Sleeper Cell. It's a great series. I've just watched the entire run from beginning to end over the space of two weeks, I'd guess, and it's been a hypnotic ride. Although the network is only up to airing episode #4, I believe, I can tell you that this Showtime series about terrorists trying to kill as many people as they possibly can here in Los Angeles -- all told from the POV of the terrorists themselves -- deserves your attention.
Hopefully not coming soon to your city...
Part of what made this viewing experience extraordinary was that the backdrop to all of this was the latest Usama Bin Laden videotape coming out, the one where he threatens still more attacks on the U.S. Also, there was the news that the Palestinians have elected the Hamas terrorist group to run their government, an organization which is bent on the destruction of both Israel and the U.S. Oh, and there's always Iran, which pretty much has always wanted to destroy us, only now they're getting set to build a nuke or two or three. Paranoia strikes deep. Especially since I've actually been to every target they discuss destroying in Sleeper Cell from the Westside Pavillion to Dodger Stadium.
I've read most of the 9/11 Commission report and it's obvious that writers Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris have, too. Many of the things that you might think are improbable actually happened. It will creep you out and not with that fake slasher feature fear factor either. It will disturb you because you will just intuitively know that although dramatic license has been taken there really are bad people out there. My wife and kids could only stand to watch a couple of episodes because it was so real, but I was in for the ride.
Michael Ealy as "Darwyn", the FBI agent who's infiltrated the group, delivers a phenomenal performance. He's a great actor we'll be seeing a lot more from. And Oded Fehr as "Farik", the cell leader, couldn't be more chilling. He plays a vengeful Islamic fanatic who's masquerading as a Jewish security guard. I also got a kick out of seeing Megan Ward, the star of my series Dark Skies, playing the wife of Darwyn's FBI handler. The acting throughout is spot on.
What made this early viewing experience possible is the decision by Showtime president Bob Greenblatt, a man who I've worked with when he was a Fox executive and, later, at the TV Academy when he was producer of Six Feet Under. Bob decided that rather than wage a nomination campaign by sending out a few episodes of a show to the TV Academy members in late spring when they normally get sent out that he would instead send them in January to avoid the rush and that he would send the entire season. I wrote him last week telling him that I think this is the single best strategy for winning an Emmy that I've ever seen. I mean, I started watching and I couldn't stop.
Sleeper Cell certainly has my vote this year. But beyond its entertainment value, it reminds us that there really are people out there, who live in our cities, who are actually plotting to kill us. You may have even been standing in a grocery line or waiting at a car wash with one of them today and not even known.
