The cast of the new HBO series 'Big Love' Jeanne Tripplehorn (L), Chloe Sevigny (C) and Ginnifer Goodwin answer questions during a panel discussion at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, California January 13, 2006. The drama series which debuts in the U.S. on March 12, 2006, is about a man played by Bill Paxton and his life in suburban Salt Lake City, Utah as he balances the needs of his three wives, played by the trio of women, their three homes and seven children. REUTERS/Fred Prouser
HBO's Big Love: Tune In
According to a joint report issued by the Utah and Arizona Attorney General's Offices, July 2005, "[a]pproximately 20,000 to 40,000 or more people currently practice polygamy in the United States." The Mormon Church officially banned the practice of polygamy in 1890.
At first glance, Bill Henrickson seems to lead a typical suburban life. A hard-working husband and father of seven, this Salt Lake City native tries to find enough time for his family while overseeing the expansion of his successful home-improvement business. But Bill is also a polygamist - and with three wives and three homes to maintain, his life is anything but ordinary.
The new drama series Big Love kicks off its 12-episode first season SUNDAY, MARCH 12 (10-11 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Bill Paxton ("Twister," "A Simple Plan"), Jeanne Tripplehorn ("The Firm," "Very Bad Things"), Chloe Sevigny ("Boys Don't Cry," "Dogville"), Ginnifer Goodwin ("Walk the Line," "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!") and Harry Dean Stanton ("The Green Mile," "Anger Management") star in the series. Episodes of BIG LOVE debut after new episodes of "The Sopranos," which kicks off its sixth season the same day.
The executive producers of Big Love are Playtone's Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman and series creators Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer (writer of HBO's "In the Gloaming"), who produced the independent feature film "Easter."
Big Love tells the story of Bill Henrickson (Paxton) and his life, balancing the needs of his three wives - Barb (Tripplehorn), Nicki (Sevigny) and Margene (Goodwin) - their seven kids, three new houses and the opening of his newest home improvement store. When disturbing news arrives about Bill's father, he is forced to reconnect with his polygamist parents, who live on a fundamentalist compound in rural Utah. Meanwhile, Bill finds himself in a dispute over money with his father-in-law Roman (Stanton) that threatens to erupt into open warfare.
Other series regulars include Bruce Dern ("Monster") and Grace Zabriskie ("Twin Peaks") as Henrickson's parents, plus Daveigh Chase ("Lilo & Stitch"), Shawn Doyle ("Don't Say a Word"), Joel McKinnon Miller ("After the Sunset"), Amanda Seyfried ("Mean Girls"), Douglas Smith ("Sleepover"), Melora Walters ("Cold Mountain") and Jolean Wejbe ("Gilmore Girls"). Also featured in BIG LOVE are Tina Majorino ("Napoleon Dynamite"), Mary Kay Place ("Sweet Home Alabama") and Matt Ross ("Good Night, and Good Luck").
The first episode of Big Love is directed by Rodrigo Garcia (HBO's "The Sopranos"); other directors on the show include Julian Farino (HBO's "Entourage"), Mary Harron ("I Shot Andy Warhol"), Michael Lehmann ("40 Days and 40 Nights"), Charles McDougall ("Desperate Housewives"), Alan Poul (HBO's "Six Feet Under"), Steve Shill (HBO's "Deadwood"), Michael Spiller ("Monk") and Alan Taylor ("Lost").
March episodes:
Episode 1: "Pilot"
Debut: SUNDAY, MARCH 12 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: March 14 (11:00 p.m.), 15 (8:00 p.m.), 16 (midnight) and 24 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: March 13 (9:00 p.m.), 18 (9:00 p.m.) and 25 (8:00 p.m.)
Polygamist Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) tries to satisfy the emotional, romantic and financial needs of his three wives - Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn), Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) and Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) - and seven children in suburban Salt Lake City. Bill, a successful businessman launching his second Home Plus hardware superstore, hits a roadblock in the person of Roman (Harry Dean Stanton), a.k.a. "The Prophet," the powerful patriarch of the Juniper Creek polygamist commune and father of Nicki, Bill's shopaholic second wife. As if Bill hasn't already got enough on his plate, his estranged brother Joey (Shawn Doyle), an ex-football star turned ne'er-do-well, calls Bill with a shocking revelation about their father Franklin (Bruce Dern), who lives with their mother Lois (Grace Zabriskie) in the Juniper Creek compound.
Written by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; directed by Rodrigo Garcia.
Episode 2: "Viagra Blue"
Debut: SUNDAY, MARCH 19 (10:00-11:00p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: March 21 (11:00 p.m.), 22 (8:00 p.m.), 23 (midnight) and 24 (9:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: March 20 (9:00 p.m.) and 25 (9:00 p.m.)
Nicki gets sidetracked after scolding Bill for disrespecting Barb on her "day," though Barb eventually gets her payback. Worried about Roman's threats, Bill looks into installing a security system at his home(s); Franklin's hospital convalescence ends with a visit from Roman and a revealing quarrel with his son; Bill's business associate, Don Embry (Joel McKinnon Miller), drops by for dinner, and confides to Bill his expansion plans; Margene presses Bill to give her a car of her own; Sarah (Amanda Seyfried) forges a new friendship; and Bill compensates for rising demands at home.
Written by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; directed by Charles McDougall.
Episode 3: "Home Invasion"
Debut: SUNDAY, MARCH 26 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: March 28 (11:00 p.m.), 29 (8:00 p.m.) and 30 (midnight), and April 13 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdate: March 27 (9:00 p.m.)
Despite being admonished by Bill for her spendthrift ways, Nicki tries to throw an extravagant birthday party at a hotel resort for their five-year-old son Wayne. Meanwhile, Bill installs a "perimeter of defense" around his home; Barb tries to keep the family's secret hidden from their neighbors; Margene stands up for herself; and Bill is alarmed when Home Plus gets an unwanted visitor.
Written by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; directed by Charles McDougall.
Big Love is produced by HBO Entertainment in association with Playtone and Anima Sola Productions; created by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; executive producers, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; co-executive producers, David Knoller and Alexa Junge; producers, Bernie Caulfield and Karen Sprecher & Jill Sprecher; consulting producer, David Manson; supervising producers, Jeanette Collins & Mimi Friedman; staff writers, Dustin Lance Black and Eileen Myers; casting, Junie Lowry Johnson, C.S.A. & Libby Goldstein.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
