 Finding the 'Jake' of a New Series
By Kate O'Hare; Zap2it
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - As July begins, TV-series writing staffs crank into high gear, working to get as many stories broken and as many scripts written as possible before production begins, generally at mid-month.
For the producers of the new UPN drama "Jake 2.0," freshly ensconced in low-profile offices in Santa Monica (right across the street from the main stages of The WB's "7th Heaven"), the challenge is to get the show up and running without surrendering to fear of the future.
"Our strategy is to make a great show," says executive producer and show-runner David Greenwalt, who comes to "Jake" after recent stints on ABC's "Miracles," The WB's "Angel" (which he co-created with Joss Whedon) and its sister series, the recently concluded "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
It hasn't escaped Greenwalt's attention that he is mere blocks from where "Buffy" used to film, but "Jake 2.0" represents a new direction and a new group of co-workers.
The show's staff surrounds him over takeout lunch, including fellow executive producers Grant Scharbo, Gina Matthews and Silvio Horta, who previously teamed for Sci Fi Channel's tabloid spoof "The Chronicle." Matthews was also a producer on the 1998 film "Urban Legend," written by Horta.
"[The pilot] was written very coolly by Silvio and developed by Gina, Grant and Silvio," Greenwalt says, "then they produced the living sh-- out of the thing. I was saying, 'I want to be on a big network show, I want to be on a big network, there's nothing good except on a big network.' Then I read it, then I went and met them."
"Jake 2.0" stars Christopher Gorham -- whom Matthews knows from The WB's teen drama "Popular" -- as the title character, a geeky computer technician at the NSA who is accidentally infused with a dose of nanites (molecule-sized machines). They give him super powers -- causing him to be recruited as an agent -- but they also could kill him.
"This show has been done before," Greenwalt says, "a million times. Like, the 'Six Million Dollar Man' version, the guy who has been selected to be the first man to get it and everything. Jake is more of an everyday kind of geek."
In an unfortunate twist, "Jake's" current time slot, 9 p.m. (Eastern) on Wednesday, pits it against season five of "Angel."
"We can't control what's on television," Matthews says. "We can't control what we're up against. We can work really hard on how they market the show, how they get us the press we need, all that stuff. UPN is very supportive and committed. All we control is the product. All we can do is just work our asses off to make a great show."
Also facing "The West Wing" and "The Bachelor," the greatest immediate problem for "Jake 2.0" may be getting people to sample the series. "We just have to hope that people see the show," says Scharbo, "even just once, because they'll be hooked. Not only is it a great show, but Chris, he's adorable.
"When he comes on camera, honest to God, 90 percent of what you see in the pilot was his first take. He just nails it. He gets this character. When we were casting, Chris came into read on the second day. He walked out, and the director said, 'You know what, I'm going home. If you find anyone better, give me a call.' We felt the same way."
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How is this movie UPN related?
1996 animated Hulk series was made for UPN.
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LAST WEEKEND BOX OFFICE TOP 10
June 27 - June 29, 2003 |
1. Charlie's Angels 2 (Columbia Pictures) - 37.6m
2. The Hulk (Universal) - 18.8m
3. Finding Nemo (Walt Disney) - 13.9m
4. 28 Days Later (Fox Searchlight) - 10.0m
5. 2 Fast 2 Furious (Universal) - 6.2m
6. Bruce Almighty (Universal) - 6.1m
7. The Italian Job (Paramount Pictures) - 5.4m
8. Rugats Go Wild (Paramount Pictures) - 3.6m
9. Hollywood Homicide (Columbia Pictures) - 3.0m
10. Alex and Emma (Franchise Pictures) - 2.6m
Weekend box office data by ACNielsen EDI ©2003
The Incredible Hulk (Animated Series) (2003) (NEW!)
The DVD compiles the first four episodes of the 1996-97 animated series, which outline the Hulk's origins, as well as the struggles of his human alter ego, Bruce Banner, to rid himself of the creature. The episodes also make fine use of Marvel's rosters of heroes and villains; in the two-part "Return of the Beast," the Hulk tangles with the Leader, the Gargoyle, and the hideous Abomination, while in "Raw Power," he's up against the malevolent ZZZAX; and in "Helping Hand, Iron Fist," he goes mano-a-mano with Iron Man and War Machine. Terrific performances (TV Hulk Lou Ferrigno provides the creature's voice) and extensive extras make this DVD a must-have for comic and cartoon aficionados. --Paul Gaita
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What UPN drama was set in the rolling hills of 1880's Kentucky?