Action (TV series)

Action was a short-lived comedy series about a Hollywood producer named Peter Dragon, who is trying to recover from his last box-office failure. The series was critically praised for its irreverent, almost hostile, look at Hollywood culture but was a ratings failure. Thirteen episodes were produced but only ten episodes ran on the Fox Channel in 1999 before being cancelled. The remaining three episodes were eventually broadcast on other networks such as Comedy Central.

Main cast

Peter Dragon, played by Jay Mohr, is a star producer at Dragonfire Studios. Peter got his start as a screenwriter for gay porno, but eventually moved up the ladder of Hollywood as a hotshot producer of tasteless action films like Deadly Habits, Ripcord and Vatican Solution. At the start of the series, Peter's latest film Slow Torture is a monumental flop, and is under tremendous pressure to make his next film a big success. Peter is bossy and arrogant to his subordinates and is morally unscrupulous in negotiating with Hollywood talent (surpassed only by ALL talent agents), although not as much as other fellow Hollywood executives. It is frequently suggested that Peter is sexually confused.

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Wendy Ward, played by Illeana Douglas, is a former child actress who gained fame as the cute star of The Elephant Princess. Her career tanked during her teen years due to a nasty coke habit, and is now a high priced call girl. Through circumstance, she ends up becoming Peter's date at the premiere of his movie Slow Torture. After she gives her honest criticism of Slow Torture, Wendy is named Vice President of Production at Dragonfire Films. She also becomes Peter's girlfriend, but her character is slowly written out after she breaks up with him. Wendy's character is an intentional play on the "hooker with a heart of gold" movie stereotype.

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Lonnie Dragon, played by Buddy Hackett, is Peter's uncle and chief of security at Dragonfire Studios. Lonnie often provides spiritual and moral support to Peter during trying times, although this often takes the form of meandering anecdotes with a raunchy reference of some kind. Lonnie has served in many wars, including World War II, and often complains about past injuries, most notably the fact that he only has one testicle. As he puts it, "The sack is half full."

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Stuart Glazer, played by Jack Plotnick, is President of Production at Dragonfire Studios. Stuart desperately wants to be taken seriously as a Hollywood developer, but is frequently abused and ordered around at Dragonfire Studios. In spite of his important sounding position, Stuart is often asked to do demeaning tasks like babysite Georgia, have suits dry-cleaned and order gift baskets for star talent. Stuart is gay.

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Adam Rafkin, played by Paul Jarrad, is a struggling screenwriter whose screenplay, Beverly Hills Gun Club, was picked up by Dragonfire Studios for development. Adam's script was actually bought mistakenly because his name was confused with Alan Rifkin. Adam lives alone, is sexually inexperienced and has had the same fuddy duddy agent represent him for most of his floundering professional career. A source of frustration is his lack of respect from Hollywood, most notably Peter who never seems to recall his name.

Related Topics:
Paul Jarrad - Alan Rifkin

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