Posted: Saturday, March 11, 2006 6:00 pm
Anson Mount spent the morning on March 3 conducting big-city radio interviews to tout his new drama, “Conviction,” which premiered that night on NBC. He also gave some time to the Journal Star — not because he had to, but because he wanted to talk to the Lincoln newspaper. It was in Nebraska, after all, that the up-and-coming actor made his feature film debut in the title role of the 2000 independent film “Tully.” He played the oldest of two brothers who lived with their father on a Nebraska farm.
“It was a great first movie to have,” Mount said. “It was a great first role to have.”
The movie was shot in rural Nebraska and Omaha, which Mount called “one of the undiscovered jewels in the Midwest.” He also had some nice things to say about the rest of the state.
“The farmland is so beautiful,” he said. “It was the perfect place to set a story about the silence of men. It’s so quiet out there.”
“Tully” won Mount much critical praise as well as a lifelong friendship. “Conviction” co-star Julianne Nicholson played opposite him in the independent film.
“I’m happy about (‘Conviction’) and a chance to work with her again,” he said. “She’s brilliant. You can see that by watching ‘Tully.’”
Since “Tully,” the 33-year-old Mount has been busy building his resume. He starred opposite Britney Spears in “Crossroads” and opposite Robert DeNiro in “City by the Sea.”
In 2003, he played an undercover FBI agent in the short-lived ABC drama “Line of Fire.” The network canceled the critically acclaimed series because it failed to gain an audience. Mount said it lacked support from the network.
“It was very frustrating,” he said. “I think if we had been given more of a chance, it might have taken off.”
In comparison, NBC has gone all out in its support of “Conviction,” the latest legal drama from Emmy winner Dick Wolf (“Law & Order”). NBC promoted the new series throughout the Winter Olympics and advertised it in movie theaters and magazines.
“We’ve been all over the place,” Mount said. “It’s been different than it was with ‘Line of Fire.’”
In “Conviction,” Mount plays no-nonsense Deputy District Attorney Jim Steele. The drama focuses on Steele and the other young Manhattan assistant district attorneys.
Besides Mount and Nicholson, who was in (“Ally McBeal”), the cast also includes Milena Govich (“Rescue Me”), Eric Balfour (“Six Feet Under”), J. August Richards (“Angel”), Jordan Bridges (“Dawson’s Creek”) and Stephanie March, who reprises her role as Alexandra Cabot from “Law & Order: SVU.”
Unlike “SVU” and the original “Law & Order,” Wolf’s “Conviction” is character-driven. Mount said that’s what attracted to him to the project. He called “Conviction” a cross between “Law & Order” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
“I’m not a fan of procedural shows,” he said. “They’re fine, but they’re not for me. I have to have some character development happen, and this has that. You’re going to see characters grow.”
Including his own, he said.
“Right now, he’s a bulldog attorney,” Mount said of hard-nosed Steele. “He’s not a very jocular kind of guy. I hope we get to see him loosen up over the next couple of seasons.”
It sounds like Mount is pretty optimistic about “Conviction’s” chances.
“I’ve been working at this for eight years,” he said. “I’m ready to stay put for a couple of years. I’ve been flying all over the place. I wouldn’t mind being in New York for a couple of years.”
Around the dial
* The witches are fighting their last demons.
The WB confirmed a TV Guide report that “Charmed” will end in May after eight seasons.
The final episode will air May 21. The series stars Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs.
Don’t hold your breath if you’re expecting original cast member Shannen Doherty to make a surprise guest appearance. But you never know …
* I’ve received numerous e-mails and calls about ABC’s “Commander and Chief,” which returns April 18, but nobody has inquired about “Alias.” It’s been off the air since December.
In case you’re wondering, the Jennifer Garner spy drama returns at 7 p.m. April 19. It will remain in the Wednesday timeslot until the series finale in May. “Invasion,” by the way, also comes back on April 19.
In other news, ABC will debut the new drama “What About Brian” April 16 and move it to its regular timeslot the following night. “Hope & Faith” returns March 21, replacing “Rodney” on the schedule.
* Good news for “West Wing” fans: Rob Lowe is returning to reprise his role as Sam Seaborn.
“West Wing” ends its run May 14, with several characters returning over the next several weeks.
The final 10 episodes begin tonight. Others expected back include Anna Deavere Smith, Emily Procter, Gary Cole, Tim Matheson, Mary-Louise Parker and Marlee Matlin.
* This sounds interesting, if only for the Nebraska reference: Comedy Central has ordered seven episodes of the animated “Freak Show,” which will premiere later this year or in early 2007.
Created by David Cross (“Arrested Development”) and H. Jon Benjamin, “Freak Show” is about second-tier superheroes whose secret identities are as sideshow performers. One of the characters is the World’s Tallest Nebraskan.
* Quick hits … “The Sopranos” return tonight (thank goodness) … Carol Burnett will portray Bree’s stepmother in an upcoming episode of “Desperate Housewives” … Anthony Clark (“Yes, Dear”) has been tabbed to host the next edition of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” when it returns this summer … Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” will kick off its second season June 12.
Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.