By MICHAEL CIDONI, Associated Press Writer
Tue Nov 15,11:48 AM ET
LOS ANGELES - Brace yourself for a terrorist attack on prime time.
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A theater filled with Hollywood insiders got an early look at "Sleeper Cell," Showtime cable's upcoming dramatic series about an undercover agent who infiltrates an Islamic terrorist cell in Los Angeles.
"The TV Guide shorthand version is: `Donnie Brasco' in a terrorist cell," series co-creator Cyrus Voris told AP Television News at the Monday night screening, referring to the 1997 movie in which Johnny Depp played an FBI agent who infiltrates the mob.
Co-creator Ethan Reiff added, "The key thing that made (`Sleeper Cell') different is that we wanted to deal with the enemy in as realistic a fashion as possible."
The show's portrayal of Islamic fundamentalists "is not glorifying what they do," explained Alex Nesic, who plays one of the terrorists in the series, which debuts Dec. 4. "It's not humanizing them, because they're already human. They exist."
On the other hand, the series' hero — an undercover agent played by Michael Ealy — is also a Muslim.
"One of the things that we try to do is show Islam in the full range of those who believe in Islam," Ealy said. "There are those who believe in Islam who are totally against what the terrorists are doing. In fact, the majority of Muslims in Islam do not justify or agree with what the terrorists are doing. That's one of the key points of this show."
Although none of the series' principals would predict how viewers will react, Nesic said the subject "is definitely something that needed to be dealt with, because mainstream media is reluctant to touch this matter, and therefore I think it falls into the hands of creative media to address the situation."
Oded Fehr, who also stars in the series, said he hopes "Sleeper Cell" will open viewers' minds — and mouths. "I hope it will create dialogue," he said.
I just saw the making if this on Showtime. It looks like it has the potential to be very good.
BIM, Press Release?
Tue Nov 15,11:48 AM ET
LOS ANGELES - Brace yourself for a terrorist attack on prime time.
ADVERTISEMENT
A theater filled with Hollywood insiders got an early look at "Sleeper Cell," Showtime cable's upcoming dramatic series about an undercover agent who infiltrates an Islamic terrorist cell in Los Angeles.
"The TV Guide shorthand version is: `Donnie Brasco' in a terrorist cell," series co-creator Cyrus Voris told AP Television News at the Monday night screening, referring to the 1997 movie in which Johnny Depp played an FBI agent who infiltrates the mob.
Co-creator Ethan Reiff added, "The key thing that made (`Sleeper Cell') different is that we wanted to deal with the enemy in as realistic a fashion as possible."
The show's portrayal of Islamic fundamentalists "is not glorifying what they do," explained Alex Nesic, who plays one of the terrorists in the series, which debuts Dec. 4. "It's not humanizing them, because they're already human. They exist."
On the other hand, the series' hero — an undercover agent played by Michael Ealy — is also a Muslim.
"One of the things that we try to do is show Islam in the full range of those who believe in Islam," Ealy said. "There are those who believe in Islam who are totally against what the terrorists are doing. In fact, the majority of Muslims in Islam do not justify or agree with what the terrorists are doing. That's one of the key points of this show."
Although none of the series' principals would predict how viewers will react, Nesic said the subject "is definitely something that needed to be dealt with, because mainstream media is reluctant to touch this matter, and therefore I think it falls into the hands of creative media to address the situation."
Oded Fehr, who also stars in the series, said he hopes "Sleeper Cell" will open viewers' minds — and mouths. "I hope it will create dialogue," he said.
I just saw the making if this on Showtime. It looks like it has the potential to be very good.
BIM, Press Release?
Great show, it was hard to stomach the stoning near the end...
