BODY OF PROOF SEASON PREMIERE MOVES TO FEBRUARY 19, 2013 ON ABC

January 17, 2013 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment

MEGAN IS FACED WITH A CRISIS CLOSE TO HOME WHEN LACEY IS IMPERILED
BY A SERIAL KILLER, ON THE SEASON PREMIERE OF “BODY OF PROOF”

Season 3 Premiere Will Now Air Tuesday, February 19 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET)

New Regular Cast Members Mark Valley and Elyes Gabel Star
Richard Burgi Guest Stars

“Abducted – Part 1″ – Megan returns to work months after Peter’s death, and she is surprised by a man from her past-Tommy Sullivan (Mark Valley, “Fringe”), the new detective assigned to her case. Megan, along with Tommy and his rookie partner, Adam Schaeffer (Elyes Gabel, “Game of Thrones”), must stop a serial killer whose victims are young war veterans. As she learns more about the crime, the stakes rise when she gets a call from the killer — who is holding her teenage daughter, Lacey, hostage. The season premiere of “Body of Proof” airs TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Note: The season premiere of “Body of Proof” was previously announced for February 5.

“Body of Proof” stars Dana Delany stars as Dr. Megan Hunt, Jeri Ryan as Dr. Kate Murphy, Mark Valley as Detective Tommy Sullivan, Geoffrey Arend as Dr. Ethan Gross, Windell D. Middlebrooks as Dr. Curtis Brumfield, Elyes Gabel as Detective Adam Lucas and Mary Mouser as Lacey Fleming.

Guest starring are Shawn Hatosy as Karl Simmons, Annie Wersching as Yvonne Kurtz, Michael B. Silver as Dr. Harvey Wallace, Erin Cahil as Charlotte Tilney and Richard Burgie as D.A. Dan Russell.

“Abducted-Part 1″ was written by Christopher Murphey and directed by Michael Watkins.

The series is created by Christopher Murphey and executive-produced by Murphey, Matthew Gross and Evan Katz. “Body of Proof” is produced by Gross Entertainment and ABC Studios.

“Body of Proof” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.

Filed Under: American Entertainment News

Body of Proof: The Complete Second Season (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

October 8, 2012 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

The producers and writers for “Body of Proof” went all out this second season with more action, heavy hitting episodes but also shocking storylines and deaths of major characters that I never saw coming! “Body of Proof: The Complete Second Season” is highly recommended!

DVD TITLE: Body of Proof: The Complete Second Season

SERIES DATE: 2012

DURATION: 20 Episodes (854 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions, Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish

COMPANY: abc studios

RATED: TV 14 DSLV

RELEASE DATE: September 18, 2012

Directed by Nelson McCormick, Christine Moore, Matthew Gross, John Terlesky

Written by Christopher Murphey, Matthew V. Lewis, Diane Ademu-John, Andrew Dettmann, Corey D. Miller, Sunil Nayar, Sam Humphrey, Matthew Gross, Lawrence Kaplow, Allen MacDonald

Produced by Jim Klever-Weis, Bryan Oh

Co-Producer: Paul Gadd

Supervising Producer: Diane Ademu-John, Sam Humphrey

Executive Producer: Matthew Gross, Christopher Murphey, Sunil Nayar

Co-Executive Producer: Corey D. Miller, Richard Heus, Andrew Dettmann

Music by Daniel Licht

Cinematography by Patrick Cady

Edited by Jennifer Pulver, Lynn Willingham, Randy Jon Morgan, Tirsa Hackshaw, Eric Litman

Casting by Rosalie Joseph, Gayle Pillsbury

Production Design by Steven Wolff, Kenneth Hardy

Art Direction by Jeremy Woodward, E. David Cosier, Gina B. Cranham

Costume Design by Roberta Haze, Roberta Haze

Starring:

Dana Delany as Megan Hunt

Jeri Ryan as Kate Murphy

John Carroll Lynch as Bud Morris

Nicholas Bishop as Petr Dunlop

Sonja John as Samantha Baker

Geoffrey Arend as Ethan Gross

Windell Middlebrooks as Curtis Brumfield

Mary Mouser as Lacey Fleming

Nathalie Kelley as Dani Alvarez

Jeffrey Nordling as Todd Fleming

Joanna Cassidy as Joan Hunt

Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany) may have a prickly personality, but she’s a brilliant medical examiner with unique techniques for solving even the most complex crime. Relive every unique medical mystery as Megan seeks justice for each victim, while also putting her life back together and repairing her personal relationships with the living. Dissect each distinctive case with ABC’s “Body of Proof: The Complete Second Season” on DVD, plus exciting bonus features!

From writer and producer Christopher Murphey comes a new ABC medical drama titled “Body of Proof” which made its debut on March 2011 replacing a canceled drama series. With a short nine episode first season, the drama series was renewed for a second season and garnered positive reviews around the world where it has aired.

“Body of Proof” is a series that centers on Dr. Megan Hunt, a brilliant neurosurgeon who was a workaholic but was also away from her family which led to a divorce and losing custody of her daughter Mary.

One day, while trying to talk on her cell phone, she got into a car accident and now she doesn’t have full control of her hands to do surgery and thus ended her career as a neurosurgeon.

So, now Dr. Hunt works as a medical examiner and is trying to establish a relationship with her daughter but also assists Detectives Bud Morris and Samantha Becker on their criminal cases along with her partner Nicholas Bishop, a former police officer now medico-legal investigator.

The characters of “Body of Proof: The Complete Second Season” include:

Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany, “Desperate Housewives”, “Castle”, “Kidnapped”) - A former neurosurgeon now medical examiner who was a dedicated, brilliant neurosurgeon but broke her marriage and prevented a true relationship with her daughter which was followed by a life-changing car accident which ended her career. Now, a medical examiner, she uses her knowledge and investigative instincts to help police solve cases. She’s not very sociable, doesn’t have any friends due to being a workaholic.

Peter Dunlop (Nicholas Bishop, “Home and Away, “Walking on Water”) - A former police officer and now a medico-legal investigator. A partner to Dr. Megan Hunt assisting her on medical cases.

Dr. Kate Murphy (Jerry Ryan, “Star Trek: Voyager”, “Down with Love”, “Shark”, “Boston Public”) - The chief medical examiner and forensic anthropologist. Always concerned with the work budget, as Megan’s superior and the first female chief medical examiner in Philadelphia, she is sometimes at odds with Dr. Megan Hunt. She is also dating Megan’s ex-husband.

Detective Bud Morris (John Carroll Lynch, “Zodiac”, “Gran Torino”, “Shutter Island”) - A hardheaded homicide detective. Despite having personal problems due to a failing marriage, he does his best to solve his cases but often he and Dr. Megan Hunt are at odds when she oversteps her boundaries.

Detective Samantha Baker (Sonja John, “The Wire”, “Bringing out the Dead”, “Shaft”) - A partner of Detective Bud Morris and a person who respects Dr. Megan Hunt for being straightforward.

Dr. Ethan Gross (Geoffrey Arend, “(500) Days of Summer”, “Garden State”) – The young and enthusiastic fellow medical examiner.

Dr. Curtis Brumfield (Windell Middlebrooks, “Miss March”, “Enlightened”) – A former chief resident at Seattle Grace Hospital and an orthopedic surgeon. Was married with Dr. George O’Malley. Later, she has a sexual relationship with Dr. Mark Sloan (in order to prove to herself that she is heterosexual) but is now starting to understand her feelings that she is a lesbian and exploring her relationship with Dr. Arizona Robbins.

Todd Fleming (Jeffrey Nordling, “Flight 93″, “Tron: Legacy”, “Once and Again”) - The estranged husband of Dr. Megan Hunt, who is dating Megan’s boss, Dr. Kate Murphy.

Lacey Fleming (Mary Matilyn Mouser, “Bride Wars”, “Son of the Mask”) – The estranged daughter of Dr. Megan Hunt.

Dani Alvarez (Nathalie Kelley, “Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift”, “Loaded”) – Delivers the deceased to the medical examiner’s office and becomes the love interest for Peter in Season Two.

“Body of Proof: The Complete First Season” features 20 episodes on four discs. Here is a basic summary of each episode (Spoilerless summaries):

EPISODE 10 – Love Thy Neighbor – A car goes over an embankment and a man is found dead. Who is responsible?
EPISODE 11 – Hunting Party – A young new wife is shot at the family deer-hunt outing, who is responsible for killing her?
EPISODE 12 – Missing – A young nanny is run over and the 5-year-old charge has been kidnapped and he desperately needs his medication.
EPISODE 13 – Lazarus Man – A man who is on the examination table who is presumed dead, walks out off the table.
EPISODE 14 – Point of Origin – Peter saves a young woman in a house fire but is upset that he didn’t know a person died in the fire.
EPISODE 15 – Second Chances – A horse-riding champion is found dead in the woods, who is responsible for the murder?
EPISODE 16 – Hard Knocks – A teenager dies at a party and someone made the 911 call. Who may be responsible for the teen’s death?
EPISODE 17 – Love Bites – A pharmaceutical rep is found murdered and the team must find out who is responsible.
EPISODE 18 – Gross Anatomy – How did a murdered woman’s body end up as a medical school cadaver?
EPISODE 19 – Your Number’s Up – A lottery winner is found stabbed to death. Who is responsible for the murder?
EPISODE 20 – Falling For You – Who killed the bride on her wedding day?
EPISODE 21 – Shades of Blue – A cop is executed at a truck stop, but another cop is a suspect. Is he responsible?
EPISODE 22 – Sympathy for the Devil – A woman found innocent for murder is killed. Who was responsible for the murder?
EPISODE 23 – Cold Blooded – An Italian restaurant owner is found dead in a freezer. Who is responsible?
EPISODE 24 – Occupational Hazards – Two cards with bodies found inside the trunk, now the team must solve two cases.
EPISODE 25 – Home Invasion – Parents of a perfect family are killed. Did the surviving son do it?
EPISODE 26 – Identity – Two young girls are involved in a tragic car accident but the wrong girl is pronounced dead and the car accident may not be responsible for the death of the girl.
EPISODE 27 – Going Viral, Part 1 – The team must solve a city-wide virus outbreak.
EPISODE 28 - Going Viral, Part 2 – Death tolls continue to rise in the city, the team must find a way to treat the virus!
EPISODE 29 – Mind Games – A serial killer is back and wants his revenge on Megan.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Body of Proof: The Complete Second Season” is presented in Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 televisions. This is one of the few drama series on television where a lot of the scenes are shot outdoors, to there is good natural lighting and the series does look good on DVD. I didn’t see any major noise or compression artifacts. For the most part, the seventh season does look very good on DVD.

As for audio, the series is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and the series is primarily dialogue and music driven. Dialogue is clear and understandable, while the music has always played a major part for the series and definitely enhances certain scenes. Did notice the surround used in scenes with cutting of flesh (during surgery) which was quite clear. There are a few mild action sequences but for the most part, this is a dialogue-driven drama series.

The show is presented in English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Body of Proof: The Complete Second Season” includes the following special features:

Design of Body of Proof: Living Spaces – (2:27) A short featurette on the production design of the series.
Bodies of Body of Proof - (2:35) A short featurette about the dead bodies featured in the series. Technical Advisor Gary Kellerman talks about the research that goes into the auditions and using pig parts and having Dana Delany practicing the incisions on them and make-up design for the deceased.
The Stunt Work of Body of Proof: Taking the Plunge – (4:58) A featurette on the stunt work featured in the series and how executive producers wanted to see much more action in the seconds season.
The Stunt Work of Body of Proof: Prepping the Stunt (Part 1) – (2:57) The creation of the high speed stunt.
The Effects of Body of Proof: Playing with Fire – (3:29) Featuring the burning down a house for an episode and what was involved in the creation of that scene.
The Fashion of Body of Proof – (2:36) A featurette on the fashion for “Body of the Proof” from Susanna Puisto (Costume Designer).
The Stunt Work of Body of Proof: Collision Course (Part 2) – (3:46) Anya Adams (1st Assistant Director) talks about scheduling the stunts for the series. Lisa Wesels (Stunt Coordinator) talks about the coordination of the stunts for the series and more!
Body of Goofs – (3:37) Outtakes from the second season of “Body of Proof”.
Outbreak: Webisodes – Featuring five webisodes (about two minutes long) showcasing a newscaster about a terrorist virus outbreak.

EXTRAS:

“Body of Proof: The Complete Second Season” comes with a slip cover case.

With “Body of Proof” receiving a 20-episode order (compared to last season’s nine-episodes), this gave writers to explore more cases for the second season.

That also meant more action but also taking more risks in hopes that people will continue to watch the series for the third season.

“Body of Proof” is an interesting series because it deals with both the medical side but also the police detective side.

It’s a mix of a medical and police drama series…not to say it’s “Grey’s Anatomy” meets “Castle” kind of hybrid series but you have the medical side and then a medical examiner who tends to overstep the boundaries during a police investigation once in awhile.

But the series does make things different in the fact that the main character, Dr. Megan Hunt, while a talented medical examiner and former neurosurgeon, she’s flawed when it comes to things outside of her career. She realizes what she lost when she lost and that is a failed marriage and a teenage daughter and a husband who are estranged. And to make things worse for Megan, her boss, is dating her ex-husband and also there for her teenage daughter, which causes resentment and also jealousy within Megan.

You can tell that she buries herself in work to avoid social interaction or to avoid the pain of losing her family but whether or not she likes it, her co-workers are her support, trying to get her out of this funk and make her more sociable but also giving her that extra push for her to have that relationship with her daughter.

Dana Delaney does a spectacular job of playing the character who has confidence when it comes to her job but also her personality flaws when it comes to the more emotional and social aspects of her life. And speaking of Delaney, I definitely love this character role since she played Nurse Colleen McMurphy on “China Beach” back in 1988-1991. A strong character role, intelligent but yet not perfect…just a human being who works hard at her job but also has her own personal issues that she has to deal with.

What I like about this is that many professionals I know are like that. They put in a lot of hours in the office and deep inside, they know they should be with family but because of their dedication for the greater good of saving lives… it’s a difficult choice and lifestyle which is rarely focused in a drama series.

I have to admit that at first, I thought this was going to be a reversed-”Castle” type series where Dr. Hunt would be overstepping the boundaries of her job during the police questioning of a potential suspect but I’m glad that it’s not that type of drama series and that the writers are trying to do something difference. Also, I like the fact that the other supporting cast were being utilized much more earlier in the series.

While the series has gained critical praise, one thing that I do find the series a bit problematic is its criminal cases are predictable. If anything, we are a bit spoiled in this day and age with many police or investigative series that really make you wonder “who did it?”, “Body of Proof” is not exactly challenging the viewer as much.

Also, with more episodes, the series goes further into the character development of Peter, Kate, Ethan, Curtis but also exploring the lives of Detectives Bud Morris and Samantha Baker.

The second season also featured a lot of sexual tension. You never knew if Megan or Peter will get together but eventually, both managed to explore other people (as well as other characters exploring romance).

But what made the second season so awesome was that the writers took amazing risks.

The biggest risk was by creating the virus outbreak episodes for “Going Viral” and killing off a pretty important character of the series, followed by the season finale which killed off a major character of the series. And to make things worse, although a third season was green-lit, the budget for the series has been slashed and even more characters are going to be gone for season three.

While I appreciate the fact that ABC is bringing the series back, what made “Body of Proof” so compelling was the balance between medical/police drama. By eliminating so many characters of one side of the series, I really don’t know what direction the series is headed for season three.

As for the DVD release, you get 20-episodes, quite a few special features and overall picture and audio quality is very good on DVD.

With a series like “Body of Proof”, there was no doubt that the writers did so much to make this season exciting. More action, more stunt work and calculated stories which include a major outbreak and a serial killer which leaves two characters dead and also a season finale which would feature the last appearances of important characters.

The writers did a lot to improve the second season and did all they can to give “Body of Proof” its own identity and to distinguish itself from other ABC drama shows like “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Private Practice”, “Castle”, etc.

But with how things have ended with season two and what has transpired since the third season received an order of more episodes and a drastic cut to its budget, needless to say, the third season will be a new chapter in the life of Dr. Megan Hunt and may possibly be a different kind of series that we have been accustomed to, in these past two seasons. It’s a shame because this season really went all out into developing storylines for viewers to learn more about these characters and now, quite a few of them are now gone. It’s like taking “Grey’s Anatomy” and eliminating everyone but a handful of characters.

So, I don’t really know what is in store for season three. But for season two alone, if you enjoyed the first season, you definitely want to watch the second. The writers really went all out with this second season and by the final episodes of the season, you can’t believe where the writers are taking you. I was impressed they saved the best episodes of season two for last!

If you are looking for a fun, well-written, clever and entertaining medical/investigative drama series, “Body of Proof: The Complete Second Season” is highly recommended!

Filed Under: DVD Reviews

ABC.COM IS “GOING VIRAL” WITH A SPECIAL “BODY OF PROOF” WEB SERIES

March 27, 2012 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment

ABC.com is launching a five-part web series connecting the two “Body of Proof” episodes, “Going Viral, Parts 1 & 2,” the first of which airs tonight, TUESDAY, MARCH 27 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET). On the show the team faces a city-wide outbreak of an unknown virus and no one is safe – including Megan and her team.

The web series debuts on www.ABC.com/BodyofProof at 11:00 p.m., ET, immediately following “Going Viral, Part 1,” and focuses on a press conference given by Dr. Kate Murphey (Jeri Ryan). During Kate’s remarks, pandemonium breaks out, and a reporter in the room is introduced, Julie Tompkins (Jolie Jenkins). Over the course of the remaining web series, we follow Julie’s personal experience with the virus and gain key insights into “Going Viral, Part 2,” airing next week, TUESDAY, APRIL 3 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET).

“Our team is committed to creating the ultimate fan experience,” said Karin Gilford, SVP of Digital Media, ABC Entertainment. “In this case we worked closely with show producers to create an entire story arc that connects these two highly eventful episodes. It’s a great way to maintain the suspense and enable fans to dig even deeper into the plot.”

Body of Proof” stars Dana Delany as Dr. Megan Hunt, Jeri Ryan as Dr. Kate Murphey, John Carroll Lynch as Detective Bud Morris, Nicholas Bishop as Peter Dunlop, Sonja Sohn as Detective Samantha Baker, Geoffrey Arend as Dr. Ethan Gross, Windell D. Middlebrooks as Dr. Curtis Brumfield and Mary Mouser as Lacey Fleming.

Special guest stars for “Going Viral” include Nathalie Kelley as Dani Alvarez, Luke Perry as Dr. Charlie Stafford, Dean Norris as S.A.C. Brendan Johnson, Nick Stahl as Marcel Trevino and Julie Jenkins as Julie Tompkins.

“Body of Proof” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound. The series is created by Christopher Murphey and executive-produced by Murphey, Matthew Gross, and Sunil Nayar. “Body of Proof” is produced by Gross Entertainment and ABC Studios.

Filed Under: American Entertainment News

ABC’S “BODY OF PROOF” DRAWS ITS LARGEST AUDIENCE THIS SEASON

November 2, 2011 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment

ABC Draws its Largest Overall Audience on the Night in 3 Weeks

Standing as the 2nd-Most-Watched TV Show in its 8pm Time Slot,
ABC’s “Last Man Standing” Outdraws Fox’s “Glee” by 2.0 Million Viewers

ABC’s “Man Up!” Holds Nearly All of its Adult 18-49 Audience Week to Week

ABC’s “DWTS: The Results” Scores its Best Performance in Total Viewers and
Adults 18-49 in 3 Weeks and 2nd-Highest Numbers of the Season with Key Women

Growing its Overall Audience for the 3rd Straight Week,
ABC’s “Body of Proof” Hits a Season High in Total Viewers

Tuesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)
Drawing its biggest audience on the night in 3 weeks, ABC finished as the No. 2 most-watched network (11.0 million) on Tuesday evening to CBS, leading Fox by 4.0 million viewers (7.0 million) and NBC by 5.0 million (6.0 million).

“Last Man Standing” (8:00-8:30 p.m.)
Starting out the night for ABC at 8:00 p.m. against CBS’ top-rated “NCIS,” ABC’s “Last Man Standing” stood as the 2nd-most-watched TV show overall (9.3 million), outdrawing Fox’s “Glee” by 2.0 million viewers (7.3 million) and NBC’s “The Biggest Loser 12″ by 2.8 million viewers (6.5 million). The broad-skewing new ABC comedy also delivered the No. 2 position in the half-hour with Adults 25-54 and Men 18-49, while finishing as the 2nd-highest-rated broadcast program with Kids 2-11 (tie).

“Man Up!” (8:30-9:00 p.m.)
At 8:30 p.m. against stiff competition from the second half-hours of “NCIS” and “Glee,” ABC’s “Man Up!” (1.8/5) held 90% of its Adult 18-49 audience week to week, 100% among Women 18-34 and jumped by 33% among Kids 2-11.

“Dancing with the Stars: The Results” (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Jumping over its lead-in at 9:00 p.m. and building throughout its broadcast, ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars: The Results” ranked as the 2nd-most-watched TV show in its hour (15.2 million), more than doubling the audiences for Fox’s comedies (+134% – “New Girl”/”Raising Hope” – 6.5 million) and “The Biggest Loser” (+141% – 6.3 million). In addition, the wide-appealing ABC dancing results show finished No. 1 in its slot with key Women (W18-49/W25-54) and was the top-rated broadcast program with Kids 2-11. In addition, “Dancing” defeated the second hour of “The Biggest Loser” by 17% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/7 vs. 2.4/6). The show featured performances by Justin Bieber, while actor David Arquette was the seventh celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the ABC dance competition this season.

* Growing week to week in viewers (+8%) and young adults (+8%), ABC’s “DWTS: The Results” tallied its best results in 3 weeks – since 10/11/11. In addition, the show posted its 2nd-highest numbers this season with key Women (W18-49/W25-54).

“Body of Proof” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
ABC’s “Body of Proof” registered as the 2nd-most-watched show in the 10:00 p.m. hour (No. 2 drama in its time slot for the 7th week running), beating NBC’s “Parenthood” by 4.8 million viewers (10.1 million vs. 5.3 million). “Body of Proof” also qualified as the No. 2 drama in the time period with Adults 25-54, Women 18-34 and Women 18-49, while ranking No. 1 in Women 25-54.

* Building its overall audience for the 3rd week in a row and rising 11% with young adults week to week, ABC’s “Body of Proof” produced its most-watched telecast this season (10.1 million) and equaled a best-since-premiere number with Adults 18-49 (2.0/5). In addition, the show hit its 2nd-best numbers this season with Adults 18-34 and key Women (W18-34/W18-49).

* “Body of Proof” drastically improved its time period over the same night last year (5.5 million and 1.3/4 on 11/2/10) with Total Viewers (+84%) and Adults 18-49 (+54%).

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 42% currently, from 38% at the same point in 2010. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 11/1/11.

Filed Under: American Entertainment News

Q&A Interview with actor Windell D. Middlebrooks, “Body of Proof” (J!-ENT Interviews and Articles)

October 6, 2011 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

With the DVD release of “Body of Proof – The Complete First Season”, we will be featuring Q&A interviews with the cast of ABC’s “Body of Proof”.

Our final interview is with actor Windell D. Middlebrooks, who plays the character of Dr. Curtis Brumfield, the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner in the ABC drama series “Body of Proof”.

Windell has appeared on TV shows such as “Scrubs”, “The Suite Life on Deck” and the film “Miss March”, but on “Body of Proof”, his role as Dr. Curtis Brumfield has him playing the recently hired Deputy Chief Medical Examiner.

And Dr. Brumfield is always keeping a close eye on Dr. Megan Hunt (played by Dana Delany) as she tends to order expensive tests without consulting with her superiors. Also, Dr. Hunt is quite upfront of asking Dr. Brumfield to prove himself to her. Needless to say, because of that, initially Dr. Curtis Brumfield is often in not in the best mood when he is around Dr. Hunt.

But when he starts to see how effective she is in her job as well as helping the detectives solve their crimes and show his usefulness around her, the two begin to warm up to each other (slowly).

With season two of “Body of Proof” airing on ABC and the DVD release of “Body of Proof: The Complete First Season”, actor W.D. Middlebrooks took part in a media Q&A and reflected on the first season as Dr. Curtis Brumfield on “Body of Proof”.

How would you describe your character, Curtis Brumfield, in Body Of Proof?

Windell: Curtis has just been promoted to Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, so he is under pressure to deliver. This is his chance. However, he’s constantly challenged by the women around him. Firstly, there’s Dr. Kate Murphy, who is the Chief Medical Examiner who thinks she’s brilliant. Then there’s Dana Delany’s character, Dr. Megan Hunt, who challenges Curtis to prove himself to her and prove that he deserves this promotion. He fights them both all day long.

It sounds like there’s plenty to get your teeth into, character wise…

Windell: It’s wonderful because these characters are very human – and that’s what I love about the show. You get to see the layers, the complexity, and why the relationships work and why they don’t work. You get to see why one case moves Curtis more than another, or why a case affects Kate or Megan more than anyone else. It’s fascinating, but there is a wonderful conflict underneath everything.

Why does Curtis dislike Dr. Megan Hunt so much?

Windell: Megan messes up his budget. I visited a Medical Examiner’s office to research the role and they explained the importance of coming in under a certain number. There’s a huge pressure to do that. But on top of that, there’s also the side of being a doctor where you care about each case. You want to know why this happened and you want to solve it. However, Curtis has to put that on the back burner to manage the numbers. That’s why there’s always this fight in him, which in turn becomes a fight in the office. We all want to do our job well, but there are rules and regulations that we all have to abide by. Megan doesn’t care about the costs. She just wants to solve cases. Curtis wants to solve everything, but under his budget.

Do we see many arguments between Megan and Curtis in Season One?

Windell: You see a few arguments in the first season. If Megan was a man, we could step outside and go toe to toe – but Curtis has a lot of respect for her because she’s damn good at what she does. He knows that. As much as Curtis hates it, he knows that he has to run a certain test in order to solve a case – and he knows it’s going to blow his budget, but at least they will get results. You get to see a lot of respect between these two characters, but you also get to see him fighting against her and wanting Megan to be wrong for his own sake.

Is it fair to say that Curtis provides the comic relief in the show?

Windell: It’s very fair to say that Curtis provides the comic relief in the show – and that’s also what I love about him. The show deals with murder and death, so it’s nice to have Curtis and Geoffrey (played by Ethan Gross) run behind Megan like little puppy dogs. She stirs up an excitement in us to get back into the field and be hands-on – and it’s this circumstance that causes the comedy. It’s not because Curtis and Geoffrey are dumb or don’t know their jobs, but they’re awkward at times and it’s fun to add this lightness to the show. To me, it’s very true to life. I don’t know any office or any situation, even in the heavy world of medical examinations, where you can’t find laughter.

Does this mean you think you can find comedy even when dealing with death?

Windell: I come from a family where there is always a place to laugh, whether dealing with death or drama. I remember being in college and I would meet people who had been to two funerals in their life. I said to them, “I had been to eight funerals by the time I was eight years old!” When people died in my family, you just deal with it. It’s just a process, even at a young age, that wasn’t hidden from me. This was the reality that my family gave me.

How do you deal with all the medical terminology on the show?

Windell: I work on it all the time. In rehearsal, I’ll nail it, syllable for syllable. I’m dead on. Then I get on the set and I can’t get one syllable out. “What is it? Acetylsalicylic acid? Why can’t I just say aspirin?” I don’t care how much you work on it, you will mess up – but it’s a lot of fun. You basically have to study it and know it as second nature.

How much feedback did you get from the technical advisers on the show?

Windell: They have tons of feedback, but it’s always fascinating. They comment on everything from the simplest of actions, like learning what to do with the gloves. On our first day on set, we shot a scene where we walked out of an autopsy and I pulled off my gloves the wrong way. One of the technical advisors told me, “No, fold them down. You don’t want to contaminate.” These are the details that they pay close attention to.

What research did you do for the role?

Windell: I went to a real autopsy for research purposes and it was a fascinating experience. At first, I stayed behind the glass for a while – but then I inched forward as I became more comfortable with everything. The first one was just an inspection, not a full autopsy. It was a 20-year-old who had died in a motorcycle accident – and it was tough for me. It’s easier to understand death when it’s an older person who has lived their life fully. It sits better with me when that happens. But it’s hard to grasp when it’s someone young. You see it as a body but then you see what they were wearing, and the note in the pocket that someone wrote to him. I made an emotional connection and it shook me up.

Was the second autopsy easier to watch?

Windell: The second autopsy was an older woman and it was easier because you knew she had led a full life. It became more about the science to me because I had more peace about it. However, I don’t think I could have taken it if we’d done a full autopsy on the 20-year-old.

How do medical examiners deal with these tough situations?

Windell: The medical examiner that was handling that case had a son around the age of the 20-year-old, so he said, “This has to be a case number for me so that I don’t connect personally with it.” So it definitely makes you appreciate life. You take everything more seriously and you evaluate a lot of the shallow stuff that we deal with. When you’re working on this show and you’re standing there watching the autopsy, it definitely changes your thinking.

Body of Proof: The Complete First Season is now available on DVD.

Photo credit: ABC

Filed Under: GALLERY, Interviews and Articles

Q&A Interview with actress Jeri Ryan, “Body of Proof” (J!-ENT Interviews and Articles)

October 5, 2011 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

With the DVD release of “Body of Proof – The Complete First Season”, we will be featuring Q&A interviews with the cast of ABC’s “Body of Proof”.

Our next interview is with actress Jeri Ryan, known for her roles as “Seven of Nine” from “Star Trek: Voyager” and Ronnie Cooke from “Boston Public”. She most recently appeared on the drama series “Leverage” and the comedy series “Two and a Half Men”.

In “Body of Proof”, Jeri plays the role of Kate Murphy, the first Chief Medical Examiner in Philadelphia history and also the stern boss of Dr. Megan Hunt (played by Dana Delany).

As both she and Dr. Megan Hunt, are dedicated to their profession, she knows that Dr. Megan Hunt often will ask for medical tests that can easily cost the department quite a bit of money and when she does, it’s up to Kate to step in and remind Dr. Hunt of who is the boss. Thus, sometimes adding a bit of tension to their working relationship.

With season two of “Body of Proof” airing on ABC and the DVD release of “Body of Proof: The Complete First Season”, actress Jeri Ryan took part in a media Q&A and reflected on the first season as Kate Murphy on “Body of Proof”.

How would you describe your character in Body Of Proof?

JERI: Dr. Kate Murphy is the first female chief medical examiner in Philadelphia’s history, so she’s very smart and a bit of a tough cookie in her own right. However, she’s also very human and she’s got a lot of empathy, not just for the victims and their families, but also for the people that work for her and with her. I love the fact that she’s not a stereotypical cold-as-ice, hard-as-nails female boss because that’s not terribly interesting to play. Kate is very different.

Did you base your character on anyone in particular?

JERI: A couple of our technical advisors on the show are women who were chief medical examiners in their own right. One of them was the first female chief medical examiner in the city where she worked and what really blew me away was the fact that you might assume someone in her position of power would be solely focused on work and nothing else. However, that’s not true. These women still live their lives to the full. They are the most fascinating, amazing women. They race cars, they skydive, and they climb mountains. They do everything and anything.

Why do you think they live life to the full?

JERI: Perhaps it’s got something to do with working around death all the time? Working in this field makes you realize how fragile life is and how quickly it can go, so perhaps it entices you to take advantage of every minute you have. I certainly try to bring a little of that to Kate in the show.

How do these medical examiners still care about the victims after seeing so much death in their job?

JERI: That was one of the things I asked when I got to visit a medical examiner’s office. “How do you do this? These are human beings. It’s someone’s loved one. How do you carry on all the time?” I discovered that there’s always a respect and sensitivity that it’s a body, but you have to have a disconnect or you couldn’t do what you have to do in an autopsy. You can’t completely internalize it and emotionalize it.

Did you witness an autopsy at first hand?

JERI: I witnessed two autopsies during my research for this role. I am a huge science geek, so I was waiting six months for the opportunity to present itself where I could finally witness one. It was an amazing honor, and it was incredibly fascinating – but the emotional part of it was hard. I looked at the first guy’s face and thought to myself, ‘Whoa… This is a human being.’ I started thinking about his family who just lost their loved one and for a minute, I didn’t know if I was actually going to be able to carry on. You realize how fragile life is and what a miracle our bodies are. It’s amazing.

What else did you learn from observing the autopsies?

JERI: There was one case that was incredibly difficult. The doctor performing the autopsy told me that it was one of the hardest cases she’d ever had to do because it was an infant. She explained how you have to go home and hug your kids extra tight after doing something like that. It’s a hard job.

Did your observations affect your thoughts on life and death?

Absolutely. I don’t necessarily want to climb mountains, but witnessing these autopsies has made me really appreciate life. The human body is such a miraculous machine and you really realize the fragility of life when you see them opened up in front of you. We are all told to eat right and work out – but when you literally see first hand what happens when you ignore these things, it really does make you think.

How close is your portrayal of medical procedures to the real thing?

JERI: It’s as real and authentic as you can be on a network television show. There’s only so much that you can really show, but we always have our technical advisers on a set and we try our best to make everything as realistic as possible. If you’re doing a medical show and the science is not there, you’ve lost all credibility, so we try to keep it as authentic and as legitimately correct as we can.

Is it a challenge to develop your character when you are unsure where the show is going?

JERI: That’s the challenge of episodic television. You don’t know where it’s going until that script is in front you. You try to drag everything you can out of the writers to give you some sort of information to go on. You get any scrap of back story that you can because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve played something one way, and then a script comes in, and you discover a completely out-of-the-blue back story that you never saw coming.

Your character is a very strong-willed woman. Was that part of the appeal of the show?

JERI: Very much so. I don’t have any interest in playing a ditz, especially on a series that could potentially run for seven years. I don’t want to play somebody who’s stupid. I don’t have that interest. I want somebody who is strong and smart; somebody that I can be proud of my daughter watching and using as a role model. My character is very intelligent, strong and smart – and I loved the way she was written. That’s what peaked my interest.

Do you enjoy the fact that there is a strong female cast in Body Of Proof?

JERI: It’s fantastic that we’ve got a female-driven drama. There are three really strong, smart women on the show and I love it. No offense to the guys, but I love that there are so many great roles for women now, and so many great roles for women 40 and over. A new industry has emerged in the last five or 10 years. It’s wonderful.

Did you know your Body Of Proof co-star Dana Delany before you started work on the show?

JERI: I had heard wonderful things about Dana, but we’d never met. Dana is universally loved by everyone she’s ever worked with. She’s amazing and a wonderful actress as well. It’s been a pleasure to work with her – and I very much look forward to working with her some more in Season Two.

Body of Proof: The Complete First Season is now available on DVD.

Photo credit: ABC

Filed Under: GALLERY, Interviews and Articles

Q&A Interview with actress Dana Delany, “Body of Proof” (J!-ENT Interviews and Articles)

October 3, 2011 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

With the DVD release of “Body of Proof – The Complete First Season”, we will be featuring Q&A interviews with members of the cast of ABC’s “Body of Proof”.

We begin with actress Dana Delany, well known for her roles on “China Beach” and “Desperate Housewives”. In “Body of Proof”, Delany plays the character of Dr. Megan Hunt, a brilliant neurosurgeon who was a workaholic but was also away from her family most of the time. Unfortunately, that time away from her family and her always at work, led to a divorce and losing custody of her daughter Mary.

One day, while trying to talk on her cell phone, she got into a car accident and now lost full control of her hands to do surgery and thus ended her career as a neurosurgeon.

So, now Dr. Hunt works as a medical examiner and is trying to establish a relationship with her daughter. She also assists Detectives Bud Morris and Samantha Becker on their criminal cases along with her partner Nicholas Bishop, a former police officer now medico-legal investigator.

With season two of “Body of Proof” airing on ABC, Dana Delany reflects on her first season as Dr. Megan Hunt on “Body of Proof”.

What was your biggest challenge in taking on the role of a medical examiner in Body Of Proof?

DANA: My biggest challenge was the words, the medical terminology. You have to say these lines really fast and you have to act like you know what you’re talking about. It’s tough, but thank God for the internet. It has changed an actor’s life completely. I’ve played doctors before where we used Taber’s medical encyclopedia to look up different words all the time. Now, you can just put the word into your smart phone or tablet and the information comes up immediately with pictures, descriptions and the right pronunciation. It’s much easier to be better prepared now.

What makes Body Of Proof different to other forensic shows?

DANA: My character is very different because she doesn’t disconnect from the bodies in every episode. She probably over-connects to the bodies, which is something a normal medical examiner wouldn’t do. I think the show has a different pace because of that. It’s very interesting, we have one episode where there is a child missing that’s still alive – and it changed the nature of the show because we were in pursuit of the child and it made our show much quicker. That’s not our show; it didn’t feel right to me. What I like about the show is the way that the bodies are already dead, so we can take the time to think about everything and take a moment with the body.

How do you see your character on the show: Dr. Megan Hunt?

DANA: I see Megan as a psychopomp, which in Greek mythology was the character Charon; who transported souls of the dead across the River Styx. The job of a psychopomp is to not judge, but to provide safe passage – and I think that’s exactly what she does with these dead people. She feels that if she can cross them over to the other side, then that’s her job done – but she’s not going to finish until she does that in a safe way. And that’s why, at the end of almost every episode, we have her saying goodbye to them. Those people are not covered up until she knows exactly what happened to them.

Is that why Dr. Hunt becomes so dedicated to her work? She’s not just the medical examiner; she almost takes over the police work as well.

DANA: Exactly. She had no regard for people when they were alive, but now she has double regard for them. She looks at her work and she thinks, ‘These are not just bodies, they are human beings. They lived a life, and now they deserve the respect in death.’

Do you admire the actors who play the dead people on the show?

DANA: I’ve got to tell you, they do such a great job because it’s not easy for them. They have to sit in hours of makeup, and then they have to pretend to not breathe for ages. Then, they also have to be really stiff. That’s a difficult job when we’re poking them and prodding them.

When dealing with such a serious subject matter, do you find it difficult to switch off from work at the end of a long day on set?

DANA: There’s a Zen practice of ‘Practice your death before you die’. And it’s very liberating. I think that we all need to really have a better relationship with death.

Are you less scared of death since starting work on this show?

DANA: I think I always had a good relationship with death for whatever strange reason. I’ve never been afraid of dying, but I’ve observed a number of autopsies now and I still feel fine about death. I really feel good about it. It’s like, ‘Okay. That’s it. That’s what happens.’ I think it’s a gift to be a medical examiner. One of the best things about being an actor is that you get to research your role and learn about different occupations. I’ve done a lot of research for this role, and to see what medical examiners do at work has been an honor. It’s been completely eye opening to me.

Were you worried the first time you witnessed an autopsy?

DANA: Everyone warns you to take precautions before you see an autopsy for the first time. They say, “Make sure you have something to eat first and wear flat shoes. If you feel faint, don’t be embarrassed, just sit down.” I had never seen a dead body before this role, but the medical examiners were extremely respectful and reverential towards these bodies. Everybody takes it very seriously.

What part of the autopsies did you find the most difficult?

DANA: The hardest part is the person staring at you. But then, when the medical examiner pulls the face back, it becomes a body. It’s a strange experience, but I found it fascinating. By my fourth autopsy, they were letting me assist. They let me do incisions and I was mesmerized by the whole process. The minute you open up the body and look in there, I’m amazed.

Did you ever feel faint watching these autopsies?

DANA: I just felt fascinated by everything about it. It’s been an honor to witness these autopsies because it’s something that not everybody gets to experience – and I feel extremely grateful that we’ve been allowed to watch. It’s been mind-bending.

What else have you taken away with these experiences?

DANA: I have found it a very reverential experience because the minute you cut that person open, you see that our bodies are a miraculous gift that we’ve all been given. The fact that our show gets it right is very gratifying because it’s true when you consider the way that the body is the proof. When you look into a body and you see the cavity and all their organs, you can see exactly how that person lived – and you can see how they died. It makes you realize, ‘I’ve been given this gift, this machine that works perfectly – and it’s my job to keep it running.” It’s changed my life.

In what way has it changed your life?

DANA: I really want to take care of my machine now. It’s my responsibility to make sure that it runs well – and I’m going to do everything I can to help that.

Body of Proof: The Complete First Season is now available on DVD.

Photo credit: ABC

Filed Under: GALLERY, Interviews and Articles

ABC’S BODY OF PROOF OPENS STRONG IN ITS SECOND SEASON

September 21, 2011 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment

Quick Take for Monday, September 20, 2011
(Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)
ABC is the 2nd-Most Watched Net on the Opening Tuesday of the Season

Building Sharply on its Lead-in and Gaining Audience Throughout its Opener,
“DWTS: The Results” Outdraws its Fox and NBC Competition by Wide Margins

Showing Impressive Lead-in Retention, ABC’s “Body of Proof” Premiere Tops its Season Finale by Double-Digit Percentages with its Best Numbers Since Mid-April
Tuesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)
With a “Dancing” special and the season premieres of “DWTS: The Results” and “Body of Proof,” ABC (11.6 million) qualified as the 2nd-most-watched TV network on season-premiere Tuesday to CBS (“NCIS”/”NCIS: LA”/”Unforgettable”). ABC outdrew premiere programming on Fox by 2.9 million viewers (“Glee”/”New Girl”/”Raising Hope” = 8.7 million), while doubling NBC’s audience on the night (+100% ahead of the 2-hour season premiere of “The Biggest Loser” and “Parenthood” = 5.8 million).

“DWTS: Meet the Cast” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
From 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC’s “DWTS: Meet the Cast” (10.7 million) ran No. 2 to CBS’ top-rated “NCIS” premiere in Total Viewers, topping Fox’s season opener of “Glee” by 1.8 million viewers (8.9 million) and the opening hour of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser 12″ premiere by 4.6 million viewers (6.1 million).

“Dancing with the Stars: The Results” (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Building sharply on its lead-in and gaining audience throughout its telecast against stiff competition, the season opener of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars: The Results” (14.5 million) finished as the 2nd-most-watched program in the 9 o’clock hour, topping Fox (“New Girl”/”Raising Hope” = 8.5 million) and NBC (“The Biggest Loser” = 6.2 million). The ABC dancing results show also delivered the No. 2 position in the time period with Women 18-34 and ranked No. 1 with Women 25-54. ABC’s “DWTS: The Results” outdelivered its unscripted competition in the hour by solid margins, leading the second hour of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” premiere by 8.3 million viewers (14.5 million vs. 6.2 million) and by 17% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/7 vs. 2.4/6). NBA champion Metta World Peace (aka Ron Artest) was the first celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the competition this season.

“Body of Proof” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Showing its best-ever young adult lead-in retention, ABC’s season premiere of “Body of Proof” earned second place in the 10 o’clock hour, topping NBC’s “Parenthood” by 4.4 million viewers (9.7 million vs. 5.3 million) and by 10% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/6 vs. 2.1/6). The sophomore ABC drama also ranked No. 2 in the hour with Adults 25-54 and across all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

* Rising over its season finale in May by double-digit percentages with Adults 18-49 (+10%) and Adults 18-34 (+17%), “Body of Proof” posted its strongest performance since mid-April on both young adult measures – since 4/19/11 and 4/12/11, respectively. In addition, “Body of Proof” equaled the series’ 2nd-highest-ever Women 18-34 rating, hitting its best number since its series debut (on 3/29/11).

* Among Adults 18-49 (82%), “Body of Proof” delivered its best-ever lead-in retention coming out of “DWTS: The Results.”

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 9/20/11.

Filed Under: American Entertainment News

Body of Proof: The Complete First Season (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

September 8, 2011 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

If you are looking for a fun, clever and entertaining drama medical/investigative series, definitely give “Body of Proof: The Complete First Season” a chance!

DVD TITLE: Body of Proof: The Complete First Season

SERIES DATE: 2011

DURATION: 9 Episodes (387 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Spanish and French Subtitles, Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions

COMPANY: abc studios

RATED: TV 14 DSLV

RELEASE DATE: September 20, 2011

Directed by Nelson McCormick, Christine Moore

Written by Christopher Murphey

Produced by Jim Klever-Weis, Bryan Oh

Co-Producer: Paul Gadd

Supervising Producer: Diane Ademu-John

Executive Producer: Matthew Gross, Christopher Murphey, Sunil Nayar

Co-Executive Producer: Corey D. Miller, Richard Heus, Andrew Dettmann

Music by Daniel Licht

Cinematography by Patrick Cady

Edited by Jennifer Pulver, Lynn Willingham, Randy Jon Morgan

Casting by Rosalie Joseph

Production Design by Steven Wolff

Art Direction by Jeremy Woodward, E. David Cosier, Gina B. Cranham

Costume Design by Roberta Haze

Starring:

Dana Delany as Megan Hunt

Jeri Ryan as Kate Murphy

John Carroll Lynch as Bud Morris

Nicholas Bishop as Petr Dunlop

Sonja John as Samantha Baker

Geoffrey Arend as Ethan Gross

Windell Middlebrooks as Curtis Brumfield

Suzanne Gillies as Medical Investigator

Kent R. Williams as Officer Steave

Billy “V” Vigeant as Officer Watkins

Mary Mouser as Lacey Fleming

Jeffrey Nordling as Todd Fleming

Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany) was second to none — a brilliant neurosurgeon in a class all her own — but when her lifesaving gift is destroyed in a career-ending car accident, she reinvents herself as a medical examiner. Armed with keen instincts and vast medical knowledge, Dr. Hunt uses the victim‘s bodies to tell the story of their lives and untimely death. The first season of this hit new series allows fans to relive the twists and turns of each case as Hunt seeks justice for every victim while also embarking on a journey of personal redemption.

One day, while trying to talk on her cell phone, she got into a car accident and now she doesn’t have full control of her hands to do surgery and thus ended her career as a neurosurgeon.

The characters of “Body of Proof: The Complete First Season” include:

Peter Dunlop (Nicholas Bishop, “Home and Away, “Walking on Water”) - A former police officer and now a medico-legal investigator. A partner to Dr. Megan Hunt assisting her on medical cases.

Dr. Ethan Gross (Geoffrey Arend, “(500) Days of Summer”, “Garden State”) – The young and enthusiastic fellow medical examiner.

Todd Fleming (Jeffrey Nordling, “Flight 93″, “Tron: Legacy”, “Once and Again”) - The estranged husband of Dr. Megan Hunt.

Lacey Fleming (Mary Matilyn Mouser, “Bride Wars”, “Son of the Mask”) – The estranged daughter of Dr. Megan Hunt.

“Body of Proof: The Complete First Season” features 9 episodes on two discs. Here is a basic summary of each episode (Spoilerless summaries):

DISC: 1

EPISODE 1 – Pilot – Detectives work with a passionate medical examiner named Dr. Megan Hunt, but with her wanting to catch the killer of a young woman, they quickly learn that the medical examiner may tend to break her boundaries. Meanwhile, Hunt tries to re-establish a relationship with her estranged daughter.
EPISODE 2 – Letting Go – Dr. Megan Hunt helps detectives with a murder case involving an interracial couple.
EPISODE 3 – Helping Hand – Dr. Megan Hunt tries to find out how and who murdered a woman found in a hotel. Meanwhile, Megan tries to make friends by taking an interest in the lives of her co-workers.
EPISODE 4 – Talking Heads – Dr. Megan Hunt works on a case involving a homeless man who was dismembered. Meanwhile, Dr. Megan Hunt’s daughter chooses her mother as a her video project.
EPISODE 5 – Dead Man Walking – Dr. Megan Hunt investigates a patients death at the hospital she once worked at. Special guest stars: Christina Hendricks and Marc Blucas. Meanwhile, Ethan and Curtis work on a case.

DISC 2:

EPISODE 6 – Society Hill – Dr. Megan Hunt tries to find out who killed a magazine editor, meanwhile she accepts an invitation to one of her mother’s social events.
EPISODE 7 – All in the Family – A stay-at-home dad is found murdered in his home in a quiet neighborhood in the Philadelphia suburbs. Dr. Hunt tries to find out who killed her. Meanwhile Kate works on a pro bono case with Megan’s ex-husband.
EPISODE 8 – Buried Secrets – A homicide detective is found dead and Dr. Megan Hunt tries to help detectives find out who killed her.
EPISODE 9 – Broken Home – When a socialite is found dead, Dr. Megan Hunt feels that she may have been killed but her personal life is starting to interfere with the investigation.

VIDEO:

“Body of Proof: The Complete First Season” is presented in Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 televisions. This is one of the few drama series on television where a lot of the scenes are shot outdoors, to there is good natural lighting and the series does look good on DVD. I didn’t see any major noise or compression artifacts. For the most part, the seventh season does look very good on DVD.

AUDIO:

The show is presented in English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Body of Proof: The Complete First Season” includes the following special features:

Examining the Proof – (10:21) Cast, crew and creators discuss the fascinating elements that go into making death look real with the help of research and a team of medical advisors.
If Looks Could Kill - (5:33) From Dr. Megan Hunt‘s high heels to Curtis and Ethan‘s scrubs and wardrobe, go behind-the-scenes with costume designer Roberta Haze as she dresses the actors and creates looks that kill!
Body of Goofs – (3:40) “Body of Proof” first season outtakes.
New Evidence: A Sneak Peek at Season 2 – (:46) Short sneak peak for season 2.

DISC 2:

Normal & Extended episode of “Episode 144 – Song Beneath the Song” – This extended episode (48:01) and the normal episode (44:01) are featured on disc 5.

EXTRAS:

“Body of Proof: The Complete First Season” comes with a slip cover case.

So far, with the first season of “Body of Proof”, the characters and the overall premise of the series is very good and entertaining.

As for the DVD release, you do get nine episodes and special features and of course, the series is sold at a cheaper price because of the shorter season. But overall, it’s a solid series. I just hope that the writers don’t make Dr. Hunt too sociable (ala similar to Delaney’s role in “Desperate Housewives”) and to not have Dr. Hunt or Nicholas Bishop hook up. There is a lot of exploring and potential for these characters but it’s all about how they are utilized in each episode. Especially with Dr. Ethan Gross and Dr. Curtis Brumfield, who are being used in season one for more comedic sake, would like to see them in more deeper, darker or dramatic scenes than just being used for comedy sake.

Overall, so far, so good for “Body of Proof” and how things have played out this first season. But we’ll see how things go for season two!

If you are looking for a fun, clever and entertaining drama medical/investigative series, definitely give “Body of Proof: The Complete First Season” a chance!

Filed Under: DVD Reviews

BODY OF PROOF: Love Thy Neighbor – SEASON PREMIERE

September 2, 2011 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment

A SUSPICIOUS ACCIDENT IN A QUIET CUL-DE-SAC REMINDS
MEGAN THAT THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM,
ON THE SEASON TWO PREMIERE OF ABC’S “BODY OF PROOF”

“Love Thy Neighbor” – When a car careens out of control over an embankment, killing a middle-aged man in the driver’s seat, Megan learns that all is not well on a pretty suburban cul-de-sac. Looking past the perfect picket fences, she and her team are startled by the lives spinning out of control and the ever-changing suspect roster, on the Season Premiere of “Body of Proof,” TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

“Body of Proof” stars Dana Delany as Dr. Megan Hunt, Jeri Ryan as Dr. Kate Murphey, John Carroll Lynch as Detective Bud Morris, Nicholas Bishop as Peter Dunlop, Sonja Sohn as Detective Samantha Baker, Geoffrey Arend as Dr. Ethan Gross, Windell D. Middlebrooks as Dr. Curtis Brumfield and Mary Mouser as Lacey Fleming.

Guest starring are Jeffrey Nordling as Todd Flemming, Joelle Carter as Andrea Davidson, Derek Phillips as Kevin Kaiser, Danielle Bisutti as Vicki Hemington, Christopher Wiehl as Bill Hemington and Rick Fox as Ted Banning.

“Love Thy Neighbor” was written by Corey Miller and directed by Christine Moore.

“Body of Proof” is created by Christopher Murphey and executive-produced by Murphey, Matthew Gross and Sunil Nayar. It is produced by Gross Entertainment and ABC Studios.

“Body of Proof” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.

Filed Under: American Entertainment News