Television - LAX #1 ~ Because it Might Just Be a Cross Between Magnum PI and Speed!

***Wildfire Girl*** · 07-17-2004, 06:33 PM

Airs Mondays on NBC (10-11 p.m. ET)

Premieres Monday, September 13 (10-11 p.m. ET)

NBC's General Description: From Emmy nominated writer Nick Thiel (?Magnum P.I?) and producer Mark Gordon (?Saving Private Ryan,? ?Speed?) comes NBC?s new drama series ?LAX,? which explores the behind-the-scenes dramas and conflicts of both travelers and staff transpiring daily at the bustling Los Angeles International Airport.

Television favorite Heather Locklear (?Spin City?) stars as Harley Random, an ambitious, take-charge runway chief based at LAX ? the 5th busiest airport in the world. Harley is frequently confronted by her rival, terminal boss Roger (Blair Underwood, ?L.A. Law,? ?Sex and the City?), as each jockeys to be named the new director of the airport while working together to solve everything from bomb scares, to VIP arrivals, drunken pilots and roaming pets -- all beneath the din of a frantic ?hub? with spokes that touch all corners of the world.

Rounding out this group of airport staff are Tony (Paul Leyden) the suave Airline Passenger Coordinator, who does his best to sooth frazzled nerves; Customs Agent Betty (Wendy Hoopes), who along with Immigration Officer Nick (David Paetkau) and LAPD Officer Henry Engels (Frank John Hughes) help keep the airport safe in an increasingly complicated world.

Created by Thiel, ?LAX? is from NBC Universal Television Studio. Gordon and Thiel are executive producers.

Heather Locklear as Harley Random
Emmy Award nominee Heather Locklear now stars as Harley Random, the strong-willed Airfield Chief, in NBC?s new drama ?LAX.? Recently Locklear co-starred opposite Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning in MGM?s ?Uptown Girls,? and also starred in Warner Bros.? ?Looney Tunes: Back in Action,? with Brendan Fraser and Jenna Elfman. She is currently in production on the feature film ?The Perfect Man.? Locklear most recently showcased her comic flair on the hit comedy ?Spin City,? portraying feisty campaign manager Caitlin Moore. Previously, Locklear played the manipulative Amanda Woodward on the popular drama series ?Melrose Place.? She also starred in the Joel Silver/Richard Donner thriller ?Double Tap,? opposite Stephen Rea, the New Line comedy blockbuster ?Money Talks? and the critically acclaimed NBC telefilm ?Shattered Mind,? directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal (?Losing Isaiah?). Locklear also starred in the highly rated miniseries ?Texas Justice,? with Dennis Franz and Peter Strauss. Well-known for her concurrent starring roles in two popular dramas, ?Dynasty? and ?T.J. Hooker,? Locklear began her acting career appearing in television commercials while attending UCLA. The youngest of four children, Locklear resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, and their daughter Ava. Over the years, Locklear has provided her time and support to the American Suicide Foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson?s Research and many other worthwhile charitable organizations.

Blair Underwood as Roger DeSouza
Returning to NBC for another compelling drama, Blair Underwood now stars as Roger De Souza, the suave terminal manager in the new NBC drama ?LAX,? set in the unseen world of the daily operations of the major international airport. Underwood will next star in the independent film drama ?How Did It Feel?? (which he will also produce). Additionally, he is working on a one-man show ?IM4? and a non-fiction book, ?Your Child?s Soul,? to be published in Spring 2005. Last season, Underwood played Robert Leeds, the New York Knicks team doctor who romanced his neighbor Miranda in the hit series ?Sex & the City.? His portrayal earned him an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Underwood also starred in William Friedkin's feature ?Rules of Engagement,? for which he won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Film. That same year, he won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his starring role in Steven Bochco's ?City of Angels.? He also received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a motion picture for his role in ?Set it Off.? In 2000, People magazine named him one of its ?50 Most Beautiful People.? Underwood's other film credits include ?Deep Impact,? ?Just Cause,? ?Gattaca,? ?Posse,? ?Malibu?s Most Wanted,? and the male lead opposite Julia Roberts in Steven Soderbergh's ?Full Frontal.? His independent film credits include ?G,? ?Final Breakdown? and the thriller ?Asunder,? on which he also served as co-executive producer. As director, executive producer, writer and star of the dramatic short ?The Second Coming,? Underwood played Jesus Christ when he returns to Earth. In addition, he produced and starred in the short film ?Sister, I?m Sorry.? He also has five music videos to his directing credit. Underwood starred in the top-rated 1998 dramatic miniseries, ?Mama Flora?s Family,? which was based on Alex Haley?s last book. The performance earned him an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie/Miniseries. He won the NAACP Image Award for Best Actor in a Television Movie for NBC's ?Murder in Mississippi? and starred as Jackie Robinson in ?Soul of the Game,? for which he received another NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie/Miniseries. Underwood also starred in ?The Wishing Tree? and the award-winning ?Heat Wave.? Earlier Underwood earned a Golden Globe nomination for his confident and passionate portrayal of lawyer Jonathan Rollins in the Emmy Award-winning series ?L.A. Law.? Underwood is involved in numerous charitable organizations. His dedicated support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) won him the 1993 Humanitarian Award, presented by the Los Angeles Chapter of MDA. He is also co-founder of Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA). Founded in 1989 --with Alfre Woodard, Danny Glover, Mary Steenburgen, CCH Pounder and other friends in the arts and entertainment community -- ANSA supports a democratic South Africa with equal rights and opportunities for all citizens. His birthday is August 25.

Paul Leyden as Tony
Best known for his role of Simon Fraiser on ?As the World Turns,? Paul Leyden now uses his Australian charm for his role as busy airline supervisor Tony on NBC?s new drama ?LAX.? A native of Melbourne, Australia, Leyden studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney before beginning his acting career. Leyden has made many notable guest appearances on such television shows as NBC?s ?Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,? ?Dragnet? and ?Farscape.? In 1999, he starred in the role of Andrew Jenkins in the miniseries ?Tribe.? His birthday is December 16.

Frank John Hughes as Henry Engles
[size=1]Assigned to patrol the terminals of the bustling Los Angeles International Airport, LAPD officer Henry Engels ? played by Frank John Hughes ? searches out any possible threats to the safety of passengers and airport staff including the suspicious ?young man? on NBC?s new drama ?LAX.? A native New Yorker, Hughes learned his craft at Manhattan?s famed Actors Studio. He?s starred in numerous films and TV series, most recently opposite Tom Hanks in Steven Spielberg?s ?Catch Me if You Can.? Prior to this role, Hughes starred in the Emmy Award-winning cable miniseries, ?Band of Brothers,? playing one of the central characters in the real-life story, the ill-fated Guarniere. Hughes? other feature credits include Michael Bay?s action hit, ?Bad Boys,? opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence; a starring role with Richard Ruccolo in Scott Thomas? ?Anacardium,? and a starring role opposite Jeremy Piven in Danny Leiner?s ?Layin? Low.? He was also featured opposite Christopher Walken in Abel Ferrara?s ?The Funeral.? At the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, Hughes created a sensation with his starring role in Robert Celestino?s gripping psychodrama, ?Mr. Vincent.? His haunting portrayal of a high school teacher obsessed by a former lover was described by one critic as ?chillingly persuasive.? The film went on to be featured at the Toronto, Berlin, Santa Barbara and Mill Valley festivals. In 1998-99, Hughes was the series lead with Ice-T and Costas Mandylor in Dick Wolf?s series, ?Players.? He has also guest-starred on a variety of series including NBC?s ?Law & Order,? ?Boomtown,? ?Homicide: Life on the Street,? ?Without a Trace,? ?JAG,? ?The Guardian,? ?Monk,? ?Curb Your Enthusiasm? and ?New York Undercover.? He recurred on Shawn Cassidy?s critically acclaimed ?Cover Me,? and was featured in the television feature ?Confessions of a Campus Bookie.? Hughes currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and son. His birthday is November 11. [/SIZE}

David Paetkau as Nick
New to the harsh world of being an immigrations officer at one of the world?s busiest airports, David Paetkau plays Nick, a recruit who lets his emotions get the better of him in NBC?s drama series ?LAX.? Making his feature film debut in the teen thriller ?Disturbing Behavior? (in which he played a mind-controlled teen) Paetkau?s big break came when he landed a co-starring role as Chuck Wheeler, the most popular (and feared) guy in school in the film comedy ?Snow Day,? co-starring Chevy Chase. Paetkau was most recently seen in ?Final Destination 2.? Paetkau?s small-screen credits include the critically acclaimed and Emmy Award-winning ?Taken,? which was executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, and the cable movie ?Bang, Bang You're Dead.? He has also guest starred in ?Smallville? and the cult favorites ?First Wave? and ?Stargate SG-1.? Born and raised in Vancouver, B.C., Paetkau grew up dreaming of becoming an actor or a professional hockey player. While he didn?t make it to the National Hockey League, he did manage to portray a hockey player in the feature film ?Slap Shot 2,? the sequel to the classic Paul Newman comedy. Paetkau earned a bachelor of arts degree studying psychology and philosophy. Paetkau currently lives in Los Angeles. His birthday is November 10.

Wendy Hoopes as Officer Betty
In one of the first lines of defense of Homeland Security at Los Angeles International Airport, nothing gets past customs Officer Betty ? played by actress Wendy Hoopes -- and her all-knowing and trusted partner Wally ?the drug-sniffing dog,? on NBC?s new drama series ?LAX. ? Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hoopes is the fourth of five girls who spent the early years of her childhood overseas and in Washington, D.C. After receiving her bachelor of arts degree in fine arts from New York University?s Tisch School of the Arts, she originated the role of Bee Bee in Eric Bogosian?s acclaimed hit ?Suburbia? at Lincoln Center. Hoopes went on to help co-create the cable series ?Daria,? which ran for six years on MTV where she provided the regular voices of Helen Morgendorffer, Jane Lane and Quinn Morgendorffer. Hoopes? other television credits include the made-for-TV movie ?Never Give Up: The Jim Valvano Story,? and various guest voices on the claymation spoof ?The Wrong Coast? and animated ?Hey Joel.? She made guest appearances on ?The Jury,? NBC?s ?Law & Order: Criminal Intent,? NBC?s ?Third Watch,? ?Sex and the City,? ?New York Undercover? and ?Swift Justice.? Among Hoopes? theater credits is the role of ?Speaking Janis Joplin? in the off-Broadway hit run of ?Love, Janis,? a rock musical based on the letters and songs of Janis Joplin. Her other theater credits include Martha Clarke?s acclaimed ?Vienna Lusthaus (Revisited)? at New York Theater Workshop; ?Walking Off The Roof? at the Signature Theater; ?Asylum,? ?Sullied? and ?LoveSoup,? all with Naked Angels; Tom Stoppard?s ?Arcadia? at Arena Stage; and New York Stage and Film?s ?Minutes from the Blue Route.?Hoopes starred in the independent feature ?101 Ways?(The Things a Girl Will Do to Keep Her Volvo).? Her other films include ?Better Living,? ?Killing Cinderella,? ?Calling Bobcat? and ?Private Parts.?

coolove · 07-17-2004, 10:27 PM

I'm very intrigued by this show. The promos are damn good.

I hear this show is kinda of like Las Vegas set in an airport. And Blair Underwood? What's not to love.

lizzie2000 · 07-17-2004, 10:34 PM

This show looks good for everything i have seen about it. Hopefully it will be good. When does it air.

***Wildfire Girl*** · 07-18-2004, 08:11 AM

coolove, Well, we'll just have to wait and see. You never know with new shows, but the fact that it's writer was the writer of Magnum PI, now that intriques me.

And lizzie2000 LAX will air Mondays on NBC at 10/9, premiering Monday, September 6th.

coolove · 07-23-2004, 03:24 PM

Honestly, I'm not bumping this thread.

The show does look interesting.

***Wildfire Girl*** · 08-05-2004, 05:46 AM

Well, NBC is promoting it like crazy, so we'll see.

Sometimes it is sooooooo hard to tell via just promos what a show will be like.

Mapledonuts · 08-13-2004, 12:39 AM

Yay! Great to see a thread for LAX! This is the one show I'm looking forward to seeing this fall!

I heard that NBC bumped the premiere to September 13th.

Anyway, if the show is anything like Las Vegas, then great because I love Vegas already! And I happen to be a big fan of Paul Leyden...I used to watch him all the time on As the World Turns. He's great!

X-6_494 · 08-13-2004, 02:43 AM

I'm excited. Especially to see Heather Locklear on teevee again.

Hee. Bitchy and ambitious? Harley sounds a lot like Amanda Woodward ( -melrose place).

***Wildfire Girl*** · 08-13-2004, 11:57 PM

I'll have to see if I can find the official start date, but NBC is premiering everything early, so the 13th sounds about right.

Mapledonuts · 08-14-2004, 11:34 PM

According to the LAX site at NBC , it is premiering on Sept. 13th...but I'm really confused with what time it starts. On the site, it says 9/8pm but on the actual schedule grid, it says 10pm.

***Wildfire Girl*** · 08-16-2004, 01:33 AM

I saw a promo during the Olympics and it definetly sayd the 13th, and the promo (I thought) stated 9/8.

Mapledonuts · 08-16-2004, 03:41 AM

Okay...guess I'll just have to check my tv listings during premiere week to make sure I know the right time.

Finally saw an LAX promo in I don't know how long!

It seems to me they've been focussing more on Medical Investigation and Hawaii.

***Wildfire Girl*** · 08-20-2004, 12:34 AM

NBC may not have updated its site, but the futon critic even state that NBC offered a press release with schedule change, including LAX's premiere moving to the 13th.

Mapledonuts · 08-21-2004, 01:31 AM

I just checked the NBC site yesterday and it looks like the time has been changed to 10/9pm.

chocolatekisses · 08-21-2004, 01:10 PM

Well, Blair Underwood is in it, so it's good in my book!