Is Milwaukee ready to go Hollywood?
NBC was shooting a pilot for a new drama called “The Watch” in Milwaukee. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips was here shooting a scene near the Calatrava on Monday, according to local news sources.
The producers decided to use Milwaukee as the setting for their show because of new incentives for TV and movies to shoot here. Does this mean there’s a chance for potential star sightings around the city?
“It’s good to work outside of Los Angeles or New York,” Phillips said. “We’re going to be seeing a lot of your downtown beauty, and be a part of that,” he continued.
(Talk about great publicity for Milwaukee!)
"The Watch," is a show about a neighborhood watch group that takes matters into its own hands in the fictional Milwaukee suburb of Ridgeview.
According to The Hollywood Reporter and other television news sources, Phillips will play the police chief.
Phillips is probably best known for his roles in "La Bamba" and the string of "Young Guns" movies. He most recently appeared on several episodes of CBS' "Numb3rs" and an episode of USA Network's “Psych.”
The director of the show, Charles McDougall, won an Emmy for directing the pilot to “Desperate Housewives;” however, there’s no decision on whether NBC will pick up the Milwaukee-based show this fall.
I think it’d be great to have the local hot spots or city icons that we see daily as the backdrop for a prime time TV show. And we can say to ourselves, "I live right around the corner from that place!"
Milwaukee might not be LA, still, it’s about time Milwaukee gets recognized for all it offers. This is where it's at!
I prefer to remember him for "Wolf Lake". :^)
Posted by: Andre | August 28, 2007 at 11:41 AM
Ah John Kanin, Seattle policeman – does Phillips always play a policeman?
Someone needs to explain to me why networks canceled a TV series that followed a pack of werewolves living in a Seattle suburb. I've heard rumors that “Wolf Lake” began airing again on SCI FI on July 13 this year. Finally, it has been salvaged!
Posted by: KarenC | August 28, 2007 at 04:24 PM
Here's hoping that La Bamba can put an end to all of the senseless shootings in the ghettos of Milwaukee. DO IT RICHIE!!!
Posted by: Dave | August 28, 2007 at 04:31 PM
Wow, that's really cool! :) Way to go, Brew City. I hope the show gets picked up in the fall!
Posted by: Kristin | August 29, 2007 at 12:43 AM
What a great service this will do for Milwaukee. It's about time the rest of the world got to see what a fabulous city we have nestled here in the Midwest.
Posted by: Christi | August 29, 2007 at 08:52 AM
Christi, you're absolutely right!
Posted by: Karen | August 30, 2007 at 02:04 PM
I found this podcast on JSOnline where they interview the director and executive/producer of the show.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=652656
The whole interview is very interesting including parts where they give credence to the incentives Wisconsin is offering. They also give a lot of praise to what Milwaukee and the surrounding areas offer in terms of locales. You can definitely tell these guys are from LA by how they manage to cut off nearly every sentence. It's exciting stuff and great to hear they are looking here!
Posted by: bluesphee | August 31, 2007 at 10:39 PM
Hey- Great find! Thanks for sharing it.
Posted by: KarenC | September 03, 2007 at 06:33 PM
Wait a tick...you mean to tell me that if you lower taxes and provide financial incentives for filmmakers that they'll actually come to our fair city?? Maybe we should try doing this for current and potential residents and businesses?!?! What a novel idea!!
Posted by: mkelover | September 06, 2007 at 02:56 PM