Looking for a few good 'Smiths'
In "Smith," Ray Liotta plays Bobby Stevens, the leader of a gang of criminals. Yet Tony Soprano-like, he manages to lead his own humdrum-appearing suburban life, with wife and kids, in his off-time.
"Smith" is one intense show, playing almost like a mini-movie, and as if to accent that, the drama's pilot is 90 minutes long. Execs say it's as of yet unclear how they'll handle the abnormally long pilot, but it'll either run commercial-free or in an hour-long slot with no commercials.
Executive producer John Wells, of "ER" fame, took most of the questions for his panel, bemoaning at one point that no one wanted to talk to the stellar slate of actors he'd brought along (Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen, and Franky G among them.)
At least one writer wasn't thrilled with the show's bland title, but Wells said he'd never considered calling his show anything else. He'd learned from a law-enforcement officer that they refer to unidentified suspects as "Smiths," and it fit his idea of a criminal trying to live anonymously in the world, hiding in plain sight.
Writers seemed abnormally concerned with whether Liotta's character remains a likable chap or not, considering at least one completely innocent character is bloodily gunned down in the pilot. I confess to not relating to the concept that a main character must always be Ned Flanders (see J.R. Ewing example, above). I suspect most show creators are thinking: Love him or hate him, just watch him.
Virginia Madsen's character, Hope, Bobby's wife, has a bit of a Carmela Soprano feel to her: She benefits from her husband's criminal activities (and may have some secrets of her own), but she's willfully in a bit of denial, it seems. She won't remain that way, Wells promised.
When questioned about whether the group of criminals in the show met "in stir, or in a fraternity," Wells cracked that they'd met at "the Crime Fraternity at Criminal U."
From MSNBC.
"Smith" is one intense show, playing almost like a mini-movie, and as if to accent that, the drama's pilot is 90 minutes long. Execs say it's as of yet unclear how they'll handle the abnormally long pilot, but it'll either run commercial-free or in an hour-long slot with no commercials.
Executive producer John Wells, of "ER" fame, took most of the questions for his panel, bemoaning at one point that no one wanted to talk to the stellar slate of actors he'd brought along (Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen, and Franky G among them.)
At least one writer wasn't thrilled with the show's bland title, but Wells said he'd never considered calling his show anything else. He'd learned from a law-enforcement officer that they refer to unidentified suspects as "Smiths," and it fit his idea of a criminal trying to live anonymously in the world, hiding in plain sight.
Writers seemed abnormally concerned with whether Liotta's character remains a likable chap or not, considering at least one completely innocent character is bloodily gunned down in the pilot. I confess to not relating to the concept that a main character must always be Ned Flanders (see J.R. Ewing example, above). I suspect most show creators are thinking: Love him or hate him, just watch him.
Virginia Madsen's character, Hope, Bobby's wife, has a bit of a Carmela Soprano feel to her: She benefits from her husband's criminal activities (and may have some secrets of her own), but she's willfully in a bit of denial, it seems. She won't remain that way, Wells promised.
When questioned about whether the group of criminals in the show met "in stir, or in a fraternity," Wells cracked that they'd met at "the Crime Fraternity at Criminal U."
From MSNBC.
posted by nikita | 2:17 AM
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