The Chris Isaak Show is an American television sitcom that follows a fictionalized version of the life of American rock musician Chris Isaak. The show portrays Isaak and his band members as everyday people with everyday problems.[1] The series was produced for the Showtime channel from 2001 to 2004, and was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which stands in for the show's home setting of San Francisco.[1][2]

The Chris Isaak Show
Created byDiane Frolov
Andrew Schneider
William Lucas Walker
StarringChris Isaak
Kristin Dattilo
Jed Rees
Hershel Yatovitz
Rowland Salley
Kenney Dale Johnson
Jennifer Calvert (2001)
ComposerTerry Frewer
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes47
Production
Executive producersDiane Frolov
Andrew Schneider
Chris Isaak
Arnold Messer
Mike Medavoy
Production locationsVancouver, British Columbia
Running time45 min. per episode
Production companiesOnce and Future Films (seasons 1-2)
Phoenix Pictures
Viacom Productions
Original release
NetworkShowtime
ReleaseMarch 12, 2001 (2001-03-12) –
March 25, 2004 (2004-03-25)

The series featured Isaak and several members of his band, Silvertone, portraying themselves. Other roles were portrayed by actors, including Jed Rees as Isaak's keyboardist. Rees (who had studied piano, though much of his character's keyboard work is performed by a session player)[2] was hired in place of Isaak's actual keyboardist Brett Tuggle (a part-time band member)[2] to add some comedy to the show. Other characters featured on the show include Yola Gaylen, Isaak's manager and her colleague, Cody Kurtzman. The final regular character, Mona, appears lying nude on her stomach on a revolving circular bed in the basement of Bimbo's, a club Isaak frequents.[1] Through an optical illusion created with mirrors she's made to look as if swimming in an aquarium, and being called a mermaid (despite having human legs).[3] Only once does she sit up, revealing her toplessness.[4] She typically talks only with Isaak, acting as his conscience or a sounding board for him.

Currently, the entire series remains unreleased to DVD due to music licensing costs.

Cast edit

Episodes edit

Season 1 (2001) edit

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"Freud's Dilemma"Rob ThompsonDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderMarch 12, 2001 (2001-03-12)
22"Fantasia"Max TashMaryanne MelloanMarch 19, 2001 (2001-03-19)
33"Crimes and Punishment"Max TashDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderMarch 26, 2001 (2001-03-26)
44"It's the Music, Stupid"Milan CheylovDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderApril 2, 2001 (2001-04-02)
55"The Real Me"Rob ThompsonJoe BossoApril 9, 2001 (2001-04-09)
66"Hurricane"Scott SmithMaryanne MelloanApril 16, 2001 (2001-04-16)
77"T&A"Victoria HochbergStory by : David Rothenberg
Teleplay by : Maryanne Melloan
April 23, 2001 (2001-04-23)
88"Mr. Isaak's Opus"Richard MartinWilliam Lucas WalkerApril 30, 2001 (2001-04-30)
99"Tomorrowland"Richard J. LewisStory by : Diane Frolov & Andrew Schneider & William Lucas Walker
Teleplay by : Diane Frolov & Andrew Schneider
May 7, 2001 (2001-05-07)
1010"Dancin'"Charles WinklerDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderMay 14, 2001 (2001-05-14)
1111"The Professionals"Ron OliverJoe BossoMay 21, 2001 (2001-05-21)
1212"Smackdown"Ron OliverWilliam Lucas WalkerMay 28, 2001 (2001-05-28)
1313"Wages of Fear"Ron OliverMaryanne MelloanJune 4, 2001 (2001-06-04)
1414"Lost and Found"Charles WinklerJoe BossoJune 11, 2001 (2001-06-11)
1515"Storytime"Milan CheylovDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderJune 18, 2001 (2001-06-18)
1616"Our Place"Scott SmithStory by : William Lucas Walker
Teleplay by : Maryanne Melloan & Diane Frolov & Andrew Schneider
June 25, 2001 (2001-06-25)
1717"Behind the Isaak"Jorge MontesiMaryanne MelloanJuly 2, 2001 (2001-07-02)

Season 2 (2002) edit

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
181"In the Name of Love"Milan CheylovDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderJanuary 6, 2002 (2002-01-06)
192"The Devil Made Me Do It"Max TashDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderJanuary 13, 2002 (2002-01-13)
203"Chris Isaak Day"Max TashScott KauferJanuary 20, 2002 (2002-01-20)
214"Wrong Number"Kevin InchMaryanne MelloanJanuary 27, 2002 (2002-01-27)
225"Duty Calls"Milan CheylovMaryanne MelloanFebruary 3, 2002 (2002-02-03)
236"Family Ties"David Warry-SmithScott KauferFebruary 10, 2002 (2002-02-10)
247"Driven"Brenton SpencerMaryanne MelloanMarch 3, 2002 (2002-03-03)
258"Rat in the House"Steve DiMarcoDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderMarch 10, 2002 (2002-03-10)
269"Hell is Other People"Milan CheylovDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderMarch 17, 2002 (2002-03-17)
2710"Mysterious Hearts"Steve DiMarcoAdam BraffMarch 31, 2002 (2002-03-31)
2811"Gimme Shelter"Milan CheylovDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderApril 7, 2002 (2002-04-07)
2912"Farm Boys"Kevin InchTeresa O'NeillJune 4, 2002 (2002-06-04)
3013"Home of the Brave"Jorge MontesiMaryanne MelloanJune 11, 2002 (2002-06-11)
3114"The Hidden Mommy"Jorge MontesiScott KauferJune 18, 2002 (2002-06-18)
3215"Just Us Kids"Jeremy PodeswaDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderJune 25, 2002 (2002-06-25)
3316"Isaakland"Brenton SpencerMaryanne MelloanJuly 2, 2002 (2002-07-02)
3417"Charity Begins at Home"Steve DiMarcoDennis KleinJuly 9, 2002 (2002-07-09)

Season 3 (2004) edit

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
351"The Family of Man"Jorge MontesiMaryanne MelloanJanuary 8, 2004 (2004-01-08)
362"Candidate"Michael RohlScott KauferJanuary 15, 2004 (2004-01-15)
373"Let the Games Begin"Steve DiMarcoScott KauferJanuary 22, 2004 (2004-01-22)
384"Home Improvement"Chris IsaakScott KauferJanuary 29, 2004 (2004-01-29)
395"The Little Mermaid"Milan CheylovDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderFebruary 5, 2004 (2004-02-05)
406"A Little Help From My Friends"Milan CheylovDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderFebruary 12, 2004 (2004-02-12)
417"Rivals"Steve DiMarcoDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderFebruary 19, 2004 (2004-02-19)
428"Criminal Favors"Jorge MontesiDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderFebruary 26, 2004 (2004-02-26)
439"Home Fires"Kevin InchMaryanne MelloanMarch 4, 2004 (2004-03-04)
4410"Run, Yola, Run"David Warry-SmithDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderMarch 11, 2004 (2004-03-11)
4511"Taking Off"Jorge MontesiMaryanne MelloanMarch 18, 2004 (2004-03-18)
4612"Braveheart"Kevin InchMaryanne MelloanMarch 25, 2004 (2004-03-25)
4713"Suspicion"Jorge MontesiDiane Frolov & Andrew SchneiderMarch 25, 2004 (2004-03-25)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Williamson, Kevin (2002-04-12). "Cool show". Jam!. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2008-06-01.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b c Israel, Robyn (2001-08-31). "Lights, camera, rock!". Palo Alto Weekly. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  3. ^ Salamon, Julie (March 12, 2001). "Television Review: Relax. It Was Just a Little Striptease". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  4. ^ Season 2, Episode 12 "Farm Boys"
  5. ^ Cortes, Jody (6 December 2016). "Co-star Bobby Jo Moore arrives at Showtime's premiere of 'The Chris Isaak Show'". Getty Images. Retrieved 13 May 2023.

External links edit