FX-Feature.Pdf
THANKS TO SINGULAR VISIONS, SUBVERTED GENRES, INTRICATE PLOTS AND DEEPLY FLAWED CHARACTERS, THE ONLY THING “BASIC” ABOUT FX THESE DAYS IS ITS CARRIAGE STATUS. By Graham Flashner photographsVE By STE SCHOFIELD 32 EMMY JOHN LANDGRAF CEO, FX NETWORKS AND FX PRODUCTIONS 33 Premiered: March 12, 2002 Created By: Shawn Ryan Stars: Michael Chiklis, Walton Goggins, CCH Pounder, Benito Martinez, Jay Karnes, Kenneth Johnson, Catherine Dent, Michael Jace, Cathy Cahlin Ryan, David Rees Snell, Glenn Close, Forest Whitaker IT’S ABOUT: !e Strike Team, an anti- drug unit operating inside the LAPD but outside the rules. ow many networks INSIDE DISH: Shawn Ryan wrote the pi- could legitimately use “Fearless” as a branding FX Networks and FX Productions — the viewers lot while under contract to the WB show statement? !e word implies a willingness to who seek them out are willing to leave their com- Angel. “In my mind, there was zero take great risks, to challenge and provoke view- fort zones. !at goes to the heart of the “Fear- audience for this,” he says. “I hoped it ers. In an industry where playing it safe is the less” mandate. would be a good enough writing sample norm, it’s almost impossible to deliver on that “Our aspirations are not to be safe or con- so that, if I got fired off Angel, I could kind of promise. ventional or predictable,” Landgraf says. “People get another job.” Once the pilot sold, But the FX network — where charlatans, who watch this channel want to be surprised. !e Angel creator-executive producer David pimps, bikers and spies have all run free — has alternative to being put off is never being sur- Greenwald graciously let Ryan out of his never played it safe.
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