
EXCLUSIVE: Their praised drama Memphis Beat may have faced an untimely demise, but Liz Garcia and Josh Harto‘s time working on the TNT show has given them inspiration for a new series. CBS has put in development The Big Easy, a supernatural mystery series set in New Orleans and centered on the complex life and cases of Jack Lyons, a hard-living trumpet player and paranormal investigator with a dark personal tie to his work. Garcia and Harto will write the project, inspired by their experiences living in the city while producing Memphis Beat, which was filmed there. The Big Easy hails from CBS TV Studios and studio based Timberman-Beverly Prods, with Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly executive producing alongside Garcia and Harto.
This is married writing duo Garcia and Harto’s second sale this broadcast development season, along with restaurant drama Inferno at NBC, which is executive produced by Gordon Ramsay and Scott Stuber and has Smash director Michael Mayer attached to direct. Garcia and Harto, who recently wrapped production on Kristen Bell-starring indie drama The Lifeguard — written and directed by Garcia and produced by Harto — are repped by CAA and Madhouse.
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I wish my husband and I were taking over the world like these 2!! congrats to them – Who doesnt love a spooky New orleans?
From my understanding Memphis Beat was critically ignored. It was a very water down experience. Instead of trying to making it self a relevant crime procedural. It was basically a formula show you could find on CBS.
Right now Justified and South land are the only options for meaty and character driven crime drama.
You are correct. Critics dismissed “Memphis Beat” and this smacks of “Angel Heart.”
Does anyone remember the late 90′s New Orleans based “The Big Easy” that starred Susan Walters (Tyler’s mom on The Vampire Diaries) and Leslie Bibb (GCB and Popular)? The storyline for that show and this new project may not be the same; but it’s fun how things tend to repeat themselves over and over in Hollywood.
Unless they want people to think this is spun off from the Dennis Quaid movie, they might wanna rethink the title.
Congrats Liz. The rest of your frustrated people with envy need to shut it. Stop it with the negativity. Jesus.
“Memphis Beat” was praised? News to me. George is right. It had a whiff of Southern atmosphere but it was only Southern perfume on a body as down the middle and boring as “NCIS.”
Well done and congrats to these 2 hard working, intelligent and creative folks. Looking forward to seeing what comes of all this!