Awake [NBC - US] [ Spoilers ]

Richard Dower · 04-02-2011 4:02pm #1

From Lone Star creator Kyle Killen:

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/02/03/nbc-pilots-inception-office/

Next, Lone Star creator Kyle Killen has sold what’s described as an “Inception-style” drama to the network. REM is a “procedural hybrid which follows the simultaneous and parallel lives of a detective who can not let go of any aspect of his fractured family after a horrible car accident."

^ i picked this out 'cause it sounded the most interesting, dunno....too high concept for NBC and Americans, another Lone Star debacle?

Richard Dower · 21-02-2011 7:02pm

Casting news: One of the hottest actors this pilot season, Jason Isaacs, is off the market. After fielding more than half-dozen offers, Isaacs has settled on the lead role in NBC's drama pilot REM, from Lone Star creator Kyle Killen and 20th Century Fox TV. In addition to starring, Isaacs will serve as producer on the project, described as an Inception-style thriller. It centers on a cop (Isaacs) who wakes up after an accident to find he is living in two different realities. The casting of Isaacs lifts the contingency on the pilot, exec produced/run by former 24 showrunner Howard Gordon. 20th TV-based Tim Minear serves as a consulting producer.

REM brings Brit Isaacs back to 20th TV where he starred in the drama pilot for Fox Pleading Guilty last season. Additionally, he developing and producing a drama project at 20th TV's cable division Fox 21. Safe, set up at FX, is being written by Chris Gerolmo.

Brotherhood star Isaacs had been in demand since the Showtime drama ended in 2008. He was first pursued in the 2009 pilot season but was unavailable because of commitments to the Harry Potter movies, in which he plays Lucius Malfoy. Last pilot season, he received eight offers and went with Pleading Guilty. Isaacs, repped by Gersh, the Collective, U.K.'s Independent Talent and attorney Karl Austen, will next be seen in the final Harry Potter movie and the Taylor Lautner starrer Abduction.

JP Liz V1 · 21-02-2011 10:25pm

I thought it was about the band

Issacs was great in Brotherhood

Tim Minear dont have much luck with shows all get cancelled sooner or later

Richard Dower · 15-03-2011 2:34am

That '70s Show alum Wilmer Valderrama, The Practice veteran Steve Harris and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit co-star BD Wong have been cast opposite Jason Isaacs in NBC's drama pilot REM, from Lone Star creator Kyle Killen and 20th Century Fox TV. Also cast in the project, described as an Inception-style thriller, are Laura Allen (Terriers) and teen Dylan Minnette. REM centers on Detective Mark Britten (Isaacs), who wakes up after an accident to find he is living in two different realities, one in which he has killed his son Rex (Minnette) and one in which he has killed his wife Hannah. Valderrama will play Detective Richard Vega, Britten's gregarious new partner in one reality, while Harris will play a seasoned, cynical, wry-humored police detective who's Britten's partner in the other reality. Wong will play Britten's therapist in the reality where he has killed his son. Allen will play Rex's tennis coach, who has become his confidante in the wake of the recent loss of his mother. Valderrama's casting stems from his talent deal with 20th TV.

Source, whatcha think?.....Deadline!

Richard Dower · 16-03-2011 10:46pm

Very detailed review of the pilot script....be advised, you're warned of spoilers galore, i personally think the concept is too complicated and high brow for network tv, it screams cable for intelligent viewers:

http://travisyanan.blogspot.com/2011/03/pilot-script-review-rem.html

JP Liz V1 · 22-03-2011 5:23pm

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Cherry-Jones-NBC-1030959.aspx

Cherry Jones has joined the cast

22-03-2011 6:07pm

Richard Dower wrote: »

Very detailed review of the pilot script....be advised, you're warned of spoilers galore, i personally think the concept is too complicated and high brow for network tv, it screams cable for intelligent viewers:

What an absolutly ridicolous statement. I hate this belief that only intelligent drama can be shown on cable while network TV is only there to showcase cookie cutter fare. Plenty of great adult drama on network TV, filling your show with sex and violence as tehy can do on cable does not instnatly make it intelligent or adult.

DeWitt · 23-03-2011 2:21pm

I miss LoneStar, but I'm looking forward to Killen's new project.

Conor108 · 17-05-2011 2:06pm

Preview Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdhXyBgN_QU

Probably what I'm looking forward to most of the new season.

JP Liz V1 · 17-05-2011 3:22pm

NBC has ordered new dramas Awake formally known as REM, stars Jason Isaacs as a police detective who's involved in a traumatic car accident and wakes up in two fractured realities. The project comes from Kyle Killen, creator of Fox's short-lived Lone Star and 24's Howard Gordon. Wilmer Valderrama, Cherry Jones, Steve Harris, B.D. Wong, Michaela McManus, Laura Allen and Dylan Minnette also star.

Richard Dower · 21-07-2011 11:23pm

Alas, i fear he's far too close to telling the truth here

http://www.digitalspy.ie/ustv/news/a331017/awake-jason-isaacs-us-tv-is-a-cutthroat-business.html

WoollyRedHat · 01-08-2011 5:31pm

Awake Tv trailer from Comic Con
http://entertainment.ie/eiTV/Awake-TV-Trailer-%28Comic-Con-Footage%29/1545.htm

Richard Dower · 08-09-2011 7:53pm

Laura Innes joins Awake: http://www.tvline.com/2011/09/laura-innes-major-role-nbc-awake/

youngblood · 08-09-2011 10:11pm

whens this airing?

Richard Dower · 27-10-2011 5:11am

:eek::eek::eek:

http://www.spoilertv.com/2011/10/awake-production-shutdown-after-5.html

^ this is VERY bad news!!!!!

...Lone Star curse strikes once more!

Production on NBC's Awake has been shutdown after five episodes to undergo creative retooling and rewrites.
Awake has an order for 12 episodes for season 1. This production hiatus was done at the request of the writers/show runner who needed more time to work on script changes.

youngblood · 27-10-2011 5:07pm

Already? And it hasnt even aired??

They couldnt pull the "being dead" thing for an entire season could they???

Well the managed 6 with Lost so anythings possible i suppose

Basq · 27-10-2011 5:09pm

Jesus.. that's not good!

Probably the one new series I was most looking forward to!

Colmo52 · 14-01-2012 6:07pm

Still no news of a premiere date but there is a new promo out for it.

I'm really looking forward to it.

Richard Dower · 14-01-2012 6:27pm

With all the NBC failues piling up....can they afford not to show it?, they have two shows left that hold ANY ratings hope: Smash/Awake.

NBC is in a bad way, CW bad....The Firm flopped, Chelsea flopped, all it's comedies and dramas are flopping......they've got nothing to lose now showing Awake!

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/01/07/nbcs-awake/

Awake...too smart for network tv?

http://m.ie.ign.com/articles/1215968

^ too many dragged up on reality shiite imo!!!!!!!!

Basq · 14-01-2012 6:30pm

Colmo52 wrote: »

Still no news of a premiere date but there is a new promo out for it.

March seems likely!

More replacements will be cycled in come March, including NBC's dreamlike drama Awake and (finally!) AMC period drama Mad Men, which started its last season back in July 2010.

S.M.B. · 14-01-2012 6:56pm

Said it from day one, this is never going to work.

They clearly don't know what to do with it.

Poor NBC.

14-01-2012 7:03pm

A show like this would work on HBO, but I'm not sure if anyone else would. I remember listening to Mark Kermode, the movie critic and also a good friend of Jason Isaacs and he was commenting on how much Isaacs hated TV in America, how cut throat it was. It seems he didn't have much hope for it all along.

Basq · 14-01-2012 7:06pm

Ridiculous move by NBC if it gets shelved!

Says a lot about network TV if NBC are worried that viewers may not "understand" or "get" it..

.. they are aware that people who enjoy network TV and cable TV are not mutually exclusive.

I feel worse for Kyle Killen... the guy seems to have more of a spark for writing than 90% of those in the business right now and the poor guy can't catch a bloody break!

14-01-2012 7:14pm

If anything it shows how little the American networks view the population.

S.M.B. · 14-01-2012 7:56pm

Basq wrote: »

Ridiculous move by NBC if it gets shelved!

Says a lot about network TV if NBC are worried that viewers may not "understand" or "get" it..

.. they are aware that people who enjoy network TV and cable TV are not mutually exclusive.

I feel worse for Kyle Killen... the guy seems to have more of a spark for writing than 90% of those in the business right now and the poor guy can't catch a bloody break!

Says more about the general viewing public really. NBC will give it a go but it's guaranteed to fail.

I don't think it's about viewers not "getting" or "understanding" it.

It's more about being worried that viewers will be less inclined to tune into a show that involves a certain amount of commitment.

JP Liz V1 · 27-01-2012 1:11pm

Alias co-star Kevin Weisman is joining the cast of NBC’s upcoming Awake in a recurring role as a mysterious character called Mr. Blonde (EW)

WoollyRedHat · 27-01-2012 6:09pm

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

as a mysterious character called Mr. Blonde (EW)

Hello Mr. Blonde, I've been expecting you

angelll · 29-01-2012 1:01am

Just marking this for myself

budhabob · 29-01-2012 1:13am

This looks really promising. Fingers crossed it sees daylight soon.

Colmo52 · 03-02-2012 8:27pm

Finally a premiere date - March 1st.

From Kyle Killen's twitter

Awake - Thursday March 1 - Appointment television for at least 40-50 of you. Only takes three aired episodes to crush our old record folks!

04-02-2012 12:10am

What do they mean by the record?

Mr E · 04-02-2012 12:15am

Deleted User wrote: »

What do they mean by the record?

Kyle Killen's previous show....

Richard Dower · 07-02-2012 4:47pm

promo vid> http://www.spoilertv.com/2012/02/awake-4-minute-promo.html

Lets hope it lasts longer then Lone Star!!!!!!!

^ footage is not new....but shows needs al the help it can get!!!!!!!

Mr E · 17-02-2012 5:36pm

Looks like episode 1 has leaked into general circulation (by way of a rip of the full pilot from NBCs website). No talking about how/where to get this is allowed, but those who want to stay spoiler free may want to be careful while reading any posts after this one.

mgadget · 18-02-2012 3:19am

Pilot episode is a free download on US iTunes. Very slow, can't say it was compelling, maybe the payoff comes later,

Isaacs has no intention of resolving his situation and appears willing to sacrifice his sanity to maintain it. A character study in self-destruction?

.

Kiwi_knock · 18-02-2012 4:34am

The one new series I was looking out for this year, and I certainly thought it was worth the wait. A lot easier to follow than I thought it would be. Jason Isaacs is excellent in it,

really enjoyed his scenes with the Asian therapist. Definitely the best part of the show

. It seems like it will be a fascinating character drama with a some police work thrown in.

Now hopefully NBC do not ditch it, because it has real potential.

Richard Dower · 18-02-2012 8:21am

I watched it, thought it was poor....very generic storyline, basically a proceadural with a tagged on plot extra, the production values were cheap. Acting not tha great imo....the shooter was a given once i saw the eye witness.

The red/green Awake state "universes" and that storyline was, imo, boring.....i dodn't like the pilot at all....can't fathom the praise.

Sure i'll give it one more, but i think it's not for me.

Richard Dower · 18-02-2012 8:23am

mgadget wrote: »

Pilot episode is a free download on US iTunes. Very slow, can't say it was compelling, maybe the payoff comes later,
Isaacs has no intention of resolving his situation and appears willing to sacrifice his sanity to maintain it. A character study in self-destruction?
.

He's the one dead imo, Lost via Sixth Sense :rolleyes:

Richard Dower · 18-02-2012 8:31am

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

The one new series I was looking out for this year, and I certainly thought it was worth the wait. A lot easier to follow than I thought it would be. Jason Isaacs is excellent in it,
really enjoyed his scenes with the Asian therapist. Definitely the best part of the show
. It seems like it will be a fascinating character drama with a some police work thrown in.

Now hopefully NBC do not ditch it, because it has real potential.

Sure didn't Killeen/NBC do the whole "flashback to make sure stupid people get what scenes they saw 2 minutes ago" all over the pilot, they explained every detail in painful detail. From color coded armbands to flashbacks and a detective to a rookie cop etc.

It was overly explained, dumbed down ala Inception....the editing on the pilot was choppy, video edits and the audio from scenes seemed cut, it was the cheapest looking pilot i have seen in the current tv season.

I hate yer wan from Cold Case/Minority Report....and Valderama, didn't cop Fez but once he started the lisp i kept seeing That 70's Show :rolleyes:

Basq · 21-02-2012 12:06am

Loved it..

.. moarr please!

Richard Dower · 21-02-2012 12:11am

Basq wrote: »

Loved it..

.. moarr please!

Really?..... :rolleyes:
Basq...this is just a proceadural with a tagged on "mystery" plot to try make it look more then it is, he'll just move from red to green getting clues to slove cases....that's it!

The red/green verse holds no more depth then that imo, it's just a creator ploy to get greenlit, honestly i though the pilot was really bad, and i've been looking forward to it since news first filtered through

Also Starring LeVar Burton · 21-02-2012 2:16am

Thought it was great... Can't wait for more...

Basq · 21-02-2012 10:28am

Richard Dower wrote: »

Basq...this is just a proceadural with a tagged on "mystery" plot to try make it look more then it is, he'll just move from red to green getting clues to slove cases....that's it!

The red/green verse holds no more depth then that imo, it's just a creator ploy to get greenlit, honestly i though the pilot was really bad, and i've been looking forward to it since news first filtered through

I think you're over analysing based on a 40 minute pilot Rich!

This show has a lot of promise - great performances from all involved and the most important thing is why is this "waking" between two realities happening - is it simply psychological or is there a more supernatural element involved.

Another thing it did quite well is with a storyline like this, the majority of US shows would have it's main character revel in grief for half the duration of the pilot. We got very little of that, and yet we still understood Michael's grief.

It's a crime drama, or "procedural", at heart.. but what's wrong with that? I think by-and-large your average TV watcher wouldn't tune into a serialized drama about a guy "waking" between two realities and he's goes about his day in one, and his day in the other. You need something to ground the show.. make it a bit more mainstream.

ixoy · 21-02-2012 11:02am

Even more intrigued now that I know Richard didn't like it as that's often a good sign :-D must watch soon.

Mr E · 21-02-2012 11:17am

ixoy wrote: »

Even more intrigued now that I know Richard didn't like it as that's often a good sign :-D must watch soon.

Ouch.

I'll watch it tonight.

Richard Dower · 21-02-2012 5:13pm

ixoy wrote: »

Even more intrigued now that I know Richard didn't like it as that's often a good sign :-D must watch soon.

Cheeky git!

jonneymendoza · 21-02-2012 11:43pm

saw first episode. very good! 8/10

wes · 22-02-2012 1:01am

Enjoyed the first episode. Its an excellent spin the police procedural.

Richard Dower · 23-02-2012 6:26pm

Getting rave reviews all over the shop, must be me then.......

http://www.tvline.com/2012/02/review-nbc-awake-premieres-march-1/

expectationlost · 01-03-2012 6:27am

very good

S.M.B. · 01-03-2012 2:41pm

The guys on the Fire & iceberg podcast still claim the pilot is excellent but they have reservations about the series as whole having watched 4 episodes.

Apparently the underlying mystery doesn't work as well as the week by week procedural aspects.

Awake [NBC - US] [** Spoilers **]

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Awake [NBC - US] [ Spoilers ]