Action (TV series)
Action was a short-lived comedy series about a Hollywood producer named Peter Dragon, who is trying to recover from his last box-office failure. The series was critically praised for its irreverent, almost hostile, look at Hollywood culture but was a ratings failure. Thirteen episodes were produced but only ten episodes ran on the Fox Channel in 1999 before being cancelled. The remaining three episodes were eventually broadcast on other networks such as Comedy Central.
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Main cast
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Peter Dragon, played by Jay Mohr, is a star producer at Dragonfire Studios. Peter got his start as a screenwriter for gay porno, but eventually moved up the ladder of Hollywood as a hotshot producer of tasteless action films like Deadly Habits, Ripcord and Vatican Solution. At the start of the series, Peter's latest film Slow Torture is a monumental flop, and is under tremendous pressure to make his next film a big success. Peter is bossy and arrogant to his subordinates and is morally unscrupulous in negotiating with Hollywood talent (surpassed only by ALL talent agents), although not as much as other fellow Hollywood executives. It is frequently suggested that Peter is sexually confused.
Wendy Ward, played by Illeana Douglas, is a former child actress who gained fame as the cute star of The Elephant Princess. Her career tanked during her teen years due to a nasty coke habit, and is now a high priced call girl. Through circumstance, she ends up becoming Peter's date at the premiere of his movie Slow Torture. After she gives her honest criticism of Slow Torture, Wendy is named Vice President of Production at Dragonfire Films. She also becomes Peter's girlfriend, but her character is slowly written out after she breaks up with him. Wendy's character is an intentional play on the "hooker with a heart of gold" movie stereotype.
Lonnie Dragon, played by Buddy Hackett, is Peter's uncle and chief of security at Dragonfire Studios. Lonnie often provides spiritual and moral support to Peter during trying times, although this often takes the form of meandering anecdotes with a raunchy reference of some kind. Lonnie has served in many wars, including World War II, and often complains about past injuries, most notably the fact that he only has one testicle. As he puts it, "The sack is half full."
Stuart Glazer, played by Jack Plotnick, is President of Production at Dragonfire Studios. Stuart desperately wants to be taken seriously as a Hollywood developer, but is frequently abused and ordered around at Dragonfire Studios. In spite of his important sounding position, Stuart is often asked to do demeaning tasks like babysite Georgia, have suits dry-cleaned and order gift baskets for star talent. Stuart is gay.
Adam Rafkin, played by Paul Jarrad, is a struggling screenwriter whose screenplay, Beverly Hills Gun Club, was picked up by Dragonfire Studios for development. Adam's script was actually bought mistakenly because his name was confused with Alan Rifkin. Adam lives alone, is sexually inexperienced and has had the same fuddy duddy agent represent him for most of his floundering professional career. A source of frustration is his lack of respect from Hollywood, most notably Peter who never seems to recall his name.
Supporting characters
Bobby Gianopolis, played by Lee Arenberg is the chief executive of Dragonfire Studios. Bobby G, as he is well known, uses menacing threats to get what he wants from Peter and the rest of the Dragonfire staff. Often these threats involve withdrawing his massive financial backing or displaying his large penis. Bobby G is gay, but married Jane, Peter's ex-wife, in order to quell any rumors of such. Many critics have suggested that Bobby is a parody of former FOX CEO Barry Diller.
Jane Dragon, played by Cindy Ambuehl, is Peter's ex-wife. It is never revealed why she and Peter broke up, but she remarried with Bobby Gianopolis mostly to spite Peter. She is manipulative, scheming and is so orally gifted she can hum and whistle at the same time. She has a daughter by Peter named Georgia.
Georgia Dragon, played by Sara Paxton, is Peter's daughter by Jane. Ten years old, she is deceptively innocent but mildly stone-hearted for her age, a trait she gets from her parents.
Jenny, played by Erin Daniels, is a struggling Hollywood career woman. She used to work at UPN, but after sleeping with Peter, moved on to become a production assistant at Dragonfire Studios. Her character receives more screen time in the series as Wendy is slowly written out of the show.
Cole Riccardi, played by Cole Riccardi, is a famous action star who has been in many of Peter's movies. He is introspective, self-obssessed and secretly gay.
Connie Hunt, played by Amy Aquino, is the publicist assigned to Peter Dragon by Bobby Gianapolis after a major PR disaster. She is dry, practical and cold-hearted in her PR strategies. A clap of lightning and thunder usually follows mention of her name.
Titus Scroad, played by R. Lee Ermey is an eccentric movie director with a predilection for hydro-colonic therapy.
Holden van Dorn, played by Fab Filippo is a hotshot young actor, with a very public record of alcohol and drug abuse.
Reagan Lauren Busch, played by Jennifer Lyons is a sexy starlet with a big appetite and weight problems.
Celebrity cameos
Action was notable for its heavy use of real-world celebrity references, often in rather controversial if not wholly unflattering circumstances. In the earlier part of its run, it also featured equally controversial cameos. Keanu Reeves gets fondled during a movie premiere, Scott Wolf is a desperate action star wannabe, David Hasselhoff appears at a charity auction, Sandra Bullock appears in a bootlegged porn video and David Leisure is portrayed as a career-crashed security guard.
Episode guide
- Pilot
- Re-Enter the Dragon
- Blood Money
- Blowhard
- Mr. Dragon Goes to Washington
- Twelfth Step to Hell
- Strong Sexual Content
- Lights, Camera, Action
- Dead Man Floating
- Dragon's Blood
- One Easy Piece
- The Last Ride of the Elephant Princess
- Love Sucks
External links
- Action at the Internet Movie Database