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The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, May 20, 2016 2 By Brian Craddock TV Media R ecently, it seems, televi- sion has developed a love affair with series based on comic books. From Fox's "Gotham" to CW's tri- fecta of "The Flash," "Arrow" and "DC's Legends of Tomor- row," some would say that there are too many of them — even online streaming services are jumping on the comic book bandwagon, with Netf- lix's "Daredevil" and "Jessica Jones" proving immensely successful. The list of comic-based shows grows a little this week, when AMC (which is already home to the juggernaut that is "The Walking Dead") airs the premiere episode of "Preach- er" — based on the DC Com- ics/Vertigo series of the same name — on Sunday, May 22. The "Preacher" comic series is relatively unique in that its entire run spanned only five years (1995 to 2000). Written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Steve Dillon, the often vul- gar comic book told the story of Jesse Custer, a small-town Texas preacher who somehow finds himself possessed by a heavenly being named Gene- sis, who informs him that God has all but abandoned his cre- ations. Incensed, Custer sets off in search of an audience with God, which proves to be just as difficult as it sounds. Dominic Cooper, who re- cently starred in another comic book-inspired series, ABC's "Marvel's Agent Carter," plays the eponymous preacher in the new show, and he's not the only cast member with a history of starring in comic book series — Ruth Negga of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." plays Custer's ex- girlfriend, Tulip O'Hare. Round- ing out the main cast is Joseph Gilgun, who starred in the Brit- ish hit "Misfits" and recently appeared on the big screen in "The Last Witch Hunter" (2015). The BAFTA-nominated actor is set to play Cassidy, an Irish vampire who, through a bizarre chain of events, falls in with Custer and O'Hare. While on their quest for an audience with God, the trio goes up against a bevy of bi- zarre people: To start, there's the racist, conspiracy-spouting sheriff named Hugo Root, played by "Deadwood's" W. Earl Brown, and his son, Eu- gene (Ian Colletti, "Rake"), a deadbeat teen rockstar left de- formed after a botched suicide attempt. There's also the Quin- cannons: Vyla and Odin, played by Elizabeth Perkins ("Weeds") and Jackie Earle Haley ("Watchmen", 2009), respectively — a lovely pair of slaughterhouse magnates, lo- cal benefactors and proud supporters of the Ku Klux Klan. Fans of the comic have been eagerly awaiting the series' ar- rival since it was announced back in 2013, no doubt in a mixed state of anticipation and apprehension, as limited/ lesser-known comics have something of a rough history when it comes to adaptations (just look at 2005's "Constan- tine" starring Keanu Reeves, and last year's NBC series of the same name). "Preacher" was a comic in- famous for its dark, edgy con- tent. In fact, part of the reason it's taken so long for a TV se- ries to happen is that many networks were turned off when they realized how little Jesse Custer practiced what he preached. In 2008, HBO passed on the series because of the comic's cynical attitude after almost two years of de- velopment. Despite all of this, "Preach- er" showrunner Sam Catlin, who spearheaded the series' AMC revival alongside actor/ comedian Seth Rogen ("Knocked up," 2007) and Ro- gen's longtime partner-in- crime, writer/producer Evan Goldberg ("This Is the End," 2015), promised fans in an April interview with Collider that, regardless of any chang- es they make to the content, the show definitely won't be "Preacher-lite": "Garth really pushes the en- velope in terms of those sto- ries, and I will say we really did, too. ... There's some silly violence and there's some cra- zy violence, but there's also some real violence and some real sin." Rogen admitted to Crave in October that, in a controversial move, the story progression in the series does not closely fol- low the comics, saying: "We are changing the specifics of how the narrative is unfolding. A lot of the building blocks we are not changing, a lot of char- acters we're keeping, but we want to make a show that, if you're a fan of the comic, you don't know what to expect." While in most adaptations, straying from the source mate- rial would raise many red flags, it's unlikely to be a prob- lem for "Preacher." In the comics, some of the most hi- larious moments came from the smallest characters, those seen briefly, but years later are still the most memorable. Ro- gen wants people to know the "Preacher" series is going to have its fair share of zany characters, too. A/Bulls Head Inn B/Laura Reyda 2 x 2 coverstory Joseph Gilgun as seen in "Preacher" Gone preachin' AMC goes to Texas with its adaptation of Garth Ennis' 'Preacher' By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: I just finished watching "American Crime Story," and something's been bugging me: Is the guy who played Johnnie Cochran the same actor who played the sonar guy in "The Hunt for Red October"? I'm pretty sure it's him. A: Relax, Jonesy, you sold me. Those words were spoken by Capt. Bart Mancuso to Sea- man Jones, his sonar technician, in 1990's "The Hunt for Red October." But I'm also saying them to you, now, because you're right: That was Courtney B. Vance playing Jones, 26 years before he was delivering his own pithy quotations as real-life hotshot lawyer Johnnie Cochran in "American Crime Story." If Vance has a "type" — a role he's frequently cast in — it's people who are incredibly good at their jobs. Love him or hate him, Cochran's contribution to O.J. Simpson's acquittal was a pretty impressive bit of lawyering. And as Seaman Jones, Vance is the one who figures out how to track the supposedly untrackable Red October. Q: Why did "Antiques Roadshow" drop Mark L. Wal- berg? A: He's still there, he's just in the background. It was part of an overhaul the show did for the new season, in part to attract and secure what one producer called its "next generation of viewers." When the show premiered its 20th season earlier this year, Walberg's face was absent. However, his voice was not. Though he used to serve as the on-air host of the show, since way back in 2002, he now only provides voiceovers at the be- ginning of each episode. The reason his role was cut back had nothing to do with him, said executive producer Marsha Bemko, but rather with what they were having him do. The overhaul included dropping the segments that took place away from the antiques show set, when the show would come to the people instead of the other way around. These "field pieces" weren't popular with the audience, Bemko said in an interview with AVClub.com. "Although there are some people who like those field seg- ments, we know that, for the most part, our audience would rather see more appraisals. We've made an effort to satisfy that hunger." Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. Personal replies will not be provided. hollywoodQ&A Losie's Gun Shop 1 x 4 Bull's Head Inn Good Food Sturdy Drink Est. 1802 Upscale & casual restaurant & pub dining in the most historic establishment in Cobleskill. Open for lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch & private events Now taking reservations for Easter Brunch/Dinner buffet 10 am to 4 pm 518-234-1802 105 Park Place, Cobleskill www.BullsHeadInnCobleskill.com 312084 Serving Oneonta and the Surrounding Community Since 1981

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