SOCAL DRAMEDY
Dud (Wyatt Russell, “Folk Hero & Funny Guy,” 2016) enjoys his time at the lodge in a new episode of “Lodge 49,” airing Monday.
As television continues to evolve, some series seem to defy and transcend genres, mixing elements of comedy and drama in the same hour — sometimes even within the same scene. One cable giant has had great success mixing dark humour with serious issues, and it’s about to introduce viewers to a whole new world.
In Long Beach, Calif., former surfer Sean “Dud” Dudley (Wyatt Russell, “Folk Hero & Funny Guy,” 2016) has been floundering in the wake of his father’s mysterious death a year ago. However, the discovery of a ring on the beach leads him to join a fraternal lodge full of aging — and perhaps equally aimless — members in “Lodge 49,” airing Monday, Aug. 13, on AMC. Created by author Jim Gavin (“Middle Men”), the comedydrama hybrid has been in the works since 2016, when AMC gave it a 10-episode straight-to-series order.
Despite his struggles, Dud is generally optimistic, unlike his twin sister, Liz (Sonya Cassidy, “Humans”). In contrast to Dud’s happy-go-lucky slacker existence, his sister has been forced to grapple with the consequences of her crushing financial situation. Once a promising paralegal, she’s been working at a Hooters-style restaurant since she was seemingly duped into co-signing her father’s loans shortly before the family business went belly up. While she mostly keeps it together, Liz can sometimes lose it under the pressure of modern life.
Their tragic loss and precarious financial situation makes the Dudley twins relatable for many, and “Lodge 49” executive producer Jeff Freilich (“Halt and Catch Fire”) is confident that viewers will connect with the characters.
“Each of the characters in this show are so well defined and so real that I know all of them,” Freilich said in a promo for the new series.
The show also stars Brent Jennings (“Moneyball,” 2011) as lodge member Ernie Fontaine, a plumbing salesman who befriends Dud and welcomes him into a world of cheap beer and easy camaraderie at Lodge 49, also known as the Ancient and Benevolent Order of the Lynx. A “Luminous Knight” of the order, Fontaine quickly bonds with the younger Dud, who believes the lodge is just what he needs to set him on the right path.
While Liz is skeptical of her brother’s new venture, Dud is steadfast in his commitment to his new friends, especially Ernie — the friendship between the two men is at the heart of the unique series.
“In Dud, [Ernie’s] own flame is rekindled,” Freilich explained. “These two kind of damaged people come together and unite to reinvent themselves.”
At times funny, sad and even absurd, “Lodge 49” requires a versatile cast, and the show’s stars fit the bill. Russell comes from a famous Hollywood family, but his focus hasn’t always been acting. The son of superstars Goldie Hawn (“Private Benjamin,” 1980) and Kurt Russell (“Escape from New York,” 1981) worked his way up through the entertainment industry after an injury halted his burgeoning hockey career. He appeared in such films as “Escape from L.A.” (1996), “This Is 40” (2012) and “22 Jump Street” (2014). He also co-starred in the indie film “Folk Hero & Funny Guy” (2016), and has appeared in the acclaimed British anthology series “Black Mirror.”
English actress Cassidy rose to fame as scheming shop assistant Clara in the BBC period drama “The Paradise” in 2012 and 2013. British television audiences also watched her in the police detective series “Vera” and the hit Channel 4 science fiction series “Humans.” She appeared as the Oracle in the Canadian/British fantasy show “Olympus,” and hit the big screen in the 2015 spy thriller “Survivor.”
Jennings has film and television credits dating back to the 1980s. Movie fans may recognize him from his role as Oakland Athletics coach Ron Washington in the 2011 Academy Award-nominated sports film “Moneyball.” His other film work includes roles in “Witness” (1985), “Red Heat” (1988) and “Another 48 Hours” (1990). He’s also appeared in literally dozens of television programs, ranging from the original “Miami Vice” and “Hill Street Blues” to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Medium.”