TNT greenlights reality series “The Great Escape”
Ron Howard is an executive producer of "The Great Escape" - AP Photo
TNT has ordered its first-ever reality competition series, “The Great Escape.”
The action-packed show comes to the network from Fox Television Studios, Imagine Entertainment, The Hochberg Ebersol Company and Profiles Television Productions, with Duncan-born Ron Howard (“A Beautiful Mind”), Brian Grazer (“24″), Francie Calfo (“Scoundrels”), Elise Doganieri (“The Amazing Race”), Bertram van Munster (“The Amazing Race”), Justin Hochberg and Charlie Ebersol serving as executive producers, according to a news release.
Ten episodes of “The Great Escape” have been ordered, with the series scheduled to join TNT’s lineup in summer 2012.
Rich Eisen (“NFL Total Access”) hosts the show, which features teams of ordinary people being dropped into the middle of their own epic action/adventure movie.
Three pairs of players will compete each week for a cash prize by escaping from locations including a seven-story castle, a deserted island, a sinking ship or a maximum security prison.
Contestants are required to use their wits, skills and whatever tools they can find to overcome obstacles, avoid pursuers and make their way to freedom.
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
“Falling Skies” begins second season production
Noah Wyle is back on the set as TNT starts production on the second season of "Falling Skies." - TNT Photo
Production has begun on the second season of TNT’s “Falling Skies,” the sci-fi drama from DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg.
The second season of the series, which stars Noah Wyle, will air as part of TNT’s summer 2012 lineup.
Wyle plays Tom Mason, a Boston history professor and father of three sons, who utilizes his knowledge of military history to assist in his new duties as second in command of a regiment of resistance fighters protecting a large group of civilians after an alien invasion on Earth.
Moon Bloodgood also stars as Dr. Ann Glass, a pediatrician who has become the group’s primary physician; and Will Patton as their leader Col. Weaver.
In the second season of “Falling Skies,” viewers will find out what happens to Tom after he decided to go with the aliens in the finale of season one. He hopes that his agreement to a dialogue with the aliens will not only free his son Ben (Connor Jessup) from their influence, but will also allow him to get a better picture of their overall plan, according to a news release.
- Follow me on Twitter @MelissaHayer
TNT pays tribute to Steve Jobs by airing “Pirates of Silicon Valley” tonight
Noah Wyle stars as Steve Jobs in the TNT original movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley." - TNT Photo
TNT is broadcasting special presentations of “Pirates of Silicon Valley” at 7 and 9 tonight to pay tribute to Apple founder Steve Jobs, who died Wednesday at the age of 56.
The TNT original movie “Pirates of Silicon Valley” premiered in 1999 on the network and featured Noah Wyle (“Falling Skies”) as Steve Jobs, Anthony Michael Hall as Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Joey Slotnick as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
The film, which follows the technology race between rivals Apple Computers and Micrsoft, earned five Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Made for Television Movie and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or Movie, according to a news release.
“Pirates of Silicon Valley” was written and directed by Martyn Burke, who adapted the script from the book “Fire in the Valley” by Paul Frieberger and Michael Swaine.
The movie was produced for TNT by Haft Entertainment, with Steven Haft and Nick Lombardo serving as executive producers.
Noah Wyle stars as Steve Jobs in the TNT original movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley." - TNT Photo
“Falling Skies”: What’s upcoming Sunday in “What Hides Beneath” episode
Noah Wyle of "Falling Skies" - TNT Photo
In Sunday’s “What Hides Beneath” episode of “Falling Skies,” Tom (Noah Wyle) worries that Weaver’s (Will Patton) increasingly strange behavior is making him unfit to command; Anne (Moon Bloodgood) and Lourdes (Seychelle Gabriel) find out something shocking about the skitters that could change everything for Ben (Connor Jessup); and Pope (Colin Cunningham) uses his expertise to try to find a more efficient way to kill mechs by using their own strength against them.
Meanwhile, Blair Brown guest stars as a woman Hal (Drew Roy) and Tom (Noah Wyle) run into who has employed a suspicious means of surviving the alien invasion after she has been left behind, causing them to be unsure of whether or not they can trust her, according to a news release.
“Falling Skies” airs at 9 p.m. Sundays on TNT.
Sad farewell to “Men of a Certain Age”
From left, Scott Bakula, Ray Romano and Andre Braugher of "Men of a Certain Age" - TNT Photo
I was rejoicing a couple of weeks ago because the TNT network had renewed “Falling Skies” for a second season.
“Falling Skies” is a great show – a sci-fi-drama with realistic characters and interesting story lines.
It also features another outstanding role fashioned by former “ER” star Noah Wyle as a Boston history professor and the father of three sons who becomes one of the leaders of the survivors of a desolating alien attack on Earth.
But then my happiness about that show’s renewal turned to disappointment when I learned about the demise of another.
Friday I read that TNT had canceled “Men of a Certain Age,” which stars Ray Romano, Scott Bakula and Andre Braugher, and is another first-rate series only just ending its second season.
According to an Associated Press report, the network said it was a “difficult decision,” but the show failed to attract a big enough audience despite its excellence, averaging 2.7 million viewers for the episodes that concluded this month.
The AP story also mentioned that “Men of a Certain Age” received a prestigious George Foster Peabody award earlier this year and co-star Andre Braugher was recently nominated for an Emmy as best supporting actor in a drama series,
Romano and Bakula consistently delivered award-worthy performances, along with Braugher, and the writing was always above-par as well, in this show about three longtime friends going through mid-life and various other life crises in authentic, humorous and poignant ways.
Sorry to see you go, “Men of a Certain Age,” and sorry there wasn’t more support for you from TNT and from viewers, who were missing out on an extraordinary series.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
“Falling Skies” receives second season renewal
Noah Wyle of "Falling Skies" - TNT Photo
TNT has picked up its sci-fi drama “Falling Skies” for a second season, according to a news release.
The series, which comes to the network from DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg, stars Noah Wyle as a Boston history professor and the father of three sons who becomes one of the leaders of the survivors of a desolating alien attack on Earth.
The first season of “Falling Skies,” which premiered June 19, has also been executive produced by DreamWorks Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, Graham Yost and screenwriter Robert Rodat.
Rodat wrote the pilot from an idea he formulated with Spielberg.
Ten episodes have been ordered for the second season, which is scheduled to air in summer 2012.
Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy and Connor Jessup also star in “Falling Skies,” which airs at 9 p.m. Sundays on TNT.
“Leverage” cast, including Christian Kane from Norman, rings NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell
Gina Bellman, Timothy Hutton, David Wicks (Vice President, NASDAQ OMX MarketSite), Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge - Photo by Zef Nikolla, NASDAQ
To celebrate the fourth season premiere of “Leverage” coming up at 8 p.m. June 26 on TNT, the cast of the show visited the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square Tuesday, May 17, according to a news release.
Cast members, shown above, including Christian Kane from Norman, rang the Closing Bell in honor of the occasion.
For more information, click here.
“Men of a Certain Age” returns with winning combination of superb acting, writing
From left, Ray Romano, Scott Bakula and Andre Braugher in "Men of a Certain Age" - TNT Photo by Danny Feld
The two most important qualities of a good TV show are obviously solid writing and genuine acting.
“Men of a Certain Age” aces both of these categories with its story line of three longtime friends navigating the journey of mid-life along with the entirely relatable performances of Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula.
As the second season begins, divorced and slightly neurotic Joe Tranelli (Romano) has stopped gambling and is still running a party store, but has decided to work on reviving his dream of becoming a professional golfer.
He is also getting a little more comfortable in the dating scene and is still doing his best to be there for his two children.
Owen Thoreau Jr. (Braugher) is becoming more assertive since his father (Richard Gant) has put him in charge of the family car dealership, though Owen Sr. seems to be having a little trouble completely turning over control of the dealership to his son. This is not surprising since he was domineering to Owen for so long before this.
At home, Owen’s wife Melissa (Lisa Gay Hamilton) is contemplating a return to the work world, which would put a little more stress on Owen in his needing to pitch in and help with the raising of their three young children even further.
Laid-back ladies’ man Terry Elliott (Bakula) is trying out the 9-to-5 routine working for Owen at the car dealership and it’s not starting out in a very successful manner so far, but we’ll have to see if Terry is able get the hang of car salesmanship or if he’ll go back to acting auditions and finding whatever work he can when he can.
Each actor portrays his character perfectly, making him real - someone that could be your own friend – and dealing with everyday life as well as he possibly can – sometimes succeeding, sometimes not.
This group also has such a good rapport together, they seem as though they truly have been friends forever.
The writing is excellent as well, putting these guys in day-to-day life situations and adding just the right amounts of drama and humor at just the right moments.
There are also good classic songs thrown in the mix for good measure at times.
If you aren’t already a fan, give “Men of a Certain Age” a shot – I bet you’ll be glad you did.
The second season of “Men of a Certain Age” begins at 9 p.m. Monday on TNT.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Eric McCormack to star in TNT series pilot “Perception”
Eric McCormack - AP Photo by Frank Gunn
Eric McCormack has signed on to play the lead role in TNT’s “Perception” (working title), a dramatic pilot from executive producer Kenneth Biller (“Smallville, “Legend of the Seeker”) and co-executive producer Mike Sussman (“Star Trek: Voyager”).
This will be the third project McCormack has worked with TNT on after starring in the 2009 series “Trust Me” and co-producing the 2007 pilot “Imperfect Union.”
McCormack is also a producer on “Perception.”
According to a TNT news release, McCormack will play Dr. Geoffrey Pierce, an eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook to help the federal government solve complex cases. With an intimate knowledge of human behavior and a masterful understanding of the mind, this quirky, crime-solving professor pulls lessons from an odd and imaginative view of the world.
Biller and Sussman wrote the script for this pilot, which is produced for TNT by ABC Studios.
“Memphis Beat,” starring Tulsa native Alfre Woodard, renewed for second season on TNT
Alfre Woodard and Jason Lee of "Memphis Beat" - TNT Photo
TNT has announced in a news release it has picked up “Memphis Beat” for a 10-episode second season.
“Memphis Beat” stars Jason Lee and Tulsa native Alfre Woodard.
Lee plays Dwight Hendricks, a Memphis police detective who has a passion for blues music and a close relationship with his mother.
Woodard’s role is as Lt. Tanya Rice, Hendricks’ demanding boss.
D.J. Qualls also co-stars as a uniform cop who thinks of himself as Hendricks’ protégé.
Season two of “Memphis Beat” is scheduled to air in 2011.
