FX Collects 'Damages'

Zap2It.com | April 3, 2007

Glenn Close

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Drama starring Glenn Close debuts in summer

FX has added another show to its burgeoning roster of original series, picking up the legal drama "Damages" for a premiere this summer.

The series, which stars Emmy winner Glenn Close as a top-flight litigator, will be the third new drama to debut on the cable channel in 2007, following "Dirt" and "The Riches." It's the first series-lead role for Close, who did a one-season turn on "The Shield" in 2005.

"We're proud to add 'Damages' to the deepest bench of quality dramas on television," says John Landgraf, president and general manager of FX. "Glenn Close has given us a towering lead performance, and she is surrounded by an exceptional supporting cast."

The cast includes Rose Byrne ("Marie Antoinette," "Troy") and Tate Donovan ("The O.C.") as colleagues at the law firm headed by Close's Patty Hewes; Ted Danson ("Cheers," "Help Me Help You") as Hewes' target in a high-profile civil suit; Zeljko Ivanek ("Oz") as Danson's lawyer; and Noah Bean ("Ed") as Byrne's fiance.

"Damages" will film in New York starting in May. A specific premiere date hasn't been set.

Todd A. Kessler ("The Sopranos"), Glenn Kessler ("Robbery Homicide Division") and Daniel Zelman created the series and will serve as its showrunners. Veteran "Sopranos" director Allen Coulter helmed the pilot episode.

The new show will join "Rescue Me" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" on FX's docket this summer. Docu-series "30 Days" is also due back sometime this year, but the network hasn't settled on when.