A&E has a new scripted series, their first in six years
This summer, A&E will launch its first scripted drama series in six years. The Cleaner stars Benjamin Bratt (Law and Order, Miss Congeniality), Amy Price-Francis (Californication), Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica), Kevin Michael Richardson (Knights of Prosperity), Esteban Powell (Dazed and Confused, Powder), Brett DelBuono (Balls of Fury) and Liliana Mumy (Cheaper by the Dozen).
Bratt will play William Banks, a recovered drug addict who helps others kick their habits. After hitting rock-bottom because of his own problems with addiction, Banks makes a deal with God when his daughter is born. He vows to help others. However, his means of intervention are unconventional and unrelenting to say the least. In the series premiere, Banks helps high school meth addict Zach, a once-promising young athlete. Along the way, Banks discovers the cause of Zach’s addiction, a fracture in the family after Zach’s father died. He also uncovers a drug-fencing operation.
The Cleaner premieres Tuesday July 15th at 10 p.m. ET. Will you be watching?
HBO biker series to star Donal Logue
Everybody wants Donal Logue. Just one month after NBC added him to the cast of NBC’s Life, as Charlie’s new boss, now comes news that HBO has booked Donal Logue as a biker in 1%. The new pilot casts Donal as a character named Misfit, a Silicon Valley member who’s sent to Carefree, Arizona, to get one of the toughest biker clubs in the west in line. Also joining Logue in the show are W. Earl Brown (Deadwood), Timm Sharp (Undeclared), Lucy Punch (hilarious in The Class as Holly Ellenbogen), Marisa Ryan (New York Undercover) and Sonny Barger. Barger is an actual biker and has been enlisted to no doubt add realism to the project.
The concept of one percenters, by the way, refers to the conceit that 99% of all motorcycle clubs are into riding their bikes and not looking for trouble. The other one-percent are, presumably, itching for a fight. Some clubs, however, rejected the clean-cut image and adopted the “one-percenter” moniker, even going so far as to create a diamond shaped 1% patch to wear on their vests as a badge of honor.
Since this pilot is called 1%, we can expect some conflict to say the least. And since HBO did once bring us Oz, could 1% be as raw as that show? We wonder, especially with Michael Tolkin as one of the executive producers. Tolkin has always been a provocative writer, including The Rapture, Changing Lanes and The Player, on his resume. Guymon Casady and Alexander Hertzberg with co-executive produce.
Interesting and entertaining are two things Donal Logue almost always brings to his roles. On TV, he starred in The Knights of Prosperity, an ABC sitcom that deserved a better fate than it received, as well as the underrated Grounded for Life, which ran for five years. I’ve always liked Donal Logue, so I’ll be curious enough to check out 1%. Ever since I saw him in The Tao of Steve, doing the same kind of schtick that Seth Rogan has done in Knocked Up (only better), I’ve been a Donal Logue fan.
[via PopCandy]
ABC Up-Front Party: Fall Lineup Poised To Please
ABC Up-Front Party: Fall Lineup Poised To Please
As we prepare for a summer full of reruns, there is light at the end of the tunnel. ABC Network just announced their proposed fall lineup at their annual Up Front event, and it’s gonna be good.
The star-studded roster on ABC this fall will include Dylan McDermott “The Practice”, Christina Applegate “Jesse”, Peter Krause “Six Feet Under”, Jerry O’Connell “Crossing Jordan”, Taye Diggs, Donald Sutherland, Angie Harmon, Amy Brenneman, Tim Daly, Chi McBride, Michael Vartan and Joshua Malina. Not bad, eh?
Now don’t forget that the small screen can turn no-names into stars overnight. A year ago the star of “Ugly Betty” was virtually unknown but now America Ferrera is a household name. So don’t write off the non-star-studded shows just yet. NBC is hoping that is the case for them this fall, having introduced a roster that is devoid of big names.
To make room for eight new fall shows, ABC’s cancellations included “What About Brian,” “George Lopez,” “According to Jim,” “The Knights of Prosperity,” “In Case of Emergency,” and “The Nine.”
There is a new Oprah Reality Show where she (big surprise) gives away money. There’s also a new Ashton Kutcher-produced series called “Miss/Guided,” about a guidance counselor who returns to work at her old high school to be unveiled this fall. With all that is going on over at ABC, it looks like cable has competition.
Enjoy the photos from ABC’s Up Front event held on May 15, 2007.