Conference ljsrv1::tv_chatter

101.0. "TRIBECA" by MCIS2::DUPUIS (Love is grand, divorce is 20 grand) Thu Mar 18 1993 03:30

    This was in my mail account and I thought it might be interesting to
    others.....
    
Fox has yet another new series beginning next week.  Reviews
I've read and comments I gotten from a friend who's seen the
first episode have been very positive.

Below are news releases I've gotten for the series and the
premiere episode.   [mispelled names were copied verbatim]


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TRIBECA, the one-hour anthology series from executive producer
David J. Burke, Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro, will debut
on Fox Tuesday, March 23 from 9:00 to 10:00 PM ET/PT.  TRIBECA,
De Niro's first television series, brings together some of New
York's most talented professionals, both in front of and behind
the camera, to present comtemporary urban tales about New York
City's downtown community.  [KEY WEST, which currently airs
Tuesdays from 9:00 from 10:00 PM, will go on hiatus after its
March 16 broadcast.]

Philip Bosco and Joe Morton play characters who are the backbone
of the neighborhood: Harry, a restaurant owner, and Carleton, a
mounted police officer, respectively.  These recurring characters
from the backdrop of each weekly story, which range in genre from
harrowing drama to pure comedy.

Bosco and Morton will be joined in each episode by guest stars
who include Peter Boyle, Eileen Brennan, Betty Buckley, the late
Dizzy Gillespie, Deborah Harry, Bill Irwin, Richard Kiley, former
New York City Mayor Ed Koch, Stephen Lang, Richard Lewis and
Eli Wallach, among others.  Each episode will find a different
director behind the camera, including Joe Morton, Melanie Mayron,
Barry Primus (director of the film "Mistress") and David J. Burke.

The premiere TREBECA episode is "The Box," featuring guest stars
Larry Fishburne ("Boys N the hood" and Tony Award-winner for "Two
Trains Running") and Carl Lumbly ("Going to Extremes," "Cagney
and Lacey").  Lumbly portrays a successful black banker who
constantly chides his hang-loose brother, played by Fishburne,
for his too-casual approach to life.  But when Lumbly is
murdered, his wife and children turn to Fishburne, who must
curb his rage and display the maturity and responsibilty his
brother valued so highly.

Appearing in cameo roles are Stephen Lang as a homeless man and
Melanie Mayron as a neighborhood resident, each of whose
characters will be the subject of future TRIBECA episodes.
"The Box" was written by David J Burke and Hans Tobeason.

David J. Burke, Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro are the
executive producers and Don Kurt is the producer for Montana
Beach / Tribeca TV / Tri-Star Television.

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Larry Fishburne and Carl Lumbly guest star in "The Box," the
premiere episode of Fox's new dramatic anthology series TRIBECA,
which debuts TUESDAY, March 23 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).  They
portray two brothers whose contentious relationship masks a
deep love and respect for one another.

Lumbly plays a prosperous banker who is constantly chiding his
younger bother, a policeman portrayed by Fishburne, for his
carefree ways and his poorly thought out business schemes.
However, when Lumbly becomes the victim of a senseless murder,
Fishburne must deal not only with his rage at the killer but
also the anguish of his grieving brother's widow and two young
children.  His self-examination leads him to a new kind of life.

Victoria Dillard plays the baker's wife, and Sharif Rashed and
Kiely Alexis Williams are their children.  Series regulars
Philip Bosco and Joe Morton also star as two neighborhood
fixtures, coffee shop owner Harry Arsharsky and mounted
policeman Officer Carlton Thomas, respectively.  Appearing in
cameo roles are Stephen Lang as a homeless man and Melanie
Mayron as a neighborhood resident, each of whose characters
will be the subject of future TRIBECA episodes.

Larry Fishburne won a Tony Award and three other major drama
critics' awards last year for his performance in August Wilson's
play  "Two Trains Running."  These accolades came on the heels
of his critically acclaimed performances as Furious Styles in
the feature film "Boyz N the Hood."

His movie credits this year will include a starring role as
Ike Turner in "What's Love Got to Do with It," the Tina Turner
biography, and a leading role in "Searching for Bobby Fischer."
He recently hosted Fox's investigative special "Who Killed
Martin Luther King?"

Carl Lumbly's recent film credits include "South Central," the
John Schlesinger thriller "Pacific Heights" and the dark comedy
"To Sleep with Anger."  He was a regular on the television
series "Cagney and Lacey" (as Detective Marcus Petrie) and
"Going to Extremes."  His award-winning stage performances in
Los Angeles include "Miss Evers' Boys" and "Eden."

"The Box" was written by David J. Burke and Hans Tobeason and
directed by Michael Dinner.  Like all the series' episodes, it
is set in New York City's Tribeca, the downtown neighborhood
whose vibrant, heterogenous population has made it among the
city's liveliest locales.

TRIBECA's executive producers are David J. Burke, Jane
Rosenthal and Robert De Niro.  Don Kurt is the supervising
producer for Montana Beach / Tribeca TV / Tri-Star Television.

I watched "The Box" last night and was very impressed. This is very superior
television. Superbly acted, directed, written, and photographed, it's by
far the best thing Fox has released and is better than 95% of what the
major networks are doing.

If they can keep the quality at this level it will easily be one of the
best things on television.


Randy

    I watched this show last night also.  I was surprised at the number of
    popular actors, and actresses that were on last night.  The way it sounds
    from the first note there will be a lot more people we recognize too.
    It was a really good show.  I think we will make this a weekly show for 
    us to watch.  
    
    Cheryl     

    Outstanding!  Carl Lumbly was terrific, and Larry Fishburn proved once
    again that he is one of the best actors around.
    
    I especially liked the way it ended.  No bow wapped tightly around the
    show, no riding off into the sunset at the end of the day, but with
    life carrying on.  Excellent.
    
    NAZZ

    Is Melanie Mayron a regular on this show? She was seen very briefly in
    the store at the beginning.
    
    Wasn't Larry Fishburn "Cowboy Curtis" on Pee-Wee's Playhouse? Guess I
    didn't recognize him with short hair.

    
    
    Very Good show!  I too was surprised to see FOX pull off such good
    writing.  The only thing that I felt wasn't obvious was the time that
    was passing from the time of the brother's death.  There was only one
    mention that it had been four months.  It just seemed like it was only
    a day or two since the funeral.
    
    I like this show and hope it will last.
    
    I am curious to know why they keep billing it as Robert De Niro's
    Tribeca , he is not the only director on the series.
    
    Serena
    

re .5

> I am curious to know why they keep billing it as Robert De Niro's
> Tribeca , he is not the only director on the series.

Actually, De Niro isn't a director, as far as I know there are no plans for
him to be. This episode was directed by Michael Dinner. De Niro is one of
the executive producers (along with David Burke and Jane Rosenthal). I guess
the reason his name is always mentioned in conjuction with the show is that
his is the name everyone would recognize and it's the first time he's been
involved with a television series.


Randy

    Melanie Mayron will be the focus of an upcoming episode, but she won't
    be a regular.  The only two regulars are Philip Bosco (the store owner)
    and Joe Morton (the mounted cop).  What they intend to do is weave
    characters in and out of different shows to give the program the feel
    of a neighborhood.  I like the idea.
    
    NAZZ 

    I watched last night's episode "The Hopeless Romantic", starring
    Peter Boyle, and was pleased at the quality of the show.  
    Anthology shows don't do all that well (hard to find a regular
    audience, unless you count "The Love Boat" as an anthology). ;-)
    Also, this is playing opposite ratings giant "Roseanne" so I
    won't plan on getting hooked on it.  But I'll add it to my small
    list of shows to tape.
    
    Richard

    Another outstanding episode!!!!  Kevin spacey was GREAT as the
    confused but talented Chris Boden.  Kathleen Quinlan was her usual
    classy self, and Philip Bosco got a chance to show more of his
    background, which was NOT what you would expect the owner of the
    local variety store to be!
    
    NAZZ

    I watch this too, and was pulled in by the acting and production, a
    very good show ! Kevin Spacey (Mel Profit on Wiseguy) was great !
    now that Rosanne is in re-run hell this will make up for it :')
    
    Chris

    I knew I recognized the guy who played Chris Boden, but couldn't place
    him.  Wiseguys was on of my favorite shows.  I was upset when they
    canceled that show.  I wonder why they did.  I thought it was getting
    good ratings.
    
    Cheryl

    I heard Ken Wal (sp?) was a bit of a trouble between getting hurt and
    his temper they cut him lose and then the new guy could not fill Ken's
    shoes...to bad I like that show very much....it was in a re-run slot on
    some NY station for a while but its not there now....:'(

    "Wiseguy" was never a really strong contender in the ratings, but drew
    a loyal (and loud!) following from its first (killer) season - the
    Steelgrave and Profitt arcs. After that, I thought it gradually lost
    intensity and quality (though many of the episodes were still quite
    good), until by its last season, and the attempt at introducing the new
    character, it no longer had any of the qualities that had kept me with
    it for the first two years.
    
    -b

    Plus, Ken Wahl's ego got in the way of his better judgement.  He
    actually thought he could be a major movie star!  He pictured himself
    as the next Bruce Willis, crossing over from TV to big screen success.
    HAW! HAW! HAW!  Not a chance.
    
    NAZZ

    Does anyone know if and when they are going to continue with this show?
    I really liked it, and thought it would be back on by now.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Cheryl

    I'm pretty sure Tribeca was cancelled.
    
    NAZZ