(Photos: Peter Kramer / NBC)
Ahead of its May Upfront presentation, NBC has announced it has ordered the Rise TV show to series. Based on the true story of high school drama teacher Lou Volpe, as told in the book, Drama High, Rise hails from from Universal Television, True Jack Productions and Seller Suarez Productions, Jason Katims, and Jeffrey Seller.
The Rise TV series stars How I Met Your Mother vet, Josh Radnor. The NBC cast also includes: Rosie Perez, Marley Shelton, Auli’i Cravalho, Damon J. Gillespie, Amy Forsyth, Rarmian Newton, Ted Sutherland, Casey Johnson, Taylor Richardson, Joe Tippett, and Shirley Rumierk.
Writer Katims is executive producing with director Mike Cahill. Seller, Michelle Lee, and Flody Suarez also executive produce.
Learn more from this NBC press release.
“RISE”
From Jason Katims, writer and executive producer of “Friday Night Lights” and “Parenthood,” and “Hamilton” producer Jeffrey Seller comes a heartening new drama about finding inspiration in unexpected places. When dedicated teacher and family man Lou Mazzuchelli (Josh Radnor) sheds his own self-doubt and takes over the school’s lackluster theater department, he galvanizes not only the faculty and students but the entire working-class town. Inspired by a true story.
[Press release via The Futon Critic.]
What do you think? How do you like the sound of the Rise TV show? Do you plan to check out the series premiere, when it airs on NBC? Tell us.
Is it me or is it that the similarity between RISE and GLEE was obvious…. a high school, with a myriad of minority singers, a football jock lead singer and a charismatic & passionate teacher leads the group to feel like a family. I did enjoy it but GLEE had done all of that a few years ago.
Gaston, you can’t do a High School ANYTHING without it having been “done before. ” Going all the way back to Glenn Ford in “The Blackboard Jungle “, this genre is all the same, which a person either enjoys, or not. Same for all the James Bond, Fast & Furious, and Terminator films. I loved GLEE, but that was a comedy, this is from someo8actual life story.
I watched the show last night and enjoyed it. I didn’t know it was based on a true story- now I like it even better and look forward to more episodes.
I just watched the pilot for “RISE”… I thought the music was very good and the characters were beginning to show some interesting sub plots. I am a big fan of Rosie Perez and so happy to see her playing a role as the school’s dance instructor. I am really looking forward to seeing the development of this series. I hope that it picks up good ratings and NBC gives it a chance so won’t be cancelled.
I just watched the pilot for “RISE”… I thought the music was very good and the characters were beginning to show some interesting sub plots. I am a big fan of Rosie Perez and so happy to see her playing a role as the school’s dance instructor. I am really looking forward to seeing the development of this series. I hope that it picks up good ratings and NBC gives it a chance so won’t be cancelled.
I love the premise of the show and the developers behind it. I’m not a Rosie Perez fab, is the only downside
This show sounds like it has to be good. Looking forward to watching.
When is Rise on tv?
I have a problem with your referencing Lou Mazzuchelli as a “family man”. This is the classic way of dissing nonbreeders as second class citizens. Obviously a counter to the stereotype of the gay drama teacher. Well, the latter is undoubtedly reflective of reality, more often than not. Not “letting it be” is fake, contrived, prejudicial and disparaging. I couldn’t be a fan of the show as a result. Won’t even watch it.
I suggest you read the wonderful book Drama High before judging. You will be surprised to learn about Lou’s sexual identity journey. It is inspirational.
Tom, I have to agree with Sandy (reader), you should read the book. I actually was a student of Lou’s his first year of teaching in this school. The social and economic climate was extremely different back then. The book delves into this. I’m not guaranteeing that you will like the show. I might not either. No one knows if they will actually follow the book but if they do, you may be surprised. It is inspirational without being stereotypical. “Stereotypes” have evolved and changed drastically over a 40+ year time span.
Oh, good Lord! Have you ever heard of accurate information? Lou is a man and he has a family. Period. What is so hard to understand about THAT!
So excited to see kids who are trying to excel. Shoukd be great!
Yes… I’m so excited. Why only 10 episodes? Makes season so fast!! Love description of show.
Sounds like a great premise to stir interest in teaching the arts!
Yeah, I hope it doesn’t try to be Glee. I’ll give it a chance, but hope NBC gives it a fair chance too.
I will definitely check it out, but I get so upset w/NBC because they are so quick to get rid of shows, it’s hard to even start watching, you never know when it will be cancelled.
sounds like glee meets friday night lights or sister act 3.0 or even a remake of Fame…snore
Description doesn’t interest me, so I’ll pass. Hope NBC orders REVERIE and REDLINERS.