Necessary Roughness (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Necessary Roughness is a USA Network
television series starring Callie Thorne
and Marc Blucas
. The one-hour drama series was picked up for 12 episodes on January 19, 2011. The series debuted on June 29, 2011, with a 90-minute premiere episode.
divorcee who, in order to make ends meet, gets a job as a therapist for a professional football
team. Her career begins to take off when athletes, musicians, politicians and other celebrities start to request her tough love
therapy. She must learn to balance her new career with being a single mother.
. Initially titled Dr. Donna, the show first appeared on the USA Network's development slate in December 2009. In May 2010, the network placed a cast-contingent pilot order under the new name Necessary Roughness. Liz Kruger and Craig Shapiro wrote the pilot
script, and Kevin Dowling was set to direct the pilot.
Casting announcements began in mid-September. First to be cast was Callie Thorne, who plays the lead role as Danielle "Dani" Santino. Next to join the project was Marc Blucas, who was cast as the football team's athletic trainer and a romantic interest for Danielle. Scott Cohen and Mehcad Brooks came on board in October. Cohen portrays a football team colleague of Dani's, and Brooks is one of her clients.
Cast as guest stars were Amanda Detmer, as Dani's best friend, Jeanette, and Concetta Tomei, who portrays Dani's mother. In early November, Craig Bierko was added to the cast as Dani's estranged husband.
The pilot episode was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia
in November and December 2010, with the Georgia Dome
being used for exterior and some interior shots of game day scenes. The network greenlighted the series on January 19, 2011. The series was renewed for a second season by USA Network on September 15, 2011.
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
television series starring Callie Thorne
Callie Thorne
Calliope "Callie" Thorne is an American actress known for her current role as Dr. Dani Santino on the USA Network series Necessary Roughness...
and Marc Blucas
Marc Blucas
Marcus Paul "Marc" Blucas is an American actor, known for playing Riley Finn in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Early life:...
. The one-hour drama series was picked up for 12 episodes on January 19, 2011. The series debuted on June 29, 2011, with a 90-minute premiere episode.
Overview
The series centers on a tough Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
divorcee who, in order to make ends meet, gets a job as a therapist for a professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team. Her career begins to take off when athletes, musicians, politicians and other celebrities start to request her tough love
Tough love
Tough love is an expression used when someone treats another person harshly or sternly with the intent to help them in the long run. The phrase was evidently coined by Bill Milliken when he wrote the book Tough Love in 1968 and has been used by numerous authors since then.In most uses, there must...
therapy. She must learn to balance her new career with being a single mother.
Main cast
- Callie ThorneCallie ThorneCalliope "Callie" Thorne is an American actress known for her current role as Dr. Dani Santino on the USA Network series Necessary Roughness...
as Dr. Danielle "Dani" Santino: The protagonist. Dani is a tough divorcee who, to make ends meet, becomes the therapist for a professional football team and quickly becomes sought after by other athletes, musicians, politicians and those living in the spotlight. - Marc BlucasMarc BlucasMarcus Paul "Marc" Blucas is an American actor, known for playing Riley Finn in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Early life:...
as Matthew Donnally: The New York Hawks' athletic trainer to whom Danielle is attracted. - Scott Cohen as Nico Careles: A former Navy SEALUnited States Navy SEALsThe United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
from Pittsburgh; employed as the team's head of security and "fixer", he works closely with Danielle. - Hannah MarksHannah MarksHannah Gayle Marks is an American television and film actress.Hannah Marks was born in Santa Monica, California. She appeared in the 2006 feature film Accepted as Lizzie Gaines as well as guest starred in many television programs such as Ugly Betty and CSI: Miami...
as Lindsay Santino: Dani's rebellious teenage daughter. - Patrick JohnsonPatrick Johnson (actor)Patrick Johnson is an American actor, known for playing Ray "Ray J" Santino Jr. in Necessary Roughness.Patrick has been working since he was 12 years old. Born in Orlando, Florida, Patrick is the 5th child of 6 kids, five boys and one girl. He is the son of Rick and Alanna Johnson. He currently...
as Ray "Ray Jay" Santino Jr.: Dani's teenage son. - Mehcad BrooksMehcad BrooksMehcad Jason McKinley Brooks is an American actor and former fashion model.-Early life:Brooks was born and raised in Austin, Texas, where he attended L.C. Anderson High School...
as Terrence "T.K." King: The New York Hawks' star player and Dani's main focus when she was hired by the football team.
Recurring cast
- Craig BierkoCraig BierkoCraig Philip Bierko is an American actor and singer.-Early life:Bierko was born in Rye Brook, New York, the son of Pat and Rex Bierko, who ran a local community theatre. Bierko's mother was a Jewish convert to Roman Catholicism...
as Ray Santino: Dani's ex-husband who had been cheating on her. - Amanda DetmerAmanda DetmerAmanda Jeannette Detmer is an American actress who has appeared in various films and television shows.-Life and career:...
as Jeanette: Dani's best friend. - Concetta TomeiConcetta TomeiConcetta Tomei is an American theatre, film and television character actress, best known for her roles as Maj. Lila Garreau on the ABC series China Beach and as Lynda Hansen on the NBC series Providence ....
as Angela: Dani's mother. - Gregory Alan WilliamsGregory Alan WilliamsGregory Alan Williams is an American actor and author. Williams is best known for portraying Garner Ellerbee in the syndicated series Baywatch.-Early life and acting career:...
as Coach Patrick Purnell: The head coach of the New York Hawks. - Andrea AndersAndrea AndersAndrea Anders is an American actress, known for her roles as Alex Garrett on the NBC sitcom Joey, Nicole Allen on the CBS sitcom The Class, and Linda Zwordling on the ABC sitcom Better Off Ted. She was most recently seen as Alice on the ABC sitcom Mr...
as Laura Radcliffe: a high-powered publicist hired by the Hawks to improve T.K.'s public image. She has also had a previous relationship with Matt Donnally. - Jason GedrickJason GedrickJason Gedrick is an American actor best known for his work on the television series Murder One and Boomtown and the motion picture Iron Eagle....
as Dr. J. D. Aldridge: Dani’s former grad school professor. - Orlando JonesOrlando JonesOrlando Jones is an American comedian and film and television actor. He is notable for being one of the original cast members of the sketch comedy series MADtv and for his role as the 7 Up spokesman from 1999-2002.-Early life:...
as Lazarus Rollins: a rival therapist with extreme techniques. - Nadia DajaniNadia DajaniNadia Dajani is an American actress of Irish and Palestinian descent.-Acting career:For two seasons , she starred as Amanda Moyer in the Fox television sitcom, Ned & Stacey. She starred in numerous television pilots...
as Margo Ciccero: another friend of Dani. - Jaime Lee KirchnerJaime Lee KirchnerJaime Lee Kirchner is an actress who is best known for her roles on Just Legal as Dulcinea 'Dee' Real and Mercy as Sonia Jimenez. She was born in Germany but was raised in Clarksville, Tennessee.-Filmography:...
as Vivica: a reporter that T.K. begins dating.
Development and production
The series is based on the true story of a female psychologist Dr. Donna Dannenfelser who worked for the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Initially titled Dr. Donna, the show first appeared on the USA Network's development slate in December 2009. In May 2010, the network placed a cast-contingent pilot order under the new name Necessary Roughness. Liz Kruger and Craig Shapiro wrote the pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
script, and Kevin Dowling was set to direct the pilot.
Casting announcements began in mid-September. First to be cast was Callie Thorne, who plays the lead role as Danielle "Dani" Santino. Next to join the project was Marc Blucas, who was cast as the football team's athletic trainer and a romantic interest for Danielle. Scott Cohen and Mehcad Brooks came on board in October. Cohen portrays a football team colleague of Dani's, and Brooks is one of her clients.
Cast as guest stars were Amanda Detmer, as Dani's best friend, Jeanette, and Concetta Tomei, who portrays Dani's mother. In early November, Craig Bierko was added to the cast as Dani's estranged husband.
The pilot episode was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in November and December 2010, with the Georgia Dome
Georgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
being used for exterior and some interior shots of game day scenes. The network greenlighted the series on January 19, 2011. The series was renewed for a second season by USA Network on September 15, 2011.