Action (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Action is a comedy series about a Hollywood producer named Peter Dragon, who is trying to recover from his last box-office failure. It aired on FOX
during the 1999-2000 season. The series was critically praised for its irreverent, and sometimes hostile look at Hollywood culture. Thirteen episodes were produced. The show was created by Chris Thompson
and the show runner
was Don Reo
.
, is the head of Dragonfire Films. Peter got his start as a screenwriter for gay porn
, but eventually moved up the ladder of Hollywood as a hotshot producer of tasteless action films. At the start of the series, Peter's latest film, Slow Torture, is a monumental flop, and he is under tremendous pressure to make his next film a big success. Peter is bossy and arrogant to his subordinates and is morally unscrupulous in negotiating with Hollywood talent. It is once or twice suggested that Peter is sexually confused.
Wendy Ward, played by Illeana Douglas
, is a former child actress who gained fame as the cute star of The Elephant Princess
TV show. Her career tanked during her teen years due to a nasty coke habit, and she is now a high priced call girl. Through circumstance, she ends up becoming Peter's date at the premiere of his movie Slow Torture. After she gives her honest criticism of Slow Torture, Wendy is named Vice President of Production at Dragonfire Films and has a pseudo relationship with Peter. Wendy's character is an intentional play on the "hooker with a heart of gold
" movie stereotype.
Lonnie Dragon, played by Buddy Hackett
, is Peter's uncle and chief of security at Dragonfire Films. Lonnie and Peter seem to understand each other perfectly. Lonnie is one of the few people Peter actually treats with respect. Lonnie has served in many wars, including World War II, and often complains about past injuries, most notably the fact that he only has one testicle. As he puts it, "The sack is half full."
Stuart Glazer, played by Jack Plotnick
, is President of Production at Dragonfire Films. Stuart desperately wants to be taken seriously as a Hollywood developer, but is frequently abused and ordered around by Peter. In spite of his important sounding position, Stuart is often asked to do demeaning tasks like babysit Georgia, have suits dry-cleaned and order gift baskets for star talent. Stuart is gay.
Adam Rafkin, played by Jarrad Paul
, is a Jewish struggling screenwriter whose screenplay, Beverly Hills Gun Club, was picked up by Dragonfire Films for development. Adam's script was actually bought mistakenly because his name was confused with Alan Rifkin
. Adam lives alone, is sexually frustrated and has had the same agent represent him for most of his floundering professional career. A source of frustration is his lack of respect from Hollywood, most notably from Peter who never seems to recall his name.
is the eurotrash maître d' that runs the high-end restaurant where every power player in town lunches. Getting the right table is a make or break situation and Asher wields his power with the same aplomb as Peter does. Watching Peter squirm is one of Asher's not so secret delights.
Bobby Gianopolis, played by Lee Arenberg
is the chief executive of the unnamed movie studio. Bobby G, as he is well known, uses menacing threats to get what he wants from Peter and the rest of the Dragonfire staff. Often these threats involve withdrawing his massive financial backing or exposing his gigantic penis. Bobby G is gay, but married Jane, Peter's ex-wife, in order to quell any rumors of such. Many critics have suggested that Bobby is a parody of former FOX CEO Barry Diller
.
Jane Dragon, played by Cindy Ambuehl
, is Peter's ex-wife. It is never revealed why she and Peter broke up, but she remarried with Bobby Gianopolis mostly to spite Peter. She is manipulative, scheming and is so orally gifted she can hum and whistle at the same time. She has a daughter by Peter named Georgia and was pregnant with his second child. Peter did not know he conceived another child with her, as he was extremely drunk and thought he had sex with someone else at the time. Jane told him this also out of spite, as he'd always wanted a son. Jane threatened that if he tried to bring it to public knowledge, Bobby would pull his backing.
Georgia Dragon, played by Sara Paxton
, is Peter's daughter by Jane. Ten years old, she is deceptively innocent but mildly stone-hearted for her age, a trait she gets from her parents.
Jenny, played by Erin Daniels
, is a struggling Hollywood career woman. She used to work at UPN, but after sleeping with Peter, moved on to become a production assistant at Dragonfire Films, where she then slept with Wendy. She is in competition with Stuart.
Cole Riccardi, played by Richard Burgi
, is a famous action star who has been in many of Peter's movies. He is introspective, self-obsessed and secretly gay.
Connie Hunt, played by Amy Aquino
, is the aggressive publicist assigned to Peter Dragon by Bobby Gianapolis after a major PR disaster. She is dry, practical, cold-hearted, and is portrayed with the aura of a hitman/cleaner. A sound effect of lightning and thunder usually follows mention of her name.
Titus Scroad, played by R. Lee Ermey
is an eccentric movie director with a predilection for hydro-colonic therapy. Titus accidentally drowns in the episode "Dead Man Floating".
Holden van Dorn, played by Fab Filippo
is a hotshot young actor, with a very public record of alcohol and drug abuse.
Reagan Lauren Busch, played by Jennifer Lyons
is a sexy starlet with a big appetite and weight problems.
* Aired on FX following network cancellation.
and Comedy Central
.
, and can be streamed for free in the US on YouTube
, IMDB, Hulu
, and Crackle
.
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
during the 1999-2000 season. The series was critically praised for its irreverent, and sometimes hostile look at Hollywood culture. Thirteen episodes were produced. The show was created by Chris Thompson
Chris Thompson (TV producer)
Chris Thompson is an American television writer, producer and director. Since 1977, he has written and produced for the television series Laverne & Shirley and The Larry Sanders Show...
and the show runner
Show runner
Showrunner is a term of art originating in the United States and Canadian television industry referring to the person who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a television seriesalthough such persons generally are credited as an executive producer...
was Don Reo
Don Reo
Don Reo is an American television writer and producer. He created such shows as Blossom and The John Larroquette Show for NBC and My Wife and Kids for ABC....
.
Main cast
Peter Dragon, played by Jay MohrJay Mohr
Jay Mohr is an American actor and stand up comedian. He is known for his role as Professor Rick Payne in the TV series Ghost Whisperer, the title role in the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, which ran from 2008 to 2010, and the back-stabbing sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire.-Early life:Mohr was...
, is the head of Dragonfire Films. Peter got his start as a screenwriter for gay porn
Gay pornography
Gay pornography is the representation of sexual intercourse between men with the primary goal of sexual arousal in its audience. There is also a tradition, and continuing considerable output, of lesbian pornography....
, but eventually moved up the ladder of Hollywood as a hotshot producer of tasteless action films. At the start of the series, Peter's latest film, Slow Torture, is a monumental flop, and he is under tremendous pressure to make his next film a big success. Peter is bossy and arrogant to his subordinates and is morally unscrupulous in negotiating with Hollywood talent. It is once or twice suggested that Peter is sexually confused.
Wendy Ward, played by Illeana Douglas
Illeana Douglas
Illeana Douglas is an American actress, director, screenwriter, and producer.-Background:Douglas is a granddaughter of the actor Melvyn Douglas and his first wife, artist Rosalind Hightower, and has said that her grandfather's performance in Being There, in particular, was influential on her own...
, is a former child actress who gained fame as the cute star of The Elephant Princess
The Elephant Princess
The Elephant Princess is an Australian children's television series that first screened on Network Ten in 2008. The series is produced by Jonathan M. Shiff Productions. A second season began screening in 2011.-Premise:...
TV show. Her career tanked during her teen years due to a nasty coke habit, and she is now a high priced call girl. Through circumstance, she ends up becoming Peter's date at the premiere of his movie Slow Torture. After she gives her honest criticism of Slow Torture, Wendy is named Vice President of Production at Dragonfire Films and has a pseudo relationship with Peter. Wendy's character is an intentional play on the "hooker with a heart of gold
Hooker with a heart of gold
The hooker with a heart of gold is a stock character in which a "fallen woman", usually a prostitute, is a kindly and internally wholesome person.-Characteristics:...
" movie stereotype.
Lonnie Dragon, played by Buddy Hackett
Buddy Hackett
Buddy Hackett was an American comedian and actor.-Early life:Hackett was born in Brooklyn, New York, New York, the son of a Jewish upholsterer. He grew up on 54th and 14th Ave in Borough Park, Brooklyn, across from Public School 103...
, is Peter's uncle and chief of security at Dragonfire Films. Lonnie and Peter seem to understand each other perfectly. Lonnie is one of the few people Peter actually treats with respect. Lonnie has served in many wars, including World War II, and often complains about past injuries, most notably the fact that he only has one testicle. As he puts it, "The sack is half full."
Stuart Glazer, played by Jack Plotnick
Jack Plotnick
Jack Stuart Plotnick is an American film and television actor.Born in Worthington, Ohio, Plotnick is based in Hollywood...
, is President of Production at Dragonfire Films. Stuart desperately wants to be taken seriously as a Hollywood developer, but is frequently abused and ordered around by Peter. In spite of his important sounding position, Stuart is often asked to do demeaning tasks like babysit Georgia, have suits dry-cleaned and order gift baskets for star talent. Stuart is gay.
Adam Rafkin, played by Jarrad Paul
Jarrad Paul
Jarrad Paul is an American actor and screenwriter.He moved to Los Angeles, CA after graduating from high school. During the 1990s, Paul had recurring roles on such shows as Legend and Home Improvement. In 1999, he co-starred with Jay Mohr in Action as screenwriter Adam Rafkin...
, is a Jewish struggling screenwriter whose screenplay, Beverly Hills Gun Club, was picked up by Dragonfire Films for development. Adam's script was actually bought mistakenly because his name was confused with Alan Rifkin
Alan Rifkin
Alan Rifkin is a former contributing editor of Details magazine. He has also written for the Los Angeles Times Magazine, Premiere, L.A. Weekly, Buzz and The Quarterly. His first book, Signal Hill, was a finalist for the 2004 Southern California Booksellers Award in Fiction. He was also a finalist...
. Adam lives alone, is sexually frustrated and has had the same agent represent him for most of his floundering professional career. A source of frustration is his lack of respect from Hollywood, most notably from Peter who never seems to recall his name.
Supporting characters
Asher, played by John VargasJohn Vargas
John Vargas is an American actor best known for his role in the films Primary Colors and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.-Early life:John Vargas was born in the Bronx, New York and moved to Puerto Rico when his father was killed in Vietnam. He was accepted into the Air Force Academy upon finishing...
is the eurotrash maître d' that runs the high-end restaurant where every power player in town lunches. Getting the right table is a make or break situation and Asher wields his power with the same aplomb as Peter does. Watching Peter squirm is one of Asher's not so secret delights.
Bobby Gianopolis, played by Lee Arenberg
Lee Arenberg
Lee Arenberg is an American actor, best known for his role as Pintel, one of Captain Barbossa's crew of miscreants, in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series.-Career:...
is the chief executive of the unnamed movie studio. Bobby G, as he is well known, uses menacing threats to get what he wants from Peter and the rest of the Dragonfire staff. Often these threats involve withdrawing his massive financial backing or exposing his gigantic penis. Bobby G is gay, but married Jane, Peter's ex-wife, in order to quell any rumors of such. Many critics have suggested that Bobby is a parody of former FOX CEO Barry Diller
Barry Diller
Barry Charles Diller is the Chairman and Senior Executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp and the media executive responsible for the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company and USA Broadcasting.-Early life:...
.
Jane Dragon, played by Cindy Ambuehl
Cindy Ambuehl
Cindy Ambuehl , is an American actress and fashion designer.She played Sophie in Seinfeld's season 9 episode "The Burning"....
, is Peter's ex-wife. It is never revealed why she and Peter broke up, but she remarried with Bobby Gianopolis mostly to spite Peter. She is manipulative, scheming and is so orally gifted she can hum and whistle at the same time. She has a daughter by Peter named Georgia and was pregnant with his second child. Peter did not know he conceived another child with her, as he was extremely drunk and thought he had sex with someone else at the time. Jane told him this also out of spite, as he'd always wanted a son. Jane threatened that if he tried to bring it to public knowledge, Bobby would pull his backing.
Georgia Dragon, played by Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden...
, is Peter's daughter by Jane. Ten years old, she is deceptively innocent but mildly stone-hearted for her age, a trait she gets from her parents.
Jenny, played by Erin Daniels
Erin Daniels
Erin Daniels is an American actress. She is known for her role as Dana Fairbanks on The L Word .-Early life:...
, is a struggling Hollywood career woman. She used to work at UPN, but after sleeping with Peter, moved on to become a production assistant at Dragonfire Films, where she then slept with Wendy. She is in competition with Stuart.
Cole Riccardi, played by Richard Burgi
Richard Burgi
Richard William Burgi is an American film and television actor. He's best known for the roles of Det. Jim Ellinson on The Sentinel and as Karl Mayer on Desperate Housewives.-Personal life:...
, is a famous action star who has been in many of Peter's movies. He is introspective, self-obsessed and secretly gay.
Connie Hunt, played by Amy Aquino
Amy Aquino
Amy Aquino is an American television, film, and stage actress.-Background and education:Aquino is the daughter of Adele and Salvatore Aquino...
, is the aggressive publicist assigned to Peter Dragon by Bobby Gianapolis after a major PR disaster. She is dry, practical, cold-hearted, and is portrayed with the aura of a hitman/cleaner. A sound effect of lightning and thunder usually follows mention of her name.
Titus Scroad, played by R. Lee Ermey
R. Lee Ermey
Ronald Lee Ermey is a retired United States Marine Corps drill instructor and actor.Ermey has often played the roles of authority figures, such as his breakout performance as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket, Mayor Tilman in the Alan Parker film Mississippi Burning, Bill Bowerman in...
is an eccentric movie director with a predilection for hydro-colonic therapy. Titus accidentally drowns in the episode "Dead Man Floating".
Holden van Dorn, played by Fab Filippo
Fab Filippo
-Personal life:Filippo, who also goes by the name of Fab Filippo, was born in Toronto, Canada. His parents are first generation Italian immigrants . He briefly attended York University's Film & Video Programme in 1993...
is a hotshot young actor, with a very public record of alcohol and drug abuse.
Reagan Lauren Busch, played by Jennifer Lyons
Jennifer Lyons
-Career:She has had many small roles in television shows such as Malcolm in the Middle, NCIS, Las Vegas, Monk, and The Steve Harvey Show, among other shows. She has also had recurring roles as Pam Macy on That '70s Show, Ariel on Married... with Children episode The Hood, the Bud & the Kelly:...
is a sexy starlet with a big appetite and weight problems.
Celebrity cameos
Action was notable for its heavy use of cameos by celebrities, who played themselves.- Keanu ReevesKeanu ReevesKeanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
is fondled during a movie premiere. (Episode 1) - Steve KmetkoSteve KmetkoSteven Kmetko is an American entertainment television host and reporter.Kmetko was born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. His most prominent job was on the E! cable network. He had previously worked as an entertainment reporter for CBS's Los Angeles affiliate . The television station replaced him with...
and Jules AsnerJules AsnerJules Asner is an American television personality, writer, and former fashion model.- Personal life :Asner was born Julie Ann White in Tempe, Arizona, the daughter of Lee White, a furniture saleswoman. At the age of sixteen Jules was discovered at a modeling convention in Scottsdale, Arizona. She...
report on the extremely low opening weekend take of Slow Torture on their show E! News Live. (Episode 2). Later, SteveSteve KmetkoSteven Kmetko is an American entertainment television host and reporter.Kmetko was born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. His most prominent job was on the E! cable network. He had previously worked as an entertainment reporter for CBS's Los Angeles affiliate . The television station replaced him with...
appears interviewing Cole Riccardi (Richard BurgiRichard BurgiRichard William Burgi is an American film and television actor. He's best known for the roles of Det. Jim Ellinson on The Sentinel and as Karl Mayer on Desperate Housewives.-Personal life:...
). (Episode 4) - Salma HayekSalma HayekSalma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez de Pinault is a Mexican film actress, director and producer. She received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Frida Kahlo in the film Frida.-Early life:...
runs into Peter in a restaurant and reveals that Peter sexually harassed her early in her career. (Episode 2) - Sandra BullockSandra BullockSandra Annette Bullock is an Academy Award winning American actress and producer who rose to fame in the 1990s after roles in successful films such as Demolition Man, Speed, The Net, A Time to Kill, and While You Were Sleeping. She continued with films such as Miss Congeniality, The Lake House,...
vehemently protests a bootlegged sex tape Peter has made of her. (Episode 4) - David HasselhoffDavid HasselhoffDavid Michael Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, producer and businessman. He is best known for his lead roles as Michael Knight in the popular 1980s US series Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch...
appears at a charity auction. (Episode 5) - Tony HawkTony HawkAnthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
breaks a leg when Peter distracts him, trying to get him to convince Leonardo DiCaprio to do his movie. (Episode 6) - Scott WolfScott WolfScott Richard Wolf is an American actor, known for his roles on the television series Party of Five as Bailey Salinger and on Everwood as Dr. Jake Hartman. Since 2009, he has appeared in the Sci-Fi series V as the morally ambiguous journalist, Chad Decker.-Early life:Wolf was born in Boston,...
, much shorter than he has appeared on TV, begs Peter to cast him as an action star, then threatens him after one short joke too many. (Episode 6) - Mike WalkerMike Walker (columnist)Mike Walker is a gossip columnist for The National Enquirer, and hosted the magazine's 1999-2001 MGM-produced newsmagazine, National Enquirer TV...
of National Enquirer arrives to get the scoop directly from Peter on the new film. (Episode 8) - David LeisureDavid LeisureDavid Russell Leisure is an American actor best known for his role as Charley Dietz in the sitcom Empty Nest from 1988 to 1995 and fictional automotive "pitch man" Joe Isuzu in a series of North American television commercials for Isuzu from 1986 to 1990, and again from 1999 to 2001.Additional...
appears as a career-crashed security guard. (Episode 10)
Episodes
| Air Date Order | DVD Order | Production Order |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot | Pilot | Pilot |
| Re-Enter the Dragon | Re-Enter the Dragon | Re-Enter the Dragon |
| Blood Money | Blood Money | Blood Money |
| Blowhard | Blowhard | Blowhard |
| Mr. Dragon Goes to Washington | Mr. Dragon Goes to Washington | Twelfth Step to Hell |
| Twelfth Step to Hell | Twelfth Step to Hell | Dragon's Blood |
| Strong Sexual Content | Dragon's Blood | Love Sucks |
| Lights, Camera, Action | Love Sucks | Lights, Camera, Action |
| Dead Man Floating * | Strong Sexual Content | Mr. Dragon Goes to Washington |
| Dragon's Blood * | Lights, Camera, Action | Dead Man Floating |
| One Easy Piece * | Dead Man Floating | Strong Sexual Content |
| Last Ride of the Elephant Princess * | One Easy Piece | Last Ride of the Elephant Princess |
| Love Sucks * | Last Ride of the Elephant Princess | One Easy Piece |
Broadcast
Of the 13 produced episodes, only 8 ran on FOX in 1999. The remaining five episodes were eventually broadcast on other networks such as FXFX Networks
FX is the name of a number of related pay television channels owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group...
and Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
.
DVD release
| DVD name | Ep # | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Complete Series | 13 | February 21, 2006 |
Syndication
As of March 2009, the show can be purchased on iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, and can be streamed for free in the US on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, IMDB, Hulu
Hulu
Hulu is a website and over-the-top subscription service offering ad-supported on-demand streaming video of TV shows, movies, webisodes and other new media, trailers, clips, and behind-the-scenes footage from NBC, Fox, ABC, and Obstacle on October 20th 2011 Nickelodeon and CBS and many other...
, and Crackle
Crackle
Crackle is a digital network and studio, featuring commercially supported streaming video content in Flash Video format. It is owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and its content consists primarily of Sony's library of films and television shows...
.