"Shooter" review by Suzanne
11/25/16
Airs Tuesdays, 10/9c on USA Network
I thought this show was really slow at first, but it did
speed up later. Ryan Phillipe plays a former marine sniper,
Bobby Lee, who gets framed for shooting the president. He
carries the show in a large way, so you really have to like
him to enjoy the show. He does a fine job, but he's playing
someone who's kind of a tortured soul, which works against
his natural charm. Omar Epps plays his secret service
friend, Isaac, who asks him to help figure out where a
potential threat might come from. Warehouse 13's Eddie
McClintock plays another government agent, Jack, who doesn't
seem to like Bobby Lee much. Whether he's just a jerk, or
something worse, we're not sure at first. Shantel Vansanten
plays Julie, Bobby Lee's wife. Cynthia Addai-Robinson plays
Nadine, a police detective.
It's clear that there's a
conspiracy here (possibly more than one), and Bobby Lee
tries to piece things together, as does Nadine. I was glad
to see that the show wasn't as predictable as it first
seemed. I was afraid Bobby Lee's wife, or daughter, or both,
would be murdered in the first episode.
Apparently
the show is based on a book, which was also made into a
movie. I haven't read the book, nor seen the movie, so I
can't judge that aspect of it. If I had more time, I might
keep watching the show to find out what happens. It seems to
be a pretty good political/suspense thriller.
FYI the show was supposed to debut back in July, but due to
the shootings in Dallas, the network pushed it back until
November.
MORE INFORMATION:
USA NETWORK ANNOUNCES SERIES
PICK-UP FOR ‘SHOOTER’
A Co-Production with Paramount
Television and Universal Cable Productions, the Drama is
from Executive Producers Mark Wahlberg, Stephen
Levinson, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and John Hlavin
Ryan Phillippe (“Secrets and
Lies”) and Omar Epps (“House”) Set to Star
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA –
February 10, 2016 – USA Network announced a series
pick-up for SHOOTER, a
drama based on the best-selling Bob Lee Swagger novel by
Stephen Hunter, Point of Impact, and the 2007
Paramount film starring Mark Wahlberg. The
co-production with Paramount Television and Universal
Cable Productions comes from executive producers
Wahlberg (“Ballers,” “Boardwalk Empire”) of Closest to
the Hole Productions; Stephen Levinson (“Ballers,”
“Boardwalk Empire”) of Leverage Entertainment; and
Lorenzo di Bonaventura ("Transformers," "The Real
O'Neals"). John Hlavin (“The Shield”) wrote the pilot
and will also executive produce. Simon Cellan Jones
(“Bloodline”) directed the pilot.
Ryan Phillippe (“Secrets and Lies”)
is a producer on the project and will star as Bob Lee
Swagger, an expert marksman living in exile who is
coaxed back into action after learning of a plot to kill
the president. Omar Epps (“House”) plays Isaac Johnson,
an ex-Marine and former commanding officer of Swagger.
Now a Secret Service Agent, he solicits Swagger’s
expertise for a clandestine operation that has
disastrous results.
“SHOOTER is
an uncompromising exploration of the definition and
evolution of a hero,” said Jackie de Crinis, Executive
Vice President, Original Programming, USA Network. “The
conspiracy and drama that unfolded throughout the first
hour had us completely immersed, and we look forward to
more.”
“USA is the perfect home for SHOOTER,” said Amy Powell,
President, Paramount Television. “Stephen Hunter’s Bob
Lee Swagger is a heroic, iconic character and there is
so much more of his story to explore in series. This
incredible group of producers and actors bring our
vision to the next level; we couldn’t be more thrilled
to work with Mark, Ryan, Stephen, John, and Universal
Cable Productions to take audiences on an exciting
journey.”
On the heels of a series pick-up
for the Gale Anne Hurd (“The Walking Dead”), Blake
Masters (“Brotherhood”) and the late Emmy Award-winner
Henry Bromell (“Homeland”)drama, FALLING
WATER,SHOOTERis the
second project to be greenlit off of USA Network’s
2015/2016 pilot slate. Still in contention are
BROOKLYN ANIMAL CONTROL, a co-production between
Universal Cable Productions and IDW Entertainment, the
pilot is written and executive produced by JT Petty
(“Splinter Cell”), David S. Goyer (“Batman v Superman”)
also executive produced; and POOR RICHARD’S
ALMANACK,a co-production between Legendary
Television and Universal Cable Productions, the project
is from executive producer Jim Danger Gray (“Orange is
the New Black”) and consulting producer Miguel Sapochnik
(“Game of Thrones”).
About USA Network:
USA Network, the leader in cable
entertainment, offers a powerful stable of dramatic,
comedic and unscripted originals in more than 102
million U.S. homes. The network also features
spectacular live television, a dynamic portfolio of
acquired series and the best in blockbuster theatrical
films and entertainment events. A trailblazer in
digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining,
driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV.
USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable
Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The
award-winning website is located at http://www.usanetwork.com.
Watch USA Network anywhere: On Demand, online or across
mobile and connected TVs
About Paramount Television:
Paramount Television develops and
finances a wide range of creative television programming
across all media platforms. Paramount Television is
part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global
producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC
is a division of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a global
content company with premier television, film and
digital entertainment brands.
About Universal Cable
Productions:
Universal Cable Productions (UCP)
creates innovative and critically acclaimed original
scripted and digital content across media platforms for
domestic and international distribution. In the U.S.,
UCP’s programming can be seen across various networks
including the Golden Globe award-winning drama “Mr.
Robot,” “Colony,” “Playing House,” “Royal Pains” and
“Suits” on USA Network; “The Magicians,” “12 Monkeys,”
“Hunters” and “Killjoys” on Syfy; “Girlfriends’ Guide To
Divorce” on Bravo; “The Royals,” on E!; “Difficult
People,” on Hulu; and “Battlestar Galactica: Blood &
Chrome” on Machinima Prime/YouTube and Syfy. UCP’s
content library includes critic and fan favorites such
as the Emmy-award winning “Monk” as well as “Psych” and
“Battlestar Galactica.” Universal Cable Productions is a
part of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of
NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and
entertainment companies. Follow us
@UCPisTV.
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