.gif)
Cupid (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Cupid is a 1998–1999 American
comedy-drama
series created by Rob Thomas
, which featured Paula Marshall
as Dr. Claire Allen, a Chicago
psychologist
who is given charge of a man named Trevor Hale (Jeremy Piven
). Hale believes he is Cupid
, sent down from Mt. Olympus by Zeus
to connect 100 couples without his powers, as a punishment for his arrogance.
Originally broadcast on ABC on Saturday evenings at 10 p.m. EST, the show lasted one season.
as Trevor and Sarah Paulson
as Claire. Only six episodes of the series aired, from March 31 – May 19, 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
series created by Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas (writer)
Rob Thomas is an American author, producer, and screenwriter, best known as the author of the 1996 novel Rats Saw God and creator of the critically acclaimed television programs Veronica Mars and Party Down.-Education and early career:Thomas graduated from San Marcos High School in 1983 and went...
, which featured Paula Marshall
Paula Marshall
Paula Marshall is an American actress.-Career:In 1992, Marshall had a three-episode guest role on The Wonder Years and later guest-starred on shows such as Seinfeld, Nash Bridges, Grapevine and Diagnosis: Murder. In 1994, she got her first sitcom role on Wild Oats...
as Dr. Claire Allen, a Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
who is given charge of a man named Trevor Hale (Jeremy Piven
Jeremy Piven
Jeremy Samuel Piven is an American film producer and actor best known for his role as Ari Gold in the television series Entourage for which he has won three Emmy Awards as well as several other nominations for Best Supporting Actor....
). Hale believes he is Cupid
Cupid
In Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of desire, affection and erotic love. He is the son of the goddess Venus and the god Mars. His Greek counterpart is Eros...
, sent down from Mt. Olympus by Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
to connect 100 couples without his powers, as a punishment for his arrogance.
Originally broadcast on ABC on Saturday evenings at 10 p.m. EST, the show lasted one season.
Plot
Trevor Hale is attractive, witty, uncommonly intelligent—and he may be Cupid, the Greco-Roman god of erotic love. Probably not, but he thinks so. Trevor's insistence that he is Cupid lands him in a mental hospital, where he meets psychologist Claire Allen, a renowned authority on romance. Trevor tells Claire that he has been stripped of his godly powers by Zeus, and exiled from Mount Olympus as a punishment for arrogance. To win his way back among the gods, Trevor must unite 100 couples in everlasting love, without his bow and arrows. Claire does not believe in Cupid, but she risks her career by releasing Trevor from the hospital, assuming responsibility for his behavior. Trevor finds work as a bartender, and regularly disrupts Claire's group therapy sessions. All the while, he plots his campaign to promote romance, and earn his way back to Olympus. While encouraging sexual abandon in others, Trevor remains celibate; he believes sex with a mortal will confine him to Earth forever.Regular cast
- Jeremy PivenJeremy PivenJeremy Samuel Piven is an American film producer and actor best known for his role as Ari Gold in the television series Entourage for which he has won three Emmy Awards as well as several other nominations for Best Supporting Actor....
– Cupid/Trevor Hale - Paula MarshallPaula MarshallPaula Marshall is an American actress.-Career:In 1992, Marshall had a three-episode guest role on The Wonder Years and later guest-starred on shows such as Seinfeld, Nash Bridges, Grapevine and Diagnosis: Murder. In 1994, she got her first sitcom role on Wild Oats...
– Dr. Claire Allen - Jeffrey D. SamsJeffrey D. SamsJeffrey D. Sams is an American actor known primarily for his television work.A native of Ohio, Sams has been a main cast member of several television series, few of which have made it past their first season...
– Champ Terrace
Recurring cast
- Paul AdelsteinPaul AdelsteinPaul Adelstein is an American television and film actor, best known for the role of Agent Paul Kellerman in the television series, Prison Break, and his current role as pediatrician Cooper Freedman in the series Private Practice....
– Mike - Noelle Bou-Sliman – Tina
- Daniel Bryant – Laurence
- Melanie Deanne Moore – Jaclyn
- Jeff Parise – Nick
- Geryll Robinson – Chris
Recurring guests
- Kevin Scott Greer – Single Guy (4 episodes)
- Joe FlaniganJoe FlaniganJoe Flanigan is an American television actor best known for his portrayal of the character Major/Lt. Colonel John Sheppard in Stargate Atlantis.-Early life:Flanigan was born Joseph Dunnigan III in Los Angeles, California...
– Alex (4 episodes) - Hollis ResnikHollis ResnikHollis Resnik is an American singer and actress, especially in stage musicals.-Biography:Born in 1955 and raised in Euclid, Ohio , as a young girl she studied piano and took voice lessons and performed with the Cleveland Symphony Children's Choir. Attending Russell H...
– Linda (3 episodes)
Staff
- Rob ThomasRob Thomas (writer)Rob Thomas is an American author, producer, and screenwriter, best known as the author of the 1996 novel Rats Saw God and creator of the critically acclaimed television programs Veronica Mars and Party Down.-Education and early career:Thomas graduated from San Marcos High School in 1983 and went...
– Creator, executive producer, supervising producer - Scott WinantScott WinantScott Winant is an American television director and producer of network and premium cable series. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild of America...
– Executive producer, director - Joe Voci – Executive producer
- Scott Sanders – Executive producer
- Jeff Reno – Executive producer
- Ron Osborn – Executive producer
- Hart HansonHart HansonHart Hanson is an American television writer and producer. Hanson's family moved to Canada when he was a child. He received a B.A. from the University of Toronto and a MFA from the University of British Columbia, where he taught briefly...
– Co-Executive Producer - W.G. "Snuffy" Walden – Composer
Writers
- Michael GreenMichael Green (writer)Michael Green is an American television and film writer, as well as a comic book scripter. He grew up in Mamaroneck, New York.-Comic Books:Green has been a contributor for Superman/Batman. He also co-wrote the Green Lantern movie with Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, which was released in 2011...
- Ron Osborn
- Jeff Reno
- Rob ThomasRob Thomas (writer)Rob Thomas is an American author, producer, and screenwriter, best known as the author of the 1996 novel Rats Saw God and creator of the critically acclaimed television programs Veronica Mars and Party Down.-Education and early career:Thomas graduated from San Marcos High School in 1983 and went...
- Elle Triedman
Directors
- Michael EnglerMichael EnglerMichael Engler is an American theatre director, and television director and producer. His Broadway credits include Eastern Standard and I Hate Hamlet...
- Michael FieldsMichael FieldsMichael Fields may refer to:*Michael Fields , American TV director, writer and producer*Michael Fields , British lute and theorbo player*Mickey Fields, jazz musicianSee also*Michael Field...
- Tucker GatesTucker GatesTucker Gates is an American television director and producer. He has directed several episodes of the J. J. Abrams shows, Alias and Lost, including the very last episode of Alias...
- Michael KatlemanMichael KatlemanMichael Katleman is an American director and producer. He has worked on Smallville, Tru Calling, and Gilmore Girls as well as many other programs.-Director:* Primeval * Tru Calling * Smallville * China Beach...
- Elodie KeeneElodie KeeneElodie Keene is an American film/television director, producer and editor. As a television director her credits include ER, NYPD Blue, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Charmed, Felicity, The Wire, House, M.D., The Closer, Nip/Tuck and among other series.She has won three Primetime Emmy Awards, two for...
- Patrick NorrisPatrick NorrisPatrick R. Norris is an American television director.His directing credits include Chuck, Friday Night Lights, Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, Hidden Palms, Related, Bones, North Shore, The Division, The O.C., Boston Public, Star Trek: Enterprise, The Twilight Zone, American Dreams, Roswell,...
- Peter O’Fallon
- David Petrarca
- Scott WinantScott WinantScott Winant is an American television director and producer of network and premium cable series. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild of America...
- Deran SarafianDeran SarafianDeran Sarafian is an Armenian-American Actor, film and television Director.Sarafian has directed several episodes of the FOX series House and was made a Co-executive producer of the show for the 2007/08 season...
Reviews and articles
- E! Online named Cupid as #4 on its "Top Ten Shows Cancelled Before Their Time".
- Two 1998 articles from Tim Goodman San Francisco Examiner and Alan Sepinwall New Jersey Star-Ledger as listed on Rob Thomas’s Site.
Production notes
- Cupid was produced by Columbia TriStar Television and Mandalay ProductionsMandalay EntertainmentMandalay Entertainment Group is a multimedia entertainment vehicle in motion pictures, television, sports entertainment and new media. It was formed in 1995...
. - Cupid was filmed on location in Chicago, due to Piven’s love for the city.
Show revival
ABC and Rob Thomas brought Cupid back to the airwaves with an October 2007 deal for which scripts and production were approved in March 2008. The series was relocated to New York City and cast Bobby CannavaleBobby Cannavale
Robert M. "Bobby" Cannavale is an American actor known for his leading role as Bobby Caffey in the first two seasons of the television series Third Watch. He also had a recurring role as Officer Vince D'Angelo on the comedy series Will & Grace.-Early life:Cannavale grew up in Union City, New...
as Trevor and Sarah Paulson
Sarah Paulson
-Career:She was a series regular on the cult television show American Gothic and the WB series Jack & Jill , playing the character "Elisa Cronkite"...
as Claire. Only six episodes of the series aired, from March 31 – May 19, 2009.
External links
- Creator Rob Thomas’s site, including show synopsis, reviews and scripts for unaired episodes.
- Entry on epguides.com
- Variety story" "ABC to give 'Cupid' another shot"
- CUPID fansite
- The Hollywood Reporter Article ABC greenlights Thomas' 'Cupid'