The good news for Tom Everett Scott is that he’s been a regular on Southland, a critically well-received and popular new series that’s been renewed for a second season on NBC.
The bad news: His character, LAPD Detective Russell Clarke was shot in the chest in the season finale by a neighbour who had lost his job and his marbles (said neighbour then killed his wife and himself).
Shades of 24, where Jack Bauer’s wife didn’t live to see Season 2.
Okay, maybe not so bad.
“I looked at the script and thought, ‘Okay, who did I piss off?’ ” quips Scott, who’s been spending the hiatus shepherding Glock, a short film he directed and co-wrote, to festivals such as New York’s Tribeca and, this week, to Toronto’s Worldwide Short Film Festival
“But they were really nice about saying, ‘Hey, you don’t die.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, good.’ But I haven’t seen the script yet so I can’t say that it’s official.
“I’m glad to be coming back, I’m in a good place right now, being at home, working in L.A. and being with my family.
“I liked from the beginning how it was an ensemble show, and each character really had their own voice.
“And the violence, when it happens, you don’t see it coming.” Clarke’s shooting, he says, “was based on something that really happened to a cop.
“He works this dangerous job and he’s off-duty and goes next door to see if everyone’s okay during a domestic. The guy opens the door with a gun in his hand and is in a crazy emotional state and shoots the cop.
“Life is strange.”
I’m going to celebrate while I can and work hard on the show, because I’ve learned in this business you never know what’s going to happen next.
“I’ve always respected (exec producer) John Wells, and the cast is great. Michael Cudlitz (Officer John Cooper) and I have known each other for years. And I’d heard great things about Regina King (Det. Lydia Adams), we have the same manager, and then having her playing my partner, well, I’m a lucky actor.
“But I will keep writing and hopefully directing. You’re only as good as the next thing you do.”
LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2009 FX, home to critically acclaimed and award-winning original series, has set its fall schedule with the return of three of its hit original series kicking off with the sophomore season of the drama Sons of Anarchy on September 8, followed by the comedy It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia on September 17, and season six of nip/tuck which begins this October. FX also has plans to launch a new original comedy series this fall to pair with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
In addition to the return of original series, this fall the network features a slate of blockbuster feature film premieres including Ghost Rider, Fantastic Four & The Silver Surfer, Spiderman 3, and Live Free or Die Hard.
Sons of Anarchy returns for its second season (13 episodes) on a new night, Tuesday, beginning September 8 at 10 PM ET/PT. Starring Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal and Ron Perlman, Sons is an adrenalized drama with darkly comedic undertones that explores the notorious outlaw motorcycle club’s (SAMCRO) desire to protect its livelihood and the town of Charming, Calif. from outside influences. New guest stars this season include Adam Arkin and Henry Rollins. The first season of Sons of Anarchy averaged 1.2 million Men 18-34 demo on a weekly cumulative basis, making it the #1 scripted show in basic cable in that demo and its cume of 1.9 million Adults 18-34 ranked #3.
The fifth season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (12 episodes) will run Thursdays at 10 PM ET/PT for crude, controversial, outlandish, and downright hilarious comedy starting on September 17. Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito star as the self-centered owners of Paddy’s Pub in Philadelphia who will do just about anything, no matter how reprehensible, in attempt to better their own situation. The fourth season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia was #1 in both M18-34 (1.1 million) and A18-34 (1.8 million) on a weekly cumulative average for all live-action scripted comedies in basic cable.
nip/tuck will return for its sixth and penultimate season in October and will consist of 10 new episodes. Starring Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon as Los Angeles plastic surgeons, the new season will include guest stars Vanessa Redgrave, Rose McGowan, Mario Lopez, Barry Bostwick and Gilles Marini. nip/tuck’s 5th season was FX’s highest-rated original series with an average weekly audience of 5.1 million A18-49 and 6.5 million total viewers.
FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from the Fox Networks Group. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 95 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning original series; an established film library with box-office hits from 20th Century Fox and other studios; and an impressive roster of acquired hit series. For more information about FX, visit our web site at www.FXnetworks.com
