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The N Delves Into Identity and Self Discovery With Its New Teen Drama 'South of Nowhere' Beginning November 4
New Series From Creator Tom Lynch Tackles Issues of Family, Racial Identity,
Sexual Identity, Parental Expectations, Faith and Peer Pressure, Among Others
Acclaimed Directors Include: Donna Dietch, Robert Townsend, Paul Hoen,
Troy Beyer and Charles Randolph-Wright
NEW YORK, Oct. 5 -- The N, the nighttime network for teens,
will unveil "South of Nowhere," an original new half-hour dramatic series from
veteran creator/executive producer Tom Lynch (Romeo!, Scout's Safari,
Caitlin's Way). Shot on location in Los Angeles, the new 11-episode series
will kick off with a one-hour premiere on Friday, November 4 from 8:30 - 9:30
p.m. (ET) on The N. The series will air regularly every Friday night at
8:30 p.m. (ET) only on The N.
South of Nowhere is a fictional story about a contemporary American family
and their multi-faceted journey of self-discovery. Set in Los Angeles, the
series chronicles the five members of the Carlin family as they try to define
themselves and make sense of their lives while they undergo a huge transition
-- moving from a small town in Ohio to the big city of Los Angeles. The
Carlins find they are unprepared for the fast-paced, metropolitan environment
and the overcrowded, "anything goes" L.A. public school the family's three
teenagers attend. The family is at the heart of the series and while their
characters are unique, they reflect many American families today -- bound by
their evolving identity and their close relationships.
South of Nowhere will deal in honest, authentic and compelling ways with
issues all families and adolescents confront including: identity, self-
discovery, sexual identity, racial identity, family, faith, parental
expectations and peer pressure, among others. Parent discussion guides are
available for each episode of the series on http:\\discussions.the-n.com. The
episode-specific guides offer parents tips and questions about the topics
raised in South of Nowhere to use as discussion starters with teens.
"Teen audiences will relate to each of the characters in this entertaining
and realistic story, and will follow the Carlins' triumphs, conflicts and
setbacks as they are met with surprise, drama and humor -- just like in any
modern day family," said Tom Ascheim, General Manager, The N.
The Carlin family includes:
* Clay (Danso Gordon) is the Carlins' adopted, 17-year-old, African-
American son. He is smart, aware and trying to figure out how he fits
into this new world. He was adopted by the Carlin family when he was 8
years old and often feels a sense of guilt and abandonment over his
birth mother. He also feels an unrealistic responsibility to be perfect
as a payback for being adopted. Clay struggles between his black
heritage and his white upbringing.
* Spencer (Gabrielle Christian) a 16-year-old, strong, athletic and
attractive young girl who never felt like she fit in small town America.
She is excited about her new life in Southern California, but begins to
question everything -- her friends, family, boundaries, school life and
even her sexuality.
* Glen (Chris Hunter) is a handsome and confident 17-year-old who
seemingly has the world in his pocket. The star basketball player hopes
to keep up his "big man on campus" image and his popularity with the
girls. Glen is going for the professional athlete's life and faces
difficult choices.
* Paula Carlin (Maeve Quinlan) is a 40-year-old wife, mother and career
woman who is focused and driven. Firm in her Irish Catholic beliefs,
she is a loving parent, but not a particularly warm one. In L.A. she
struggles to find a balance between her work and family life, as her
demanding job as an ER doctor keeps her out of the home a lot. When she
begins to see changes in her children and husband, she questions her
motives for moving her family to this urban city.
* Arthur Carlin (Rob Moran) is a 40-year-old father, dedicated to his
family. He is an old-school free spirit, but in L.A. he finds himself
as a man who has lost something he is trying to find. Arthur's marriage
starts to show strain as his wife's demanding job as a doctor takes her
away from the family. As a social worker, he has seen a lot and nothing
in the human experience shocks him until his own children dance
dangerously close to the fire.
Other main characters include:
* Ashley Davies (Mandy Musgrave) - 16-year-old Ashley is the product of
privileged city life. Ashley is Spencer's first friend in LA and a
guide to Spencer's new world. She has a natural sensuality and appeal
and is at ease with herself. She refuses to be labeled as gay or
straight.
* Aiden Dennison (Matthew Cohen) - To the world, Aiden is the 17-year-old,
handsome, high school basketball star. Inside he is a sensitive
thinker, but plays the jock role because it's where he fits in and the
social benefits aren't too bad either. He and Ashley used to be a
couple, until the day she told him she was interested in girls. It
crushed his ego, but now he's got his eye on the cute new girl, Spencer
Carlin.
* Madison Duarte (Valery Ortiz) - 16-year-old Madison Duarte is a multi-
ethnic, beautiful cheerleader and leader of the "it" girls. Concerned
with social status, she breaks up with Aiden to pursue Glen, the new
star of the high school basketball team. Her plan is to be a sport
star's wife and this strong-willed girl is determined to get what she
wants.
* Sean Miller (Austen Parros) - 17-year-old Sean Miller is a tough, smart,
African-American male who is a natural born leader. Sean challenges
Clay on his "blackness," but eventually takes him under his wing and the
two soon become good friends.
South of Nowhere will premiere with the following hour-long episode
entitled, "Secret Truths":
After mother, Paula Carlin gets a new job, the Carlin family is forced to
pick up and move from their home in small town Ohio to big city Los Angeles,
CA. The three Carlin siblings - Spencer, jock older brother, Glen and adopted
African-American brother Clay, must all try to adjust to a new school, new
friends and new sets of problems on their own. Spencer quickly meets Ashley
Davies, a party girl who doesn't care what people say, even though they are
talking about her quite a bit. The chemistry between them is instantaneous
and a friendship quickly develops. The Carlin teens will soon see what it
takes to make it at King High with new friends like Aiden, Madison and Sean at
a place where everyone is trying to fit in and find their identity.
South of Nowhere was directed by Donna Dietch (eps. 101 &102), Robert
Townsend (eps. 103 & 107), Paul Hoen (eps. 104, 106, 110 & 111) Troy Beyer
(ep. 105) and Charles Randolph-Wright (eps. 108 & 109).
Tom Lynch, founder and president of The Tom Lynch Company, creates
programming that engages kids' minds, imaginations and energy-and he's been
doing so since his first project, KIDS Incorporated, the original variety show
for youngsters. Since then, Lynch has helped revolutionize kids' programming
by consistently breaking new ground, as with his landmark show, The Secret
World of Alex Mack, the first series to reach the elusive and sought-after
tween market, and the first to feature a strong female role model as its lead
character.
Lynch's roster of hits includes 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd, The Jersey,
Caitlin's Way, Just Deal, Skate, Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension,
and Scout's Safari, which was set and filmed on location in South Africa.
Lynch's hip-hop sitcom Romeo!, starring hip-hop artist Master P and his real-
life son, Lil' Romeo, currently airs on Nickelodeon. Lynch and the company
that bears his name continue to create uniquely fresh, innovative shows that
resonate with youth audiences around the world by "illuminating the magic of
the human experience"-celebrating all the drama, the humor, the kookiness and
reality of human beings' lives.
The N, the nighttime network for teens, is a programming arm of MTV
Networks and is currently available in 45 million households via cable,
digital cable and satellite television. The N's mission is to be the
authentic voice for teens and help them figure out their lives with relevant,
topical programming on-air and online at the network's web site http://www.the-n.com.
The N airs everyday from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (ET). The N and all related
titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
SOURCE The N
Web Site: http://www.nick.com
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