My Take on TV visits the set of TERRIERS!

With a big thank you to Melody Simpson, My Take On TV had a presence on the TERRIERS set earlier this summer.  Interviews will be coming in the next few weeks as we prepare for the premiere of this fantastic new dark comedy starring Donal Logue and Michael Raymond James.  Read on for a little preview of the visit!

With so many new shows premiering this fall, there are some very hard decisions that need to be made about what to watch and what to skip. After watching the first two episodes of the new F/X original series, TERRIERS and visiting the set in San Diego, California…my decision is to definitely watch this show this fall.

TERRIERS follows best friends, Hank (Donal Logue) and Britt (Michael Raymond James) who begin to run an unlicensed private investigation business after Hank has been dishonorably discharged from the force. There is a nice integration of stand alone, episodic story lines and story lines with a much longer arc. The Pilot will have viewers anticipating the unraveling of certain plot points. As far as balance goes, it is hard to place this show in just one category. There’s drama, there’s comedy, some action, and a hint of romance…well, let’s be honest – lust. Unfortunately the romance seems to be gone for Hank and the one he gave his heart to, and Britt’s girlfriend seems to want to take their relationship to the next level…but if it’s up to Britt, it could be awhile. Everyone has different expectations both personally and professionally…and those expectations will get everyone into some very interesting situations.

TERRIERS was created by Ted Griffin (Ocean’s Eleven, The Shield) and stars Michael Raymond James (True Blood) and Donal Logue (Life), Rockmond Dunbar (Prison Break), Jamie Denbo (Brothers), Laura Allen (Dirt), and Kimberly Quinn (Possible Side Effects). Those on location the day of the set visit were Michael Raymond James, Donal Logue, Rockmond Dunbar, and Jamie Denbo.

There was quite a lot of chatter about the title of the show, which is not explained in the first two episodes that were screened. Every actor had their own interpretation of the title, as did all of us who viewed the show. So it will be very exciting to see how the viewers interpret the title. As for the actual series, the cast spilled more spoilers about the first season than I would have ever expected, especially about the season finale since that is what was being filmed on the day of the set visit. So you’ll have to wait until the end of the summer for the full interviews. In the meantime, here are some photos from the set:

Though the show is based in the real setting of San Diego, specifically Ocean Beach, Ocean Beach does not have its own police department. On the show, the Ocean Beach Police Department exists! There were dozens of extras walking around the set as policemen! When first arriving on set, I was unaware that the police offers were indeed extras, so I found myself standing up straight and walking as proper as possible. I don’t know what it is about police officers that make people stand up straight and act so proper. Anyway, going inside the abandoned building that was being used as the police department, I walked into an interview room, a jail cell, and Detective Gustafson’s office. Gustafson (Rockmond Dunbar) reluctantly works with Hank to solve cases, though it is only a matter of time until Gustafson will consider Hank a long term asset worth sticking his neck out for.

There is quite a lot to look forward to from TERRIERS as the groundwork for the series is set very well in the Pilot. Best of all, FX has shot all around San Diego, so it will be very refreshing to see this setting on television. You won’t want to miss all of the action this fall. So stay tuned for TERRIERS, only on FX.

Thanks again to Melody (pictured in some of the shots above, with Donal Logue)!