Deadwood (2004–2006)

Information from IMDb

Plot Summary
The town of Deadwood, South Dakota in the weeks following the Custer massacre
is a lawless sinkhole of crime and corruption. Into this uncivilized outpost rid
a disillusioned and bitter ex-lawman, Wild Bill Hickok, and Seth Bullock
a man hoping to find a new start for himself.
Both men find themselves quickly on opposite sides of the legal and moral fence from
Al Swearengen, saloon owner, hotel operator, and incipient boss of Deadwood.
The lives of these three intertwine with many others, the high-minded
and the low-lifes who populate Deadwood in 1876.
Written by Jim Beaver

Series Cast
Timothy Olyphant ... Seth Bullock (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Ian McShane ... Al Swearengen (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Molly Parker ... Alma Garret (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Brad Dourif ... Doc Cochran (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
W. Earl Brown ... Dan Dority (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
John Hawkes ... Sol Star (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Paula Malcomson ... Trixie (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Dayton Callie ... Charlie Utter (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Leon Rippy ... Tom Nuttall (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
William Sanderson ... E.B. Farnum (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Robin Weigert ... Calamity Jane (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Sean Bridgers ... Johnny Burns (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Bree Seanna Wall ... Sofia Metz (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Jim Beaver ... Whitney Ellsworth (35 episodes, 2004-2006
Jeffrey Jones ... A.W. Merrick (35 episodes, 2004-2006)
Kim Dickens ... Joanie Stubbs (34 episodes, 2004-2006)
Powers Boothe ... Cy Tolliver (34 episodes, 2004-2006)
Titus Welliver ... Silas Adams (27 episodes, 2004-2006)
Peter Jason ... Con Stapleton (26 episodes, 2004-2006)
Anna Gunn ... Martha Bullock (24 episodes, 2005-2006)
Larry Cedar ... Leon (24 episodes, 2004-2006)
Geri Jewell ... Jewel (23 episodes, 2004-2006)
Ralph Richeson ... Richardson (20 episodes, 2004-2006)
and many more .......

Series Directed
Ed Bianchi (8 episodes, 2004-2006)
Daniel Minahan (4 episodes, 2004-2006)
Davis Guggenheim (4 episodes, 2004)
Gregg Fienberg (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Mark Tinker (4 episodes, 2006)
Steve Shill (3 episodes, 2004-2005)
Alan Taylor (2 episodes, 2004-2005)

Series Produced
Gregg Fienberg .... executive producer / co-executive producer (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Kathryn Lekan .... associate producer (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
David Milch .... executive producer (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Scott Stephens .... supervising producer / producer (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Steve Turner .... co-producer (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
and more......

Series Writing Credits
David Milch (36 episodes, 2004-2006)
Regina Corrado (8 episodes, 2005-2006)
and more.....

Series Original Music
Reinhold Heil (31 episodes, 2004-2006)
Johnny Klimek (31 episodes, 2004-2006)
and a couple of others....

Series Cinematography
James Glennon (19 episodes, 2004-2006)
Joseph E. Gallagher (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
and a couple of others....

Trivia
Most of the characters (Al Swearengen, Sol Star, Reverend Smith, the Metz family, et. al., in addition to the more famous Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, and Jack McCall, ) have real-life counterparts.

Ellsworth is also the name of the Air Force Base located near Deadwood, South Dakota.

The real Seth Bullock was born in a town called Amherstburg in Ontario, Canada.

For a long time there was a bar called Bullock's Tavern in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada, which was originally owned by Seth Bullock's parents and was also the place he was born.

George Hearst was the father of William Randolph Hearst, the famous newspaperman on whom Citizen Kane (Citizen Kane) was based, and the great-grandfather of Patricia Hearst. When Hearst tells Merrick that he will start his own newspaper in Deadwood to tell lies for his side, it is a reference to the fact that W. R. Hearst is largely credited with the creation of the concept of "yellow journalism" and the use of his own newspapers to shape and even create political and social opinion and actual events. The most famous example of this was what many historians characterize as W. R. Hearst's whole cloth creation of the Spanish-American War through his newspapers' inflammatory and lucrative headlines.

Until the end of Season Two, the character of Ellsworth did not have a first name. When it was decided to give him a first name, the actor portraying the role, 'Jim Beaver', requested that he be given the first name Whitney, after Whitney Ellsworth, producer of Adventures of Superman, whom Beaver knew from his research for a book on the life of "Superman" star George Reeves.

The word "f***" and its derivatives are used 2,980 times throughout the series.

Despite appearing in 32 out of 36 episodes, Jeffrey Jones (Merrick) was listed as a guest star in the first season. Similarly, Gerald McRaney (George Hurst) received a "special guest star" credit in Season 3, even though he appeared in all 12 episodes of that season.

According to a 2004 'Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles' interview with show creator David Milch, when John Hawkes first met Milch to audition for the role of Sol Star, Hawkes told Milch that he was not actually Jewish (unlike both the real-life Star and the "Deadwood" character). Milch's response was to ask Hawkes, "have you ever felt shame or sadness or ostracized?" and when Hawkes responded, "every day," Milch told him, "then you're Jewish."

Thirteen members of the cast of Deadwood also starred in Sons of Anarchy. The list includes Tony Swift (Prospector/Biker), Tim De Zarn (Townsman/Nate Meineke), Kevin P. Kearns (Pasco/Luke), Dan Hildebrand (Shaughnessy/Tim Driscoll/Sean Casey) , Julie Ariola (Countess/Mary Winston ), Cleo King (Aunt Lou Marchbanks/Neeta), Dayton Callie (Charlie Utter/Chief Wayne Unser), Paula Malcomson (Trixie/Maureen Ashby), Robin Weigert (Calamity Jane/Ally Lowen), Titus Welliver (Silas Adams/Jimmy O'Phelan), Jamie McShane (Ned Mason/Cameron Hayes), Ray McKinnon (Reverend H.W. Smith/Lincoln Potter), Jim Cody Williams (Terrence/Uncle Vinky).

Doc Cochran's first name is Amos.

Garret Dillahunt pursued the role of Seth Bullock but Olyphant was already cast. The only role that was available at the time was of Doc Cochran so Dillahunt auditioned for that. He played the recurring role of Jack McCall in season 1. Dillahunt was then considered for the role of George Hearst in season 2 but it was decided that Hearst would not appear on screen until the season finale. Dillahunt played the recurring role of Hearst's employee, Francis Wolcott.

Spoilers
The trivia items below may give away important plot points.
The corset that Alma Garret takes off before sleeping with Bullock for the first time is called the "Merry Widow". Appropriate considering her recently losing her husband.

The series shows Seth Bullock and Sol Star witness Wild Bill Hickok's arrival in Deadwood, however in reality, Wild Bill arrived in Deadwood two weeks prior to Bullock. Bullock arrived in Deadwood on August 1st, 1876, the day before Bill was killed by Jack McCall.

In season two, the actor playing Francis Wolcott, 'Garrett Dilahunt' , also played Jack McCall, the killer of Wild Bill Hickock, in season one. David Milch has a habit of reusing actors.

Anachronisms
Episode 1: A portion of blacktop highway and guard railing is visible behind Hickock's wagon as it descends the hill into Deadwood.

At one point, Starr tells Bullock: "Your fly is down". In 1876, trousers had buttons, not zippers. Bullock's fly would have been "open" or "closed", not "up" or "down".

In one scene set in the Gem Saloon, the tune to "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" is played on the piano. This song was composed in 1912, and the show is set in 1876-77.

Factual errors
The series shows Seth Bullock and Sol Starr witness Wild Bill Hickok's arrival in Deadwood, however in reality, Wild Bill arrived in Deadwood two weeks prior to Bullock. Bullock arrived in Deadwood on 1 August 1876, the day before Bill was killed by Jack McCall.

Filming Locations
Frazier Park, California, USA
Melody Ranch - 24715 Oak Creek Avenue, Newhall, California, USA
San Gabriel River, Azusa, California, USA
Santa Clarita, California, USA

Deadwood is an American western television series that was created,
produced and largely written by David Milch and aired
on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006.
It has spanned three 12-episode seasons.
The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota,
before and after the area's annexation by the Dakota Territory.
The series charts Deadwood's growth from camp to town, incorporating themes
ranging from the formation of communities to western capitalism.
The show features a large ensemble cast, and many historical figures
appear as characters on the show—
such as Seth Bullock, Al Swearengen,
Wild Bill Hickok, Sol Star, Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp,
George Crook, E. B. Farnum, Charlie Utter, Jack McCall and George Hearst.
The plot lines involving these characters include historical truths
as well as substantial fictional elements.
Milch used actual diaries and newspapers from 1870s Deadwood residents
as reference points for characters, events, and the look and feel of the show.
Some of the characters are fully fictional, although they may have been based on actual persons.

Deadwood received wide critical acclaim, particularly for Milch's writing
and Ian McShane's co-lead performance.
It also won eight Emmy Awards (in 28 nominations) and one Golden Globe.

There were initial plans to conclude the series with two special TV movies,
but the plans have not come to fruition.
Several of the stars have since commented that the series is now unlikely to return.
HBO had repeatedly asserted that the two movies could still be made,
but it noted in July 2008 that the possibility of the two TV movies being made was very slim.

The show was produced by Red Board Productions and Roscoe Productions in association
with HBO and Paramount Television (CBS Paramount Television in season 3).

User Review

Quote

One of the best TV dramas I've ever seen
2 November 2004 | by michaelbassett. (UK)

This is a stunning achievement. Performance, writing, direction, casting, design, everything about it is of the highest quality.
It seems so obvious and in your face at first with little in the way of compelling traditional story (ie each episode has a 'plot')
but every layer has another layer beneath and they all build into an amazing portrait of this moment in time.
(real or fictional it makes no difference to me) For all the apparent lawlessness and depravity on display it is about
love and responsibility being forged against the most brutal of times. Ian McShane is a stunning revelation and Timothy Olyphant
is superb as the calm fury at the centre of the storm. Cannot praise it highly enough. Better than Sopranos - and that's saying something.

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