Citizen Baines (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Citizen Baines is an American
drama series
that starred James Cromwell
. The series premiered September 29, 2001 on CBS
and was created by Emmy Award
-winning producer Lydia Woodward
.
and goes back home to Seattle to re-establish his relationships with his three grown daughters Ellen (Embeth Davidtz
), Reeva (Jane Adams
), and Dori (Jacinda Barrett
).
., the series ranked #90 (the lowest rank for a regularly scheduled series on one of the Big Four networks), and averaged 8.2 million viewers. Due to the low ratings, CBS canceled the series in October 2001 after six of the nine episodes produced were aired.
, TV life between 8 and 11pm is either R-rated racy or Disney-utopian, where, no matter the problem, no more than 50 minutes will solve it. And always, always, check your intelligence at the door.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
drama series
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
that starred James Cromwell
James Cromwell
James Oliver Cromwell is an American film and television actor. Some of his more notable roles are in Babe , for which he earned Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Star Trek: First Contact , L.A...
. The series premiered September 29, 2001 on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and was created by Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning producer Lydia Woodward
Lydia Woodward
Lydia Woodward is an Emmy Award winning television writer and producer. She has worked as both a writer and producer on the primetime serial ER.-Positions held:*Pan Am *The Riches...
.
Synopsis
Cromwell starred as Elliot Baines, a former three-term U.S. Senator who loses a re-election for the senateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and goes back home to Seattle to re-establish his relationships with his three grown daughters Ellen (Embeth Davidtz
Embeth Davidtz
Embeth Jean Davidtz is an American-born actress who spent much of her early life in South Africa.-Early life:Davidtz was born in Lafayette, Indiana, while her father was studying chemical engineering at Purdue University. Her parents, John and Jean, later moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and then...
), Reeva (Jane Adams
Jane Adams (actress)
Jane Adams is an American film, television and theatre actress.- Early life :Adams was born in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Janice, an administrative assistant, and William Adams, an engineer. She has a younger brother, Jonathan, and was raised in Wheaton, Illinois and Bellevue, Washington...
), and Dori (Jacinda Barrett
Jacinda Barrett
Jacinda Barrett is an Australian American model turned actress. She first became known to audiences as a cast member on The Real World: London before appearing in films such as Ladder 49, The Namesake, The Human Stain, and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.-Early life and career:Born in Brisbane,...
).
TV Ratings
Scheduled on Saturdays following Touched by an AngelTouched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
., the series ranked #90 (the lowest rank for a regularly scheduled series on one of the Big Four networks), and averaged 8.2 million viewers. Due to the low ratings, CBS canceled the series in October 2001 after six of the nine episodes produced were aired.
Main cast
- James CromwellJames CromwellJames Oliver Cromwell is an American film and television actor. Some of his more notable roles are in Babe , for which he earned Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Star Trek: First Contact , L.A...
.... Elliot Baines - Embeth DavidtzEmbeth DavidtzEmbeth Jean Davidtz is an American-born actress who spent much of her early life in South Africa.-Early life:Davidtz was born in Lafayette, Indiana, while her father was studying chemical engineering at Purdue University. Her parents, John and Jean, later moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and then...
.... Ellen Baines Croland - Jane AdamsJane Adams (actress)Jane Adams is an American film, television and theatre actress.- Early life :Adams was born in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Janice, an administrative assistant, and William Adams, an engineer. She has a younger brother, Jonathan, and was raised in Wheaton, Illinois and Bellevue, Washington...
.... Reeva Baines Eidenberg - Jacinda BarrettJacinda BarrettJacinda Barrett is an Australian American model turned actress. She first became known to audiences as a cast member on The Real World: London before appearing in films such as Ladder 49, The Namesake, The Human Stain, and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.-Early life and career:Born in Brisbane,...
.... Dori Baines - Arye GrossArye Gross-Biography:Gross was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Sheri and Joseph Gross, who was an aerospace engineer and later worked in business....
.... Shel Eidenberg - Scotty LeavenworthScotty LeavenworthScott Alexander "Scotty" Leavenworth is an American actor. He began acting in commercials at the age of four, and has since appeared in a variety of films and television programs...
.... Otis Croland - Matt McCoyMatt McCoy (actor)Matt McCoy is an American actor.McCoy was born in Ohio. Since starring as Sgt. Nick Lassard in two Police Academy films, his motion picture credits have included the Curtis Hanson films The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and L.A. Confidential , as well as the action comedy National Security ...
.... Arthur Croland
Recurring
- Tom VericaTom VericaTom Verica is an American actor and director, known for his role of Jack Pryor on the NBC drama American Dreams. He played Astronaut Dick Gordon in the HBO miniseries From The Earth To The Moon...
...Andy CarlsonAndy CarlsonAndrew "Andy" Carlson is a notable violinist from the United States.He began learning traditional fiddle music from his grandfather when he was five. He has won numerous fiddle contests including being named Georgia State Champion Fiddler twice and being named the 2000 Ohio Grand Champion fiddler... - McCaleb Burnett .... Claude Waverley
- Easton Gage .... Sam Eidenberg
- David Kriegel .... David Goldman
- Bryn Lauren Lemon .... Ruthie Eidenberg
- Emmett Shoemaker .... Otis Croland
- Paul McCranePaul McCranePaul David McCrane is an American film, television and theatre actor, as well as an occasional television director. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Montgomery MacNeil in the 1980 film Fame and Dr. Robert Romano on the NBC medical drama television series ER.-Early life:McCrane was...
... Sherman Bloom
Episodes
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | "A Day Like No Other" | September 29, 2001 |
| 1-2 | "The Whole Thump-Thump-Thump" | October 6, 2001 |
| 1-3 | "Days of Confusion" | October 13, 2001 |
| 1-4 | "Three Days In November" | October 20, 2001 |
| 1-5 | "The Appraisal" | October 27, 2001 |
| 1-6 | "Lost and Found" | November 3, 2001 |
| 1-7 | "Out In the Rain" | Never aired |
| 1-8 | "A Song That Never Ends" | Never aired |
| 1-9 | "Safe At Home" | Never aired |
Criticism & Acclaim
PopMatters: Citizen Baines showed genuine signs of bucking the CBS feel-good Saturday night orthodoxy, by assuming the complex task of creating family-friendly entertainment without soaking in sentiment the raw textures of domestic life. In theory, there's no reason at all why the elimination of "adult" elements (explicit sex, strong language, violent storylines) should limit the emotional and intellectual range of a TV drama and the sophisticated satisfactions it might offer its audiences. But Citizen Baines symbolizes the lack of imagination driving so much of prime-time, whether drama or sitcom, cable or network. With honorable exceptions, like the underrated Third WatchThird Watch
Third Watch is an American television drama series which first aired on NBC from 1999 to 2005 for a total of 132 episodes, broadcast in 6 seasons of 22 episodes each....
, TV life between 8 and 11pm is either R-rated racy or Disney-utopian, where, no matter the problem, no more than 50 minutes will solve it. And always, always, check your intelligence at the door.
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | American Society of Cinematographers American Society of Cinematographers The American Society of Cinematographers is an educational, cultural, and professional organization. It is not a labor union, and it is not a guild. Membership is by invitation and is extended only to directors of photography and special effects experts with distinguished credits in the film... , USA |
Nominated | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week/Mini-Series'/Pilot for Network or Basic Broadcast TV | Ernest Holzman (For pilot episode) |