At the NBCUniversal Cable upfront presentation last night, USA Network unveiled previews for three of their new dramas premiering this summer.
Starting with Rush and Satisfaction, both premiering on July 17, USA Network’s typically ‘blue-skies’ dramas has some dark and stormy clouds rolling in – and we are pretty excited for it. While all the shows have one word in their titles (short and to the point – unlike something longer like say, Covert Affairs) that is where their similarities stop, for the most part.
USA Network knows their audience and what they like to watch, so why not produce more medical dramas with handsome men and beautiful women as leads? It works!
We have yet to hear about the premiere dates, or see trailers, for the comedies USA picked up, such as the much anticipated Difficult People starring comedian Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner, executive produced by Amy Poehler. These will probably be release as production begins and USA Network figures out when they want to air them.
‘Rush’:
The newest medical drama on the USA Network is Rush. Dr. William Rush (get the name now?) is the doctor the celebrities call when they have a medical emergency, but can’t go to a hospital for one reason or another.
The official description for the show: “RUSH examines the world of renegade physician Dr. William P. Rush (Tom Ellis, “Miranda”), a “medical fixer” who privately caters to LA’s elite and whose service comes with a hefty price tag. Though the hard-partying doctor claims that he doesn’t make judgments about his less-than-squeaky-clean clients, he’s not immune to the ugliness that he encounters. From Fox21 (“Homeland”) and writer/director Jonathan Levine (“Warm Bodies”), along with Gina Matthews and Grant Scharbo (“Missing,” “13 Going on 30”) and Executive Producer Adam Fierro (“The Shield”), the series is set to film in Vancouver, Canada.”
Rush premieres July 17 at 9 p.m.
‘Satisfaction’:
At first glance, Satisfaction may seem like another run-of-the-mill drama about a marriage, and subsequently, a man’s life, that goes to shambles. But then you hit minute 1:45 in the trailer and realize this show about Neil Truman and his wife, Grace, may be something else. It’s not exactly a case of mistaken identity, but it is about stepping into the shoes of someone else’s life to see if the grass is greener on the other side.
The official description for the show: “A provocative drama that explores modern marriage at its midpoint. Through the lens of one couple, Neil Truman (Matt Passmore, “The Glades”) and his wife, Grace (Stephanie Szostak, “The Devil Wears Prada”), this series answers the question, “What do you do when having it all is not enough?” by delving into their shocking and unconventional choices. Michelle DeShon (“Hollywood Heights”), Katherine LaNasa (“The Campaign”) and Blair Redford (“Switched at Birth”) also star. SATISFACTION is from Universal Cable Productions (UCP) and executive producer/creator Sean Jablonski (SUITS, “Nip Tuck”). Russ Krasnoff (“Community”) of Krasnoff/Foster also serves as executive producer. The series is set to film in Atlanta, Georgia.”
Satisfaction premieres July 17 at 10 p.m.
‘Complications’:
Another medical drama, but unlike Rush, Complications is about a doctor, John Ellis, who must protect a young boy who was shot during a drive-by. Based on the trailer, there seems to be a strong Dexter undertone – trying to preemptively protect himself and this boy.
The official description for the show: “‘Complications’ starring Jason O’Mara (“Vegas”) centers around John Ellis, a disillusioned suburban ER doctor, who finds his existence transformed when he intervenes in a drive-by shooting, saving a young boy’s life and killing one of his attackers. When he learns the boy is still marked for death he finds himself compelled to save him at any cost and discovers that his life and his outlook on medicine may never be the same. “Complications” is written and executive produced by Matt Nix (“Burn Notice”) and is from Fox Television Studios.”
‘Dig’:
A six-episode mini-series event, Dig stars Jason Issacs and Anne Heche as FBI agents stationed in Jerusalem, investigating the murder of a women archeologist but they may uncover a “conspiracy 2000 years in the making that threatens to change the course of history.” While we don’t have a trailer for Dig yet, we are very interested in this new drama.
And look out for some new shows on NBC’s other cable networks…
Oxygen: Fix My Choir: On the network home to The Glee Project, comes “a music-driven series in which struggling choirs get mentoring and help form Deitrick Hadon from the “Preachers” series as well as singer Michelle Williams.”
SyFy: 12 Monkeys: Based on the 1995 Terry Gilliam film, 12 Monkeys is a post-apocalyptic story about a man who must time travel into the past to try to stop a disease that threatens to end humanity. The promo video, which is not yet online, is compelling and terrifying, and promises to be an entertaining thriller. It stars Aaron Stanford and Amanda Schull and will premiere in January 2015.