USA Upfront 2011: A Night Full of Characters
May 4, 2011 by Bilal Mian
Filed under feature overlay, Television
The stage was set Monday night in New York City for USA Network’s 2011 Upfront. Executives decided to take the back seat, allowing the network’s stars the opportunity to display why the “Character’s Welcome” motto makes USA the number one rated cable channel.
Kicking off the night, White Collar stars Matt Bomer and Tim Dekay took the stage handcuffed to one another and promised no demographic talk, no sales pitches, and no network executives. It was pretty clear, tonight was all about the shows. Also taking the stage were Dule Hill and James Roday of Psych, Jeffrey Donovan of Burn Notice, Mark Feuerstein of Royal Pains, Sarah Shahi of Fairly Legal, Sendhil Ramamurthy and Piper Perabo of Covert Affairs. The night came to an end with a live performance from Janelle Monae.
In terms of news, Sarah Shahi officially announced the pickup of Fairly Legal for a second season, but not much was said about next season for returning shows during the on-stage presentation. Instead attendees received the opportunity to view trailers for new upcoming series Necessary Roughness, Suits, Eden, and Common Law.
Necessary Roughness follows Callie Thorn as she plays Danielle Santino, the therapist for the fictional football team, The New York Hawks; Suits is about a lawyer drama about Mike Ross, a college drop-out hired by a law firm to be their new associate; Eden is about a concierge working in the high-end hotel world; and Common Law is a buddy-cop drama where the partners can’t stand one another.
Overall it seems fans of USA Network can expect their favorite shows to continue doing what they do best. With the addition of four new shows this summer and a schedule packed full of dynamic characters, it seems pretty unlikely the network will lose their number one spot.
Want some more? Check out some red carpet interviews with USA stars here.
Photos by Editor Bilal Mian, Poptimal LLC, and the USA Network.
Pictures
2011 USA Network Upfront
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Our Editor Bilal Mian hanging out with White Collar star Matt Bomer
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White Collar's Straight-Laced FBI Agent Tim DeKay
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Necessary Roughness Star Marc Blucas (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, They)
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Covert Affairs Star Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes)
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Tough Enough Host Stone Cold Steve Austin (WWE, The Expendables)
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Tim Dekay (White Collar) hamming it up for Poptimal.com's cameras at the USA Network Upfront
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The always suave Dule Hill (Psych)
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The multi-talented Sarah Shahi (Fairly Legal) talking with Poptimal.com at the USA Network Upfront
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The sexy Sarah Shahi (Fairly Legal) working her dress and posing for Bilal Mian on the Red Carpet at USA Network's Upfront
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The beautiful and super talented Marsha Thomason (White Collar)
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Newcomer Baron Vaughn (Fairly Legal)
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Seasoned Actress Callie Thorne (Rescue Me, The Wire) discusses her new show Necessary Roughness with Poptimal.com
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Rugged hottie Mehcad Brooks (True Blood, The Game) is all smiles about his new show Necessary Roughness at the USA Network Upfront
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Callie Thorne (Necessary Roughness) showing off on the Red Carpet at the USA Upfront
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Psych love interest and Scooby gang gumshoe Maggie Lawson (Party of Five) poses for Poptimal.com at the USA Network Upfront
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Covert Affairs co-star Anne Dudek (Mad Men, Big Love)
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Psych fan favorite Timothy Omundson (Jericho, Judgin Amy) in a Clooney-esque pose at the USA Network Upfront
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Law & Order Criminal Intent's Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe at USA Network's Upfront
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Law & Order: Criminal Intent's beautiful Kathryn Erbe on the Red Carpet at USA Network's Upfront
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Covert Affairs co-star Christopher Gorham (Ugly Betty, Harper's Island) at USA Network's Upfront. He's is definitely easy on the eyes ladies
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The iconic Peter Gallagher (Covert Affairs, The O.C. Californication) poses for Poptimal.com at the USA Network Upfront
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The resilient Tiffani Thiessen (Saved By The Bell, Beverly Hills 90210) telling Poptimal.com about the next season of White Collar at the USA Network Upfront
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"B" movie icon and co-star of Burn Notice Bruce Campbell keeps the evening light above Tiffani Thiessen's head
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Royal Pains star Mark Feuerstein (West Wing) at the USA Network Upfront
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Fairly Legal's dashingly handsome co-star Michael Trucco (Battlestar Galactica) on the Red Carpet of the USA Network Upfront. Definitely Frackable ladies.
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Necessary Roughness co-star Scott Cohen (Love and Other Drugs)
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White Collar's dream team Tim Dekay and Matt Bomer
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haiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
it’s funny but the part about trailers of eden, common law pilots being shown to the public when there is no anouncement for a pickup as a series for any of two… please USA bring back acker, copola and ealy… please!
Bilal Mian is an assbag.
I hope and pray he gets cancer.