Update
- August 5:
On Sunday, July 9th, the
USA Network limited series "The 4400" shattered the record for
basic cable's most-watched series premiere! A staggering 7.4 million total viewers tuned
in to the two-hour show easily outdistancing previous record holder "The Dead
Zone" by 1 million. "The 4400" was the highest-rated program on USA since
the 1998 miniseries "Moby Dick," which averaged 10.4 million over two nights.
"We're thrilled with the extraordinary response to 'The 4400' from critics as well as
viewers," says Bonnie Hammer, president, USA Network. "Its success is a result
of a great product enhanced by creative marketing and strong on-air promotion, in other
words, the total collaboration of a great team."
In casting Coyote as the Homeland Security chief, producer Suro says, "We wanted
someone who has the strength and the credibility. Coyote offers the compassion he showed
as a NASA official in 'E.T.' and the authority he has while narrating documentaries."
Eclipse Magazine echoes my sentiments (and I'm sure yours :) with the
following critique - "Peter Coyote lends weight to 'The 4400'. He has a presence that
can be as gentle as a fawn, or as menacing as a tiger but here he has a role that
allows him to be both tough and gentle in the same moments and he carries it off well.
Ryland is the kind of boss we would all like to work for: if someone goofs, they get
chewed out but then its over; if someone does something noteworthy, its noted
and then they move on. Coyote can convey that kind of personality with a minimum of fuss
and make it stick. 'The 4400' works because of its excellent scripting and direction, but
Coyote's thoughtful performance nails it down."
From the NY Times: Scott Peters, creator and co-executive producer
reveals that "the heart of the piece is loosely inspired by events from 9/11. How do
you deal with something like that? The scope is enormous. It touches everyone. Something
that has such a large global impact, it changes us, challenges us and, like 9/11, it
ultimately defines who we are by how we react to it." Coyote, who calls science
fiction "the morality of the play", says the story of the interracial
relationship was something that interested him. He further comments "What Peters said
is really good. You're taking a slice of what happens to a nation when it's impacted by a
huge event and you see every scope of reaction - everything from heroism to government
oppression and paranoia.... I represent the element of the bureaucracy and all the forces
positive and negative that attend to it and deal with it and stress it."
For those who may have missed some or all of the episodes, six hours of "The
4400" will be aired this Sunday beginning with the pilot episode and ending with the
season finale. Check your local tv listings for exact times.
The DVD/video release of Bon Voyage
is scheduled for August 17th. San Diego Metropolitan lends
its praise with "Bon Voyage boasts an excellent ensemble cast across the
board. Adjani's spoiled diva, Depardieu's cautious politician, Coyote's
smooth spy, Derangère's hopeless lover, Kopolski's aged scientist, Attal's almost
sympathetic criminal and Ledoyen's sweet student are all memorable characters and
charmingly played." Check it out!
Sources had previously indicated that Shadow of
Fear would premiere with a limited opening on July 14th. However, upon
returning from vacation, I've learned that the film must have been pulled for whatever
reason. Director Rich Cowan had previously made these comments about the film's
release - The financiers have a deal with Sony and some of these movies go to the
theaters, and some go straight to video and television, but they typically don't make that
evaluation until the movie is complete. We shoot for theatrical. However, most of the
films in this range do not go to the theaters. It takes another $10 million to $15 million
just to release the movie. Usually they'll only invest in a movie that has a higher
budget. But you never know." Whatever new information I find will be posted here. Click here to view the trailer.
Update - July 9:
The USA
Network's new offering, "THE 4400" debuts Sunday with a
two-hour premiere, which will be followed up with one-hour episodes every Sunday evening
through August 8th. Coyote plays Dennis Ryland, head of the Washington state Department of
Homeland Security. For complete information on this new series, read updates below or
visit the official web site. British Sky
Broadcasting's Sky One has secured exclusive U.K. TV rights to the series, which will
debut in the fall in the United Kingdom. TV Guide calls it "Spooky Summer Fun" and
claims that "judging from the two-hour opener, this is the summer treat many of us
have been waiting for... This is science fiction with a soul." The Hollywood
Reporter praises it with, "Director Yves Simoneau encouraged some angst-ridden
performances, but the scenery isn't the only thing that gets chewed. To Simoneau's credit,
there's also a lot of tasty chewing on the intriguing idea of what it's like to try to fit
into a formerly familiar world that has become, well, alien."
[this is the last update until August when I return from vacation]
Update - June 28:
The photo to the left is the latest one issued by "The
4400"series about to premiere on the USA Network on July 11th. Publicity for
the show is full steam ahead. Over the July 4th weekend and continuing through the 11th,
expect to see the trailer attached to several theater showings, which include Spiderman
II and King Arthur. For those in NYC, look for the Loews theater window at
Lincoln Center, which will feature a huge 4400 interactive display. There will also be a
billboard on Sunset in Hollywood, plus several at Universal Studios in both LA and
Orlando. The NY Times magazine will feature "The 4400" on its
cover next
week, and coverage will show up in the media including newspapers, magazines, the
Internet, radio, and several television stations - NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, Lifetime and
Sci-fi. Yes, unless you're living under a rock in the next couple weeks, you're bound to
see plenty of publicity! Check out the official web site
for the trailer and great info.
Update - June 11:
Peter will be a guest on HBO's Deadwood series on Sunday
evening, June 13th! He plays General Crook of the U.S. Army in this season's final
episode, "Sold Under Sin". He'll also return next season in this recurring role.
The series takes place in Deadwood, South Dakota at the end of the 19th century before
South Dakota was a state. It's an age of plunder and greed where the richest gold strike
in American History draws a throng of restless misfits to an outlaw settlement where
everything and everyone has a price. Interestingly, it'll team up Powers
Boothe, Keith Carradine and Coyote again - anyone remember the film they starred in back
in 1981? Click here for the answer.

The Praxis Peace Institute will hold a conference June 13-18 in Pacific Grove, CA. Peter
will be a speaker at this conference called "The Alchemy of Democracy:
Restoring Soul to Culture", which will feature many programs and workshops.
The institute is a non-profit, peace-education organization dedicated to radical inquiry,
deep dialogue, creative problem solving, and informed action.
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A few years ago in the early days of this web site, there was a Photoplay quiz consisting of several scenes
from Coyote's films put under different themes. We actually had a monthly contest with
winners and prizes. This time it's back again for just pure fun with a few new pics, so
both past and present visitors can test their knowledge. The answers are on each quiz page
in the pop-up menu. Enjoy!
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