John from Cincinnati
Encyclopedia
John from Cincinnati is an American
television
drama, set against the surfing
community of Imperial Beach, California
, that aired on HBO from June 10, 2007 to August 12, 2007. It is the result of a collaborative effort between writer/producer David Milch
and author Kem Nunn
, whose novels have been termed surf noir. The program deals with a strange young man of mysterious origin and the effect he has on a dysfunctional family
of professional surfers and their community.
The series includes surfing sequences by well-respected surfers such as Brock Little, Keala Kennelly
, Dan Malloy, John-John Florence, Shane Beschen
, and Herbie Fletcher.
The series' theme song is "Johnny Appleseed," performed by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros. A diverse soundtrack includes "Tic" by Kava Kava and songs from TV on the Radio
, Muse
, Buddy Guy
, Kasabian and the Yardbirds
.
, but it failed to sustain an audience. The Sopranos received an audience of 11.9 million people according to Nielsen ratings
, but John from Cincinnati held onto only 3.4 million viewers. Subsequent episodes initially lost viewers, but ratings began to see a slow increase, and by the final episode viewership had reached over 3 million; more than some episodes of Deadwood
.
One day after the season finale aired, HBO officially canceled the show.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
drama, set against the surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
community of Imperial Beach, California
Imperial Beach, California
Imperial Beach is a residential beach city in San Diego County, California, with a population of 26,324 at the 2010 census. The city is the most southern beach city in Southern California and the West Coast of the United States...
, that aired on HBO from June 10, 2007 to August 12, 2007. It is the result of a collaborative effort between writer/producer David Milch
David Milch
David S. Milch is an American writer and producer of television series. He has created several television shows, including NYPD Blue and Deadwood.-Biography:...
and author Kem Nunn
Kem Nunn
Kem Nunn is an American fiction novelist, surfer, magazine and television writer from California. His novels have been described as "surf-noir" for their dark themes, political overtones and surf settings. He is the author of five novels, including his seminal surf novel Tapping the Source.He has...
, whose novels have been termed surf noir. The program deals with a strange young man of mysterious origin and the effect he has on a dysfunctional family
Dysfunctional family
A dysfunctional family is a family in which conflict, misbehavior, and often abuse on the part of individual members occur continually and regularly, leading other members to accommodate such actions. Children sometimes grow up in such families with the understanding that such an arrangement is...
of professional surfers and their community.
The series includes surfing sequences by well-respected surfers such as Brock Little, Keala Kennelly
Keala Kennelly
Keala Kennelly is a professional surfer. She was featured playing herself in the movie Blue Crush. She was also in the movie Step Into Liquid.She set a record in 2005 at Teahupoo, riding the biggest tow in wave by a woman....
, Dan Malloy, John-John Florence, Shane Beschen
Shane Beschen
Shane Beschen is a California born professional surfer.In 1996, at Kirra, Shane Beschen became the first and only professional surfer to score three perfect 10 point rides for a total 30 out of 30 ASP three-wave scoring system....
, and Herbie Fletcher.
The series' theme song is "Johnny Appleseed," performed by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros. A diverse soundtrack includes "Tic" by Kava Kava and songs from TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....
, Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
, Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
, Kasabian and the Yardbirds
The Yardbirds
- Current :* Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, backing vocals * Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals * Ben King - lead guitar * David Smale - bass, backing vocals...
.
Cast and characters
Main Cast:| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bruce Greenwood Bruce Greenwood Bruce Greenwood is a Canadian actor and musician. He is generally known for his roles as U.S. presidents in Thirteen Days and National Treasure: Book of Secrets and for his role as Captain Christopher Pike in the 2009 Star Trek film... |
Mitch Yost | An aging and proud professional surfer who co-owns a surf shop with his wife. Their marriage is tumultuous, primarily due to Mitch's self-indulgent behavior and Cissy's overbearing personality. Mitch has come to believe that surfing should be an end unto itself, and that judged competitive events have tainted the sport. |
| Rebecca De Mornay Rebecca De Mornay Rebecca De Mornay is an American film and television actress. Her breakthrough film role came in 1983, when she played Lana in Risky Business opposite Tom Cruise... |
Cissy Yost | Mitch's stubborn wife and co-owner of the surf shop. It is revealed that when her son Butchie was an adolescent, and she was under the influence of LSD, Cissy caught him masturbating and proceeded to show him "how to do that." Her regret and self-recrimination over this event had a serious impact on her emotions. |
| Brian Van Holt Brian Van Holt -Early life:Van Holt was born in Waukegan, Illinois and raised in California. Despite his Dutch surname, he is of mainly Scotch-Irish ancestry. Van Holt has a degree in Sociology from UCLA. At 18 years of age, he struck the perfect image of a Huntington Beach, California surfer... |
Mitch "Butchie" Yost II | Mitch's heroin-addicted son and professional surfer, whose painful adolescence has rendered him emasculated and incapable of shouldering great responsibility. Became a professional surfer after signing with Linc Stark then revolutionized the sport by popularizing aerials in surfing. |
| Austin Nichols Austin Nichols Austin Nichols is an American film, television actor and director who is perhaps best known for his role as Julian Baker in The CW drama series One Tree Hill. He is also known for his roles in films such as The Day After Tomorrow and Wimbledon... |
John Monad | A mysterious person, seemingly mentally disabled, who often repeats what he has already heard or what people are thinking, and can manifest requested objects through his pockets. He appears to be able to perform astral projection Astral projection Astral projection is an interpretation of out-of-body experience that assumes the existence of an "astral body" separate from the physical body and capable of traveling outside it... . During the projection, John is able to converse naturally, without resorting to only repeating words already spoken by others. His last name refers to the Greek word monas, a term the Pythagorean Pythagorean Pythagorean means of or pertaining to the ancient Ionian mathematician, philosopher, and music theorist Pythagoras. See:-Philosophy:* Pythagoreanism is a term used for the esoteric and metaphysical beliefs purported to have been held by Pythagoras.... s linked to God as the original "one" from whom all else flows, a clue to a secret divinity or primal "oneness". |
| Ed O'Neill Ed O'Neill Edward Phillip "Ed" O'Neill, Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for his role as the main character, Al Bundy, on the Fox Network sitcom Married... with Children, for which he was nominated for two Golden Globes... |
Bill Jacks | An obsessive retired police officer and friend of the Yosts who tends to babble and talk to himself, and constantly tries to fill the hole that Butchie has made in Shaun's life. His house is filled with caged birds, with whom he converses. |
| Luke Perry Luke Perry Luke Perry is an American actor. Perry starred as Dylan McKay on the TV series Beverly Hills, 90210, a role he played from 1990–95, and then from 1998–2000. Much publicity was garnered over the fact that even though he was playing a sixteen-year-old when 90210 began, Perry was actually in his... |
Linc Stark | A surf talent scout, manager and agent. Owner of Stinkweed surf products. Recently bought out by his financial backers. |
| Luis Guzmán Luis Guzmán Luis Guzmán is an actor from Puerto Rico. He is known for his character work. For much of his career, he has played roles largely as sidekicks, thugs, or policemen.... |
Ramon Gaviota | Manager and caretaker of the Snug Harbor Motel. |
| Matt Winston Matt Winston Matthew "Matt" Winston is an American actor, the son of late special effects artist Stan Winston. He attended Yale, is married to Amy Smallman and has two small children.... |
Barry Cunningham | A mentally unstable man who recently won the Mega Millions Mega Millions Mega Millions is a US multi-jurisdictional $1 lottery game. Since it replaced The Big Game in May 2002 , Mega Millions' advertised jackpots have started at $12 million, paid in 26 yearly installments , increasing when there is no jackpot winner... lottery and bought the local Snug Harbor Motel; went to grade school with Butchie. He experienced sexual abuse by Mr. Rollins in room 24 of the motel as a child and originally purchased it with the intent to tear it down. Was bullied in high school, specifically by Butchie Yost. A blow to the head caused him to develop epileptic seizures during which he has visions that guide his decisions. |
| Willie Garson Willie Garson Willie Garson is an American character actor. He has appeared in over 50 movies, usually playing minor roles... |
Meyer Dickstein | Lawyer and huge surf fan who hangs around the Snug Harbor Motel, and who arranged the sale of the hotel to the new owner, Barry Cunningham. |
| Jennifer Grey Jennifer Grey Jennifer Elise Grey is an American actress. Her first major roles came in the 1984 war film Red Dawn and the 1986 comedy Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In 1987 she starred as Frances "Baby" Houseman in the hit film Dirty Dancing for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. In the early 1990s, Grey... |
Daphne | Meyer Dickstein's fiancée. |
| Greyson Fletcher Greyson Fletcher Greyson Fletcher is a professional skateboarder and actor.-History and Family:Greyson Fletcher was born March 8, 1991 in Orange County, California, but has since moved with his mother, Jennifer Fletcher, to Anaheim, California, to be closer to filming studios and locations... |
Shaun Yost | 14-year-old son of Butchie Yost and Tina Blake; surf prodigy. Tina gave Shaun to his grandparents, Cissy and Mitch Yost, to raise the day he was born. |
| Keala Kennelly Keala Kennelly Keala Kennelly is a professional surfer. She was featured playing herself in the movie Blue Crush. She was also in the movie Step Into Liquid.She set a record in 2005 at Teahupoo, riding the biggest tow in wave by a woman.... |
Kai | A young woman surfer who works at the Yosts' surf shop. She is friends with Shaun Yost, and usually surfs with him. Dated Butchie in high school. |
| Jim Beaver Jim Beaver James Norman "Jim" Beaver, Jr. is an American stage, film, and television actor, playwright, screenwriter, and film historian... |
Vietnam Joe | A war veteran who helps people cross the Mexican border into the U.S. illegally. Grows and smokes marijuana. |
| Garret Dillahunt | Dr. Michael Smith | The neurologist who treated Shaun after a surfing accident. Subsequently resigned to shield Shaun from undue scrutiny after Shaun's miracle recovery from a broken neck sustained while winning his first surf competition. |
| Dayton Callie Dayton Callie Dayton Callie is a Scottish-born American actor, best known for playing Charlie Utter on HBO's Deadwood and Ernie Dell on CSI. He now portrays Police Chief Wayne Unser on Sons of Anarchy. He has also voiced Whitaker in Valve's Left 4 Dead 2, appeared in Halloween 2, & had small roles in episodes... |
Steady Freddie Lopez | A drug dealer from Hawaii with ties to the Yost family, particularly Butchie. |
| Emily Rose Emily Rose (actress) Emily Rose Maier is an American actress. She is best known for her lead role in the Syfy TV series Haven .-Early life:... |
Cass | A filmmaker formerly employed by Linc Stark to seduce Mitch and break up Mitch and Cissy's marriage because, unlike Cissy, Mitch does not want Shaun to become a competition surfer, especially with Linc Stark, whom Mitch blames for Butchie's disastrous failings. |
| Paul Ben-Victor Paul Ben-Victor Paul Ben-Victor is an American actor.Ben-Victor was born Paul Friedman, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Leah Kornfeld, a playwright, and Victor Friedman. Ben-Victor debuted on the small screen in 1987 in the made-for-TV movie Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife and on an episode of Cagney &... |
Palaka | An associate of Steady Freddie Lopez. |
| Chandra West Chandra West -1990s:West's career began in 1991 when she played a small part in the television series True Confections, a 1950s conservative drama about a woman with an ahead-of-her-time awareness... |
Tina Blake | Shaun's mother. She now works as a pornographic actress and prostitute but wants to leave the business. |
| Mark-Paul Gosselaar Mark-Paul Gosselaar Mark-Paul Harry Gosselaar is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Zack Morris in NBC's Saved by the Bell, Good Morning, Miss Bliss, and Saved by the Bell: The College Years, Detective John Clark in NYPD Blue, Jerry Kellerman in TNT's Raising the Bar, and more recently Peter... |
Jake Ferris | Linc Stark's business partner. |
| Matthew Maher Matthew Maher (actor) Matthew Maher is an American television and theater actor who has appeared in, among other works, John from Cincinnati. He has also worked in such theaters as The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival, Soho Rep, Berkeley Rep, and Actors' Theater of Louisville.-Filmography :*The Killer Inside... |
Dwayne | Harelipped maintainer of the Yost family web site. Usually works out of Jerri's coffee shop. |
| Paula Malcomson Paula Malcomson Paula Malcomson is a Northern Irish actress born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Malcomson is sometimes credited as Paula Williams.She starred as "Trixie" in the HBO series Deadwood and Colleen in ABC's Lost... |
Jerri | Operates local coffee shop. |
Ratings and cancellation
The pilot for the series was shown directly after the highly anticipated series finale of The SopranosThe Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
, but it failed to sustain an audience. The Sopranos received an audience of 11.9 million people according to Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
, but John from Cincinnati held onto only 3.4 million viewers. Subsequent episodes initially lost viewers, but ratings began to see a slow increase, and by the final episode viewership had reached over 3 million; more than some episodes of Deadwood
Deadwood (TV series)
Deadwood is an American Western drama television series created, produced and largely written by David Milch. The series aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three 12-episode seasons. The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before...
.
One day after the season finale aired, HBO officially canceled the show.
Episodes
| # | Title | Writer(s) | Director | Original airdate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John from Cincinnati: The Complete First Season | ||||||
 |
Details | Special Features | ||||
|
|
|||||
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | ||||
| April 1, 2008 | July 20, 2009 | September 3, 2008 | ||||
External links
- Exploring Life On The Border With David Milch - Article about David Milch and the filming of John from Cincinnati, in Imperial Beach's local newspaper
- Photos and transcripts via Wayback Machine