The Daily Star - Stay Tuned
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The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, May 6, 2011 2 coverstory Walkers on the line Series still struggles, fi ve years in By Kyla Brewer TV Media est of friends, worst of enemies. Few relation- ships in life are as com- plex as those between broth- ers and sisters. For many peo- ple, the sibling bond is both tu- multuous and affectionate. A prime-time drama has been trying to make the most of the sibling dynamic for five seasons now, but it’s never quite turned it into an outright hit. ABC presents the season finale of “Brothers & Sisters,” Sunday, May 8, and once again as the season comes to a close, the network has taken its time in announcing whether there will be another. The series follows the lives B of the Walker family, led by matriarch Nora Walker (Oscar winner Sally Field). After the death of her husband William, Nora becomes the glue that holds together the rest of her family, which includes her five children and their extended families, along with Nora’s brother, Saul (Tony winner Ron Rifkin). Rachel Griffiths portrays Nora’s eldest daughter, Sarah, a divorced mother who recent- ly found love with a handsome man from France, Luc Laurent (Gilles Marini). Television audi- ences surely recognize Calista Flockhart, who plays Sarah’s sister Kitty, from her starring role in “Ally McBeal.” Having recently lost her husband, Kitty struggles with her status as a widow and mother. From time to time, Balthazar Getty pops up in a recurring role as the Walkers’ third child, Tommy. Matthew Rhys, who’s also directed a few episodes of “Brothers & Sisters,” plays Tommy’s brother Kevin, an openly gay lawyer. Actor Dave Annable rounds out the main cast as Justin, the baby of the family, who’s also a soldier and recovering drug addict. Much of the show’s drama stems from the family business, Ojai Foods. As some of the sib- lings clash over how the com- pany is run, others struggle to find their place in the world. The premise has tremen- dous potential for drama and many critics and industry in- siders have taken notice. “Brothers & Sisters” has won some big awards, notably an outstanding leading actress Emmy for Field in 2007, and a SAG Award for her in 2009. The show has been nominated for a People’s Choice Award, Golden Globes and Satellite Awards, among others. Also of note is the show’s four consecutive GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards for outstanding drama series from 2007 to 2010. “Brothers & Sisters” has been praised for its portrayal of gay characters since the beginning of the se- Sally Field stars in “Brothers & Sisters” ries, particularly that of Nora’s son, Kevin, and Rifkin’s charac- ter, Saul. In fact, the show broke new ground when, at the end of its second season, Kevin and his partner Scotty participated in a commitment ceremony. It was the first time such a cere- mony was shown on American network television between series regulars as opposed to minor characters or guest stars. Yet, despite all of the acco- lades and praise, “Brothers & Sisters” has been struggling to stay afloat practically since its very beginnings. Each of the first four seasons averaged more than 10 million viewers, a respectable fan base. How- ever, in the grand scheme of things, it’s tough to compete with time-slot competitors such as CBS’s “CSI: Miami” or NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” which have been known to at- tract 18 or 19 million or more. In the past couple of years, ABC execs have taken their A/Auto Boutique B/The Green Giraffe 2 x 2 time announcing the fate of “Brothers & Sisters.” In 2009, fans had to sweat it out until April 23 before the network announced it had picked up a fourth season. Things weren’t quite as bad last year, when the announcement came in early March. In January of this year, ABC announced it had issued early renewals for “Grey’s Anato- my,” “Private Practice,” “Cas- tle,” “Modern Family,” “The Middle” and “Cougar Town,” but made no mention of “Brothers & Sisters.” Loyal fans are still pulling for the series and even started an online petition to save the show, despite the fact that it hadn’t yet been canceled. They’ve also added a Face- book page and Twitter profile aimed at ensuring that the se- ries is renewed. If the past is any indication, ABC wants to give the series a fighting chance. It may be that the network has faith in not only the talented cast, but those working behind the scenes as well. ABC has been good to director and executive producer Ken Olin, who once starred in the network’s hit ‘80s drama “thirtysome- thing,” and also produced “Alias,” the spy thriller that made Jennifer Garner a star. Olin partnered with Broadway playwright Jon Robin Baitz to create “Brothers & Sisters.” Prominent TV producer Greg Berlanti serves as executive producer, as does playwright David Marshall Grant. Chirstopher’s Coins 2 x 2 hollywoodQ&A By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: Whatever happened to Geoffrey Horne? He ap- peared to be a rising star, playing in “Bonjour Tristesse” and “The Bridge on the River Kwai.” It’s as if he then disappeared. A: He may have disappeared from the screen, but he’s still in the biz. After a pretty prolific decade and a half on screen, Horne (mostly) gave up acting to become a teacher at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York. Geoffrey Horne took one for the team, in a way, forgoing screen fame in order to train future generations of stars, who have included Alec Baldwin, Adam Sandler, Bridget Fonda, John Leguizamo, and Kevin Corrigan. Horne is making a sort of return to the screen this spring though. He’s featured in a documentary that’s currently do- ing the festival rounds, called “Lee Strasberg’s Method,” in which he discusses the technique and legacy of his school’s founder. Horne himself studied under Strasberg in the ‘50s, in a class that included such luminaries as Marilyn Monroe and Jane Fonda. It’s his first time on screen in nearly 12 years, and just his second since 1984. In 1999, Horne came out of a 15-year re- tirement for a small role in the goofball comedy “Big Dad- dy,” starring and written by his former pupil, Sandler. A/Crazy Tom's B/Allstar Auto Wash 2 x 3 Have a question? E-mail us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. P not be provided. ersonal replies will