Bangitout.com has it all. Up to the minute gossip about the latest Jewish pop culture phenomena, movie reviews, music reviews from 2003, and even a neat bang the rabbi feature. But one service until now not offered, was a fan page for readers to track the evolution of one of these season long serial TV shows. A place where fans of a show like 24 or Lost can go the morning after to share ridiculous unsupported theories about the potential story arch. Now, Bangitout presents our choice for this year's big new thriller that will have America at the edge its seat every week, and our readers can follow on this page by posting comments and arguments all season long. Why Kidnapped? Well, it's filmed in NYC, they invited us to their Long Island City set, and we got to speak a bit with the cast. We also took a look at the pilot episode airing September 20, 2006. Although it is completely unfair to judge a show based on its first episode, read the review and interviews below and then try to check out Kidnapped and begin posting here on the 21st.
KIDNAPPED (NBC)
In the sea of slickly produced, cold, calculated, one hour television crime dramas with fading movie star cats, it is difficult to distinguish oneself. In a season where Gary Sinise, Ron Livingston, Ray Liotta, and Keifer Sutherland will all be doing their darndest to pump some adrenaline into your system through the old idiot box, Kidnapped, starring Timoty Hutton (Ordinary People), Dana Delaney (Exit to Eden), Jeremy Sisto (Clueless) and Delroy Lindo (Malcolm X), has its work cut out for it. The pilot is very much a product of today's tastes; sharp editing, sharper melodrama, hero posturing, eccentric children and villains, and of course a trendy soundtrack. Kidnapped's greatest hurtle as the new kid on he block is not simply to define itself as separate from other new (and returning) shows, but even more difficult, to separate itself from other shows about kidnapping. Without a Trace on CBS is already a hit and this season introduces Vanished on Fox.
Based on the pilot, Kidnapped will need more to draw a loyal audience. The expected twists written by Jason Smilovic (Lucky Number Slevin) either come later or simply don't twist enough to raise an eyebrow. The characters are shamelessly dry and straight out of the workshop. Delaney is the together, power mom; Hutton, her good guy husband (though the relationship has grown formulaic); Sisto is every dark, mysterious, no-nonsense, renegade hero ever assembled; and Lindo is the well meaning FBI agent called in on the case on (yup) on his last day on the job. When Lindo is asked by his under age rookie partner, "What about your retirement?", Lindo replies while staring off into the night, "Yeah….what about it…"
In an age where everything on TV is produced to the nines, Kidnapped is a fine diversion but somewhat lagging behind, despite its shine. It appears not to have the teeth to survive in these shark infested waters.
Jordan Hiller interviews the cast:
BIO: For a cast that has spent a lot of time doing film, why TV?
Hutton: Seeing great material come to television. Where you do it, you don't look at it like this is television or this is film. It's the same equipment and the same sets.
Lindo: I am not complaining about movies, but the kinds of films being done today are for teenagers. If you want to engage in mature material, there is more opportunity on TV.
Delaney: I think China Beach was ahead of its time and maybe so was Pasadena (two former Delaney shows). This show is riding the crest. It's got the procedure of a Law & Order and it's serialized like 24. TV is more cinematic and subtle than it used to be. TV is more how people really talk. There are no more long close-ups like we has on China Beach when you watched emotions slowly develop on a face. Now it's off hand.
Sisto: The types of stories being told on television are more elaborate. I was compelled by the nature of my character. By a guy who doesn't want anyone to know about his past. On Six Feet Under the guy I played wanted to talk about himself allot and go into all these dark places. It is nice to play someone quiet.
Delaney: Timothy Hutton and I are only on for the first season. Next year it may be an industrial kidnapping in some other city.
Hutton: It was very appealing to do a one year commitment. The idea is about a kidnapping but really it is about what happens to people when this nightmare thing happens. I have two kids and I live in New York. I was away all the time. To film in New York with great material and amazing cast….great.
Delaney: The older you get, you just want to work with your friends. Timothy Hutton and I met here in New York a long time ago at Café Centro.
BIO: So what it is it like filming in New York?
D
elaney: I lived in LA for the past twenty years and I love being back on the east coast. I'm now living in my cousin's apartment in The Village. LA lulls you into this pleasant state and you can kind of get in a rut. I like that in New York you walk outside and there is life.
Hutton: I have lived in New York since 1983, but I've never been to, for example, Little Italy. Now I am getting a chance to really enjoy the city. It's great to just take the train and walk around on Mott Street.
Lindo: I lived in New York for many years as a theatre actor. There is no place like New York. The depth and breadth of…aside from the cultural aspect and the human stimuli, there are various ways the human condition expresses itself in New York. New York has its own thing. When I was looking to start my acting career in 1979 and leave San Francisco, I did not go to LA. I thought I could give more as an actor here because of the theatre. The gift New York gave me…I have walked down 8th Avenue broke…and I survived it!
Sisto: For the show it is great to have the New York streets as a character. In New York you feel allot more part of a city. There is a comfort in walking the street with so many different types of people. I drive around on my little bike with my little dog in Central Park.
BIO: Why do you think people want to see this rich couple become a victim?
Hutton: There is a subconscious thrill watching a rich family have a bad thing happen to them. We want to see them go through hell and become better people before they get their son back.
Delaney: I grew up in Andover, Massachusetts so I know some of these rich socialite type people. Somebody asked me when I was doing Pasadena why do I keep playing rich troubled women. So I said I like clothes. But really there is something interesting about someone who seemingly has it all but has tragedy. In Andover the motto is "not for me". If you are fortunate, you do more for others. If you have old money you hide it. The Dynasty socialite doesn't really exist anymore.
BIO: How is it working with up and comer Jason Smilovic?
Delaney: Jason Smilovic claims to have told the mastermind who is behind the kidnapping who they are….but he may have just said that to mess with us. We were never told where the story is going. We get the story script by script each week. It's hard to act not knowing whether you will be complicit in the kidnapping. Sometime I remember to use that in my acting, that I might be involved, sometimes I don't remember. I think we have the archetype of the mom and we don't want her to be complicit. But I hope I am. It's more fun to be bad.
We get a new director every week…we're trying to see who fits with the show. My favorite directors are those who let us see what feels organic. I don't like the ones who impose because with some of these new directors, we know the show better than they do.
Hutton: If anyone were to have any thought about how all this sustains an audience's interest, wait till you see the episode after the pilot. Anyone who thinks this is just about a kidnapping – there is so much more going on. If people see the pilot they will want to see the next one. And if they see the next one…there is no turning back.
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