*resumes work on pilot spec*

Late Pass, if necessary... and I don't believe the producers' statement for one second...

And damn, the female lead is HOT:

http://www.shadowandact.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/bwaytv_58579158networkglobal1014200952239pm-1.jpg


shadowandact.com:

>Black British Actress Cast Opposite Boris Kodjoe In J. J. Abrams “Undercovers” (TV)

By Tambay, on January 13th, 2010

Last month, I posted an entry on the surprise casting of Boris Kodjoe in wunderkind director J.J. Abrams’ pilot for NBC, titled Undercovers – a planned hour-long prime-time TV series that was described as Mr & Mrs Smith meets The Bourne Identity, and revolves around spouses Mr & Mrs Steven and Samantha Bloom, a domesticated husband and wife who are re-activated as CIA agents after years in retirement, with Kodjoe set to play Mr Bloom.

Naturally, the question many of us had was whether Abrams and NBC would have the guts to cast a woman of African descent to play Mrs Bloom in the program, and, well, we now officially have our answer!

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, after a lengthy search, British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw has landed the female lead opposite Boris Kodjoe in Undercovers.

Who, you ask?

Mbatha-Raw, a graduate of London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, broke through during the summer when she was cast as Ophelia opposite Jude Law in the Donmar Warehouse production of Hamlet, which had successful runs in London’s West End and on Broadway.

The daughter of a black South African doctor and an white British nurse, Mbatha-Raw hasn’t appeared on American TV but has done arcs on several popular British series including Spooks and Doctor Who.

So… yes, both characters are bi-racial. Let’s just get that out of the way! And I’m sure there’ll be some of you who’ll undoubtedly have problems with that. Colorism issues abound, and we can certainly go on forever debating the choices. However, when was the last time we saw a pair of actors in lead roles, on an hour-long, prime-time TV series, on a major network, created by a major talent, that weren’t white? Especially in a show like this, that isn’t pure comedy, or drama.

So it goes…

THR does state that although Kodjoe and Mbatha-Raw are both biracial, producers of the show stated that “casting on the leads for the pilot was done color-blind,” as they looked for the actors who best fit the characters and had the best chemistry.

Abrams also will direct, marking the first pilot he has helmed since Lost in 2004.
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about his use or misuse of blacks, especially in Lost.

at least it's not shermar moore

dude was pretty good. Held his own with Anika Noni Rose

**********
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LMAO!!!

>THR does state that although Kodjoe and Mbatha-Raw are both
>biracial, producers of the show stated that “casting on the
>leads for the pilot was done color-blind,” as they looked for
>the actors who best fit the characters and had the best
>chemistry.
>
>Abrams also will direct, marking the first pilot he has helmed
>since Lost in 2004.


next thing you know El DeBarge gonna drop a hit comeback album.


and Gugu Mbatha-Raw - what a name.

~~~~
smart dumb niggas i see is the theme of the week on okp (c)esb
~~~~
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~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/05/jj-abrams-undercovers-gets-green-light-from-nbc.html

J.J. Abrams' 'Undercovers' gets green light from NBC

J.J. Abrams' CIA pilot, "Undercovers," is NBC's first pickup for the 2010-2011 season. The hour-long pilot stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw of "Bonekickers" and "Dr. Who" and Boris Kodjoe as a married couple retired from the CIA who are reinstated after five years of running a quiet catering company.

"J.J. has delivered another signature series along with our partners at Warner Bros and we couldn't be happier," Jeff Gaspin, Chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, says. Abrams' track record with shows like "Lost" and "Alias" practically guarantees an exciting series, so the full-season order does not come as a surprise.

Abrams co-wrote the pilot episode with Josh Reims of "Brothers & Sisters." Abrams also produced and directed the pilot, his first since 2004's "Lost." In addition to Mbatha-Raw and Kodjoe, the series stars Jessica Parker Kennedy, Gerald McRaney, and Ben Schwartz.

"Having J.J. on our creative team is a great reason for celebration," NBC primetime president Angela Bromstad says. "J.J. and Josh have found a breakout couple that is rich in character and brimming with romance and action. We feel he's found the perfect cast."

i got my fingers crossed
lethimnotbesobadlethimnotbesobad
~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

How much of the writing and production staff will have BLACK faces/people of color working on the show?

JJ tends to be very diverse with his staff but NBC is the opposite...

im betting Raw becomes a breakout star and Boris loses...AGAIN.

http://mediatakeout.com/40582/marriage_problems_actress_nicole_ari_parker_changes_her_name_details_inside.html


May 04, 2010. We hate to say it, but there might be TROUBLE in the marriage of actress Nicole Ari Parker and Boris Kodjoe.

Yesterday, Nicole was in NY at a Steve Harvey event. And according to a MediaTakeOut.com snitch she "told everyone to call her Mrs Kodjoe - because she changed her name."

Why is that strange. Well because the couple has been married for 5 years and have two children (the last one was born 4 years ago.

So then why is she changing her name ALL OF A SUDDEN????

----

...why? he getn a-bram money!

Gugu Mbatha-Raw is GORGEOUS though. 1st spotted her in Spooks and fell in love instantly. Hopefully this show is good. Hopefully.

http://www.nbc.com/undercovers/

sorry, but Gugu Mbatha-Raw is a STAR...say what you want about JJ Abrams, but he knows how to write STRONG women characters (and gives their male counterparts the shaft)....

I like what I see...and i'm hoping it will be a hit for NBC...

and yea, Boris is kinda not giving me MUCH....i'm hoping once we see more eps he'll improve but....

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but she *IS* a fucking star...like the kind of actor that has presence...

im hoping her first stateside show is a hit cause I think we'll be seeing more of her down the line...

my prediction: SHE will be the reason why the show is a hit (i.e. NBC will do promos built about Kodjoe BUT when the show hits the air, SHE will be the one folk tune in for...)

Once again, I'm thinking that Boris will be SERVICEABLE...and Gugu will be *BRINGING* it every week...

It seems pretty generic.

And The Event looks kind of lame.

got dang that boy is foine

i'm not getting much more from Mbatha

they seem about evenly boring

but yay! Gerald McRaney
~~~~
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~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

Boris as the leading male?
Yippers, he's an awful actor.
I'll definitely tune in.

So far it's pretty dull.

The Spook Who Sat by the Door

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spook_Who_Sat_by_the_Door_(film)

Yes, Kinch from Hogan's Heroes.

http://www.deadline.com/2010/11/nbc-cancels-new-drama-undercovers/

It's the end of the road for J.J. Abrams' spy drama Undercovers as NBC today decided not to pick up additional episodes from the freshman series beyond the original 13-episode order. The Warner Bros TV-produced show is now filming Episode 12. The news comes on the heels of Undercovers hitting another series low last night when it slipped to a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demo. The slickly produced light drama, whose pilot was directed by Abrams, broke primetime ground by featuring two black actors as the leads. But it got off to a disappointing start in the Wednesday 8 PM slot and never found traction with viewers. The series will stay on for the next 2 weeks and will air its last original (for now) on December 1. It was already set for preemption on Nov. 24 when NBC is airing a DreamWorks Animation holiday special. The fate of the remaning original Undercovers episodes is unclear. This is the second new NBC series to get cancelled, along with legal drama Outlaw. The rest of NBC's freshman class all received back-nine orders two weeks ago. At the time, Undercovers got a pickup for four additional scripts.

JJ is a dumb ass...like he had a decent concept with two attractive leads (though only ONE--Gugu--is talented), it had promise...

i really DO think when he pitched this in the NBC room, he said this: "WAIT FOR IT...WAIT FOR IT...WAIT FOR IT...THEY'RE BLACK SPIES WHO ARE MARRIED!!! THINK OF IT AS A BLACK HART TO HART"

#FAIL

the show in its current state was destined to fail..it was boring. I was hoping that NBC would have given it some more time to maybe see IF they were going somewhere with this.

And anyone fixing their fingers to type something about the "Hack" taking an "L" shouldn't do so, he has about 5 other pilots in development, about to go to series

Not to mention Star Trek 2

PRAIZE WHYTE DIREKTORZ!

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and it probably would have lasted longer than 13 episodes...

So I'm not sure how much it would've really helped.

Boris was bad and bland, but he definitely wasn't the only problem. The main problem was there was never any real danger.

Boris is dull

You put Idris on there, and you essentially have a (potentially entertaining) black variation on a married James Bond

And trust me, the writers would have peeped game and been more than happy to cater to that as the season went on

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and, they're both British?

easily could have them BOTH speaking in their actual "tongues" for eps (and DAMN, she sound sexier than a mug when she speaks in her actual british accent....)

with Boris, shit was blander than that over steamed, broccoli dish they give you at Red Lobster as a 'side'....


with Dris, possibilities abounded...really.

but, Dris is doing damn well on LUTHER and with his upcoming possible roles (BLADE, Luke Cage, and real talk, he needs to be *FIRST* in line for the BLACK PANTHER movie, the comic book...)

oh well...it was bland and cute while it lasted.

>So I'm not sure how much it would've really helped.
>
>Boris was bad and bland, but he definitely wasn't the only
>problem. The main problem was there was never any real
>danger.

they definitely could have worked around boris
that girl was just as boring and bland
only interesting character was dixie carter's husband
like really?
really??
damn
=\
~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

I didn't want to admit it... but yeah. :(

it's someone elses fault.


k.


that's three shitty shows now


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And if you're going to "dick ride" some people, be sure to worship those who dwell in mediocrity... like those responsible for Daybreak!

FUCK YEAH BRO

*high fives*

Listen here, bro, and listen here good:

Daybreak is never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever coming back.

Like, ever. As in, that shitty show that you loved and cried tears over when it was canceled is never gonna come back. Cry.

Meanwhile, the "Hack" is developing 'bout fifty-leven shows that will be on the air at some point or another, plus got a movie coming with Spielberg (PRAIZE WHYTE DIREKTORZ!), and dat next Star Trek (written/produced by Lindelof CRY YOU TINY BITCH), not to mention (on another note) The Social Network is the frontrunner not only for Best Picture but also Best Adapted Screenplay. Go cry some more, lil' buddy.

I mean, for all the talk of "dick riding," you sure keep a kung-fu death grip on my scrotum, son. I mean, it's flattering and all, and I think you really do believe you're doing something "fun" and "entertaining" and "enlightening" with all of the trolling of my posts, but, no.

And making further obtuse references to Lost or Studio 60, here or even in that Social Network post, isn't going to sway anyone's opinion, "expose me," or cause anyone to pay you any more attention. It does, however, add to your ever-expanding legacy of OKP message board jackassery. Congratulations, bro! Gotta win at something in life, right, little dude?

"lol" to THAT.

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omg, a show I liked got canceled like...five years ago and somehow that's something that should hurt me when it's brought up?

dude, just... no.

facts are facts. the show sucks. you will never attribute the fact that something sucks to the person who made it, if that person is someone you've decided to dickride for life. you do it over and over again, and blame everybody except the man in charge when it's sorkin or jj or whoever.

it's just sad to see a man so deeply in denial. that you can understand the show sucks but be so completely unwilling to make the only logical connection available is impressive and Fox Newsian.


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Daybreak was one of the greatest creations to hit the small screen!!!!

it was chuck without the humor. will smith couldn't have saved it.