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'''''Sleeper Cell''''' is a one-hour drama on the [[Showtime (television)|Showtime]] network that began airing on December 4, 2005. The [[tagline]] for the first season was "''Friends. Neighbors. Husbands. Terrorists.''" and the tagline for the second season was "''Cities. Suburbs. Airports. Targets.''" The series was nominated for an [[Emmy award]] for Outstanding Miniseries. The eight-episode second season of the series, titled ''Sleeper Cell: American Terror'', premiered on December 10, 2006. Both seasons of ''Sleeper Cell'' were originally aired in an unusual fashion, by filming the entire season ahead of time and then airing the episodes on consecutive nights, such that each brand new season was aired for the first time over a period of less than two weeks. In Australia, both seasons originally aired on the [[Showtime Australia]] channel in 2006/2007. Re-runs as of 2008 have screened on the showcase channel (part of the [[Showtime Australia]] group of channels).
'''''Sleeper Cell''''' is a one-hour drama on the [[Showtime (television)|Showtime]] network that began airing on December 4, 2005. The [[tagline]] for the first season was "''Friends. Neighbors. Husbands. Terrorists.''" and the tagline for the second season was "''Cities. Suburbs. Airports. Targets.''" The series was nominated for an [[Emmy award]] for Outstanding Miniseries. The eight-episode second season of the series, titled ''Sleeper Cell: American Terror'', premiered on December 10, 2006. Both seasons of ''Sleeper Cell'' were originally aired in an unusual fashion, by filming the entire season ahead of time and then airing the episodes on consecutive nights, such that each brand new season was aired for the first time over a period of less than two weeks. In Australia, both seasons originally aired on the [[Showtime Australia]] channel in 2006/2007. Re-runs as of 2008 have screened on the showcase channel (part of the [[Showtime Australia]] group of channels).


There are currently (as of August 2009) no definite plans for a continuation of the series. However, Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime, was reported in July 2007 to have publicly mentioned the possibility of creating a new installment of the series every few years, similar to the structuring of the British television series ''[[Prime Suspect]]'', in that there might be an entirely new cast of characters for each new season. In this way, the series could become a way to examine the current state of terrorism, and its evolution over time.
There are currently (as of December 2009) no definite plans for a continuation of the series. However, Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime, was reported in July 2007 to have publicly mentioned the possibility of creating a new installment of the series every few years, similar to the structuring of the British television series ''[[Prime Suspect]]'', in that there might be an entirely new cast of characters for each new season. In this way, the series could become a way to examine the current state of terrorism, and its evolution over time.


As extra material on the first season DVDs reveal, the show was originally named ''The Cell''.
As extra material on the first season DVDs reveal, the show was originally named ''The Cell''.

Revision as of 10:55, 11 December 2009

Sleeper Cell
Title screen from the second series, Sleeper Cell: American Terror
StarringMichael Ealy
Oded Fehr
Henri Lubatti
Melissa Sagemiller
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes18 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkShowtime
ReleaseDecember 4, 2005 –
December 17, 2006

Sleeper Cell is a one-hour drama on the Showtime network that began airing on December 4, 2005. The tagline for the first season was "Friends. Neighbors. Husbands. Terrorists." and the tagline for the second season was "Cities. Suburbs. Airports. Targets." The series was nominated for an Emmy award for Outstanding Miniseries. The eight-episode second season of the series, titled Sleeper Cell: American Terror, premiered on December 10, 2006. Both seasons of Sleeper Cell were originally aired in an unusual fashion, by filming the entire season ahead of time and then airing the episodes on consecutive nights, such that each brand new season was aired for the first time over a period of less than two weeks. In Australia, both seasons originally aired on the Showtime Australia channel in 2006/2007. Re-runs as of 2008 have screened on the showcase channel (part of the Showtime Australia group of channels).

There are currently (as of December 2009) no definite plans for a continuation of the series. However, Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime, was reported in July 2007 to have publicly mentioned the possibility of creating a new installment of the series every few years, similar to the structuring of the British television series Prime Suspect, in that there might be an entirely new cast of characters for each new season. In this way, the series could become a way to examine the current state of terrorism, and its evolution over time.

As extra material on the first season DVDs reveal, the show was originally named The Cell.

Synopsis

Darwyn Al-Sayeed, a 30-year-old American undercover FBI agent who is also a practicing Muslim, is assigned to infiltrate a terrorist sleeper cell that is planning an attack in Los Angeles. The cell is run by a Muslim extremist named Faris al-Farik. Darwyn is supervised by FBI senior agent Ray Fuller, also a close friend who worries for Darwyn's safety.

In the second season, Darwyn infiltrates a new cell that has formed to avenge the defeat of the original cell. When his second handler, Patrice Serxner, is killed in Sudan, Darwyn must try to work with yet another handler, Special Agent Russell. Meanwhile, his girlfriend Gayle is drawn deeper into the intrigue when she's caught between Russell, Darwyn and a member of the cell.

The writers once again offered a non-stereotypical mix of cell members, including a white European woman, a Latino-American man and, in a first for American television, a gay Muslim man.

Cast

Season 1

Actor Role
Michael Ealy Darwyn al-Sayeed (Alias: Darwyn al-Hakim)
Oded Fehr Faris "Farik" al-Farik / Saad bin Safwan
Henri Lubatti Ilija Korjenić
Alex Nesic Christian Aumont
Blake Shields Thomas "Tommy" Allen Emerson
Melissa Sagemiller Gayle Bishop

Recurring

Season 2

Actor Role
Michael Ealy Darwyn al-Sayeed (Alias: Darwyn al-Hakim)
Oded Fehr Faris "Farik" al-Farik
Henri Lubatti Ilija Korjenić
Omid Abtahi Salim
Kevin Alejandro Benito 'Benny' Velasquez
Thekla Reuten Mina
Melissa Sagemiller Gayle Bishop

Recurring

Crew

Writers

Directors

Sound Department

Episodes

2009 Broadcast

DIRECTV's The 101 Network and DIRECTV on DEMAND will air the miniseries beginning Jan. 28, 2009. [1]

DVD releases

Region 1

DVD Name Release Date Ep # Additional Information
Sleeper Cell March 14, 2006 10 The entire first season of Sleeper Cell was released as a widescreen three-disc Region 1 DVD box set in the U.S. on March 14, 2006. It was distributed by Showtime Entertainment. In addition to all the episodes that had aired, it included several DVD extras such as episode commentaries by executive producers Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris, behind-the-scenes footage and making-of features as well as deleted scenes with optional commentary.
Sleeper Cell: American Terror - The Complete Second Season March 20, 2007 8 The entire second season of Sleeper Cell: American Terror was released as a three-disc Region 1 DVD box set in the U.S. on March 20, 2007. The box for the DVD mistakenly lists the Season 1 cast on the back.

Region 2

DVD Name Release Date Ep # Additional Information
Sleeper Cell September 18, 2006 10 The entire first season of Sleeper Cell was released as a widescreen four-disc Region 2 DVD digipak in Europe on September 18, 2006. It was distributed by Tla Releasing. In addition to all the episodes that had aired, it included the same DVD extras as the Region 1 release, such as episode commentaries by executive producers Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris, behind-the-scenes footage and making-of features as well as deleted scenes with optional commentary.

Region 4

DVD Name Release Date Ep # Additional Information
Sleeper Cell August 17, 2006 10 The entire first season of Sleeper Cell was released as a widescreen four-disc Region 4 DVD box set in Australia on August 17, 2006. It was distributed by Road Show Video. In addition to all the episodes that had aired, it included DVD extras such as episode commentaries by executive producers Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris, behind-the-scenes footage and making-of features as well as deleted scenes with optional commentary. In addition to the bonus material included on the Region 1 release, the DVD set featured audio interviews with cast and crew members.[1]

References

  1. ^ "Sleeper Cell (Region 4)". Sanity.com.au. Retrieved 2006-12-11.