BWW Preview: Move Over GLEE, RED BAND SOCIETY, Brings New Kids To Fox
By: Scott Fullerton Sep. 10, 2014
FOX will be airing the last 13 episodes of the popular series GLEE this Winter, but beginning September 17th, it is launching the newest Young Adult weapon in its arsenal, the RED BAND SOCIETY. I will be recapping and reviewing each episode for BroadwayWorld.com, and I wanted to give you all a little preview of the kids from Ocean Park Hospital, and, in another article, the adults who are there to take care of them and guide them along.
Many of the characters are reminiscent of those on GLEE, and hit all the right notes in appealing to the YA audience. Instead of the trials and tribulations of high school, these young actors, and their supporting adults, are dealing with growing up in a hospital with medical conditions that are serious, yet not losing the fact that they are kids and are experiencing all that comes with adolescence; love, fear, friendships, stupidity, and drama.
With fantastic writing, led by Emmy-nominated Executive Producer, Katherine Nagle, RED BAND SOCIETY is no pale imitation to GLEE, but a strong and worthy successor.
Narrating the series is young Charlie, the longest residence of Ocean Park Hospital after suffering some mysterious accident and currently in a coma. Yes he is narrating from a coma; as Charlie says, "Deal With It."
Played by 14-year-old Griffin Gluck, the Los Angeles born actor has been performing in guest television and movie roles since 2009, but this is his first main recurring character.
Charlie hears all in his coma, and has keen insight into his fellow patients. A great element of the writing and arc of Charlie is how he can "talk" to the other kids as well. Charlie would be the "Artie" of the group.
Leo is the "Finn" of the group. As the longest resident second only to Charlie, he has battled cancer and gone through a lot. As the show opens, Charlie is currently feeling restless and a little depressed; he's in a limbo, wait-and-see state in his treatments. English actor Charlie Rowe has been acting since 2006, and this is his second lead role. He became the youngest lead actor in the history of the Old Vic Theatre, in London, England, playing the title role of Ronnie Winslow in THE WINSLOW BOY.
Leo is quickly becoming friend and mentor to the newest patient, and his new roommate, Jordi. He is the "good kid" who occasionally breaks the rules, (well, more than occasionally.) Leo also forms his "Band of Brothers," the RED BAND SOCIETY, through the wrist bands he has collected from all of his time in the hospital; assigning meaning to each band and the person he gives it to. Leo is definitely the heart of the show; a leader, smart, but humble enough to appreciate the people around him.
Emma is intelligent, pretty and petite, and is in the Eating Disorder wing of the hospital. When she was first admitted, she met Leo and the fireworks flew. Unfortunately, it was too soon, and quickly led to regret and an awkward love/hate relationship with each. The lead character is portrayed by 17yo Ciara Bravo, who has built quite a resume in voiceover, film, and television work in the 6 years she has been in the business, including her best known work in the YA franchise BIG TIME RUSH on the Nikelodeon network.
Emma is quick witted and charming, and immediately hit's it off with Jordi, but whether it's to make Leo jealous or is another crush, we will have to find out. Emma is the "Rachel" of the group, and while smart and quick with her words, she still doesn't quite understand herself. This fact is shown in a great bit when she tells Kara (we'll meet her shortly) that she doesn't smoke, drink, or do drugs, and is quickly cut down after being told she's is right, those things "are so unhealthy; not like starving yourself."
Dash is the playboy, whose reach is just short of his ego and expectations. Definitely the "Puck" of the group, he is the rule-breaker that is probably just a good kid at heart. Played by Brian Bradley, who first became known as a Top-10 finisher in the U.S. version of THE X FACTOR, as the rapper, "Astro."
While still making music, Bradley has become much more an actor as of late, and along with his premiere in the RED BAND SOCIETY, he will also debut on the big screen alongside Liam Neeson in the movie, A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES, being released two days after the television show.
Dash knows where to get the medical marijuana, how to sweet talk the new nurses into a sponge bath, and is even smooth enough to "borrow" one of the doctor's cars while he is in surgery to go buy some beer and condoms for the big roof party; all while trying to use his Cystic Fibrosis to get him out of his jams.
Jordi is the newest patient in Pediatrics, having talked Dr. McAndrews into performing the surgery needed to amputate his leg in order to help stop the spread of his cancer. Jordi begins adapting to the hospital way of life after a rocky start with his new roommate Leo, but quickly bonding with him as he learns that Leo has already been through what he is just now facing.
Jordi is played by Nolan Sotillo, who is also a singer and songwriter, and was in the movie PROM as Lucas, where his character was also featured in the tie-in webisodes, COREY AND LUCAS FOR THE WIN.
Nolan also is recording the song, WASTED NIGHTS, that will be featured in the premiere episode of RED BAND SOCIETY. Jordi is a cross between GLEE characters "Sam" and "Blaine," mixing the traits of having to grow up and take responsibility early after his mom dies. It becomes quickly apparent that he is both the smart and driven. On his own, he researches his best chances to survive cancer, and realizes that iti is at Ocean Park Hospital with Dr. Andrews.
Finally there is Kara, and ending up in the hospital after collapsing at Cheerleading practice is the last place she wants to be. She is a non-stop force of nature, and usually not in the good way. She is definitely the "Santana" of the group. Portrayed by Zoe Levin an actress with some serious indie movie cred, she was a strong best friend in TRUST, a beautiful daughter and sister in the THE WAY WAY BACK, and appeared in James Franco's movie PALO ALTO. Zoe appeared Off-Broadway along with Sara Jessica Parker and Blythe Danner, in THE COMMONS OF PENSACOLA.
Kara has just found out she has an enlarged heart and is need of a transplant. Unfortunately, her past reckless attitude towards alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs is going to put her at the bottom of that list. She is Charlie's roommate and has quickly acclimated to the lay of the hospital land and quickly learns how to get what she wants.
On September 17th, come get to know the young patients of Ocean Park Hospital, and join me in rooting for a long, healthy run of this great new series on FOX. Later this week, I will preview the adults of RED BAND SOCIETY, who happens to include an Oscar winner, a popular TV actor (who was once PEOPLE's seventh Sexiest Man Alive), an all-grown-up former teen star, and a creative team that includes an Executive Producer that you may have heard of... Steven Spielberg ring any bells?
Check out these preview clips the show has released...
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