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==Development==
==Development==
On November 5, 2007, NBC ordered the two-hour pilot of ''Kings''; the last pilot NBC ordered before the [[2007 Writer's Strike]]. [[Michael Green (writer)|Michael Green]] (''[[Heroes (TV series)|''Heroes'']]'', ''[[Everwood]]'') penned the script and [[Francis Lawrence]] (''[[I Am Legend (film)|I Am Legend]]'') was set to direct.<ref name="Zap2it">{{cite web|url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-nbckingspilot,0,1755776.story|title=NBC Hastily Crowns 'Kings|work=[[Zap2it]]|date=November 5, 2007| accessdate=March 3, 2009}}</ref> When Green pitched the series to NBC, he told them, "I want to take one of the classic stories that no one has ever retold and find a way to re-conceive it while still being faithful to the original material but at the same time exploring the themes, modernizing it in every way."<ref name="Comingsoon.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=53204|title=EXCL: Kings Creators Michael Green & Francis Lawrence|last=Douglas |first=Edward |date=February 25, 2009| work=Comingsoon.net|accessdate=March 3, 2009}}</ref> NBC officially ordered the show to series on May 19, 2008.<ref name="Variety">{{cite web|last=Schneider |first=Michael |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117986134.html?categoryid=1060&cs=1|title=NBC crowns 'Kings' for second time|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 19, 2008|accessdate=3 March, 2009}}</ref> Green has already planned out the entire first season, which will consist of thirteen episodes.<ref name="Comingsoon.net" />
On November 5, 2007, NBC ordered the two-hour pilot of ''Kings''; the last pilot NBC ordered before the [[2007 Writer's Strike]]. [[Michael Green (writer)|Michael Green]] (''[[Heroes (TV series)|''Heroes'']]'', ''[[Everwood]]'') penned the script and [[Francis Lawrence]] (''[[I Am Legend (film)|I Am Legend]]'') was set to direct.<ref name="Zap2it">{{cite web|url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-nbckingspilot,0,1755776.story|title=NBC Hastily Crowns 'Kings|work=[[Zap2it]]|date=November 5, 2007| accessdate=March 3, 2009}}</ref> When Green pitched the series to NBC, he told them, "I want to take one of the classic stories that no one has ever retold and find a way to re-conceive it while still being faithful to the original material but at the same time exploring the themes, modernizing it in every way."<ref name="Comingsoon.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=53204|title=EXCL: Kings Creators Michael Green & Francis Lawrence|last=Douglas |first=Edward |date=February 25, 2009| work=Comingsoon.net|accessdate=March 3, 2009}}</ref> (The story has, in fact been retold [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_David#Representation_in_art_and_literature many times] throughout the centuries.) NBC officially ordered the show to series on May 19, 2008.<ref name="Variety">{{cite web|last=Schneider |first=Michael |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117986134.html?categoryid=1060&cs=1|title=NBC crowns 'Kings' for second time|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 19, 2008|accessdate=3 March, 2009}}</ref> Green has already planned out the entire first season, which will consist of thirteen episodes.<ref name="Comingsoon.net" />


''Kings'' was also the beneficiary of an unusual sponsorship arrangement; insurance giant [[Liberty Mutual]] not only sponsored ''Kings'' with $5 million, but was allowed to play a strong role in the show's creative development--including "the right to go over the show's scripts", and even "clean[ing] up dialogue" <ref name="forbes">{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/1110/106.html?feed=rss_business|publisher=[[Forbes]]|last=Pomerantz|first=Dorothy|title=Kings Gambit|date=October 22, 2008|accessdate=March 25, 2009}}</ref>. Liberty Mutual had approached ABC and CBS about such an arrangement, but both networks were "unwilling to let the insurance company be involved in the development process".<ref name="forbes"/>
''Kings'' was also the beneficiary of an unusual sponsorship arrangement; insurance giant [[Liberty Mutual]] not only sponsored ''Kings'' with $5 million, but was allowed to play a strong role in the show's creative development--including "the right to go over the show's scripts", and even "clean[ing] up dialogue" <ref name="forbes">{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/1110/106.html?feed=rss_business|publisher=[[Forbes]]|last=Pomerantz|first=Dorothy|title=Kings Gambit|date=October 22, 2008|accessdate=March 25, 2009}}</ref>. Liberty Mutual had approached ABC and CBS about such an arrangement, but both networks were "unwilling to let the insurance company be involved in the development process".<ref name="forbes"/>

Revision as of 23:37, 29 March 2009

Kings
Kings title card
GenreSerial drama
Created byMichael Green
StarringChristopher Egan
Ian McShane
Allison Miller
Susanna Thompson
Macaulay Culkin
Sebastian Stan
Eamonn Walker
Dylan Baker
Wes Studi
Country of origin United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes2 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersMichael Green
Francis Lawrence
Erwin Stoff
ProducersErik Oleson (supervisor/consulting)
Barry M. Berg (producer)
Margot Lulick (producer)
Kate Gordon (associate producer)
Dara Schnapper (associate producer)
John A. Smith (associate producer)
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseMarch 15, 2009

Kings is a television drama series airing on NBC and Citytv, based on the Biblical story of King David in a kingdom that resembles present-day United States. Although advance showings received mostly positive critical reviews,[1] the March 15 premiere placed 4th in network television ratings for that evening, with 6.47 million viewers (1.6 rating / 4 share in the 18-49 demographic).[2]

Characters

Christopher Egan as David Shepherd, a counterpart to the Biblical David. [3][4] David is an idealistic young soldier who finds himself in the unfamiliar world of court intrigue.

Ian McShane as King Silas Benjamin, a counterpart to the biblical King Saul.[3][4] Silas has united the kingdom of Gilboa and built its capital city, Shiloh, but now fears that God has forsaken him.

Susanna Thompson as Queen Rose Benjamin, wife to King Silas. The Queen claims to abhor politics, but manipulates court life from behind the scenes.

Allison Miller as Princess Michelle Benjamin, a counterpart to the biblical Michal.[4] Silas' daughter and crusader for improving the kingdom's health care system, Michelle finds herself drawn towards David.

Sebastian Stan as Prince Jack Benjamin, a counterpart to the biblical Jonathan.[4][5] Jack is Silas's ambitious and frustrated son, who initially sees David as a rival at court. Jack plays the role of a dissolute, womanizing rake in front of the kingdom's press, but is secretly homosexual. The king is aware that Jack is gay, and has challenged him to restrain his desires if he wishes to become king.

Eamonn Walker as Rev. Ephram Samuels, a counterpart to the biblical prophet Samuel.[4][6] Reverend Samuels was instrumental in Silas' rise to power, but has recently withdrawn his support from the King (and claims that God has done the same).

Dylan Baker as William Cross, industrialist and brother to Queen Rose. William financed Silas' Royal Treasury, but withdrew his funds when, contrary to his wishes, Silas sought an end to the war with neighboring Gath.

Wes Studi as General Linus Abner, the head of Gilboa's military. Abner shares a name and military position with the Biblical Abner.

Sarita Choudhury as Helen, King Silas' mistress and mother of his illegitimate son.

Plot

Kings is set in the nation of Gilboa, which technologically and culturally resembles the present-day United States; the government, however, is an absolute monarchy. Gilboa is ruled by King Silas Benjamin, who originally formed the kingdom two decades prior from three warring countries. He believes his power to be divine, often citing a day when a swarm of butterflies landed on his head in the form of "a living crown." All is not well for Silas: his policies and actions are being manipulated by his queen's brother, William Cross, who holds substantial control over the royal treasury; his heir, Prince Jack, is secretly homosexual, which could undermine the royal family; and Silas himself is secretly seeing a mistress, whom he had apparently left in order to marry Queen Rose for political gain.

Events of the series are set into motion when young David Shepherd, a Gilboan soldier in a war against the kindgom of Gath, single-handedly rescues a group of captive soldiers from behind enemy lines. One of these captives is Prince Jack, and David becomes an instant star in national media, much to the chagrin of the prince. King Silas brings David into the capital city of Shiloh, where he is promoted to captain and thrust into the position of military liaison to the media. He soon finds himself in the midst of royal court politics, currently with little awareness of the forces acting behind them; he also develops feelings for Silas' daughter, Princess Michelle, which she seems to reciprocate. In the pilot episode, he too experiences the "crown" of butterflies, after Silas is told that God no longer supports his reign, implying David to be the divine choice for the next king in line. Silas witnesses this event, and is plainly troubled by it.

Episode list

# Title Writer(s) Director U.S. Viewers
(in millions) 		U.S. Ratings/Share Airdate
1–2"Goliath"Francis LawrenceMichael Green6.47 [7]1.6 / 4March 15, 2009
In this special two hour premiere episode, battles between the neighboring nations of Gilboa and Gath rage. One soldier named David Shepherd takes action when he sees prisoners of war taken by the enemy; after crossing enemy lines to rescue them, he is told he just saved the King of Gilboa's son, a moment that forever changes his life.
3"Prosperity"Francis LawrenceMichael Green4.62 [8]1.3 / 3March 22, 2009
A peace treaty signing ceremony could be jeopardized when the leader of the Gath military inquires as to why David Shepherd isn't there. Tensions mount as King Silas and General Abner come up with a plan to get rid of David, while William plans to get rid of King Silas.
4"First Night"TBATBATBATBAMarch 29, 2009
Tempers flare as King Silas leaves Queen Rose's first royal ballet event so he can tend to his illegitimate son, who has recently fallen sick. Jack and Rose try to make David look lustful in front of everyone.
5"Insurrection"TBATBATBATBAApril 5, 2009
TBA
6"Judgment Day"TBATBATBATBAApril 12, 2009
TBA
7"TBA"TBATBATBATBAApril 19, 2009
TBA
8"TBA"TBATBATBATBAApril 26, 2009
TBA
9"TBA"TBATBATBATBAMay 3, 2009
TBA
10"TBA"TBATBATBATBAMay 10, 2009
TBA
11"TBA"TBATBATBATBAMay 17, 2009
TBA
12"TBA"TBATBATBATBAMay 24, 2009
TBA
13"The New King (Part 1)"TBATBATBATBAMay 31, 2009
TBA
14"The New King (Part 2)"TBATBATBATBAJune 7, 2009
TBA

Development

On November 5, 2007, NBC ordered the two-hour pilot of Kings; the last pilot NBC ordered before the 2007 Writer's Strike. Michael Green (Heroes, Everwood) penned the script and Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) was set to direct.[9] When Green pitched the series to NBC, he told them, "I want to take one of the classic stories that no one has ever retold and find a way to re-conceive it while still being faithful to the original material but at the same time exploring the themes, modernizing it in every way."[10] (The story has, in fact been retold many times throughout the centuries.) NBC officially ordered the show to series on May 19, 2008.[11] Green has already planned out the entire first season, which will consist of thirteen episodes.[10]

Kings was also the beneficiary of an unusual sponsorship arrangement; insurance giant Liberty Mutual not only sponsored Kings with $5 million, but was allowed to play a strong role in the show's creative development--including "the right to go over the show's scripts", and even "clean[ing] up dialogue" [12]. Liberty Mutual had approached ABC and CBS about such an arrangement, but both networks were "unwilling to let the insurance company be involved in the development process".[12]

The series is currently being filmed partially in New York City at the New York Public Library, the Time Warner Center, and the Apthorp building, on Broadway between 78th and 79th streets,[13][failed verification] the Brooklyn Museum, on Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue,[14] as well as in and around the The Capitale Building in Downtown New York City on Grand Street and Elizabeth Street, and soundstages in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.[citation needed] Filming for the pilot was also done at Hempstead House, part of the former Guggenheim estate at Sands Point Preserve on Long Island.[15] The script for the first episode, "Goliath," was leaked some time prior to broadcast.[16]

Casting

The role for King Silas was originally written for Ian McShane, but Green thought that it would be unlikely to get him to play the lead. McShane was sent the script and enjoyed it, and was very open to returning to television after the critically acclaimed HBO series Deadwood.[10] "Probably two or three hundred" actors auditioned for the role of David Shepherd, before producers came across Chris Egan, "who was a real find," stated Lawrence.[17] Allison Miller was also cast late in the process, joining Sebastian Stan and Susanna Thompson.[17] Brian Cox will be joining the series in a recurring role, playing a rival to King Silas.[18] Macaulay Culkin will also appear in a multi-episode arc, playing King Silas's nephew, who was exiled for mysterious reasons.[19] Miguel Ferrer (Crossing Jordan), Michael Stahl-David (The Black Donnellys), and Leslie Bibb (Crossing Jordan) have also been booked for multi-episode arcs.[19]

Reception

An early review of Green's pilot script called the show "bold, bizarre, fun."[20] NBC pre-released the first four episodes of the series to critics and garnered mostly positive reviews.[21] Edward Douglas of ComingSoon.Net stated that "the writing is sharp and the acting is excellent, as Green has assembled a cast that's almost unprecedented for a television show. Ian McShane is as riveting in the role of King Silas as he was as Al Swearengen, giving the sort of loquacious speeches that he's great at giving."[22] Brian Ford Sullivan of The Futon Critic commented that "Kings is ultimately a show you're either going to dismiss as silly and pretentious or fall in love with because of its silliness and pretentiousness. I find myself in the latter category because I'm always a sucker for swing-for-fences serialized shows like this, especially when it looks ... and feels unlike anything on television right now."[23] In a glowing review of the series' pilot, Heather Havrilesky of Salon.com praised the series' themes, scope, art direction, cinematography and Ian McShane's performance, concluding: "The dialogue is just so artful and poetic, the characters are so appealing, the whole damn package is so original and daring and lovely, that after watching the first four hours, it's impossible not to feel inspired and cheered by the fact that a drama this ambitious and unique could make it onto network TV."[24] Young adult book author Brent Hartinger said, "The new NBC series Kings ... is top-notch television — smart, original, and thoroughly engrossing — and it will end up reshaping the television landscape in much the way fantasy-esque shows such as Lost and Buffy the Vampire Slayer did."[25] (However, writing for gay-themed website AfterElton.com, Hartinger argued that the show "de-gayed" the romantic aspect between David and Jack — David and Jonathan in the Biblical telling — as well as what they saw as turning Jack into a stereotypical villain.[5])

Other reviewers were less positive. In a scathing review, Ray Richmond of The Hollywood Reporter said that Kings "takes an utterly straight-faced and painfully earnest approach to the kind of broad nighttime soap opera that once fueled Dallas and (especially) Dynasty through the 1980s, but to watch something so anal-retentive and full of itself in the new century can't help but play as unintended farce."[26] Nancy deWolf Smith of The Wall Street Journal also compared the series unfavorably to the work of Aaron Spelling, and accused the series of "deadening pretentiousness" and "a failure of imagination".[27] However, many reviewers, while criticizing the drama's stylized dialogue[3][28] or calling its Biblical themes "pretentious"[28], praised Ian McShane's kingly performance and the show's ambitions.[6][28][3]

The March 15th, 2009 NBC premiere of Kings "was the lowest-rated program between 8 and 11 p.m. on a major broadcast network", garnering a 1.6 rating/4 share, below ABC, CBS, and Fox.[2] This was significantly lower than the ratings for NBC's programming on the previous Sunday, a Saturday Night Live clip show and a segment of Celebrity Apprentice.[21] Mediaweek magazine noted that "one year earlier in this block, the second half of a two-hour edition of Dateline and a repeat of Law & Order was considerably stronger at an average 6.3/10 in the overnights."[29] TV.com speculated that NBC underpromoted the show causing the lackluster pilot episode rating.[30] However, Television Week described (in detailed interviews with NBC executives) an innovative three-phase marketing push on behalf of Kings, and stated that NBC was "going out of its way since November to market Kings to so-called cultural tastemakers, hoping they’ll help spread the word to the masses."[31]

Due to the unexpectedly rocky start, several media commentators have speculated that Kings will be canceled[32] or have the already-filmed episodes "burned off" on another night, such as Saturday.[33] NBC Entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman was optimistic about the series' prospects:

I’m hoping because intent [to view] went up and awareness went up after it aired, clearly people responded to it, and it grew over its two hours. That gives me some hope. It's just hard to launch things that are not obvious. We may get nailed for it, but I'm proud of the show, and we need to keep taking chances like that.[34]

However, commentators pointed out that Silverman's remarks about the audience growth were "misleading" [35] and noted that the show cost "$10 million [for] Sunday's two-hour debut and is [costing] another $4 million per episode, an extravagant sum for any show and especially so given the program drew only 6 million viewers overall" [36].

The first hour-long episode of the series was broadcast on March 22nd, 2009, and endured further degradation in the ratings (1.3 rating /3 share), "down another 19% in the 18-49 demo"[37] and "running a distant fourth among the [four] broadcast net[work]s" [38].


References

  1. ^ "Reviews from Metacritic - Kings". March 19, 2009. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Hibberd, James (March 16, 2009). "NBC's 'Kings' dethroned in ratings". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d Lloyd, Robert (March 13, 2009). "'Kings': An ambitious but puzzling take on the Old Testament". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d e Tugend, Tom (March 13, 2009). "Yeshiva vet aims to make King David must-see TV". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Hartinger, Brent (March 16, 2009). ""Kings" Warps the Story of David and Jonathan". AfterElton.com. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Blanco, Robert (March 13, 2009). "Mishmash that is 'Kings' often overpowers an interesting idea". USA Today. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  7. ^ http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/16/sunday-ratings-kings-premiere-beheaded-desperate-housewives-keeps-crown/14602
  8. ^ http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/23/sunday-ratings-ncaa-tourney-obama-give-cbs-18-49-win-fox-grabs-18-34-demo/15000
  9. ^ "NBC Hastily Crowns 'Kings". Zap2it. November 5, 2007. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  10. ^ a b c Douglas, Edward (February 25, 2009). "EXCL: Kings Creators Michael Green & Francis Lawrence". Comingsoon.net. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  11. ^ Schneider, Michael (May 19, 2008). "NBC crowns 'Kings' for second time". Variety. Retrieved 3 March, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ^ a b Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 22, 2008). "Kings Gambit". Forbes. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  13. ^ "NBC Reveals Complete 52-Week Program Strategy, Earlier Than Ever, That Gives Advertisers the Opportunity to Create Unique Marketing Solutions" (Press release). NBC Universal Media Village. April 2, 2008. Retrieved May 14, 2008.
  14. ^ Brown, Lane. "NBC Invades Brooklyn Neighborhood With Tank," New York magazine (Feb. 10, 2009). Accessed Mar. 10, 2009.
  15. ^ "Sands Point Preserve featured Sunday on NBC's Kings". newsday.com. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
  16. ^ "Script to New NBC Series KINGS leaked". .DocStoc Beta. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  17. ^ a b Lee, Patrick (January 20, 2009). "The creators of NBC's Kings reveal the magic behind the realism". Sci Fi Wire. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  18. ^ "'Kings' Stages a 'Deadwood' Reunion". Zap2it. October 17, 2008. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  19. ^ a b Ausiello, Michael (October 23, 2008). "Exclusive: NBC's Kings Courts Macaulay Culkin". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  20. ^ Hibberd, James (June 19, 2008). "NBC's 'Kings' script: bold, bizarre, fun". The Hollywood Reporter. The Live Feed blog. Retrieved June 23, 2008.
  21. ^ a b Kissel, Rick (March 16, 2009). "Slow start for NBC's 'Kings'". Variety. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
  22. ^ Douglas, Edward (February 25, 2009). "A Sneak Preview of NBC's New Drama Kings". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  23. ^ Sullivan, Brian Ford (February 12, 2009). "The Futon's First Look: "Kings" (NBC)". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  24. ^ Havrilesky, Heather (March 15, 2009). "I Like to Watch". Salon.com. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
  25. ^ Hartinger, Brent (March 13, 2009). "Review: All Hail "Kings," TV's Terrific New Fantasy Show!". TheTorchOnline. Retrieved March 16, 2009. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ Richmond, Ray (March 12, 2009). "TV Review: Kings". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  27. ^ Smith, Nancy deWolf (March 13, 2009). "A Dream of Kings". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  28. ^ a b c Poniewozik, James (March 12, 2009). "NBC's 'Kings': The New Old Testament". Time. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  29. ^ Berman, Marc (March 16, 2009). "NBC's Kings Left at the Starting Gate". Mediaweek. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
  30. ^ Surette, Tim (March 16, 2009). "Kings rules, but not in ratings". TV.com. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
  31. ^ Adalian, Josef (March 1, 2009). "NBC Plays the 'Kings'-maker". Television Week. Retrieved March 16, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ Hinman, Michael (March 16, 2009). "'Kings' Likely Won't Live Long After Premiere Stumbles". Airlock Alpha. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  33. ^ "Kings: Is the New TV Show As Good As Cancelled Already?". TV Series Finale. March 16, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  34. ^ Hibberd, James (March 20, 2009). "Ben Silverman on Obama, Leno and 'Kings'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
  35. ^ "Kings: NBC's Silverman Still Has Hope for Low-Rated Drama". TV Series Finale. March 20, 2009. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
  36. ^ Picchi, Aimee (March 18, 2009). "NBC's Silverman Backed Expensive Kings". TV Week. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
  37. ^ Gorman, Bill (March 23, 2009). "Sunday Ratings: NCAA Tourney, Obama Give CBS 18-49 Win, Fox Grabs 18-34 Demo". TV By The Numbers. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
  38. ^ Kissell, Rick (March 23, 2009). "Hoops, Obama lift CBS in ratings". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2009.

External links

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