New TV Show: The Black Donnellys - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

kipperfan · 02-21-2007, 11:06 PM

I have seena few previews for this show now and I am very surprised by the name and the plot. It is an American show, on NBC I believe, but it about a family of bad a** Irish......which immediatley makes me think about THE Black Donnellys of 19th century Ontario.

For those who arent familar.....the Donnellys are one of the most notouroius families in Canadian history...they were Irish immigrants who acted as a gang of sorts until they were murdered(most of them) in 1880.

So I ask...what is the deal? Is this show some kind of modern rendition of the 19th century Donnellys? If not it seems like a rip off.....using the same moniker, Irish family, gang related.....anyone else have insight on this?

Shazam · 02-21-2007, 11:30 PM

So it's not about a bunch of black rappers?

RougeUnderoos · 02-21-2007, 11:52 PM

The TV show looks pretty lame. I haven't seen it but it's on NBC so the Irish gangsters won't even be swearing and they'll all have fine sets of pearly white teeth and the women will be beautiful. I can't suspend my disbelief enough to buy into that kind of Irish mob.

The real Donnelly family story is pretty wild. The Donnelly Album by Ray Fazakas is a great read with lots of grainy pictures of tough looking characters and a very detailed account of what went on before, during, and after the murders.

Deelow · 02-21-2007, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shazam

So it's not about a bunch of black rappers?

Irish Black Rappers

Jayems · 02-22-2007, 01:08 AM

I thought the previews looked pretty good. I'll check it out for sure.

kipperfan · 02-22-2007, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

The TV show looks pretty lame. I haven't seen it but it's on NBC so the Irish gangsters won't even be swearing and they'll all have fine sets of pearly white teeth and the women will be beautiful. I can't suspend my disbelief enough to buy into that kind of Irish mob.

The real Donnelly family story is pretty wild. The Donnelly Album by Ray Fazakas is a great read with lots of grainy pictures of tough looking characters and a very detailed account of what went on before, during, and after the murders.

Yeah that is what I was thinking after seeing those previews...I saw them on Global and thought for sure it was a Canadian program.

I have a funny feeling these TV "gangsters" will look like choirboys when compared the real Black Donnellys...from everything I have read they were a nasty, bad a** bunch.

Table 5 · 02-22-2007, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

they'll all have fine sets of pearly white teeth and the women will be beautiful.

Isn't that the case with every single American show though? No matter what the plot, the actors are way over-glamorized and prettied up....making it pretty damn hard to believe anything.

kipperfan · 02-22-2007, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

Isn't that the case with every single American show though? No matter what the plot, the actors are way over-glamorized and prettied up....making it pretty damn hard to believe anything.

If you were to say any American Network show then I would agree.....but that doesnt stand true for alot of the HBO programming.....the best example is Oz....there wasnt much glamour in that show.

Table 5 · 02-22-2007, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipperfan

If you were to say any American Network show then I would agree.....but that doesnt stand true for alot of the HBO programming.....the best example is Oz....there wasnt much glamour in that show.

It's not TV. It's HBO. Totally different game...

TurnedTheCorner · 02-22-2007, 07:20 AM

You know what would be a good show to watch regularly on MOnday nights on NBC after Heroes, instead of The Green Soprano's Light or Friday Night High School Football but without the Footbal and with Tean Emo Angst?

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip.

**** you NBC.

kermitology · 02-22-2007, 08:13 AM

The only reason I'm thinking about checking it out is that one of the main characters is one of the hostage takers in Hostage, and I love that movie.

Short leash though.

DuffMan · 02-22-2007, 08:36 AM

I read some books on the Black Donnellys(The Cdn ones) a long time ago, that someone I worked with gave to me. The first time I saw the advertisement for this TV show, I thought it would be about them.
I think, aside from the name, there is not much tie in between the two.

Table 5 · 02-22-2007, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuffMan

I think, aside from the name, there is not much tie in between the two.

Not necessarily true. According to the Wikipedia entry (which we all know is a bastion of truth!) one of the show's creators, Canadian Paul Haggis, has strongly referenced his hometown's local history about the real-life Black Donnellys and the massacre associated with their name.

So, there might be a loose tie-in. If it were a movie, "inspired by" would in the trailer somewhere...

metallicat · 03-02-2007, 11:16 AM

Anyone watch this? I watched the re-airing of the pilot last night. Pretty decent, not sure if I have the attention span to keep watching throughout the season yet.

Monkey_Fracas · 03-02-2007, 11:22 AM

It wasn't bad, not outstanding though.
I thought the lead character was good, and it had a pretty good finish. Earned a second viewing imo.