‘Early Edition’ A Surprise Ratings Success
In CBS’ “Early Edition,” a Chicago stockbroker has the ability to change the future because every morning he mysteriously receives the next day’s edition of the newspaper.
But the executive producer and the star of the quirky fantasy weren’t able to predict that the series would become such a success. “Early Edition” is the top-rated new dramatic show of the season, regularly winning its Saturday night time slot.
“I was pleasantly surprised,” says Kyle Chandler, who plays Gary Hobson, the stockbroker whose life is turned upside-down when a sweet tabby cat and the next day’s edition of the Chicago Sun-Times show up at the door of his hotel room. “I think people like the show. It has got something that’s different to it. It has got some smart writing.”
Executive producer Bob Brush is thrilled with the audience response to the series that took over the Saturday slot previously occupied by the hit “Touched By an Angel,” which moved to Sunday nights.
“I think that, going in, there was kind of an expectation by the network and the people around it that what they needed was a ‘Touchedan Angel,’ so we didn’t know if the little bit of edge the show has and the quirkier feel of it would play or not. Astonishingly enough, people seem to be embracing it.” The main reason, Brush believes, is that people have always wanted to see into the future.
The character of Gary, Brush says, is an “ordinary schlub” who is dealing with this situation but finds it more a curse than a blessing. “I think there’s probably something universal about that,” the producer says.
Chandler likes the fact that Gary is just a regular guy who suddenly finds himself changing people’s fates.
“The character can become so flawless so easily,” the actor says. “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to hate the cat and hate the paper. My character doesn’t want the paper. He is stuck with it and it’s a curse.”
The feline element was part of the original concept. When Brush was brought in as executive producer, he kept the kitty. “I thought it was a great idea,” Brush says. “I don’t understand it. I think it’s a great idea because there is no way of understanding it. The cat comes with the newspaper.”
It’s also been hinted that the cat is actually the same cat that was owned by a now-deceased typesetter who also lived in Gary’s hotel. “That story will reappear and we will keep chasing that down blind alleys,” Brush says.
Rounding out the cast are Fisher Stevens as Chuck, Gary’s opportunistic friend who wants to use the edition to make money, and Shenesia Davis as Marissa, Gary’s blind co-worker who encourages him to use the paper to help people.
As the series progresses, Brush says, viewers will learn along with Gary about the real purpose of the paper. “There’s no doubt there is some kind of an agenda going on with the paper,” the producer says. “There is something he hasn’t discovered and he knows that. There must be something this thing wants from him and he doesn’t know what it is yet.”
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TV SHOW “Early Edition” airs at 9 p.m. Saturdays on KREM-TV, Channel 2.