<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0448dfc3.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News/Gossip"><U><B>Back to News/Gossip</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0458dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Mac on JAG</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mac on JAG"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id349.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News from 2002"><U>News from 2002</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News from 2001"><U>News from 2001</U></A>   |   <B>S6 Production Notes</B>   |   <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="S7 Production Notes"><U>S7 Production Notes</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id440.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="S8 Production Notes"><U>S8 Production Notes</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0458dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>S6 Production Notes</I></div> <div> This season, the latest television trend is reality series, including CBS' "Survivor." <B>JAG</B>'s executive producer/creator Donald P. Bellisario pays homage to the phenomenon in the two-part premiere episode, which includes a storyline about a woman who is rescued from a sinking raft by a U.S. Navy vessel. Unfortunately, the Navy thought she was stranded, when in fact, a camera crew from the "Castaway" series was monitoring her. This contestant decides to sue the Navy for lost wages, as she was in the lead of a race that could've made her one million dollars richer.</div> <bR> <div> During such a competitive television season, <B>JAG</B> proved to be a formidable challenger against "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" on Tuesday nights, coming in a close second in ratings and key demographics in its timeslot. An international hit as well, <B>JAG</B> is seen in 90 countries, and is a Top 10 series in Australia.</div> <div> Last season, <B>JAG</B> celebrated its 100th episode by filming on location in Sydney, Australia. Director of Photography Hugo Cortina received a 1999-2000 Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Cinematography" for his work on the episode entitled "Boomerang, Part II." In addition, <B>JAG</B> received the Red Cross Spirit Award for positive representation of the military, the Epiphany Award for the episode "Second Sight," the ASCAP Award for "Top Television Series" and Catherine Bell received the "Spirit of Hollywood" Award.</div> <bR> <div> In 2000-01, <B>JAG</B> revs up its ripped-from-the-headlines energy with emotionally charged episodes including an Elian Gonzales-type story. In this gripping episode, a 13-year-old girl is rescued from drowning by a U.S. Naval ship helmed by a Cuban-American Commander. When he learns that she and her father risked their lives to escape Cuba and make it to America, he is torn between his duty and his principles. Harm and Bud are assigned to the case to make sure the letter of the law is followed in hopes of avoiding another Elian battle.</div> <bR> <div> Big changes are in store this season for our cast including a story arc for Commander Harmon "Harm" Rabb, Jr. (David James Elliott) in which he will meet someone during an investigation in Chechnya that will change his life forever. Additionally, Lt. Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie (Catherine Bell) will make an important decision this year regarding her romance with Mic Brumby when he leaves his home in Australia to move to Washington, D.C. to be close to her. This year, things will continue to heat up between the two couples (Harm/Renee and Mac/Brumby). Although, Harm and Mac continue to traipse all over the world to investigate military cases and both Brumby and Renee are left coping with their frustrating schedules. </div> <div> "We've had an incredible response from our audience over the past five seasons, and this year we plan on making changes based on what they want to see," explains Bellisario. "We have a powerful ensemble cast supporting our leads that we plan to utilize including our newest series regulars: Randy Vasquez, Karri Turner, Trevor Goddard and Chuck Carrington. Additionally, we won't let our fans down as they will still enjoy stories featuring Harm and Mac and feel the intellectual and sometimes emotional tug-of-war between them."</div> <bR> <div> Admiral A.J. Chegwidden (John M. Jackson) who is a former Navy SEAL will continue his role as the tough guy with a soft side who oversees all JAG cases. We were introduced to Chegwidden's romantic side when he started dating Dr. Sydney Walden (Cynthia Sikes). This season, Chegwidden is introduced to Sydney's son (Sean Murray), who will do his best to complicate their relationship.</div> <bR> <div> Lieutenant Bud Roberts (Patrick Labyorteaux), a former JAG law clerk turned attorney, will continue to impress his colleagues with his clever legal maneuvers. Bud will work even more closely with Harm as Chegwidden assigns him to handle some of the most important cases. In real life, Patrick Labyorteaux's writing skills will be showcased in an episode of <B>JAG</B> which is tentatively set to air in October. This is Patrick's first episode for <B>JAG</B>.</div> <bR> <div> Lt. JG Harriet Sims (Karri Turner) is an administrative assistant who married Bud and had their baby last season. Sims is due with their second child this year, but Bud and Chegwidden get a scare when complications with her pregnancy arise at work.</div> <bR> <div> Marine Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez (Randy Vasquez), continues his duties running the JAG office. Galindez' background doing police work as a Marine MP comes in handy when Harm and Mac need an extra hand in their investigations. Notes Bellisario, "We wanted another character who was not an officer and we also wanted a Hispanic. There are a lot of Hispanics in the Marines and Navy. It was time they were represented."</div> <bR> <div> Chuck Carrington (Petty Officer Tiner), began as a day player three years ago but his role has since increased, thanks partly to a flood of e-mail from young female fans. In fact, <B>JAG</B>'s audience has grown increasingly younger, a surprise since the under-35 demographic has little familiarity with the military milieu of the series. But, then again, <B>JAG</B> has been a surprise from the beginning.</div> <bR> <div> The essence of that success, Bellisario believes, is the show's connection with real events even as it plies the television waters as an entertaining drama. Past episodes have been inspired by the Kelly Flynn imbroglio, the disappearance and rescue of Scott O'Grady, incidents of sexual harassment, the case of a Marine officer court-martialed for disobeying orders, and the false report of the military using chemical weapons against its own troops.</div> <bR> <div> Says Bellisario: "Dramatic, action adventure programming has all but disappeared from the airwaves. I don't do sitcoms; I don't do urban neurotic dramas. I created JAG because it's the kind of television I like to watch. Besides that, I served four years in the Marine Corps and remain fascinated by the military's code of ethics--God, duty, honor, country--and how, in these rapidly changing times, it still survives. That's what Harm and Mac, and <B>JAG</B> as a whole, represent."</div> <bR> <div> That sense of good and evil, and of heroism, is also what has resonated with an ever- growing audience for <B>JAG</B>, a series that has survived and prospered in the storm-tossed seas of television.</div> <bR> <div> {THE END}</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>