episodes, Grace and her colleagues investigate a murder in Heritage Hills, follow leads to Penn Square Mall and squabble over OU-Texas football. But in reality, the series is filmed in Los Angeles.
Miller said Oklahoma City doesn’t have the resources to support the series’ production. In the past, a second unit has come to Oklahoma City to get location shots.
“We don’t have the money to do it this season,” she said. “It is a great place; I wish we could show it to them (viewers).”
The series location manager, Gary Watt, hails from Oklahoma City, so he knows what to look for when he searches for places to film. Rippy said Miller’s first-hand knowledge is invaluable, too.
“I love it here. I love it. You know, it reminds me of home. People are friendly,” said Rippy, a Rock Hill, S.C., native.
“Saving Grace”
The second season of “Saving Grace” resumes at 9 p.m. Monday on TNT. The season will end with seven new episodes.
Christina Ricci (”Speed Racer”) will be featured in three episodes, starting with tonight’s.
Production on the third season will start April 1, with the new season set to debut in summer.
-BAM
