The TV pilot season is coming in like a lion.
Three networks will shoot pilots for dramatic series here in March, the Chicago Film Office reports. If just one show gets the green light and stays put, it means jobs for mobs of local actors and technicians.
That's a big if, film office chief Rich Moskal notes. Many hometown hits (like "Perfect Strangers," "Family Matters," Married ... with Children" and "ER") shot exteriors here, then headed West. "We've seen plenty of series that opted to stay in Los Angeles or elsewhere. if it made sense for them financially, or if the talent doesn't want to relocate," Moskal said.
Cross your fingers, anyway, for a long and happy on-location shoot. Greater Chicago is overdue for another "Prison Break" or "Early Edition" in the wake of one-season wonders like "Turks," "What About Joan" and "The Beast." The incoming shows, each to be in town for 10 to 12 days, are:
*"Matadors" (ABC) -- Northwestern grad Zach Gilford ("Friday Night Lights") and Michelle Borth ("Forgotten") will play a modern-day Romeo and Juliet whose wealthy Chicago families are at legal loggerheads. Writer-executive producer Jack Orman knows Chicago well after working on "ER." The shoot begins the second week of March.
*"Ridealong" (Fox) -- "Shield" creator Shawn Ryan is behind this hour-long police drama hitting town March 10. The cast has yet to be announced, but the series will follow a Polish-American cop, his pals, and their female chief. Ryan, who grew up in Rockford, Ill., wants to work in plot twists about Chicago politics and the underworld.
*"ATF" (CBS) --- This crime drama from Emmy winner Michael Dinner ("Wonder Years") follows a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent who must juggle a dangerous job and parenthood when a teen daughter re-enters his life. Dinner -- who helped script Patrick Swayze's "Beast" series -- will write, direct and executive produce the pilot. The shoot begins March 28.
As for movies ....
Vince Vaughn, as reported here last month, returns to his adopted hometown in May to star in a Ron Howard comedy. He'll play a guy who discovers a friend's wife is having an affair in "Your Cheating Heart." Vaughn and bride Kyla Weber already have a love nest here: his 7,880-square-foot penthouse in the Palmolive Building.
Meanwhile, Chicago is still in the running for "Transformers 3." Director Michael Bay also is sizing up Detroit and Washington, D.C. for his latest big-budget invasion of alien robots. Imagine Bumblebee stomping through the Loop! We're talking genuine Monsters of the Midway. Shia LeBeouf and Megan Fox will reprise their roles as teen heroes Sam and Mikaela.
Harry Caray's goes dockside
Holy cow! A new Harry Caray's restaurant bows March 1 at Navy Pier. Celeb investors include Jeremy Piven, Harold Ramis and ex-Caray's waiter James Denton ("Desperate Housewives") plus sports greats Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, Geovany Soto, Aramis Ramirez, Patrick Kane, Bobby Hull, Marv Levy and Richard Dent. March 1 would have been the broadcaster's 96th birthday, so the grand opening of Harry Caray's Tavern includes a "worldwide" toast and fireworks over the lake.
Opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. Reach her at molly.woulfe@nwi.com or (219) 852-4329.
