Lineup Includes Returning Hits Rizzoli & Isles, Dallas and Leverage; Launch of New Medical Drama Monday Mornings; and Fifth Season of Acclaimed Cop Drama Southland
October 2, 2012: As part of its strategic expansion to year-round original programming, TNT is set to burn brightly this winter with a slate of six original series. The lineup includes the return of three hit dramas, a new season of one of the most acclaimed series on television and the premiere of a brand new medical drama from David E. Kelley and Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Among TNT’s winter highlights, hit dramas Rizzoli & Isles and Leverage will return for a run of episodes beginning Nov. 27.
TNT’s hot new series Dallas will return for its second season on Jan. 28, followed on Feb. 4 by the debut of Monday Mornings, the new David E. Kelley-Sanjay Gupta medical drama starring Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina and Jamie Bamber.
On Feb. 13, TNT will launch the fifth season of Southland, the acclaimed police drama that puts viewers in the middle of the action on the streets of Los Angeles.
And on Feb. 27, TNT will premiere Boston’s Finest (working title), a new unscripted series with unprecedented access to the Boston Police Department, from executive producer Donnie Wahlberg.
When it comes to specials, TNT will showcase some of the music industry’s biggest stars in the network’s annual presentation of Christmas in Washington on Dec. 21. And TNT will team up with TBS for a live simulcast of the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® on Jan. 27.
A complete roster of TNT’s original series this winter is included below. Hi-res photos are available for download from TNT’s online pressroom at http://tntnewsroom.com.
RIZOLLI & ISLES
Winter Premiere: Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) Over the span of three seasons, Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander have proven that two heads are better than one in this Top 5 drama series. As Boston detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles, the pair share a quirky chemistry and put away some of Boston’s most notorious criminals. Developed by Janet Tamaro from the popular characters created by best-selling author Tess Gerritsen, Rizzoli & Isles is produced for TNT by Warner Horizon Television, Janet Tamaro’s Hurdler Productions and Bill Haber’s Ostar Productions.
LEVERAGE
Winter Premiere: Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) Television’s coolest gang of thieves, grifters and con artists are back to close out the fifth season of this fast-paced, light-hearted caper series from blockbuster executive producer Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment. Academy Award® winner Timothy Hutton stars, along with Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge. Together, they attempt to take down those who would use wealth and power to take advantage of others.
DALLAS
Two-Hour Season Premiere: Monday, Jan. 28, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) This January, TNT is going to usher in the New Year with a whole new wave of back-stabbing, plot-scheming, black-mailing fun as the hit drama series Dallas returns for its second season. The exciting drama stars three iconic figures from the original series: Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray and Larry Hagman. They are joined by the next generation, played by Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster and Julie Gonzalo. The series also stars Brenda Strong, Mitch Pileggi and Emma Bell. Produced by Warner Horizon Television, TNT’s Dallas burst onto the scene this past summer with an average of 6.1 million viewers. It currently ranks as basic cable’s #1 new drama for the year-to-date with key adult demos. Special Programming Note: TNT will build up to the season 2 premiere of Dallas with two days of episodes from the first season on Saturday, Jan. 26, and Sunday, Jan. 27.
MONDAY MORNINGS
Series Premiere: Monday, Feb. 4, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) This powerful new series comes to TNT from award-winning producer David E. Kelley and practicing neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, M.D., on whose book the series is based. Set at the fictional Chelsea General Hospital in Portland, Ore.,Monday Mornings follows the lives of doctors as they push the limits of their abilities and confront their personal and professional failings. Produced by TNT Originals and David E. Kelley Productions, the series stars Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Jamie Bamber, Jennifer Finnigan, Bill Irwin, Keong Sim, Sarayu Rao and Emily Swallow.
BOSTON’S FINEST (working title)
Series Premiere: Wednesday, Feb. 27 This gripping new series follows the men and women of the Boston Police Department, encompassing multiple units including the exclusive and highly decorated Gang Unit. Featuring detectives, investigators, beat officers, and others, we get an up close and personal look at what it takes to patrol and secure one of America’s greatest and most distinctive cities. Boston’s Finest (working title) comes to TNT from Jarrett Creative Group, along with executive producer Donnie Wahlberg’s Donnie D. Productions.
Well, that didn’t take long but even more encouraging for the freshman reboot (is it really even a reboot or is it just picking up where they left off 21 years ago?) is the fact that it got a 15 episode order when the norm is between 10 and 13. Rizzoli & Isles, a show we have ZERO interest in, also hit the ratings jackpot and earned itself a 15 episode order, as well, for its fourth season.
Via Press Release:
TNT ORDERS SECOND SEASON OF HIT SERIES DALLAS, FROM WARNER HORIZON TELEVISION
TNT has renewed the hit series Dallas for a second season. The Warner Horizon Television-produced drama, which ranks as basic cable’s #1 new series, is currently averaging 6.9 million viewers in its first season. TNT has ordered 15 episodes for its second season, which is slated to air in 2013.
Currently airing Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), TNT’s Dallas marks the return to Southfork of J.R., Bobby and Sue Ellen Ewing, who bring with them their arsenal of secrets, schemes and betrayals. This time, they’re joined by the next generation of Ewings, who take ambition and deception to a new level. The series stars Josh Henderson as John Ross, the son of J.R. and Sue Ellen Ewing; Jesse Metcalfe as Christopher, Bobby’s adopted son; Jordana Brewster as Elena Ramos, John Ross’ girlfriend; Julie Gonzalo as Rebecca Sutter, Christopher’s wife; and Brenda Strong as Bobby’s wife, Ann. They are joined by the original series’ iconic stars: Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing, Linda Gray as Sue Ellen Ewing and Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing.
“Dallas has been a success for us on every level: pitch-perfect writing, smart directing and buzz-worthy performances by a new generation of stars and their iconic counterparts,” said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “With Dallas‘ top-flight ratings, robust growth through time-shifted viewing and the extensive online buzz, it’s clear the Ewings of Southfork have once again captured the imagination of viewers.”
Dallas comes to TNT from Warner Horizon Television, with writer Cynthia Cidre and Michael M. Robin serving as executive producers. Shot on location in the title city, Dallas was developed by Cidre and created by David Jacobs.
Dallas scored cable’s #1 scripted series premiere for the year-to-date for its June 13 debut, drawing 7.8 million viewers in Live + 3 for the two-hour launch. The show’s first two weeks have averaged 6.9 million viewers in Live + 3, with Live + 7 data still to be counted. With Dallas ranking as basic cable’s top new series for the year-to-date, this marks the third consecutive summer TNT has claimed the #1 new show, following Rizzoli & Isles in 2010 and Falling Skies in 2011. Among key demos, Dallas is averaging 2.1 million adults 18-49 and 2.8 million adults 25-54 for the season-to-date.
About TNT TNT, one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama. Seen in 99 million households, TNT is home to such original drama series as The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, Dallas, Falling Skies, Franklin & Bash, Leverage, Southland and the upcoming Major Crimes, Perception andMonday Mornings. The network also features dramatic unscripted originals like this summer’s The Great Escape and the upcoming Boston Blue (working title) and 72 Hours (working title). In addition, TNT is the cable home to popular dramas like The Mentalist, Bones, Supernatural, Las Vegas, Law & Order and Castle, which starts this year; primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®; blockbuster movies; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR, the NBA and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
TNT Announces 2012 Summer Premiere Dates
Lineup Includes Five Returning Hits, Four New Series
And a Fond Farewell to One of Cable’s Biggest Hits of All Time
The drama is back in full force this summer as TNT unveils the premiere dates for its slate of outstanding original series. Rizzoli & Isles, Falling Skies, Leverage and Franklin & Bash are among the hit series set to return this summer. They will be joined by four brand new series: Dallas, Perception, Major Crimes and the unscripted competition show The Great Escape. Certain to be one of the summer’s biggest programming events, fans will also bid a fond farewell to The Closer as the blockbuster drama series wraps up its extraordinary seven-season run with six final episodes.
“Each show in TNT’s summer lineup entertains in its own unique voice, but together these drama series are designed to appeal to viewers who want to be taken on a great ride,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “Whether it’s a clever procedural, an action-adventure drama, or a sweeping family saga, the dramas on TNT all have that popcorn sensibility. They’re meant for viewers who crave smart storytelling and engaging characters, and who above all else simply want to pull up a seat and have a good time.”
The following is TNT’s summer schedule, including series premiere dates. Hi-res photos are available for download from TNT’s online pressroom at http://on.tnt.tv/3KTSdW.
Rizzoli & Isles • Season Premiere: Tuesday, June 5, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) • Season 3: 10 summer episodes For the past two summers, Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander have proven that two heads are better than one in this drama series based on the crime novels by best-selling author Tess Gerritsen. As Boston detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles, the pair share a quirky chemistry and put away some of Boston’s most notorious criminals.
Franklin & Bash • Season Premiere: Tuesday, June 5, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) • Season 2: 10 episodes Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer star in this light-hearted legal drama as two fly-by-the seat-of-their-pants lawyers working for a button-down law firm. Malcolm McDowell plays The Firm’s wonderfully eccentric patriarch. Also starring are Garcelle Beauvais, Dana Davis, Kumail Nanjiani and Reed Diamond.
Dallas • New Series, Two-Hour Series Premiere: Wednesday, June 13, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) • Season 1: 10 episodes This summer, Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray reprise their famous characters as J.R., Bobby and Sue Ellen Ewing return to Southfork with secrets, schemes and betrayals. This time, they’re joined by the next generation of Ewings, played by Josh Henderson and Jesse Metcalfe, who take ambition and deception to a new level. Dallasalso stars Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo and Brenda Strong. Shot on location in the title city, Dallas comes to TNT from Warner Horizon Television, with premiere episode writer Cynthia Cidre and director Michael M. Robin serving as executive producers. It was developed by Cidre and created by David Jacobs.
Falling Skies • Two-Hour Season Premiere: Sunday, June 17, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) • Season 2: 10 episodes The wait is nearly over as basic cable’s #1 new series of 2011 returns to continue its extraordinary story about life and survival in the wake of a catastrophic alien invasion. Noah Wyle stars as a college professor who becomes an unlikely resistance leader in this gripping series from DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg. Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Maxim Knight and Connor Jessup also star.
The Great Escape • New Series Premiere: Sunday, June 24, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) • Season 1: 10 episodes This fast-paced, nail-biting competition series drops ordinary people into the middle of their own epic action/adventure movie. Each week, Rich Eisen (NFL Total Access) hosts as teams of competitors try to find their way out of seemingly impossible situations for a chance to take home a cash prize. The series, from Fox Television Studios, is executive-produced by the Oscar®-winning team of Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, as well as the Emmy-winning producers of The Amazing Race, Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri. The series is created and executive produced by Justin W. Hochberg (The Apprentice) and Charlie Ebersol (The Wanted).
The Closer • Premiere: Monday, July 9, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) • Season 7: Six final episodes TNT’s record-breaking series returns one last time to bring its extraordinary seven-year run to an end. Emmy® winner Kyra Sedgwick stars as Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, whose impeccable investigative and interrogation skills have resulted in countless confessions and convictions. Mary McDonnell, who will continue her role as Captain Sharon Raydor in TNT’s upcoming series Major Crimes, also stars.
Perception • New Series Premiere: Monday, July 9, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) • Season 1: 10 episodes Drama fans are about to meet one of the most unique crime solvers on television when TNT premieres this fascinating new series about an eccentric neuroscience professor who is recruited by the FBI to help solve complex cases. Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Eric McCormack stars as Dr. Daniel Pierce, who possesses an intimate knowledge of human behavior and a masterful understanding of the way the mind works. Although Pierce’s mind may be brilliant, it’s also damaged as he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. Perception also stars Rachael Leigh Cook, Arjay Smith and Kelly Rowan. Produced by ABC Studios, the series was created by executive producer Ken Biller and co-executive producer Mike Sussman, with McCormack serving as producer.
Leverage • Season Premiere: Sunday, July 15, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) • Season 5: 10 summer episodes Television’s coolest gang of thieves, grifters and con artists are back in the fifth season of this fast-paced, light-hearted caper series from blockbuster executive producer Dean Devlin and Electric Entertainment. Academy Award® winner Timothy Hutton stars, along with Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge.
Major Crimes • New Series Premiere: Monday, Aug. 13, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), following The Closer finale • Regular Timeslot: Mondays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) • Season 1: 10 episodes This all-new drama series is ready to take television’s favorite squad of detectives into bold new territory. Two-time Oscar® nominee Mary McDonnell will continue her role from The Closer as Los Angeles Police Captain Sharon Raydor. Major Crimes will focus on how the American justice system approaches the art of the deal as law-enforcement officers and prosecutors work together to score a conviction. Joining McDonnell are fellow Closerveterans G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Michael Paul Chan, Raymond Cruz and Phillip P. Keene, with guest appearances by Jon Tenney and Robert Gossett. New cast members include Graham Patrick Martin as a homeless juvenile and Kearran Giovanni as an ambitious undercover detective. Major Crimes is produced by The Shephard/Robin Company, in association with Warner Bros. Television, with The Closer‘s James Duff, Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin serving as executive producers.
About TNT TNT, one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama. Seen in 99 million households, the network is home to such original series as The Closer, starring Emmy® winner Kyra Sedgwick; Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander; Falling Skies, starring Noah Wyle; Franklin & Bash, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; and Southland, from Emmy-winning producer John Wells, as well as the upcoming series Major Crimes, Dallas, Perception and The Great Escape. TNT also is the cable home to powerful dramas like The Mentalist, Bones, Supernatural, Las Vegas, Law & Order, CSI: NY,Cold Case and, starting this year, Castle; primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®; blockbuster movies; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR, the NBA and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. TNT is available in high-definition.
From Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer (“CSI” franchise, “The Amazing Race,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”) and executive producer Jennifer Johnson (“Cold Case,” “Reunion,” “Lost”), “Chase” is a lightning-fast drama that drops viewers smack into the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse as a team of U.S. Marshals hunts down America’s most dangerous fugitives.
Kelli Giddish (“Past Life”) stars as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost, a cowboy boot-wearing deputy whose sharp mind and unique Texas upbringing help her track down violent criminals on the run. Starring as the members of Frost’s elite team are Cole Hauser (“K-Ville”) as Jimmy Godfrey, an East Texas kid who never grew up and is a true American cowboy; Amaury Nolasco (“Prison Break”) who plays Marco Martinez, a good intelligence guy who loves to talk; and Rose Rollins (“The L Word”), who portrays Daisy Ogbaa, a weapons/tactical specialist and a woman of few words. Rounding out the cast is Jesse Metcalfe (“Desperate Housewives”), who stars as Luke Watson, the fresh-faced newcomer whose Washington, D.C. upbringing did little to prepare him for the Lone Star State. – NBC
Shawn: Although, seemingly formulaic and reeking suspiciously of U.S. Marshalls (I was waiting for Tommy Lee Jones to pop out and start barking orders about finding Richard Kimball in the trailer), the high-energy and the strong cast of Chase makes it certainly worthy of consideration. I’m not jumping out of my pants about it yet but it is a Jerry Bruckheimer production and that definitely makes it worth watching for at least the first three or four episodes. “Cautiously optimistic” is the best way to describe my enthusiasm for Chase.
The Review:
3 out of 10
Shawn: Alright, that is the absolute last time I automatically give a show the benefit of the doubt for being a Jerry Bruckheimer production and I should have had this policy in place a long time ago because of CSI alone (but let’s be fair… I did use the phrase “cautiously optimistic.”). Bruckheimer’s problem in general is that when he really gives a damn, he gets behind projects that although may not have long-term success are at least original (see: Justice, E-Ring). When he doesn’t, he reverts to bland and intelligence-insulting procedurals like Chase.
One thing I can say about Chase is that the there is certainly a lot of that during the hour, in fact that’s about all they do and yes it gets very stale, very quickly. When they aren’t running all over Texas, they are sitting around a room and doing the psychoanalysis version of CSI but instead of a forensics investigation based on actual evidence, this crew comes up with off-the-wall behavioral theories about their fugitive’s psyche and it just so happens that everything they predict about the fugitive’s current and next moves is absolutely what the bad guy is doing! They literally NEVER make a mistake or misstep and it left me with one conclusion: these jokers don’t need to be working for the Marshal Service collecting government salaries, they need to hook up with Miss Cleo and make some real money.
CALL MEH’NOW!
Chase is boring and contrived. The characters are clichéd, poorly written and conceived, and furthermore generally cringe-worthy and unlikable. The dialog is ridiculous, and the general premise of the show is that all you need to know about Texas is that everyone in the state worships Waylon Jennings and knowing that will allow you to track any fugitive. The only thing that this show has going for it at all is that it’s fast paced and very well-shot which I think was done on purpose to distract the audience from how bad the show is plot and character-wise. Either that, or they just sunk all of their money into the technical side of production and NONE into the writing side.
For the record, the actors are fine and actually all have been traditionally very good. The problem is the writing. You can’t polish a turd and Jeff Gordon can’t win a race driving a 1993 3-cylinder Geo Metro.
By the way, I don’t even like NASCAR but I figured if Chase can make a whole show based on clichés and stereotypes about Texas, the South and rednecks, why not get in on that as well with the analogies. When in Dallas…
Oh, and one last thing, Jerry… no one likes seeing the portrayal of a family terrified and graphically murdered execution-style during the opening sequence of a pilot… NO ONE.
TV-Tastic is proud to bring you an exclusive first look preview review of the new Monday night series on FOX, Lone Star.
ROBERT/BOB ALLEN (James Wolk) is a charismatic and brilliant schemer who has meticulously constructed two lives in two different parts of the state. He’s juggling two identities and two women in two very different worlds – all under one mountain of lies.
As “Bob,” he lives in Houston and is married to CAT (Adrianne Palicki), the beautiful daughter of CLINT THATCHER (Jon Voight), the patriarch of an ultra-wealthy Texas oil family. More than 400 miles away in the suburban west Texas town of Midland, he’s “Robert,” living a second life with his sweet, naive girlfriend, LINDSAY HOLLOWAY (Eloise Mumford). There he plays the perfect boyfriend while secretly bilking local investors of their savings. While in Houston, he’s a devoted husband, charming Cat and her family to cement his position in the rich family business he aims to clean out.
Bob has lived both lives successfully for years without arousing any suspicions..so far. While one brother-in-law, DREW THATCHER (Bryce Johnson), admires Bob, while his other brother-in-law, TRAMMELL THATCHER (Mark Deklin), is growing suspicious of his motives, and along with his wife, BLAKE (guest star Rosa Blasi), threatens to expose Bob. In this world of cons, everyone has ulterior motives. ALEX (guest star Andie MacDowell), a sharp, sexy, sophisticated East Coast transplant has her eye on only one prize: Clint. Eager to stake her claim, she will do and say anything to get what she wants.
With the cons closing in on him, Bob begins to fear his secret lives may unravel as he becomes divided by his love for two women; his loyalty to his father and mentor, JOHN (David Keith); and his respect for his father-in-law, Clint. Now as he tries to hold his two lives together, while fending off angry investors and the growing suspicions of those around him, Bob puts it all on the line hoping he can beat the odds, leave the schemes behind and keep two separate relationships afloat. – FOX
8 out of 10
One of the disadvantages of being an independent review blog is that the networks don’t send advance copies of the first three episodes of new shows to us like they do the mainstream entertainment media. The upside is that I’m under no contractual agreement to withhold a review of a show within a certain period of time before that show has premiered, which brings us to the first ever in-depth review of Lone Star (one other guy did a review but it was like three sentences). If you’re wondering how I was able to get my hands on a copy of the pilot, I will refer you to this:
That’s me and the little man, Harrison playing in the Embassy Suites in San Diego a few weeks ago when the whole family went to San Diego Zoo, Sea World and Wild Animal Park. Harrison is obsessed with remote controls (gee, I wonder where he gets that from) and shortly after that scene he was playing with the remote in the room and he inadvertently turned on the Hotel’s in-room video service. Well, lo and behold if they didn’t have the pilot episode of Lone Star available for FREE! Needless to say, it was a professional imperative that I watch it so I could let all the good folks out there know ahead of time if it’s worth their time. So let the games begin.
Dallas, Part Deux?
First, let me preface this by saying that when I first heard about Lone Star while preparing the forthcoming Fall Preview (coming soon), let’s just say that I was beyond skeptical. The descriptions I saw on various entertainment sites were bland and really made it sound like to was a 2010 version of Dallas using key-phrases such as “Texas,” “oil” and “soap opera.” I can’t imagine at all why someone would come to the conclusion that this show is Dallas: The Next Generation. Speaking of which:
(^^^You’re welcome, by the way.)
After watching the pilot, though, I can say that I was not only pleasantly surprised, but also a little annoyed at the marketing for this show amongst the various media outlets and even by FOX itself. Yes, it’s in Texas, yes it revolves around a family oil company and yes it’s definitely a soap, but there is so much more to this show than this, and unfortunately, it may be its downfall.
I want to apologize for the incredibly long synopsis from the Official Lone Star Page but there really was no way to avoid it. I tried to figure out how I could pare it down and realized that the show has so much going on it that I really couldn’t. Sorry… blame FOX.
Bob
As complicated as that synopsis is, it needs to be corrected. As noted, Bob is a con-man living two separate lives, with two different women. But which one is the real Bob? Well, the answer is both and neither because Bob also has two other alter-egos as well: the man he is when he’s with his father and is actually “himself” and the man he is when he’s actually trying to combine the two lives. The fact is that Bob is struggling to find out what his true identity is, even in the pilot and it’s obvious that this will be a main theme throughout the series. Do you see what I mean about this show being complicated? And that’s just our protagonist.
What I like about this story is Bob, himself. I’m not sure if I’m into the identity struggle and I can definitely do without the “con-man-with-a-heart-of-gold” persona which seems to be contrived exclusively because the writers aren’t brave enough to have a protagonist be a true anti-hero or a villain. This is a very weak decision on the writers part in my opinion (well, it may have been a producer’s decision) because it tells me that they don’t have enough faith in the character or the actor, and I don’t understand why.
I like stories about con-men and so does everyone, whether they admit it or not. Con-men are fun. They’re clever and they have a swagger and a bravado they keeps audiences coming back. They’re like spies who are crooks. If I want to see a transformation from a swine to a knight, I sure as heck don’t want to see it in the pilot. If the producers need advice on how to develop the growth of a con-man, I would simply refer them to this guy:
From what I’ve seen so far, the producers are unnecessarily playing it safe with Bob. The character is well-written enough and James Wolk is talented enough to pull-off the “villain-who-we-hate-to-love” without really breaking much of a sweat. Also, if anyone thinks that writing a villain as protagonist doesn’t work I will simply refer you to this guy:
… who shot a fellow cop in the face during the pilot episode of The Shield and that wasn’t even the worst of his misdeeds over the next six seasons and then there’s of course, this guy:
.. and we all know what he does for the sake of fun and sadism.
The point is that the right actor playing the right character can pull off the villain-protagonist and it’s often quite refreshing when they do, and in this case, ours doesn’t even kill anyone.
The other problem with this “heart-of-gold” scenario as that it doesn’t make any sense. In the opening scene of the pilot we are immediately made aware that Bob’s father, John (played brilliantly by David Keith) has been a con-man his whole life and has been teaching Bob how to do it since he was at least 10 years-old, if not younger. That being said, all Bob has ever known is “The Con” and all of a sudden, when he’s on the verge of the biggest score of his life he suddenly finds religion and wants to not only play it straight with his father-in-law’s oil company but also wants to find a way to get all of those people in Midland their money back that he took from them in a Ponzi Scheme? Sure. It’s very hard to swallow to say the least.
The Playas
The biggest complaint I have about Lone Star is that the plot outside of Bob’s con is very contrived and very clichéd and to be quite honest, so are some of the characters and a lot of it is lazy and does hearken back to Dallas. You’ve got your surly patriarch Jock Ewing-type, Clint Thatcher (even the names are clichéd, for God’s sake) played by Jon Voight (who you can never go wrong with) and Trammell Thatcher (Mark Delkin) the ambitious, scheming son who’s mad that Dad gave the outsider (Bob) the task of turning the family business around and is looking to undermine the new guy and finally, Drew Thatcher (Bryce Johnson), the under-achieving younger brother that no one takes seriously except for the outsider (Bob) and who is desperately seeking approval from both his father and his older, more accomplished brother. Any of this sound familiar? Of course it does because we’ve seen this clichéd family trifecta in 100’s of other films and TV shows over the last 50 years.
Still, although you’re tempted to roll your eyes, the performances carry what is really a simplistic, although compelling subplot. Speaking of performances, thank God for David Keith and Jon Voight. If James Wolk is the engine of this ship, then Keith and Voight are the anchors. Keith’s character is brilliantly written and David Keith was born to play him and yes, I know I criticized the Clint Thatcher character, but Jon Voight saves the character from falling off into the abyss. Honestly, without these two pros in this show it would be an absolute mess, despite the performance of James Wolk.
Now, you’re probably wondering why I didn’t mention Bob’s two love interests, Cat Thatcher (Adrianne Palicki) and Lindsay Holloway (Eloise Mumford) as they are obviously integral parts of this saga. The reason is simple (and unfortunate): they aren’t really worth mentioning. I’m not sure if it’s the characters or the actors or a combination of both but whatever it is, neither one of them comes off as very interesting or sympathetic. I’m inclined to believe that it’s the writing because what it seems like is going on here is that the writers spent an awful lot of time concocting this very complicated story and two really complicated characters in the father and son team of John and Bob, but they simply ignored any kind of real development for the rest of the supporting characters in the hopes that the casting would be strong enough to, shall we say, make chicken salad out of chicken spit. This is effective for the other male characters, but it is not effective with the two female leads.
Final Thoughts
Despite its weaknesses, the pilot of Lone Star is enjoyable and I would recommend it. The main story, though complex, is very compelling, the protagonist and his father are incredibly well-written despite the other characters being rather clichéd and simplistic, and the performances by the supporting cast is excellent for the most part. I do expect that the writers will see how weak the female leads are and will improve the way they are written in the future.
My three major concerns for this show are issues are as follows:
The first is the time slot and the network. This show is the replacement for 24 which just ended after 8 seasons. This is the last show in the world I would have ever expected to replace 24. If there was a show that I would have thought would have gone in the Monday night at 9:00 p.m. slot on FOX, it would have been either Human Target or Fringe. Both are excellent action shows that could easily carry 24’s torch in that slot and to be completely honest, I think this show would be better suited for CBS or ABC. They would seem to have the demographic for it more than FOX.
My second concern is the complexity of this story. I’m sorry, but today’s audiences have pretty short attention-spans and I’m afraid this show may be a little too cerebral for this generation of TV viewers. It’s not a knock on today’s audiences, it’s just a fact. Complex dramas have been on the decline in popularity for the last several years because audiences simply have too much going on with their 300 channels of cable and of course the Internet. A show like this takes dedication and there aren’t that many people willing to dedicate to a serial storyline with a continuous arc anymore. I’m frankly amazed that Lost lasted six seasons and I’m not surprised at all that FlashForward only lasted one (as much as I loved that show).
Finally, the real question I have is, “How long can this show last?” Really, I mean, the show centers around this one con they are running. I’m sorry but I don’t want to see this one con play out for seven seasons and by the same token, if the con plays itself out by the end of the first season, what happens next season… yet, another con? How long can you keep that up? In this regard the show reminds me of Prison Break where we all said at the end of season one, “Well, they’re out. Now what?” and of course the answer for the three seasons that followed was the most convoluted and bizarre twists in a plotline in television history. Now, I liked all 4 seasons of Prison Break, but that was getting nuts at the end and I was glad when they finally put the show out if its misery and I don’t want to see that again with another series… especially one on FOX.
So, I’m going to give this show 6 weeks without any expectation of it surviving the Thanksgiving season cuts. This way I won’t be disappointed if another good show is cancelled which unfortunately, as good as this show is, I do expect to happen.
October 2, 2012: As part of its strategic expansion to year-round original programming, TNT is set to burn brightly this winter with a slate of six original series. The lineup includes the return of three hit dramas, a new season of one of the most acclaimed series on television and the premiere of a brand new medical drama from David E. Kelley and Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Winter Premiere: Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) Over the span of three seasons, Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander have proven that two heads are better than one in this Top 5 drama series. As Boston detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles, the pair share a quirky chemistry and put away some of Boston’s most notorious criminals. Developed by Janet Tamaro from the popular characters created by best-selling author Tess Gerritsen, Rizzoli & Isles is produced for TNT by Warner Horizon Television, Janet Tamaro’s Hurdler Productions and Bill Haber’s Ostar Productions.
Winter Premiere: Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) Television’s coolest gang of thieves, grifters and con artists are back to close out the fifth season of this fast-paced, light-hearted caper series from blockbuster executive producer Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment. Academy Award® winner Timothy Hutton stars, along with Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge. Together, they attempt to take down those who would use wealth and power to take advantage of others.
Two-Hour Season Premiere: Monday, Jan. 28, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) This January, TNT is going to usher in the New Year with a whole new wave of back-stabbing, plot-scheming, black-mailing fun as the hit drama series Dallas returns for its second season. The exciting drama stars three iconic figures from the original series: Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray and Larry Hagman. They are joined by the next generation, played by Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster and Julie Gonzalo. The series also stars Brenda Strong, Mitch Pileggi and Emma Bell. Produced by Warner Horizon Television, TNT’s Dallas burst onto the scene this past summer with an average of 6.1 million viewers. It currently ranks as basic cable’s #1 new drama for the year-to-date with key adult demos. Special Programming Note: TNT will build up to the season 2 premiere of Dallas with two days of episodes from the first season on Saturday, Jan. 26, and Sunday, Jan. 27.
Series Premiere: Monday, Feb. 4, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) This powerful new series comes to TNT from award-winning producer David E. Kelley and practicing neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, M.D., on whose book the series is based. Set at the fictional Chelsea General Hospital in Portland, Ore.,Monday Mornings follows the lives of doctors as they push the limits of their abilities and confront their personal and professional failings. Produced by TNT Originals and David E. Kelley Productions, the series stars Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Jamie Bamber, Jennifer Finnigan, Bill Irwin, Keong Sim, Sarayu Rao and Emily Swallow.
Well, that didn’t take long but even more encouraging for the freshman reboot (is it really even a reboot or is it just picking up where they left off 21 years ago?) is the fact that it got a 15 episode order when the norm is between 10 and 13. Rizzoli & Isles, a show we have ZERO interest in, also hit the ratings jackpot and 
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