Created by Susannah Grant Original language(s) English Final episode date 2015 | Country of origin United States First episode date 2014 Number of episodes 13 | |
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Genre Comedy-drama
Soap opera Starring Natalie Zea
Betsy Brandt
Michael Landes
Maria Canals-Barrera
Boris Kodjoe
Jaime Lee Kirchner
Luke Mitchell
Chris Conroy
Callie Hernandez
John Stamos Production company(s) ABC Studios
CBS Television Studios
Timberman-Beverly Productions Network American Broadcasting Company Executive producers Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly Cast John Stamos, Betsy Brandt, Boris Kodjoe, Callie Hernandez, Chris Conroy Similar Molson Canadian Rocks for, Whatever She Wants, Erin Brockovich, Joy, American Hustle | ||
Members Only is an unaired American comedy-drama television series created by Susannah Grant and starring Natalie Zea and John Stamos. The series planned to air on ABC during the 2014–15 American television season, and was ordered straight-to-series with a 13-episode pickup. The upstairs-downstairs soap opera centers on the powerful and wealthy Holmes family, owners of Connecticut's most exclusive clubs. Members Only was cancelled by ABC before its premiere.
Contents
Development
On January 22, 2014, it was announced that ABC has given a straight-to-series 13-episode order to a drama series from the Academy Award-nominated writers David O. Russell and Susannah Grant. The script for the pilot episode was written by Grant. Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly are also executive producers of show. Members Only was produced by CBS Television Studios and ABC Studios. Original title of the series was The Club. The series is described as an upstairs-downstairs soap opera set at a private country club. On February 26, 2014, it was announced that David O. Russell departed the series as executive producer.
The series began filming in New York City in September 2014. The first episode was directed by R. J. Cutler, who in 2012 directed the critically acclaimed pilot episode of the ABC drama series Nashville.
Casting
Callie Hernandez was the first regular member to be cast, being announced on February 26, 2014. Hernandez was cast as club worker Ana, who secretly stealing and pawning off nice items. On March 7, 2014 Canadian actor Chris Conroy was cast as Forty Holmes, who recently back from rehab. On March 24, 2014 Breaking Bad co-star Betsy Brandt joined the cast as one of lead roles as Leslie Holmes. On next day Maria Canals-Barrera was cast as Hilda, the house manager of the country club and mother of Callie Hernandez' character. On March 27, 2014, it was announced that Boris Kodjoe will play the role of Deacon, a former football player who now is real estate broker in the Club.
On July, 2014 casting for regular roles was continued. Luke Mitchell and Jaime Lee Kirchner was cast as an employee at the club named Jesse, and Diana, the wife of Deacon. On July 24, 2014, it was announced that Michael Landes was cast as one of the leads, playing Malcolm Carr, a recently widowed pediatrician and father who is close friend with Leslie. On August 4, 2014, it was announced that Natalie Zea will be play the leading role of Mickey Holmes-Harris, a "queen bee" of the Club and her family. On September 2, 2014 John Stamos joined the cast in the male lead role of Mickey's hedge-fund billionaire husband, Randy Harris.
Cast and characters
The show features an ensemble cast, headed by Natalie Zea as lead character Mickey Holmes-Harris. The upstairs-downstairs drama also starring John Stamos as Randy, her villainous billionaire husband; Betsy Brandt as Leslie Holmes; Michael Landes as Malcolm; Chris Conroy as Forty Holmes, Mickey's 23-year-old brother; Boris Kodjoe as Deacon and Jaime Lee Kirchner as Deacon's wife Diana. In "downstairs" side Maria Canals-Barrera stars as Hilda, the house manager of the country club; Callie Hernandez as Ana, Hilda's daughter; and Luke Mitchell as Jesse, the new employee at the club.
Alongside regular cast members, the series have several recurring players, including John Cullum as Winston Holmes III, Mickey's father, and well Rebecca Forsythe, Devyn Smith and Bailey Noble as Mickey and Randy's 17-year-old triplets-daughters.