“Off the Map” on course for drama fans
Mamie Gummer co-stars in "Off the Map." - ABC Photo by Bob D'Amico
Life or death situations. Personal lives at crossroads. Medical dilemmas. And coconuts.
What do these four things add up to?
“Off the Map,” a new medical drama by “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice” executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, and “Grey’s Anatomy” executive producer/creator Jenna Bans.
The series centers on a group of doctors working at the only clinic in a small town in the South American jungle.
In the pilot episode, Lily Brenner (Caroline Dhavernas) arrives with fellow doctors Mina Minard (Mamie Gummer) and Tommy Fuller (Zach Gilford) to assist Ben Keeton (Martin Henderson) at the clinic he founded after walking away from his job as the Chief of Surgery at UCLA.
Brenner, Minard and Fuller are all eager for a fresh start at their careers.
Keeton has support in teaching the newcomers in this difficult environment from Dr. Otis Cole (Jason George), Dr. Ryan Clark (Rachelle Lefevre) and local doctor Zita Alvarez (Valerie Cruz).
Hints are given in the premiere of the show that each character has had, and will have, lots of drama – not surprising, of course, but it’s a good thing, because each role is interesting and the cast works together well.
Gummer, whose mother is Meryl Streep, has been particularly impressive in the couple of guest appearances she’s made on the stellar series “The Good Wife,” and I’m glad she’s a main character in “Off the Map.”
Gilford is a favorite from another amazing series, “Friday Night Lights,” and I’m looking forward to seeing him exercise his acting skills in a different type of role now.
Dhavernas and Henderson are strong also, and the well-paced pilot gets the show off to a good start.
Whether or not you’re a “Grey’s Anatomy” and/or “Private Practice” fan, I’d recommend giving “Off the Map” a try.
“Off the Map” premieres at 9 p.m. Jan. 12 on ABC.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Zach Gilford co-stars in "Off the Map." - ABC Photo by Bob D'Amico
Brian Austin Green and Harold Perrineau to lead cast of TBS pilot “The Wedding Band”
Brian Austin Green - AP Photo by Chris Pizzello
Brian Austin Green and Harold Perrineau will star in the TBS pilot “The Wedding Band.”
“The Wedding Band” is an hour-long comedy featuring a group of guys who try to escape the stress and craziness of their lives by performing in a wedding band, according to a TBS news release.
The anchors of the band are two lifelong best friends – one is a perennial bachelor and the other is a married father with two children.
The band’s goal is to make every wedding, birthday or bar mitzvah a concert to remember.
Peter Cambor and Derek Miller join Green and Perrineau in the cast.
The pilot is from FremantleMedia and executive produced by Tollin Productions (“Smallville, “Arli$$”).
Josh Lobis and Darin Moiselle of “South Park” wrote the script and serve as co-executive producers.
Bryan Gordon (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) will direct and co-executive produce the project.
Harold Perrineau - AP Photo by Jennifer Graylock
“Good Morning America” joins “Modern Family” in search for a real American modern family
From left, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sofia Vergara, Nolan Gould, Ty Burrell, Ariel Winter, Ed O'Neill, Julie Bowen, Rico Rodriguez and Sarah Hyland of "Modern Family" - ABC Photo by Bob D'Amico
ABC’s “Good Morning America” has teamed up with the network’s comedy “Modern Family” in search of a real modern American family.
As fans watch “Modern Family” each week and most likely see similarities to their own families, they can now tell “Good Morning America” why their family stands out.
As of Dec. 15, viewers can log on to abcnews.go.com/GMA/good-morning-america-find-americas-real-modern-families/story?id=12393130 and tell “Good Morning America” in 250 words or less why their family is a one-of-a-kind modern family, according to an ABC news release.
Family photographs may be included with submissions.
The top three families will be profiled on “Good Morning America” during the week of February 14.
“Good Morning America” will also travel to the set of “Modern Family” the week of February 14 to give viewers an exclusive, all-access, behind-the-scenes look at the hit show, including interviews with cast members.
In addition, viewers can take interactive quizzes, view slideshows and video, and look at celebrity modern families at abcnews.go.com/gma. More will be posted on “GMA’s” Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/GoodMorningAmerica.
The Emmy Award-winning series “Modern Family” takes a modern and humorous look at the complications that go along with being a family today.
The series airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC and stars Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould and Rico Rodriguez.
Nickelodeon picks up comedy series “Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures”
From left, Taylor Gray and Dillon Lane of "Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures" - Nickelodeon Photo by Lisa Rose
Nickelodeon has picked up the new comedy series “Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures” to add to its 2011 first quarter schedule of brand new programming.
“Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures” is a buddy comedy about two best friends on a never-ending quest for awesomeness, according to a Nickelodeon news release.
Tom Lynch (“The Troop,” “South of Nowhere”) is the show’s executive producer and Boyce Bugliari and Jamie McLaughlin (“Quintuplets,” “Kid Notorious”) are creators/executive producers. Jonathan Stark (“According to Jim”) also serves as an executive producer.
Production begins on the series this month in Los Angeles for a February 2011 premiere in the United States and globally on Nick channels throughout the world.
“Power Rangers Samurai,” about the new generation of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers; “House of Anubis,” a comedy-mystery adapted from the international TV hit; “Bubble Guppies,” an interactive CG-animated preschool series; and “Supah Ninjas,” a comic book-style action comedy are four other new shows joining Nickelodeon’s lineup in early 2011.
“Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures” is centered on two surfers making their way through the small trials of everyday life. When Bucket (Taylor Gray) tries to win over the affection of classmate Kelly (Ashley Argota), his best friend Skinner (Dillon Lane) decides to nominate him as class president and he winds up running against the super-popular athlete Aloe (Glenn McCuen).
Bucket, who is unqualified and unfit for student council, is forced to team up with Kelly’s younger sister Piper (Tiffany Espensen) in an attempt to save face and win the heart of his dream girl.
Open auditions announced for upcoming NBC singing competition series “The Voice”
NBC’s new competition series “The Voice” (working title), has announced open auditions beginning Jan. 14 in Chicago and continuing through cities including New York, Nashville, Austin and Los Angeles.
NBC has partnered with reality show pioneers John de Mol, Mark Burnett and Warner Horizon Television to bring Holland’s top-rated vocal talent discovery show, “The Voice of Holland,” to the United States in spring 2011, according to a news release.
The producers are interested in all musical styles.
If selected, singers will be mentored by music industry professionals, compete weekly in front of a panel of coaches and viewers will decide which vocalist will win the grand prize.
The show features three stages of competition, starting with the blind audition, then the competition enters a battle phase, and then the final live performance shows.
During the blind auditions, if a coach is impressed by someone, the coach pushes a button to select the contestant for his/her team of competitors. The coach’s chair will then swivel so that he/she can face the selected contestant.
If more than one coach selects a competitor, the power shifts to the contestant, who may choose which coach he/she wants to work with throughout the show.
Contestants are eliminated when they are not selected by a coach.
Coaches then mentor the singers and make them over, with the goal being to transform their voices to allow the vocalists to become star artists.
To help in the decision of choosing who they want to advance, the coaches will pit two of their own team members against each other to sing the same song in front of a studio audience. The coaches will then pick who they want to continue developing and who should go home.
In the final performance phase of the series, the top contestants from each team will compete against each other during a live broadcast. The television audience will vote to decide who will move on from each team and who will be eliminated.
At the end, each coach will have their best contestant left standing and from these four singers, one will be named “The Voice” and will receive the grand prize of a recording contract.
Contestants should be willing to share their personal stories and why they are a star in the making.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age or older and a legal U.S. resident to apply.
The open auditions schedule is as follows:
CHICAGO
Friday, January 14, 2011
Location: Superior St., 2734 W. Superior St.
Chicago, Ill. 60612
NEW YORK
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Location: S.I.R. Studios, 520 W. 25th St.
New York, N.Y. 10001
MIAMI
Friday, January 21, 2011
Location: S.I.R. Studios, 12200 NE 14th Ave.
N. Miami, Fla. 33161
NASHVILLE
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Location: S.I.R. Studios, 1101 Cherry Ave.
Nashville, Tenn. 37203
MINNEAPOLIS
Friday, January 28, 2011
Location: Taylor Sound, 2921 N. 2nd St.
Minneapolis, Minn. 55411
AUSTIN
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Location: Music Lab, 500 E Saint Elmo Rd.
Austin, Texas 78745
LOS ANGELES
Friday, February 4, 2011
Location: CenterStaging, 3350 Winona Ave.
Burbank, Calif. 91504
SEATTLE
Friday, February 11, 2011
Location: S.I.R. Studios, 3631 Interlake Ave. North
Seattle, Wash. 98103
For more information and to register for these auditions, please visit: www.nbcthevoice.com/
Turner Classic Movies to feature tribute to Tulsa-born filmmaker Blake Edwards Dec. 27
In this Feb. 29, 2004 file photo, Blake Edwards is shown speaking after receiving an honorary Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences during the 76th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles. - AP Photo by Mark J. Terrill
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will pay tribute to Tulsa-born director and writer Blake Edwards by featuring five of his memorable films Dec. 27.
Edwards died late Wednesday at age 88.
The complete movie schedule is as follows:
7 p.m. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961) – starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen and Mickey Rooney.
9 p.m. “Days of Wine and Roses” (1962) – starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick.
11 p.m. “The Pink Panther” (1964) – starring Peter Sellers, David Niven, Robert Wagner, Capucine and Claudia Cardinale.
1 a.m. “Victor/Victoria” (1982) – starring Julie Andrews, Robert Preston, James Garner and Lesley-Ann Warren.
3:30 a.m. “Operation Petticoat (1959) – starring Cary Grant, Tony Curtis and Dina Merrill.
2010 a year filled with gifts for TV fans
Evangeline Lilly and Matthew Fox of "Lost" - ABC Photo by Mario Perez
Now that Christmas is almost upon us, I’ve made a few notes about some
of the gifts bestowed upon TV fans this past year:
Though it was sad for such an entertaining, maddening, theory-provoking,
compelling series to end, the finale of “Lost” was unbelievably
emotional and moving, particularly Matthew Fox’s performance in his role as conflicted leader Jack Shephard. Overall, I don’t know that any show has piqued the imagination like this one and the indelible castaway characters will be greatly missed.
Another series that challenges the mind, “Fringe” was especially
demanding of viewers as they watched the third season begin this fall
with Olivia (Anna Torv) stuck in the sci-fi drama’s alternate universe
and that world’s Olivia taking her place in ours. My only small
complaint, though, is that I hope more scenes featuring Walter (John
Noble) will be upcoming in 2011. He adds warmth and humor to the
fascinating, strange and bizarre events that occur in this show’s story lines.
“The Good Wife” hasn’t missed a beat in its second season, continuing
its solid story lines centering on attorney Alicia Florrick (Julianna
Margulies) and her complicated relationships with her husband Peter
(Chris Noth)and old friend/boss Will (Josh Charles)as well as the
intriguing cases she works on. Extra kudos for Michael J. Fox’s
wonderful guest starring performance.
“Dexter” had a tough assignment in its fifth season, following up after
its fourth season’s jaw-dropping conclusion in 2009. But as every season
has been so far, the writing’s held up, always going in unexpected yet
satisfying directions. Michael C. Hall contributed as always as well in
making this past season and its finale thrilling and poignant – no easy
feat for a show about a serial killer.
The updated version of “Hawaii Five-0″ brought action and humor in its debut in the
fall 2010 season. This show has just the right ingredients to take your
mind off your busy day, relax and enjoy the scenery of Hawaii, the fun
rapport between Steve McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) and Danny “Danno”
Williams (Scott Caan) and watch the 5-0 team catch the bad guys in
sometimes unorthodox, but pretty much always successful, ways. Remaking
shows often doesn’t work, but this one clicks on every level.
A&E scored a home run this summer with its new drama “The Glades.” Jim Longworth
(Matt Passmore), a Chicago police detective who has relocated to Florida, is a
completely endearing character – smart, sarcastic, ingenious and
hilarious, and this is another series with interesting and sharp
writing. There is also great chemistry between Passmore and Kiele
Sanchez, who plays Longworth’s romantic interest Callie, a nurse and a single-mom who is estranged from her prison inmate husband.
“The Walking Dead” only had a six-episode first season on AMC, but it
couldn’t have packed more into them – this series has everything:
suspense, gore, action scenes, quiet, tender moments, compassion, love,
empathy, bravery, dignity – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Though it’s centered on a zombie apocalypse-affected world, this show is
much more than a horror fest.
There were a couple of lumps of coal in viewers’ stockings worth
mentioning in 2010, however.
ABC’s “Skating With the Stars” seemed to be a good idea and was hyped to
be comparable to “Dancing With the Stars,” but ended up being quite the
dud. The only point of it seemed to be holding your breath and hoping
the competitors didn’t fall – or if you’re
not-so-sportsmanlike-inclined, laughing when there were spills on the
ice.
And then there’s the cancellation of shows before they’re really given a
fair chance to build up a following. 2010′s fall season featured one of
the most egregious of these incidents when Fox’s “Lone Star” was given
the boot after only two episodes, despite receiving critical praise.
Would it have had a better chance on a cable network – probably. Too
bad one of them hasn’t picked it up.
– Meilssa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Anna Torv in "Fringe" - Fox Photo by Michael Courtney
From left, Scott Caan and Alex O'Loughlin in "Hawaii Five-0" - CBS Photo by Neil Jacobs
ABC announces premiere dates for “Mr. Sunshine” and “Happy Endings”
From left: Allison Janney, Matthew Perry, James Lesure, Andrea Anders and Nate Torrence of "Mr. Sunshine" - ABC Photo by Bob D'Amico
ABC has announced premiere dates for new comedies “Mr. Sunshine,” starring Matthew Perry and Allison Janney, and “Happy Endings,” which features an ensemble cast that includes Elisha Cuthbert.
“Mr. Sunshine” debuts Feb. 9 at 8:30 p.m. and “Happy Endings” begins April 13 at 9 p.m., according to an ABC news release.
Matthew Perry’s character Ben Donovan in “Mr. Sunshine” is a self-involved manager of a San Diego sports arena, the Sunshine Center, where curious mishaps and bizarre requests are the norm.
Donovan’s co-workers include his boss, attractive, powerful and erratic arena owner Crystal (Janney); cute, tomboyish marketing director (and also Ben’s friend with benefits) Alice (Andrea Anders), handsome and unbelievably happy former basketball player Alonzo (James Lesure); and Ben’s newest employee (and Crystal’s clueless son Roman (Nate Torrence).
“Happy Endings” is a take on modern friendship and what one urban family will do to stay friends after the perfect couple who brought them all together, Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) and Dave (Zachary Knighton) split up on their wedding day.
The failed wedding makes them all question their life choices, including Alex’s sister Jane (Eliza Coupe), a suburban housewife, and her buttoned-up husband Brad (Damon Wayans Jr.) who are contemplating starting a family; their gay friend Max (Adam Pally) and Penny, who worries about never finding the right guy.
Then there are Alex and Dave themselves, who strike a truce and have to learn to live with the changes their breakup has brought.
From left: Zachary Knighton, Eliza Coupe, Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson, Adam Pally and Elisha Cuthbert of "Happy Endings" - ABC Photo by Bob D'Amico
Mandy Patinkin joins cast of Showtime’s pilot “Homeland”
Mandy Patinkin - AP Photo by Peter Kramer
Mandy Patinkin returns to television in the hour-long Showtime drama pilot “Homeland.”
Patinkin will play Saul, a veteran CIA Division Chief who is Carrie Mathison’s (star Claire Danes) boss and mentor.
“Homeland,” a production of FOX 21, is loosely based on Gideon Raff’s Israeli television series “Prisoners of War” and will center on an American soldier taken prisoner during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The soldier, who has been left for dead, miraculously returns to the United States after years in captivity, according to a Showtime news release.
Danes’ character is a driven CIA officer battling her own psychological demons while becoming convinced that the intelligence that led to the soldier’s rescue was a setup and that this national hero may be connected to an Al Qaeda plot set to be carried out in America.
Jeffrey Donovan to direct “Burn Notice” prequel movie
Jeffrey Donovan of "Burn Notice" - USA Network Photo by Nigel Parry
Jeffrey Donovan is set to direct an upcoming two-hour “Burn Notice” movie starring Bruce Campbell and scheduled to premiere on the USA Network in spring 2011.
Filming begins in January on location in Bogota, Columbia.
The prequel, set in late 2005, begins after a Columbian rebel faction makes trouble for the locally stationed military platoon, leading Lieutenant Commander Sam Axe (Campbell) to be sent down to advise.
Sam begins to uncover the dark secrets of the area as the mission unfolds, and learns the truth about sacrifice, deception and ultimately what’s worth fighting for, according to a news release.
“Burn Notice” creator Matt Nix serves as writer and executive producer.
Donovan and Campbell are also executive producers on the Fox Television Studios project along with Mikkel Bondesen.
The season four finale of the “Burn Notice” series, starring Donovan as a blacklisted spy, airs at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, on USA.
