TriBeCa (also known as Tribeca) is a television drama anthology series[1][2] created by David J. Burke and co-produced with Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal for TriBeCa Productions in 1993[3][4] that aired on the Fox Network. The series theme song, "Keep It Going," was performed by the alternative hip hop artist Me Phi Me.[5]
| TriBeCa | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by | David J. Burke |
| Starring | Philip Bosco Joe Morton |
| Opening theme | Me Phi Me ("Keep It Going") |
| Composers | James McVay (1.7) Lisa Harlow Stark (1.7) Eddie Jobson (1.2, 1.4) Anton Sanko (1.6) Galt MacDermot (1.3) Peter Lurye (1.6) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | David J. Burke Robert De Niro Jane Rosenthal |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production companies | Montana Beach Productions TriBeCa Productions TriStar Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | Fox |
| Release | March 23 – May 4, 1993 |
For his performance in the lead role of Martin McHenry in the season opener, "The Box," Laurence Fishburne won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.[6]
Noted for attracting "actors, screenwriters and directors of uncommon quality,"[7] and set in New York City's lower Manhattan neighborhood of TriBeCa, the series was aired by the Fox Broadcasting Company. Guest stars included Eli Wallach, Kevin Spacey, Kathleen Quinlan, Melanie Mayron, Judith Malina, Carl Lumbly, Richard Lewis, Carol Kane, Richard Kiley, Dizzy Gillespie and Danny Aiello III.
Directors and screenwriters included David J. Burke, Hans Tobeason, John Mankiewicz of the prolific Mankiewicz family, Barry Primus, Bryan Spicer, Jeffrey Solomon and several actors in the series, among others.
Despite critical acclaim, Fox cancelled the show after seven episodes because of low ratings, although the existing episodes were rerun in the summer. Fishburne's Emmy win came in September, months after the show had been cancelled.
Cast
editPhilip Bosco as Harry Arsharsky, owner of Zadies café, a large neighborhood eatery which served as a hub for the stories. Harry was a college professor in the late 1960s but was dismissed for his anti-establishment leanings (episode 4, "Heros Exoletus").
Joe Morton as NYPD mounted officer Carleton Thomas. He is married to an artist, Tori (Tamara Tunie).
Antonia Jones as Sarah, a waitress at Zadies. (Regular supporting character)
Michael Rogen as Albert, a cook at Zadies. (Regular supporting character)
Episodes
editTriBeCa aired seven episodes in its single 1993 season:[8]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Box" | Michael Dinner | David J. Burke, Hans Tobeason | March 23, 1993 | |
|
A successful Black banker is murdered during a robbery in Battery Park, leading his younger brother, an NYPD officer, on a journey of anger, vengeance and budding love for his brother's young widow and children. | |||||
| 2 | "Honor" | David J. Burke | David J. Burke, Hans Tobeason | March 30, 1993 | |
|
A homeless veteran confronts rejection by society while he struggles to fulfill his promise to bury a fellow homeless Marine at sea. Guest stars: Stephen Lang, Keith David, Tamara Tunie et al. | |||||
| 3 | "The Hopeless Romantic" | Barry Primus | Lenore Kletter | April 6, 1993 | |
|
A young woman comes to grips with her father's lifestyle as a con man who preys on older women, including Harry's sister. Peter Boyle, Cara Buono, Ron Eldard et al. | |||||
| 4 | "Heros Exoletus" | Bryan Spicer | David J. Burke, Hans Tobeason | April 13, 1993 | |
|
After a musician's suicide, Harry and other close friends of the deceased recount to a young aspiring writer his journey from counterculture icon to commercial success to burned-out drug addict. Guest stars: Kevin Spacey, Ernie Hudson, Kathleen Quinlan, Casey Siemaszko et al. | |||||
| 5 | "The Rainmaker" | Helaine Head | John Mankiewicz | April 20, 1993 | |
|
Two lives converge: a once-prominent theater star turned acting coach who wants to reclaim past glories and a young attorney watching his own life heading toward professional monotony and docile suburban existence. Guest stars: Richard Kiley, Jeffrey DeMunn, Betty Buckley, Jesse Bradford, Lisa Eichhorn, Caroline Kava, Tamara Tunie et al. | |||||
| 6 | "The Loft" | Joe Morton | Jeffrey Solomon, Hans Tobeason, David J. Burke | April 27, 1993 | |
|
Harry rents a vacant loft in a building he owns to three recent college graduates seeking to start lives in the city. When the girl disappears after being mistaken for a serial robber and jailed, the boys spend the night searching the neighborhood for her. Guest stars: Rya Kihlstedt, Mark Rosenthal, Danny Zorn, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Irwin et al. | |||||
| 7 | "Stepping Back" | Melanie Mayron | Melanie Mayron | May 4, 1993 | |
|
An architect who breaks up with her boyfriend because she is afraid of change and commitment begins to notice that life is passing her by. Guest stars: Melanie Mayron, Richard Lewis, Carol Kane, Adam Arkin, Eileen Brennan, Eli Wallach, Rita Karin et al. | |||||
References
edit- ^ "Robert De Niro". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-25.
De Niro segued into television production as the executive producer of "Tribeca" (Fox, 1993), a short-lived dramatic anthology series set and shot on the streets of downtown New York. He employed the talents of several actors turned directors—Primus, Melanie Mayron and Joe Morton—to helm some episodes. Debut as an executive producer.
- ^ Danny Duncan Collum (May 14, 1993). "Robert De Niro Presents Tribeca". National Catholic Reporter.
[O]ne of the truly notable entries in the ever-dwindling field of serious, hourlong TV drama. Surprisingly it is on the Fox, which clawed out a "fourth network" niche mostly with raucous half-hour comedies and hourlong adolescent hormone operas.
- ^ John J. O'Connor (March 30, 1993). "A Serious Show On Fox. Seriously". The New York Times.
What's most impressive so far about "TriBeCa" is the level of production quality. With Mr. Burke, Mr. De Niro and Jane Rosenthal as the executive producers, "TriBeCa" is obviously not going to be your average, somewhat tacky weekly series. Its overall "look" is striking. One production designer is Santo Loquasto, whose work has brought inimitable distinction to a good many Woody Allen films. In fact, the shots of lower Manhattan that accompany the opening credits are as seductive as any city tour in an Allen movie.
"No doubt the involvement of Mr. De Niro in this project helps attract actors of substance, those who, like Mr. Fishburne, Mr. Lumbly and Mr. Lang, offer performances that are leagues beyond the standard television movie. Gifted veterans like Andre Gregory and Judith Malina can be spotted in future shows. - ^ James Doolittle (April 13, 1993). "Fox's 'Tribeca' taps anthology format for good drama". The Daily Collegian. Archived from the original on August 30, 2009.
Much of the praise must go to series creator and co-executive producer David J. Burke, who brings the same sense of character development and realism that propelled his last series, CBS's Wiseguy.
- ^ "Tribeca summary". TV.com.
The series theme song, Keep It Going, which sampled James Brown's voice, was performed by alternative hip hop artist Me Phi Me.
{{cite web}}: External link in|quote= - ^ "The Box". IMDb.
A cop (Laurence Fishburne) tries to deal with the death of his older brother, a stockbroker murdered and robbed on his morning run through Battery Park. His tortured efforts to open a puzzle box that his late brother gave him parallel his efforts to find peace with himself. A splendid start for the series, with Fishburne's Emmy Award-winning performance as the anguished cop. Series regular Joe Morton makes his first appearance as a mounted policeman.
- ^ John J. O'Connor (May 4, 1993). "SJF, 40ish, Pressured In TriBeCa". The New York Times.
TriBeCa has attracted actors, writers and directors of uncommon quality. Without having to commit to long-term contracts, they have been allowed to stretch themselves in ways that commercial television rarely affords. "TriBeCa" is the kind of project that probably cannot survive in a totally commercial environment. But then, public television has no money to support such ventures. It's the dreadful television bind.
- ^ TriBeCa - 1993 TV Series at IMDb (Episodes Cast lists Awards)