“A Smile as Big as the Moon”: Hallmark Hall of Fame movie blasts off Sunday
"A Smile as Big as the Moon" - Hallmark Hall of Fame Photo
John Corbett stars in the latest Hallmark Hall of Fame movie “A Smile as Big as the Moon,” playing Michigan high school football coach and special-education teacher Mike Kersjes, who helps his special-ed students attend Space Camp in 1989.
Based on a true story, the movie follows the journey of Kersjes, fellow teacher Robynn McKinney (Jessy Schram) and their students as they pave the way for special-ed participants to attend the Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.
When Kersjes realizes how attending the program would greatly enhance the self-esteem of his students, he faces opposition to his plan, which includes school administrators saying it’s too expensive and Space Camp officials, led by Dr. Deborah Barnhart (Cynthia Watros), being reluctant at first to change the way things have always been done and allow the special-ed students to participate.
Then there was the $50,000 that had to be raised to allow the students to attend as well, along with almost a year’s worth of training to prepare for the camp, including swimming and learning to work as a team.
Many of the special-ed students are portrayed by young actors who are special needs children themselves, with Down syndrome, ADD, autism, dyslexia, etc.
“Mike Kersjes changed a lot of lives,” Corbett said in a news release quote from an interview at the Space Camp. “As a teacher, he made a great impact on the special-ed kids he worked with. But he also broke down barriers for countless other kids. Once his class made that first ground-breaking visit to Space Camp, the doors were thrown wide open.
“Thanks to a foundation he set up, more than 3,000 special-ed kids have been able to come here and experience the wonder and magic of space exploration.”
If you’d like to enter the Hallmark Hall of Fame Space Camp Sweepstakes, in which one lucky family can win a weekend adventure at Space Camp in Alabama, visit www.hhofsweepstakes.com.
“A Smile as Big as the Moon” airs at 8 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 29 on ABC.
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
“Touch”: Preview of new Fox drama to air tonight
From left, Kiefer Sutherland and David Mazouz of "Touch" - Fox Photo
Kiefer Sutherland (“24″) returns to television as the lead in the Fox drama “Touch.”
Sutherland plays Martin Bohm, a widower and single father haunted by an inability to connect to his emotionally challenged 11-year-old son Jake (David Mazouz).
Martin discovers, however, that Jake can predict events before they happen and then everything changes, according to a news release.
In a special preview of the pilot episode, which airs at 8 tonight, Jan 25, on Fox, Martin becomes associated with social worker Clea Hopkins (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Professor Arthur Teller (guest star Danny Glover), who may have the keys to help unlock Jake’s mind.
The series premiere of “Touch” is scheduled for 8 p.m., Monday, March 19.
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“Luck”: Quality of new HBO drama should ensure satisfaction for viewers
From left, Dennis Farina and Dustin Hoffman in "Luck" - HBO Photo
If you’re drawn to character-driven drama, you’re bound to be enamored with the HBO series “Luck,” which focuses on the many personalities involved with horse racing.
“Deadwood” creator David Milch and acclaimed director Michael Mann have collaborated on a series that has as much talent in the cast as it does behind it.
As the series begins, Dustin Hoffman stars as Chester “Ace” Bernstein, who has just been released from federal prison and has bought a horse that his driver and bodyguard, Gus Demitriou (Dennis Farina) fronts as the owner for.
The horse’s proficient but disreputable trainer is Turo Escalante (John Ortiz), whose girlfriend, Jo, (Jill Hennessey) is the track veterinarian.
Nick Nolte plays trainer-turned-owner Walter Smith, who is haunted by a past event, but has a horse with serious potential.
Four degenerate gambling buddies, Marcus (Kevin Dunn), Renzo (Ritchie Coster), Jerry (Jason Gedrick) and Lonnie (Ian Hart) pool together what money they have to bet Jerry’s hunch on the day’s long shot, a high-stakes Pick Six winners contest.
Other key roles include jockey agent Joey Rathburn (Richard Kind); beginner jockey Leon (Tom Payne); exercise girl Rosie (Kerry Condon); and veteran jockey Ronnie Jenkins, played by real-life racing Hall of Famer Gary Stevens.
Guest stars such as Joan Allen, Bruce Davison, Mercedes Ruehl, Patrick J. Adams and Sir Michael Gambon also appear throughout “Luck.”
The first episode, directed by Mann and written by Milch, sets the tone for a show that is deliberately paced (with the exception of the horse races), is beautifully shot, and is absolutely intoxicating in its ability to get viewers caught up in the lives of all of these diverse characters.
Hoffman’s restrained and principled Ace is fascinating to watch, especially as he interacts with Gus.
Nolte’s performance as agonized and honorable horse owner Smith is commendable as well; while Condon’s portrayal of Rosie, who has dreams of becoming a jockey, makes you cheer for her.
In addition, Kind plays stuttering agent Rathburn in a dignified way that invokes sympathy for his down-on-your-luck character.
“Luck,” abounding in rich characters, absorbing acting by the entire cast and a story that involves all walks of life, is a good risk for television viewers to take.
“Luck” premieres at 8 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 29 on HBO.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
Nick Nolte in "Luck" - HBO Photo
“Da Vinci’s Demons”: New Starz series to feature British actor Tom Riley
Starz Entertainment and BBC Worldwide Productions have announced that British actor Tom Riley will portray a young Leonardo da Vinci in the upcoming Starz original series “Da Vinci’s Demons.”
“Da Vinci’s Demons,” written by David S. Goyer, is a historical fantasy, following the “untold” story of the world’s greatest genius during his turbulent youth in Renaissance Florence, according to a news release.
The twenty-five-year-old da Vinci will be shown as a brilliant and passionate artist, inventor, swordsman, lover, dreamer and idealist, and as a free thinker, struggling to live within the limits of his own reality and time.
Riley has received critical acclaim in the UK for his performances in theater, film and on television. He has starred in multiple productions at London’s Royal Court Theatre since 2005, and on Broadway was nominated by the Drama Desk Awards for his performance as Septimus Hodge in “Arcadia.”
On television, he is best known for his role as Laurence Shepherd on ITV’s drama series “Monroe,” and his lead film roles include “A Few Days In September,” “I Want Candy” and “Happily Ever Afters.”
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“A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song” airs Sunday
From left, Megan Park, Lucy Hale and Freddie Stroma of "A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song" - Warner Premiere Photo
An updated version of a classic tale, “A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song” stars Lucy Hale (“Pretty Little Liars”) as Katie, whose dream is to become a recording artist, but she is constantly stymied by her cruel stepmother Gail Van Ravensway (Missi Pyle, “The Mentalist”) and stepsister Beverly (Megan Park, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”).
When Katie falls for the new boy Luke (Freddie Stroma, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 and 2″) at her performing arts school, she attempts to gain his attention with her singing, according to a news release.
Beverly, however, takes credit for Katie’s wonderful voice and Luke falls for her, prompting Katie to learn to stand up for her dreams before her stepmother forces her to sing Luke into the arms of her evil stepsister.
“A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song” airs at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 on ABC Family.
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
PBS special “Oscar Hammerstein II – Out of My Dreams,” to air in March
Oscar Hammerstein II - Photo courtesy of Rodgers and Hammerstein: An Imagem Company
Matthew Morrison (“Glee”), who starred in the 2008 Tony-winning revival of “South Pacific” as Lieutenant Cable, is host of the upcoming PBS special “Oscar Hammerstein II – Out of My Dreams.”
The program is scheduled to premiere March 3 (check local listings), according to a news release.
A summary of the hour-long special, provided by PBS, is as follows:
“Oscar Hammerstein II – Out of My Dreams” is a celebration of the most acclaimed lyricist and librettist of the 20th century, the man who worked in the theater for over 40 years, writing the lyrics for over a thousand songs and the libretti for dozens of operettas and musicals performed on Broadway, in London and in Hollywood films. His legendary works include Rose-Marie (1924), Show Boat (1927), Oklahoma! (1943), Carousel (1945), South Pacific (1949), The King and I (1951) and The Sound of Music (1959). Brimming over with movie clips from his greatest musicals, this new PBS special features interviews with Stephen Sondheim, Harold Prince, Shirley Jones, Mitzi Gaynor, Hammerstein family members and others.
Born into a theatrical dynasty, Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) changed the course of musical theater forever with a series of landmark productions, from Show Boat, composed by Jerome Kern in 1927, to the “Golden Age of Broadway” musicals written with composer Richard Rodgers from 1942-1959. The American musical, which began as purely light-hearted and escapist entertainment, was transformed by Hammerstein’s groundbreaking works that told believable stories about plausible (often real-life) characters, with songs that enhanced the narrative, and a message that was sometimes political, and nearly always inspirational.
“Oscar Hammerstein II – Out of My Dreams” includes segments from five of the timeless, ever-popular Rodgers & Hammerstein films, including iconic scenes from Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I and the most popular movie musical of all time, The Sound of Music. Also featured are songs and scenes from among the several movie versions of Show Boat, as well as a clip from the rarely seen film, Lady Be Good, with Ann Sothern singing “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” written by Oscar Hammerstein II on the day Paris fell to Nazi Germany. Set to music by Jerome Kern, it won the Academy Award as Best Song in 1941.
While footage of Oscar Hammerstein II is rare, he is seen and heard in excerpts from a 1958 television interview with CBS News’ Mike Wallace, as well as recorded comments from conversations with contemporary journalists Arnold Michaelis and Tony Thomas.
Stephen Sondheim, mentored by Hammerstein starting in his teen years, is also interviewed and discusses the lessons he learned from the man he considers a theatrical revolutionary and both an artistic and a surrogate father. Also interviewed are: Broadway director Harold Prince; Shirley Jones (star of the film versions of Oklahoma! and Carousel); Mitzi Gaynor (star of the film version of South Pacific); Tony winning playwright/lyricist Joe DiPietro (himself mentored by Hammerstein’s son James); Ted Chapin, President of Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company; biographer Hugh Fordin; and Hammerstein family members, including his daughter, Alice Hammerstein Mathias; grandchildren, Oscar Andrew Hammerstein, Melinda Walsh, and Peter Mathias; and his stepdaughter, Susan Blanchard. Seen in archival interviews are Hammerstein’s late wife, Dorothy, and their late son, James.
This program also celebrates Hammerstein’s extraordinary work as a humanitarian and political activist, a part of his life that is not as well known as his artistic achievements. From the beginning of his career to the end, he used his creative talents to raise the social consciousness of audiences all over the world. Show Boat – to a degree unprecedented in the musical theater of its time – took an unflinching look at racial oppression in the post-Reconstruction South, and South Pacific (with its controversial stance on prejudice, expressed in the song “You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught”) took a bold stand on the issue of civil rights.
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
Matthew Morrison - AP Photo
Website gives viewers a forum to share their opinions on television shows
A New York company, Hit G7 Industries, has expanded its website, SaveThatShow.com to allow visitors to “stat” their favorite television shows while they’re watching them, or anytime they want.
StaTuS graphically updates viewer’s sentiments every 2 minutes for 30 minute shows and every 5 minutes for hour-long programs, according to a news release.
The latest comments on the series are also displayed with the graph.
If fans would like to send an actual paper and envelope letter to ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox and NBC to request that a show be saved, they have the ability to do this as well on the site, along with an option to request a channel or network other than those listed and send a letter via the “Visitors Choice By Request” selection.
Fans also have the opportunity to write reviews and rate the shows they like the most, or maybe the least, by submitting their critiques for display on the Featured Review page. (Review form is at the bottom of Featured Review page.) If your review is selected, your name will be displayed along with your review.
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
New A&E drama “Longmire” to begin production in March
Australian actor Robert Taylor stars in "Longmire" - AP Photo
Production on the new hour-long A&E original scripted drama series “Longmire” is scheduled to begin in March in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
A&E has ordered ten episodes of the contemporary crime thriller from Warner Horizon Television and the show will premiere this summer, according to a news release.
Australian actor Robert Taylor (“The Matrix”) stars as Walt Longmire in the series, which is based on the Walt Longmire Mystery novels by best-selling author Craig Johnson.
Longmire, widowed only a year, is sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming.
Longmire is struggling after his wife’s death, and with the encouragement of his daughter Cady (Cassidy Freeman, “Smallville”), decides to turn his life around.
Assisted by Vic (Katee Sackhoff, “Battlestar Galactica”), a female deputy new to the department, he becomes rejuvenated about his job and committed to running for re-election.
Ambitious, young deputy Branch (Bailey Chase, “Damages”) runs against him for sheriff, leaving Longmire feeling betrayed, but still dedicated to the community.
Lou Diamond Phillips (“Numb3rs”) also stars as Longmire’s close friend and confidant, Henry Standing Bear.
Hunt Baldwin (“The Closer,” “Trust Me”) and John Coveny (“The Closer,” “Trust Me”) wrote “Longmire” and serve as executive producers along with Greer Shephard (“The Closer,” “Nip/Tuck”) and Michael M. Robin (“The Closer,” “Nip/Tuck”).
In addition, Christopher Chulack (“Southland,” “ER”) served as director and executive producer of the pilot.
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
James Tupper: Actor hopes to reap sweet “Revenge”
James Tupper - Photo by Jeff Berlin
(This story was published in the Life section of The Oklahoman Jan. 17, 2012.)
Although Canadian actor James Tupper’s role as wronged father David Clarke is only seen in flashbacks, his character is still a pivotal part of the ABC drama “Revenge.”
His daughter, Amanda, seeks vengeance when Clarke dies in prison after being framed for a crime he didn’t commit.
About the show
This is the plot of “Revenge,” which airs at 9 p.m. Wednesdays and stars Emily VanCamp as Amanda Clarke, aka Emily Thorne, a daughter exacting an elaborate plan to avenge her father’s framing for a heinous crime. When Amanda was only 9 years old, her father was arrested after being set up by Clarke’s lover, Victoria Grayson, played by Madeleine Stowe, and her husband, Conrad, played by Henry Czerny.
Tupper’s credits include roles on “Grey’s Anatomy, “Men in Trees” and “Mercy.”
The 46-year-old actor, who has a son Atlas, 2, and stepson Homer, 9, with wife, actress Anne Heche, discussed the show, which also features Tulsa native Amber Valletta, in a recent phone interview.
Q: What’s ahead on “Revenge?”
A: Emily’s past begins to catch up with her and certain people find out secrets, and then I think the whole thing is just teetering. … The whole thing is gonna just come tumbling down, like any time you live in a lie.
Q: The plot of the show is something a lot of people probably relate to even though it’s questionable, of course, whether one should actually attempt to exact revenge.
A: Aren’t we just all dying to get revenge? Everybody wants revenge on somebody. I like to joke around like, yes, we don’t recommend revenge unless there’s no other choice.
Q: What’s it like working on the series?
A: The show feels like a little family. They’ve been really excellent to me and, of course, Madeleine Stowe has been nominated for a Golden Globe award, and she is one of my main scene partners, so I feel like I’m really blessed and lucky, just lucky to be on the show. I feel like I made my comeback as an actor, and it’s as a dead man (laughs).
Q: Is there any chance that David Clarke is actually still alive?
A: Well, the dead don’t tell.
Q: How is working with Madeleine Stowe, who plays the icy Victoria Grayson?
A: Well, it’s funny that you call her icy. I don’t really have that relationship with her. When she was with me, we were in love and a lot of what we’re going for is really hot, passionate, deep, connected love.
(In person) she’s sexy and doughy and sweet. When you look at her, you float in another world kind of. I feel like I’m in a movie. She’s very sweet, obviously, kind.
Q: Amber Valletta, who grew up in Tulsa, is also a cast member on “Revenge,” and although you’re in the flashback scenes, have you gotten to work with her at all?
A: I do. We have readings each week, so we all get together, and it turned out that a very close friend of my wife’s works for her, is a partner with her, and on top of that, every week since I started the show, I’ve bumped into her somewhere.
We were in a dentist’s office, she was there. We were at a clothing store, she was there. And I just bumped into her again at a costume fitting or something, and it was like, what, this is crazy. So, yeah, we’ve established a friendship.
Q: Any other Oklahoma connections?
A: I love Oklahoma. I drove my truck across the country, and I stayed in Tulsa. I’m a country boy. I grew up in a place that was really wild and open, so when I got to Oklahoma, I felt at home there. It was a real place with some great people.
Q: How long did you stay in Tulsa?
A: Just for a few weeks.
Q: And what was the purpose of this trip?
A: I was coming up to Hollywood in the year 2000. I lived in New York as an actor, and I packed my stuff in the back and I just drove across country. It was fun.
It’s good to hit the open road like that, especially after being in a city.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
James Tupper - Photo by Jeff Berlin
“White Collar,” “Royal Pains” return this week
Matt Bomer of "White Collar" - USA Network Photo
♦♦♦♦ “White Collar,” which features Matt Bomer as Neal Caffrey, a con artist who teams up with FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay), to catch other elusive criminals in exchange for his freedom, is back at 9 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17 on the USA Network.
A summary provided by USA on the return of “White Collar” is as follows:
FBI agent Peter Burke’s (DeKay) world crumbled to pieces in the summer finale of “White Collar” when he found out Neal Caffrey (Bomer) was in possession of the stolen Nazi treasure — and his wife Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) was kidnapped because of it. Now with an uncertain future and both his personal and professional life at stake, questions abound: what will Peter do? What has happened to Elizabeth? And will Neal choose a side? Season three of “White Collar” promises to return with six edge-of-your seat episodes starting in Winter 2012.
The upcoming episodes feature the directorial debut of series star DeKay and appearances of such guest stars as Joe Manganiello, Dylan Baker, Beau Bridges, Tom Skerritt, Hal Ozsan, Ross McCall, Diahann Carroll, Elizabeth Gillies, Graham Phillips, Lola Glaudini, Will Chase, Murphy Guyer, Tom Degnan, Bailey Chase and Debra Monk.
“White Collar” was created and is executive-produced by Jeff Eastin and comes from Fox Television Studios. Mark Goffman is an executive producer and Jeff F. King is a co-executive producer. The series, which averaged 5.7 million total viewers this summer, has already been greenlit for a fourth season to start production in New York in early 2012.
♦♦♦♦ “Royal Pains,” stars Mark Feuerstein as Hank Lawson, a doctor who was blacklisted from the medical community and has revived his career as a concierge doctor to the rich and famous in the Hamptons, returns at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18 on USA.
Dr. Lawson and physician’s assistant Divya Katdare (Reshma Shetty) tend to patients for the HankMed practice, which is financially run by Hank’s brother Evan (Paulo Costanzo), and the trio have found their niche serving the elite as well as the town’s less fortunate.
Hamptons Heritage hospital administrator Jill Casey (Jill Flint) also gets involved with the treatment of patients when necessary – and engages in an on again/off again relationship with Dr. Lawson.
Recurring stars are Campbell Scott as Boris, Brooke D’Orsay as Paige, Kyle Howard as Dr. Van Dyke, Joanna Garcia Swisher as Dr. Nina Greene and Tom Cavanaugh as Jack O’Malley.
A summary provided by USA on the return of “Royal Pains” is as follows:
When viewers last saw Dr. Lawson, he was attending to an unconscious Eric Kassabian (guest star Wilmer Valderrama) after he was apparently given the wrong type of medicine by Dr. Van Dyke (Howard) and Divya (Shetty). Things get tense in the summer escape of the Hamptons as Divya tries to juggle two jobs, Evan (Costanzo) tries to fit into his fiancée’s complicated family life and Jill (Flint) continues to hide Divya’s work secret. And most importantly, will “HankMed” lose its first patient as Kassabian’s life hangs in the balance?
Cavanagh returns in a multi-episode arc as Jack, a professional golfer and HankMed client. Jack’s sudden return to the Hamptons surprises everyone — especially Jill, who continues to find herself drawn to him. As Hank grows his friendship with the now healthy Jack, he will soon find himself facing a whole new set of challenges as his medical caregiver. Although Jack’s previous condition has healed, he will soon discover a new medical obstacle tougher than any golf course on the tour.
“Royal Pains” is executive-produced by Andrew Lenchewski and Michael Rauch, as well as Rich Frank, Paul Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz from Prospect Park. The series is filmed entirely in New York (Long Island and Brooklyn) and at various locations in and around the Hamptons, and has been renewed for a fourth season, which will begin production in the spring.
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
From left, Jill Flint, Paulo Costanzo, Mark Feuerstein and Reshma Shetty of "Royal Pains" - USA Network Photo
