Glenn Close FX Series Gets Picked Up

Damages, a new legal series examining the price of success and starring Oscar-nominee Glenn Close as a high powered attorney, is set to premiere this summer on FX. Close, who recently had a supporting role on FX's series The Shield will star along side a cast that includes Ted Danson and Tate Donovan.

In Damages, Close will play Patty Hewes, a bigtime lawyer who takes on corporations. Thus the title. Hewes firm employs Donovan's character as well as a young associate played by Marie Antoinette actress Rose Byrne. Close, most famous for her roles in films like Fatal Attraction, received an Emmy nomination two years ago for playing Vic Mackey's confoundingly ethical boss on The Shield. The character was written off after one season but, not surprisingly, Close's performance was well-received. Damages marks her first tv vehicle.

Donovan, who will play Close's colleague, regained popularity over the last few years appearing in the Fox soap The O.C. He will also appear in the upcoming Nancy Drew flick. Byrne has appeared in Troy and 2006 indie favorite The Dead Girl.

Danson, who's sitcom Help Me Help You tanked quickly this season, is of course best known for his eleven years on Cheers as bartender/ladies man Sam Malone. Danson will play a corporate honcho whose business is in Hewes cross hairs. Danson also appeared in the comedy series Becker and in the short-lived Ink with wife Mary Steenburgen. His character may be up against a tough lawyer, but he won't be totally vulnerable: his lawyer will be played by three-time Tony nominee Zeljko Ivanek. Ivanek seems to play a lawyer in every other project he's in: films like White Squall and A Civil Action and on TV shows like guest spots on The Practice, Law & Order, Shark, and of course Homicide, where he had a regular role as State's Attorney Ed Danvers. Revered theatre vet Phillip Bosco is also in the series.

Damages was created by Todd and Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman. It will be shot in New York City. No specific air date for the pilot has been announced.

FX is chalking up a lot of original series these days. Besides Damages and The Shield, which recently returned, the cable network also runs Nip/Tuck, Denis Leary's Rescue Me, Morgan Spurlock's documentary show 30 Days and cynical comedy It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. This spring, it also launched Courtney Cox in Dirt and Minnie Driver in The Riches. While Dirt and The Riches earned mixed reviews from critics and viewers, Nip-Tuck, Rescue Me and The Shield have been critical favorites and have earned multiple nominations at both Emmy and Golden Globe time. Each has also had its share of controversy revolving around language, violence, and sexual content. The Shield is currently in its sixth season. Rescue Me and Nip-Tuck will return to FX this summer when Damages is expected to begin.