This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
For the first time since "Touched by an Angel" closed up shop a dozen years ago, a network television series will be produced in Utah.
And Utah will be starring as … North Dakota.
Really.
ABC has ordered a still-untitled drama about a huge oil boom in that state and the conflict between two ambitious young people (Chace Crawford of "Gossip Girl" and Rebecca Rittenhouse of "Red Band Society") who head to North Dakota to build a better life and run up against an evil oil baron (Don Johnson of "Miami Vice"), who serves as the main antagonist.
Here's ABC's description: "Billy and Cody Lefever dream of a new life beyond their working class roots and move to 'The Bakken' in North Dakota, booming after the biggest oil discovery in American history. They're soon pitted against a ruthless tycoon who forces them to bet big and put everything on the line, including their marriage."
It sounds a bit like the original concept behind "Dynasty." Before Joan Collins joined the cast in Season 2, that 1980s hit centered on the conflict between ruthless oil baron Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) and wildcatter Matthew Blaisdel (Bo Hopkins).
When the pilot for ABC's new made-in-Utah series was being filmed, the show was operating under the title "Boom," but that has been jettisoned in favor of … a title to be announced.
At this point, not only do we not know what the show will be titled but ABC has yet to announce when it will air. It could be a new fall series; it could be a midseason replacement show.
The network announces its 2015-16 schedule on Tuesday.
The cast of the show formerly known as "Boom" includes Delroy Lindo ("Believe"), Amber Valletta ("Revenge"), Scott Michael Foster ("Once Upon a Time"), Rebecca Rittenhouse ("Red Band Society"), India De Beaufort ("One Tree Hill"), Caitlin Carver ("The Fosters") and Yani Gellman ("Pretty Little Liars").
The show will come to us from ABC Productions. Johnson is an executive producer, as he was on his last series, "Nash Bridges."
The producing team includes Tony Krantz ("24," "Dracula," "Felicity," "Sports Night"), Josh Pate ("Moonlight," "Surface") and newcomer Rodes Fishburne.
The other new shows ABC has ordered, along with the network's descriptions, are:
"The Catch" • From Shondaland's Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, "The Catch" is a new thriller centered on the strong, successful Alice Martin (Mireille Enos). She's a fraud investigator who's about to be the victim of fraud by her fiancé. Between her cases, she is determined to find him before it ruins her career.
"The Catch" stars Mireille Enos as Alice, Alimi Ballard as Evan, Damon Dayoub as Kieran, Jay Hayden as James, Jacky Ido as Emil, Bethany Joy Lenz as Zoe, Rose Rollins as Andie and Elvy Yost as Maria.
"The Catch" was written by Jennifer Schuur. Executive producers are Jennifer Schuur, Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers and Julie Anne Robinson. "The Catch" is produced by ABC Studios.
"Dr, Ken" • Doctor turned actor/comedian Ken Jeong (Community, The Hangover), plays Dr. Ken, a brilliant physician with no bedside manner. He is always trying to be a good doctor, as well as a good husband and dad to his two kids. However, these good intentions have a way of driving everyone crazy at both work and at home. Luckily, his therapist wife Allison is just the right partner to keep things sane.
"Dr. Ken" stars Ken Jeong as Dr. Ken, Suzy Nakamura as Allison, Tisha Campbell-Martin as Damona, Dave Foley as Pat, Jonathan Slavin as Clark, Albert Tsai as Dave and Krista Marie Yu as Molly.
"Dr. Ken was written by Jared Stern, Ken Jeong, and Mike O'Connell. Executive Producers are Jared Stern, Ken Jeong, John Davis, John Fox and Mike Sikowitz, with Mike O'Connell as co-executive producer. "Dr. Ken" is produced by Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios.
"The Family" • This thriller follows the return of a politician's young son who was presumed dead after disappearing over a decade earlier. As the mysterious young man is welcomed back into his family suspicions emerge — is he really who he says he is?
"The Family" stars Joan Allen as Claire, Allison Pill as Willa, Margot Bingham as Sergeant Nina Meyer, Zach Gilford as Danny, Liam James as Adam, Floriana Lima as Bridey, Madeline Arthur as Young Willa, Rarmian Newton as Young Danny, Rupert Graves as John and Andrew McCarthy as Hank.
"The Family" was written by Jenna Bans. Executive producers are Jenna Bans, Todd Lieberman, David Hoberman, and Laurie Zaks. "The Family" is produced by ABC Studios.
"The Muppets" • "The Muppets" return to prime time with a contemporary, documentary-style show that, for the first time ever, will explore the Muppets' personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, break-ups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires; a more adult Muppet show, for kids of all ages.
Bill Prady ("The Big Bang Theory") and Bob Kushell ("Anger Management") are co-writers and executive producers. Randall Einhorn and Bill Barretta are also executive producers. "The Muppets" is produced by ABC Studios and The Muppets Studio.
"Of Kings and Prophets" • An epic Biblical saga of faith, ambition and betrayal as told through the eyes of a battle-weary king, a powerful and resentful prophet and a resourceful young shepherd on a collision course with destiny.
"Of Kings and Prophets" stars Ray Winstone as King Saul, Haaz Sleiman as Jonathan, Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Michal, Oliver Rix as David, Simone Kessell as Ahinoam, James Floyd as Ish-Boseth, Mohammad Bakri as Samuel and Tomer Kapon as Joab.
"Of Kings and Prophets" was written by Adam Cooper & Bill Collage. Executive producers are Adam Cooper, Bill Collage, Jason Reed, Reza Aslan and Mahyad Tousi. "Of Kings and Prophets" is produced by ABC Studios.
"Quantico" • A diverse group of recruits have arrived at the FBI Quantico Base for training. They are the best, the brightest and the most vetted, so it seems impossible that one of them is suspected of masterminding the biggest attack on New York City since 9/11.
"Quantico" stars Priyanka Chopra as Alex, Dougray Scott as Liam, Jake McLaughlin as Ryan, Aunjanue Ellis as Miranda, Yasmine Al Massri as Nimah, Johanna Braddy as Shelby, Tate Ellington as Simon Asher and Graham Rogers as Caleb Haas.
"Quantico" was written by Josh Safran. Executive producers are Josh Safran, Mark Gordon and Nick Pepper. "Quantico" is produced by ABC Studios.
"The Real O'Neals" • A contemporary take on a seemingly perfect Catholic family, whose lives take an unexpected turn when surprising truths are revealed. Instead of ruining their family, the honesty triggers a new, messier chapter where everyone stops pretending to be perfect and actually starts being real.
"The Real O'Neals" stars Martha Plimpton as Eileen, Jay R. Ferguson as Pat, Noah Galvin as Kenny, Mathew Shively as Jimmy, Bebe Wood as Shannon and Mary Hollis Inboden as Jodi.
"The Real O'Neals" was written by David Windsor and Casey Johnson. Executive producers are David Windsor, Casey Johnson, Brian Pines, Dan McDermott and Dan Savage. "The Real O'Neals" is produced by ABC Studios.
"Uncle Buck" • Based on the hit movie of the same name, Uncle Buck (Mike Epps) is a fun loving but irresponsible guy who needs a job and a place to stay. By happy coincidence, his nieces and nephew's Nanny has just quit and his brother and sister-in-law need his help. His unconventional personality just may make him the right fit for the family and they may be the answer to his problems, too.
"Uncle Buck" stars Mike Epps as Buck, Nia Long as Alexis, James Lesure as Will, Iman Benson as Tia, Sayeed Shahidi as Miles and Aalyrah Caldwell as Maizy.
"Uncle Buck" was written by Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley. Executive producers are Steven Cragg, Brian Bradley, Will Packer. Co- executive producers are Korin Huggins and Phil Traill. "Uncle Buck" is produced by Universal Television and ABC Studios.
"Wicked City" • Each season "Wicked City" will follow a different case set in a different noteworthy era of LA history, starting with a murder case from 1982 centered on the rock and roll, cocaine-infused revelry of the Sunset Strip. Alliances are formed between detectives, reporters, drug dealers and club-goers to solve a serial murder case.
"Wicked City" stars Adam Rothenberg as Jack, Ed Westwick as Kent, Taissa Farmiga as Karen, Gabriel Luna as Paco, Karolina Wydra as Dianne, Holley Fain as Trish, Darrell Britt-Gibson as Diver, Anne Winters as Vicki and Erika Christensen as Betty.
"Wicked City" was written by Steven Baigelman. Executive producers are Steven Baigelman, Todd Lieberman, David Hoberman and Laurie Zaks. "Wicked City" is produced by ABC Studios.