“Blunt Talk,” a new series premiering Saturday night on , may be the media comedy for our times.
Its central character, British TV journalist༺ Walter Blunt (Patrick Stewart), imagines American broadcast news will b🐷enefit from his integrity and keen intellect — until the LAPD discovers him in the company of a prostitute. The newsman becomes the news. It could not be more tawdry.
“I liked the ide🌼a of putting him in the flames and seeing h🍒ow he emerges,” says creator Jonathan Ames (“Bored to Death”).
Ames acknowledges that Piers Morgan’s tenure at CNN was one inspiration. “He had set a precedent that a Brit could have a major role on an American newscast,” he says. The other was the character of Howard Beale, the “” newsman whose monolꦍo𓂃gue “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore” is legendary. (In a nod to the Sidney Lumet film, “Blunt Talk” uses the same name of its network — UBS.)
Walter shares traits with both men but seems held together by safety pins. The staff at his show works double-time to keep h🥃im together, to no avail.
When he misses a flight to cover a hurricane in Galveston, the producers of his show, named “Blunt Talk,” try to fake it with a green screen and a yellow slicker. The only person able to keep him in check is his manservant, Harry (Adrian Scarborough), a fellow veteran of the Falklands War who administers towel-lashings when “the Major,” as he calls Blun🌄t, ♚has embarrassed himself.
What’s Stewart, so identified as the voice of reason as Captai✃ܫn Jean-Luc Picard on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” doing on such a crazy show?
The actor was💫 invited to lunch by “Blunt” executive producer Seth MacFarlane after he hosted the A𝔉cademy Awards.
“He was bright-eyed and bu🐽shy-tailed. He asked me, ‘How would I like to do a half-hour comedy show?’” As for his “Trek” fans, Stewart thinks they will welcome the change of pace. “I think they’ll be thrilled to see Patrick Stewart getting some fun in his lifetime. There was not a lot of fun on the Enterprise.”
I think they’ll be thrilled to see Patrick Stewart getting some fun in his lifetime. There was not a lot of fun on the 🍰Enterprise.
- Stewart on whether 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' fans will appreciate his new role
Stewart, who lives in Brooklyn, is a self-confessed news junkie, reading several newspapers in print and others online, and so he has some connection toꦉ how news is consumed in our cu꧒lture. Even though Walter is a mess, he idealizes him as a force for good.
“Walter wants to bring fairnes🌳s, justice and truth and sees his opportunity as a newsman,” he says. “He is engaged in the world. What politicians do in America affects the entire world. And I think Walter Blunt is very aware of that and trying to make a move to bring the two nations closer together.”
The actor is surrounded by a strong supporting cast, including Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver (“The Silver Linings Playbook”), who plays Rosalie, the tough executive producer of “Blunt Talk.” She was attracted to the role because of Ames’ “unjudgmental” style. “He is ♑ꦚinterested in the bizarre side of life. One of the good aspects of the show is that we’re accepting of these people,” she says.
Making his debut on American television is British actor Scarborough. He had worked with Stewart on a BBC rꦯadio play.
꧒“I never read the [full] script. I saw the first two sce✨nes,” he says. “Then I get this scene where we snort cocaine. I was so taken with the idea of snorting cocaine with Patrick Stewart. It was a gift from God. Mercifully, they liked me.”