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The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, July 8, 2011 2 coverstory 'Alphas' offers super believability Brain power By Kyla Brewer TV Media W hether it’s super strength, super speed, the ability to fly or telekinesis, just about everyone has a favourite su- perpower. What kid hasn’t fantasized about having extraordinary abilities? Superheroes have been entertaining and inspir- ing people since Superman first appeared in “Action Comics No. 1” in 1938. Television hopped on the superhero bandwagon with shows about Superman, Bat- man, Spider-man, Wonder Woman and more. Over the years, TV superheroes have evolved and series such as NBC’s recent phenomenon “Heroes” stretched the boundaries of superheroes, endowing seemingly average people with unusual abilities. Yet a new breed of super- hero is about to battle in prime time. “Alphas” pre- mieres Monday, July 11, on Syfy. The series offers a more realistic take on the superhe- ro genre as five people man- age to unlock the power of the human brain. Afflicted with brain anomalies, the Al- phas learn to tap into “hyper- normal mental and physical abilities,” according to a me- dia release. After they uncover their su- perhuman powers, they come The cast of “Alphas” together to form a special unit for the Defense Criminal Investigation Service of the U.S. Department of Defense. They investigate cases that involve other similarly gifted Alphas while struggling to get along. Academy Award nominee David Strathairn leads the team as psychiatrist Dr. Lee Rosen, a pre-eminent neurol- ogist and expert in the Alpha phenomenon. Although he is not an Alpha himself, his guidance helps the five agents solve crimes. A prolific actor, Strathairn is best known for his Oscar- nominated turn as legendary television journalist Edward R. Murrow in George Cloo- ney’s “Good Night, and Good Luck.” His portrayal of the journalist during his tense conflict with U.S. Senator Jo- seph McCarthy also earned him accolades from the Screen Actors Guild and Hol- lywood Foreign Press Associa- tion, among others. Malik Yoba co-stars as for- mer FBI agent Bill Harken. Able to consciously activate his body’s fight-or-flight re- sponse, Harken can summon amazing physical strength. Yoba’s credits include the TV series “New York Undercov- er,” “Arrested Development” and “Defying Gravity.” Warren Christie takes on the role of former Army sniper and minor-league baseball pitcher Cameron Hicks. His finely tuned motor skills give him flawless aim and perfect balance. Christie’s been seen in shows such as “October Road” and “Happy Town.” Alpha Nina Theroux is played by Canadian actress Laura Mennell. With the abili- ty to disrupt neural pathways, she has an amazing ability to A/Auto Boutique B/The Green Giraffe 2 x 2 influence others. Mennell is no stranger to the superhero genre, having played Janey Slater in “Watchmen” (2009). Sensitive twentysomething Gary Bell (Richard Cartwright) possesses an amazing ability to perceive television, radio, and cell phone signals, allow- ing him to intercept messages — even encrypted ones. American audiences may rec- ognize Brit Cartwright from his role as Vincent Nigel-Mur- ray on Fox’s “Bones.” Azita Ghanizada plays the shy Rachel Pirzad, a young woman with the ability to en- hance one sense at a time, rendering her other senses al- most useless. Despite her youth, Ghanizada is a verita- ble TV veteran with guest- starring credits that include “How I Met Your Mother,” “Entourage,” “Psych” and “Castle.” It was recently announced that Valerie Cruz has signed on in the recurring role of Special Agent Kathy Sullivan, a mysterious employee of the Department of Defense. The actress has been seen in “The Dresden Files,” “Dexter” and “Nip/Tuck.” Whether “Alphas” will prove to be good luck for Strathairn and his colleagues remains to be seen, but at least Syfy has given the show a good night. The July 11 pre- miere boasts a lead-in from two of the network’s highest rated and acclaimed series — “Eureka” and “Warehouse 13.” Chirstopher’s Coins 2 x 2 hollywoodQ&A By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: Where does the line “This time, it’s personal” come from? A: As far as anyone can seem to remember, that phrase began as the tagline of the otherwise forgettable fourth “Jaws” film, “Jaws: The Revenge” (1987). The tagline refers to the film’s incredibly implausible plot, in which one single shark chases members of the Brody family from Cape Cod to the Bahamas, killing two members and nearly eating a third in its inexplicable hunt for Brody blood. Driven mad by grief and a thirst for vengeance, Ellen Brody, the widow of original “Jaws” protagonist Sheriff Martin Brody, sets out on a little boat to take it on, mano-a- shark-o. The phrase appeared on the film’s one-sheet poster as well as the DVD and VHS boxes and has now become one of the most popular cliches in the film business. “Jaws: The Revenge,” of course, also gave birth to the long-running joke of using the subtitle “The Revenge” for unnecessary sequels. Shockingly, this film managed to secure no less an actor than Michael Caine to star opposite Lorraine Gary as the new romantic lead (her last one having been killed by the shark). What’s more, the film was released the same year he won his first Oscar, for best supporting actor in the Woody Allen comedy “Hannah and Her Sisters.” A/Crazy Tom's B/Allstar Auto Wash 2 x 3 Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com.

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