New York, NY, April 25, 2000 -- As the centerpiece of its 2000-2001 television season, A&E has ordered to production its first dramatic series, 100 Centre Street, created by ground-breaking filmmaker Sidney Lumet ("Serpico," "Fail Safe," "Dog Day Afternoon," "12 Angry Men," "Network"), who will also direct and serve as executive producer, as well as writing several episodes. In 100 Centre Street, Mr. Lumet, long-acknowledged as the modern master of the courtroom drama, will tell the stories of the prosecutors, defense attorneys and accused criminals as their lives unfold in the night court of the City of New York.
Marking another major expansion in the network's drama programming that over the last 16 months has included seven original American movies featuring talent such as Kathy Bates, Jeff Daniels, Judy Davis, Timothy Hutton and Joe Mantegna, 100 Centre Street is scheduled to premiere in early 2001 on A&E.
In making the announcement, Allen Sabinson, Senior Vice President, Programming, A&E Network, said, ìFor our first series effort, we are undertaking an exceedingly ambitious endeavor. 100 Centre Street will be produced using breakthrough high definition video technologies. We would not have dared to undertake such a production were we not in the hands of one of the true princes of New York City and one of the great directors of our times.î
Said Mr. Lumet: "I've had this show in mind since first attending Night Court as part of my research on Prince of the City. Between the chance for a fine show and the use of a new technology, I'm looking forward to starting in August."
100 Centre Street will be an Amjen Entertainment, Inc. production in association with Jaffe-Braunstein Films and Pearson Television International. Michael Jaffe and Howard Braunstein are acclaimed television producers. Their movies for A&E have included, Nero Wolfe: The Golden Spiders, starring Timothy Hutton and Maury Chaykin, and along with Michael Brandman Productions, Small Vices and Thin Air, adaptations by Robert B. Parker of his best-selling Spenser novels starring Joe Mantegna.
Winner of five 1999 Emmy Awards including Outstanding Miniseries for Horatio Hornblower, A&E offers viewers a unique blend of original programming including the highly acclaimed BIOGRAPHYÆ, original movies, dramatic series, engaging documentaries and intriguing mysteries.
ALAN ARKIN, PAULA DEVICQ, LATANYA RICHARDSON, JOSEPH LYLE TAYLOR AND MANNY PEREZ STAR IN THE A&E ORIGINAL DRAMA "100 CENTRE STREET"
SIDNEY LUMET TO DIRECT MULTIPLE EPISODES OF THE ONE-HOUR SERIES WHICH BEGINS PRODUCTION NEXT MONTH IN NEW YORK
NEW YORK, NY, JULY 12, 2000 -- Academy Award nominee Alan Arkin (Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Slums of Beverly Hills, The In-Laws), Paula Devicq ("Party of Five"), Latanya Richardson (U.S. Marshals, Losing Isaiah), Joseph Lyle Taylor (Summer of Sam, Girl 6) and Manny Perez (Courage Under Fire, Crooklyn), will headline the cast of "100 Centre Street,î A&Eís first weekly drama which begins production next month in New York City and is scheduled to premiere in early 2001.
Created and executive produced by acclaimed filmmaker, Sidney Lumet, "100 Centre Street" tells the stories of the prosecutors, defense attorneys and accused criminals as their lives unfold in the night court of the City of New York.
In addition to writing several of the scripts, Lumet will also direct multiple episodes, including the series' two-hour opener.
Two-time Academy Award nominee, Alan Arkin, plays Judge Joe Rifkin. Many of his colleagues and peers believe he is too soft on criminals. In fact, his nickname around the courtroom is "Let 'em go, Joe." Alan Arkin received Oscar nominations for his roles in Heart is a Lonely Hunter and The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!. Additional film credits include Jakob the Liar, Slums of Beverly Hills, Grosse Pointe Blank, Glengarry Glen Ross, Edward Scissorhands, The In-Laws, and Freebie and the Bean. On television he has starred in "Prodigal Son," "The Long Way Home," "A Deadly Business," and "Escape from Soribor" for which he received an Emmy nomination.
LaTanya Richardson stars as Judge Attallah "Queenie" Sims. She is a tough, no nonsense jurist. Around the courtroom they refer to her as "Attallah the Hun." LaTanya Richardsonís film credits include: U.S. Marshals, Losing Isaiah, When A Man Loves A Woman, Sleepless in Seattle, Lorenzoís Oil and Malcolm X. On television she has appeared in "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," "Ally McBeal," "NYPD Blue, "Homicide: Life on the Street," "Chicago Hope," and "Law And Order."
Paula Devicq portrays Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Bennington. Gorgeous, smart and totally insecure, she is a devoted and compassionate worker. She wants desperately to make it on her own in a world her wealthy family is snobbishly set against. Paula Devicq starred for several seasons on the hit drama "Party of Five." Her film credits include Runaway Bride, Kill the Man and Dinner and Driving.
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Joseph Lyle Taylor plays Assistant District Attorney Bobby Esposito. Tall and good-looking, he was born and raised in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Heís gentle, funny and a terrific judge of character. His main problem is his family. His father is a "made" man and his brother is a junkie who he always seems to be bailing out of trouble. Taylor's film credits include Spike Lee's The Summer of Sam, He Got Game and Girl 6. On television he has appeared in "Law And Order," "The 900 Lives of Jackie Frye" and "Deadly Sins."
Manny Perez portrays legal aid defense attorney, Ramon Rodriguez. Smart and extremely ambitious, Ramonís ultimate goal in life is to be discovered one day by Bruce Cutler, John Gottiís lawyer, and become one of the premier criminal defense attorneys. Manny Perez's film credits include Dinner Rush, Courage Under Fire, Bullet, and Crooklyn. On television he has had roles in "Rude Awakenings," "Brooklyn South," :îNYPD Blue," "New York Undercover,î and "Law And Order."
On the production end, Lumet has assembled a talented and gifted team for "100 Centre Streetî that includes; Co-executive producer and writer: David Black ("Law And Orderî); Writers: Siobhan Byrne OîConnor ("Law And Orderî); Stephen Schwarz ("Critical Careî); and Richard Wesley ("Native Sonî "Mandela and DeKlerkî); Casting director: Louis DiGiaimo whose credits include Gladiator, Homicide, Donnie Brasco, Thelma and Louise and The Godfather; Production designer: Christopher Nowack (Basketball Diaries, Ace Ventura 2, Sliver); and Director of photography: Ron Fortunato (Basquiat, If Lucy Fell). Noted composer, Paul Chihara, whose films include Prince of the City and The Morning After, will score the series. Don Scardino ("The West Wingî "Sports Nightî "Cosbyî) and Jerry London ("Shogunî "Chicago Hopeî) are on board to direct several episodes along with Lumet. Debbie Elbin ("Gabbyî "Dictatorî) will line produce.
"100 Centre Streetî is an Amjen Entertainment, Inc. production in association with Jaffe-Braunsten Films and Pearson Television International.
Winner of five 1999 Emmy Awards including Best Miniseries for HORATIO HORNBLOWER, A&E Network offers discerning viewers a unique blend of original, upscale programming featuring its signature series BIOGRAPHY, original movies, drama series and engaging documentaries. The A&E website is located at www.AandE. com, the BIOGRAPHY website is located at www.Biography.com, and the Mysteries website is located at http://www.Mysteries.com www.Mysteries.com
