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Guide: Brutally Normal
Brutally
Normal is a new half-hour series from Touchstone Television
that offers an introspective and imaginative look at four teenage
friends coming of age under the overwhelming pressures of high
school. The series premieres Thursday, January 24th at 9:00 PM
(ET/PT) on The WB.
Brutally
Normal centers on a time of life when none of the rules make
any sense and the most mundane events take on monumental importance.
Every new situation is heightened by the natural self-consciousness
of the teen years, leading to moments which these teenagers, like
millions before and after them, will only appreciate in hindsight.
As these sophomores face the often awkward realities of everyday
survival, they reveal their innermost hopes and fears as they
take real-life dilemmas to the extreme.
Happily bumbling
his way through life, Robert "Pooh" Cutler (Mike Damus) provides
the emotional 'glue' holding together three best friends since
first grade: Pooh, Anna Pricova (Lea Moreno) and Russell Wise
(Eddie Kaye Thomas). The trio also has a friend in a bright and
energetic junior at Wicker Normall High School named Dru Pope
(Tangie Ambrose) who offers wisdom and diplomacy.
The obedient
son of slightly overbearing parents, Pooh is as honest as the
day is long, sometimes to his disadvantage. For instance, when
Russell begs for the answers to the Trigonometry test, Pooh reluctantly
keeps the answers from his best friend, claiming that someday
Russell will thank him for forcing him to "straighten up and fly
right!" When not running from life's challenges or fumbling his
way through Russell's schemes, Pooh embraces life with open arms.
He is the perpetual innocent, though that can't keep him out of
trouble completely. When Russell and Pooh get themselves involved
in a heated game of cards at a seedy hangout, Pooh by chance wins
the loot. But before he can cash in his chips, "his lucky Ace"
falls out of his coat pocket. Thinking Pooh has cheated, the gruff
poker players chase the kids out the bar, scared out of their
wits.
Good natured
and harmless, Russell wants everyone to think he's an oversexed
teen who's too cool for his age. However, he deftly masks his
deep insecurity with deadpan humor and a cool attitude. A hustler
who is often out-hustled, Russell is usually as well-meaning as
best friend Pooh.
"Russell
is based loosely on Tommy (Swerdlow, executive producer), who
was a bit of a rebel in high school and who pushed the envelope
without going over the edge," said Goldberg.
Sometimes
their sexy muse and sometimes their rough-and-tumble best buddy,
Anna adds the female point of view to Pooh and Russell's hormonal
world. Sexier and prettier than she knows (or will admit), Anna
instinctively sticks her neck out to protect others. When it comes
to boys, Anna is, perhaps subconsciously, reserved. She craves
all the romance that her mother has lived without and isn't interested
in just sex - in fact, she shies away from it.
Swerdlow
and Goldberg confirm that Anna was based on Swerdlow's wife, Karen,
who is beautiful without being glamorous, was a jock in high school
and whose best friends were guys.
Though not
always a part of the trio's schemes, Dru usually gets pulled in
when the other shoe drops. Inquisitive, bright and anxious to
experience all that life has to offer, Dru is on a quest for direction
in her life. She is independent, wise and astute.
Gogi is the
sort of mother who is growing up at the same time as her daughter
Anna. Increasingly aware of her own responsibilities but nevertheless
denying them, Gogi veers back and forth between her role as a
parent and her inclination to act like an irresponsible teenager.
A sometimes-irked Anna finds herself mothering her mother. It
churns up tension in the relationship, but honesty and a mutual
respect keep them going through the rough spots.
Whatever
their latest brainstorm or obsession is, be it gambling scams
to raise enough money to keep Anna from being deported or mistakenly
thinking that Pooh's father is having an affair with Anna's mother,
this tight-knit group of friends lives in their own reality-free
zone. Always seeking answers to life's little mysteries, these
teenagers are invariably up for exploration, experimentation and
revelation. They feel safe and comfortable in their circle of
friends and are free to be themselves while there.
"Brutally
Normal" is produced by Swerdlow & Goldberg and the Shephard/Robin
Company in association with Touchstone Television. Created by
Michael Goldberg and Tommy Swerdlow, "Brutally Normal" is executive
produced by Goldberg, Swerdlow and Greer Shephard & Michael M.
Robin, also executive producers of "Popular" on The WB. The co-executive
producer/ director is Marc Buckland, Patrick McKee is producer
and Gigi Coello-Bannon is co-producer.
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