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ESPN ANNOUNCES AWARD-WINNING EDITOR AND ADDITIONAL CAST FOR "THE BRONX IS BURNING" JULY 2007 MINISERIES PRODUCED BY TOLLIN/ROBBINS
Editing for the ESPN Original Entertainment and Tollin/Robbins
Productions baseball-themed miniseries "The Bronx is Burning" will be in
the capable hands of esteemed Oscar-winning film editor Jerry Greenberg
(Invincible, Apocalypse Now). In addition, actors Michael Rispoli
(Third Watch), Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years and CSI), Joe Grifasi (*61
and Law and Order), Nestor Serrano (24), Erik Jensen (Love Monkey and
CSI), Stephen Lang (Gods and Generals), Loren Dean (Enemy of the State)
and Casey Siemaszko (NYPD Blue) have signed on to join previously
announced actors John Turturro, Oliver Platt and Daniel Sunjata. The
eight-part miniseries based on Jonathan Mahler's bestseller about the
unforgettable summer of 1977 and the New York Yankees is scheduled to
debut on ESPN in July 2007, marking the 30th anniversary of the Yankees'
first World Series championship under George Steinbrenner's ownership.
JERRY GREENBERG
With four decades' worth of experience, Greenberg established himself as
one of film editing's best early on in his career. In 1972 he won an
Academy Award and a BAFTA for his work on The French Connection. Eight
years later, he was nominated for the same awards for his editing of the
instant classic Apocalypse Now. Other projects include Kramer vs.
Kramer, Scarface, American History X, The Accused, Angel Eyes and The
Untouchables.
ADDITIONAL CAST AND CONSULTANTS
The additional cast will flesh out several key storylines: the Yankees
team and front office turmoil, the relentless New York media and the New
York Police Department which was charged with trying to keep an
overwrought city calm amidst the Son of Sam killings and a debilitating
blackout. For the Yankees, Jensen will play catcher Thurman Munson with
Dean portraying his back-up, Fran Healy, and Grifasi will play former
Yankee great Yogi Berra. For the NYPD, Lang will be Deputy Inspector
Timothy Dowd who orchestrated the manhunt for the Son of Sam killer with
help from Lauria's Captain Joseph Borelli, Siemaszko's Detective Walker
and Serrano's Detective Kavanaugh. Finally, Rispoli will portray tough
New York newspaper columnist Jimmy Breslin from whose sharp words few
were safe.
The miniseries will have several advisors on hand throughout production
including former Yankees beat reporter Steve Jacobson, former Yankees
p.r. director Marty Appel, and former Yankees back-up catcher Fran
Healy. Jeffrey Maier, the fan who became famous for deflecting a ball
in play during Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series
between the Yankees and
the Baltimore Orioles ,
will serve as an extra and assist with baseball skills training for the
actors.
PRODUCTION NOTES
Mahler's non-fiction bestseller, "Ladies and Gentleman, the Bronx is
Burning," recounts baseball's triumph over the turmoil and hysteria of
1977 New York City which endured the Son of Sam killings, a terrifying
blackout and a bitter mayoral election, and witnessed one team - the New
York Yankees - capture all of the hopes and fears of an unforgettable
summer.
Principal shooting for the "The Bronx is Burning" began September 18 in
several cities and towns in Connecticut. The miniseries will be
executive produced by multi-award-winning producers Mike Tollin, Brian
Robbins and Joe Davola of Tollin/Robbins Productions ("Smallville,"
"Coach Carter") and writer/producer James D. Solomon whose credits
include "The Practice" and "Mambo Kings." Veteran director Jeremiah
Chechik ("Benny and Joon," and "Diabolique") will direct the entire
series with producer Bill Johnson ("A Walk to Remember" and "The Kid")
rounding out the team. Casting will be handled by casting directors
Billy Hopkins and Paul Schnee of Hopkins & Hopkins, Smith and Barden
Casting ("Natural Born Killer," Good Will Hunting" and "World Trade
Center").
Content from the miniseries will be formatted to suit many of ESPN's
media platforms. Full episodes will be posted on ESPN360 and ESPN.com.
ESPN Home Entertainment, through its exclusive North American
distributor Genius Products, will release a content-rich collector's
edition of "The Bronx is Burning" onto DVD. Details of the DVD release
will be announced soon.
ESPN ORIGINAL ENTERTAINMENT
Launched in 2001, ESPN Original Entertainment is ESPN's award-winning
original programming banner. The EOE brand spans ESPN's sports-themed
original movies, scripted and unscripted dramatic series, daily talk and
debate series, documentaries, game shows and groundbreaking televised
events such as the X Games and The ESPYS, and is delivered across
multiple media platforms. With theatrical releases such as Through the
Fire about basketball phenom Sebastian Telfair and Once in a Lifetime
about the 1970's New York Cosmos, EOE continues to plant itself firmly
on the cutting edge of sports and entertainment television and event
creation. Also, EOE's daily lifestyle and entertainment-themed series
Cold Pizza and Quite Frankly are cornerstones of ESPN2's programming
lineup. With many new scripted and unscripted projects in development,
EOE serves both the passionate sports fan and the more casual viewer,
and strives to expand ESPN's already industry-leading offerings in live
events and sports news & information programming.
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