Jericho fans in mourning for the show have a reason to smile again. For the second time this month, a former Jericho cast member is guest starring on the new CBS show Flashpoint! This week, Kenneth Mitchell appears as a wife-abusing cop taken hostage by an angry family member in the episode entitled “Asking for Flowers”. A bit of a departure from Eric Green, huh? Mitchell says he’s heard rumors of a Jericho film and he’d love to do it. Fingers crossed.

UGO: So for those who haven’t seen it yet, tell us a bit about Flashpoint.

KENNETH MITCHELL: It was a Canadian produced show at first, about a Toronto special unit. The pilot was successful and they brought it to CBS. It was during the writer’s strike and they were looking for some content that potentially might have to fill the airwaves. They took a liking to the show and picked it up, so now it’s kind of a co-production with Canada and America…story-wise, it’s about this Toronto unit…it’s pretty rare on American waves that you have a story that takes place actually in Canada. And coming from Canada myself I find that fascinating.

UGO: What’s your episode about? Who do you play?

KENNETH: So I play a wife abusing Pete. That’s my character. (laughs) I’m a cop. Right near the beginning of the show the audience finds out that I’ve been abusing my wife, and my sister-in-law is privy to this and she’s tired of it and wants to stop this from happening again. So basically she steals my gun…and holds me for ransom. She holds me hostage on my yacht, trying to get me to stop this. And she’s kind of confused. She’s dealing with whether or not to kill me or just threaten me. And then things take a bit of a turn when I eventually get the upper hand, and I get the weapon away from her. I kind of go into crazy, psycho abusive mode and seek revenge on her holding me hostage.

UGO: Have you ever played a character like this before? Someone this dark?

KENNETH: I did this film called Home of the Giants where I played a bit of a dark character. Nothing kind of abusive like that. It was kind of interesting. These characters are quite challenging. The other interesting thing about playing this character, is that I was drunk the whole time. That’s always kind of challenging to play. You can always overdo it and you really have to trust your director to keep you in check. Someone always told me, I think it was an acting coach, it’s really difficult to play drunk. Don’t act drunk. When they’re drunk, people often pretend not to be drunk…it’s something that kind of stuck in my mind while I was playing the character. And thankfully I had the director Clark Johnson (The Wire, The Sheild) on board, and he was great at kind of keeping me in check. And I think we found an interesting level of drunk throughout the episode. Going back to the original question, I guess Home of the Giants was probably a bit of a creepy character that I played. But this is definitely the creepiest of them all, so far.

UGO: Do you like playing heroes or villains? Do you have a preference?

KENNETH: Not really. (laughs) I guess, I’m not saying I’m a hero, but I feel like I’m your average guy, so when you’re playing the villain character, it’s fun to play something totally different…sometimes I have a lot more fun playing the villain.

UGO: Would you do a series again? Is that something you’re looking for?

KENNETH: Absolutely. I had such an amazing time on Jericho. It was a great family. I enjoyed going to work everyday. So I’m definitely open to doing another show.

UGO: We were just at Comic Con, and I heard people mention Jericho more than once. You’ve still got some pretty rabid fans out there.

KENNETH: (laughs) Yeah, I know. Things are still buzzing around. I’ve even heard rumors of a film and whatnot, but yeah, the fans are great.

UGO: A Jericho film? That would make the fans like me very happy.

KENNETH: Yeah, they’re just rumors at this point. You hear lots of things. At this point I can’t take anything to heart. I have to try and move on. But that’s something that I would jump on in a second because I love Jericho and I feel like there’s a lot more story to tell. And again, I love working with all those people.

UGO: What do you have in the works right now?

KENNETH: Well my voice is kind of groggy right now because I put in a long 14 hour day doing a mini-series called Meteor, which is kind of another disaster project. (laughs) You’ll probably get a kick out of this. I play a farmer, and the set of the farm is exactly the same as Stanley Richmond’s (Brad Beyer) farm. It was actually kind of trippy…some meteors come down and hit America, and cause havoc. And the whole thing is unfolding through this small town. It has very similar elements to Jericho, except this time I’m playing the farmer, saving my wife and my kids.

UGO: Do you know when that’s going to be released?

KENNETH: I don’t know. I’m guessing maybe sometime early next year or late this year, depending on how fast they can turn around all the special effects. It’s called Meteor: The Path of Destruction. There’s some really interesting people involved like Stacy Keach (American History X, Prison Break), Billy Campbell (The 4400, Once and Again), Jason Alexander and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future. It’s kind of a neat ensemble they put together…it felt good to get back into Jericho mode too. Like yesterday I was bloody and my face was all dirty and I was running around. I save people. It was kind of reminiscent of my Jericho days and it made me happy.

UGO: Did you have a favorite episode of Jericho?

KENNETH: Yeah. My first favorite episode was “Rouge River”. I just loved going off with Skeet (Ulrich)…kind of getting down and dirty, and all that kind of “action-y” stuff with the guns. Doing something redeeming and trying to get medicine for our father. I always love that stuff…for emotional reasons I really enjoyed working on the death of April. That kind of spun things with my character’s direction, with the whole capture. And I guess the last three episodes of the first season were dynamite. They were great, action packed, the death of the father, the whole war. I love working with that stuff. And any episodes with horses in it.

UGO: Really?

KENNETH: (laughs) I love riding the horses. There was this moment, I think it was Jake (Ulrich) and I, where we were riding horses. We were chasing after that truck, and gosh, we were going so fast! I mean, here we are, riding these horses right behind this truck. They probably should have had stunt doubles doing this day, but Skeet and I were doing it. We were looking over at each other, pretty much with a “holy sh*t” face. (laughs) But then, you know, a big grin and a smile. We were playing cowboys and indians, like we were kids. I can’t believe I get paid to do this sometimes. It’s a lot of fun. It’s great! For Flashpoint, it was great to get back to Toronto. That’s where I’m from. And see my folks. It’s one of those moments where you’re like, it’s a great business. I’m having a lot of fun. I get paid to do this [thing] where I get to travel, meet people and hang out with my family. To go to work and get to play some creepy, interesting characters.

UGO: And play drunk.

KENNETH: (laughs) And play drunk…I’m really proud of what they were able to produce on the Canadian side. It’s one of the best shows they’ve ever done.

The series

Ein Leben nach der Explosion einer Atombombe - schwer vorstellbar. A life after the explosion of a nuclear bomb - difficult to imagine. Von einer Minute auf die andere wird es zur Realität für die Bewohner des kleinen Städtchens ” Jericho ” in Kansas. From one minute to the next, it will become a reality for the inhabitants of the small town of “Jericho” in Kansas. Zunächst geht es dort noch ruhig und beschaulich zu, bis im nahe gelegenen Denver eine Atombombe detoniert. First, there are still quiet and introspective, and in nearby Denver detoniert an atomic bomb. Ab da an ist die Gemeinde komplett von der Außenwelt abgeschnitten: Kein Strom, kein Wasser, keine Vorräte. From then on, the town is completely cut off the outside world: no electricity, no water, no supplies. Die Überlebenden wissen zunächst weder was passiert ist und wie schlimm das Ausmaß ist, noch wie es weiter geht. The survivors initially not know what happened and how bad the scale, nor how to continue.

Jake Green ( Skeet Ulrich ) kehrt nach fünf Jahren in seine Heimatstadt ” Jericho ” zurück. Jake Green (Skeet Ulrich) returns after five years in his home town of Jericho “. Eine Rückkehr, die durch die Explosion der Atombombe zum Horrortrip wird. A return caused by the explosion of the atomic bomb to the horror trip. Für die Bewohner fängt schon sehr bald der Kampf ums Überleben an, denn sie sind ohne Strom, Wasser, Vorräte und Kontakt zur Außenwelt. For the inhabitants start very soon the struggle for survival, because they are without electricity, water, supplies and contact with the outside world. Nur einer kommuniziert heimlich mit der Außenwelt - der Ex-Polizist Robert Hawkins ( Lennie James ). Only one secretly communicates with the outside world - the ex-cop named Robert Hawkins (Lennie James). Auf mysteriöse Weise besitzt er noch einen funktionsfähigen Computer und jede Menge technische Ausrüstung. On mysteriously he still has a functioning computer and a lot of technical equipment. Die Überlebenden haben Fragen über Fragen, aber keine Antworten: War die Explosion ein Terroranschlag und wenn ja von wem? The survivors have some questions about questions but no answers: Was the explosion a terrorist attack and if so by whom? Sind noch weitere Städte außer Denver betroffen? Are other cities except Denver? Wieso kommt keine Hilfe? Why is no help? Mit wem kommuniziert Hawkins und was weiß er über die Anschläge? With whom Hawkins communicates and what he knows about the attacks? Die Kleinstadt in Kansas steht vor schwierigen Aufgaben und Entscheidungen, die sie nur lösen können, wenn sie zusammenarbeiten. The small town in Kansas is facing difficult tasks and decisions that only they can solve, if they work.

The image

Auch wenn uns zunächst nur eine Full Frame Version vorlag, die im Handel erhältliche Box bietet ein 16:9 Widescreen Bild in europäischer PAL-Norm und präsentiert sich farblich ausgewogen und mit hervorragender Detailschärfe. Even if we initially only a full-frame version existed in the commercially available box offers a 16:9 widescreen image in European PAL standard and is color-balanced with excellent detail and sharpness. So macht das Ansehen Spaß. So the reputation of fun. Eine junge Serie darf einfach nicht anders auf DVD gepresst werden. A young series may simply not be pressed on DVD. Ohne wahrnehmbares Bildrauschen und ohne nennenswerte Kompressionsartefakte überzeugt das Bild durch einen angenehmen Kontrast. Without perceptible noise and without significant compression artifacts convinced the picture by a pleasant contrast.

Der Ton The sound

Die DVDs bieten eine englische Tonspur in Dolby Digital 5.1 und jeweils deutschen, französischen, italienischen und spanischen Ton in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround. The DVDs offer an English soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1 and the German, French, Italian and Spanish sound in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround. Untertitel werden in Deutsch, Englisch, Dänisch, Finnisch, Französisch, Holländisch, Italienisch, Norwegisch, Schwedisch und Spanisch angeboten. Subtitles are in German, English, Danish, Finnish, French, Dutch, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish and Spanish.

Die englische 5.1-Spur überzeugt durch einen ansprechenden Raumklang, der an vielen Passagen auch angenehme Bässe hervorbringt. The English 5.1 track with a convincing surround sound appealing, in many passages also pleasant bass produces. Deutlich abgegrenzt erklingt die Sprache aus dem Center, wodurch die Verständlichkeit steigt. Clearly delineated hear the language from the center, thus increasing understanding. Die hinteren Boxen sind ständig gefordert, um die Atmosphäre akustisch zu untermalen. The rear speakers are constantly required to accompany acoustic atmosphere.

The German Dolby Digital 2.0 surround sound - for what he is - pleasantly, but no real competition to Dolby Digital 5.1.

Leider hat es sich wohl für eine derart kurzlebige Serie nicht gelohnt, eine deutsche 5.1-Spur zu produzieren. Unfortunately, it is probably for such a short series is not worth it, a German 5.1 track to produce.

Man vermisst gerade im Vergleich mit der englischen Spur den Raumklang, der einen einhüllt und durch die Szenen trägt. One missing, especially in comparison with the English track the surround with a einhüllt and by the scenes.

The Extras

Neben 22 Episoden inklusive Pilotfilm enthält die Box auf sechs DVDs in drei Slim Keep Cases im Schuber auch einige Extras: In addition to 22 episodes including the pilot film contains the box on six DVDs in three Keep Slim Cases in slipcase some extras:

• Die Entstehung Jerichos: Ein detaillierter Blick auf die Entstehungsgeschichte der Serie, mit exklusiven Interviews von Stab und Besetzung. The emergence of Jerichos: A detailed look at the history of the series, with exclusive interviews of cast and crew.
  
• Was wäre wenn? What if? Ein aufschlussreicher Blick auf das nukleare Wettrüsten seit Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges. A revealing look at the nuclear arms race since the end of the Second World War. Was würde nach einem Angriff passieren? What would happen after an attack? Wie könnten wir eine von Menschen verursachte oder eine natürliche Katastrophe überleben? How could we have a man-made or natural disaster survive?
  
• Gelöschte Szenen Deleted scenes
  
• Conclusion
  
• Die zweite Staffel der Serie brachte es nur auf sieben Episoden und noch immer kämpfen Fans um eine Fortsetzung. The second season brought the series is only seven episodes and fans still struggling to continue. Auch wenn dies eher unwahrscheinlich ist, sollte man ruhig einen Blick riskieren. Although this is unlikely, you should get a look. Vor allem wenn man die Serie noch nicht kennt. Especially when the series is not yet known. Insgesamt bietet die Box 911 spannenden Minuten Unterhaltung. Overall, the box 911 minutes exciting entertainment.
  

Download Jericho Season 1 DVD here

Former “Jericho“ star Lennie James is taking up residence in a new village.

James, who played Robert Hawkins on CBS’ cult series, has signed on to AMC’s remake of the classic 1960s show “The Prisoner.” He’ll play Number 147, a resident of the mysterious Village where a former secret agent, now known as Number 6 ( Jim Caviezel), finds himself imprisoned.

Three other actors have also joined the series, AMC says. Ruth Wilson, a Golden Globe nominee this year for a “Masterpiece Theatre” production of “Jane Eyre,” Hayley Atwell (”Mansfield Park,” ” Brideshead Revisited”) and Jamie Campbell-Bower (”Sweeney Todd”) will play other residents of the Village.

Ian McKellen (”The Lord of the Rings,” “Gods and Monsters”) was previously cast as Number 2, the apparent head of the Village and Number 6’s primary antagonist.

AMC is producing “The Prisoner” with British broadcaster ITV and Granada International, with Bill Gallagher attached to write. The six-hour miniseries is scheduled to air sometime next year.

In addition to “Jericho,” James’ credits include “The State Within,” “Snatch” and “24 Hour Party People.”