Necessary Roughness (TV series)

Necessary Roughness
Necessary Roughness original intertitle
Genre	Drama
Created by	Liz Kruger Craig Shapiro
Starring	Callie Thorne Marc Blucas Scott Cohen Hannah Marks Patrick Johnson Mehcad Brooks Karissa Lee Staples John Stamos
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	38 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Jeffrey Lieber Liz Kruger Craig Shapiro Kevin Dowling
Producer(s)	Donna Dannenfelser Joe Sabatino
Editor(s)	Briana London
Production company(s)	Still Married Productions Universal Cable Productions Sony Pictures Television
Distributor	NBCUniversal Television Distribution (USA) Sony Pictures Television (non-USA)
Release
Original network	USA Network
Original release	June 29, 2011[1] – August 21, 2013
External links
Official website

Necessary Roughness is a USA Network television series starring Callie Thorne and Scott Cohen that aired from June 29, 2011 to August 21, 2013.^[1][2] The second season premiered on June 6, 2012.^[3] The one-hour drama series was picked up for 12 episodes on January 19, 2011.^[4] On January 7, 2013, USA Network announced the series was renewed for a 10-episode third season,^[5] which began on June 12, 2013.^[6] On November 19, 2013, USA cancelled the series after three seasons.^[7]

Cast and characters

Main cast

• Callie Thorne as Dr. Danielle "Dani" Santino (née Romano^[8]): The protagonist. Dr. Dani Santino is a tough divorcée who, to make ends meet, becomes the therapist for a professional football team and quickly becomes sought after by other athletes, musicians, politicians and those living in the spotlight. Starting season three she works for V3, a major talent agency in NYC, after being fired by new GM/head coach of the New York Hawks.
• Marc Blucas as Matthew "Matt" Donnally (Seasons 1–2): The New York Hawks' athletic trainer, and later general manager, to whom Dani was attracted.
• Scott Cohen as Dominic Eugene^[9] "Nico" Careles: A former Navy SEAL from Pittsburgh, head of security and "fixer" for first the Hawks and then V3.
• Hannah Marks as Lindsay Santino (Seasons 1–2, guest season 3): Dani's rebellious teenage daughter.
• Patrick Johnson as Ray "Ray Jay" Santino Jr. (Seasons 1–2): Dani's teenage son who is an avid fan of T.K., often using him to get things from the Hawk's team that regular fans could not.
• Mehcad Brooks as Terrence "T.K." King: The New Jersey Bobcats' star player, formerly the New York Hawks' star player and Dani's main focus when she was originally hired by the NY Hawks football team.
• Karissa Lee Staples as Paloma Madsen (Season 3): Dani's ambitious new assistant.^[10][11]
• John Stamos as Connor McClane (Season 3): the founder of a sports and entertainment management empire named V3, who employs Dani.^[12]

Recurring cast

• Gregory Alan Williams as Coach Pat Purnell: The former head coach of the New York Hawks, now again TK's coach with the New Jersey Bobcats.
• Andrea Anders as Laura Radcliffe: a high-powered publicist hired by the Hawks to improve T.K.'s public image. She has also had a previous relationship with Matt Donnelly.
• Amanda Detmer as Jeanette Fiero:^[13] Dani's best friend.
• Jason Gedrick as Dr. J. D. Aldridge: Dani’s former grad school professor.^[14]
• Evan Handler as Marshall Pittman: Deceased former owner of the New York Hawks.
• Jaime Lee Kirchner as Vivica Stevens: a reporter that T.K. begins dating, but later is dumped by T.K. after he is shot.
• Concetta Tomei as Angela: Dani's mother, and a gambler.
• Gaius Charles as Damon Razor/Bryce Abbot: An academic football player with a shady past who comes in as a runner-up for T.K. after he is shot.
• Rob Estes as Rob Maroney: T.K.'s agent who helped T.K. on his downward spiral after dealing with being shot.
• Michaela McManus as Noelle Saris: A reporter in behind Terrence King and Damon Razor, searching for Razor's past and threatening a sexual harassment suit on the team and T.K.
• Michael O'Neill as Hank Hooper: A friend of Coach Purnell, and he was appointed by the league to be the Interim GM until the "Pittman situation" was resolved.
• Danielle Panabaker as Juliette Pittman: daughter of Marshall Pittman, briefly owner of the Hawks.
• Travis Smith as Rex Evans: A gay player for the Hawks and Dani's patient, who became friends with T.K. when the star quarterback helped him come out to the team and to the rest of the world.
• David Andrews as Coach Tom Wizinski: the new head coach and GM for the Hawks.
• David Anders as Troy Cutler: Connor's second-in-command at V3.^[15]
• Kate Miner as Sheera Kane, a top model who was dating T.K., looking to start a lingerie line with him, and was briefly engaged to him.
• Nicholas X. Parsons as Stanzi Palmer, a computer hacker hired by V3 to assist Nico in collecting intelligence.
• Autumn Reeser as Abby Bruce, girlfriend of Connor.
• Mario Cimarro as Augusto, Spanish chef who returns incognito to help Dr. Dani surprise Jeanette.
• Ben Winchell as Eric

Episodes

Season	Timeslot (ET)	# Ep.	Premiered		Ended		TV Season	Viewers (in millions)
			Date	Premiere Viewers (in millions)	Date	Finale Viewers (in millions)
1	Wednesday 10:00 pm	12	June 29, 2011	4.67[16]	September 14, 2011	4.01[17]	2011	5.85[18]
2		16	June 6, 2012	3.01[19]	February 20, 2013	1.98[20]	2012–2013	2.50
3		10[5]	June 12, 2013	2.61[21]	August 21, 2013	2.36[22]	2013	2.19

Development and production

The series is based on the true story of a female psychologist Dr. Donna Dannenfelser who worked for the New York Jets.^[4][23] Initially titled Dr. Donna, the show first appeared on the USA Network's development slate in December 2009.^[24] In May 2010, the network placed a cast-contingent pilot order under the new name Necessary Roughness.^[25] Liz Kruger and Craig Shapiro wrote the pilot script, and Kevin Dowling was set to direct the pilot.^[23]

Casting announcements began in mid-September. First to be cast was Callie Thorne, who plays the lead role as Danielle "Dani" Santino.^[26] Next to join the project was Marc Blucas, who was cast as the football team's athletic trainer and a romantic interest for Danielle.^[27] Scott Cohen and Mehcad Brooks came on board in October. Cohen portrays a football team colleague of Dani's,^[28] and Brooks is one of her clients.^[29]

Cast as guest stars^[30] were Amanda Detmer, as Dani's best friend, Jeanette,^[31] and Concetta Tomei, who portrays Dani's mother.^[32] In early November, Craig Bierko was added to the cast as Dani's estranged husband.^[33]

The pilot episode was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia in November and December 2010, with the Georgia Dome being used for exterior and some interior shots of game day scenes.^[34] The network greenlighted the series on January 19, 2011.^[4] The series was renewed for a second season by USA Network on September 15, 2011.^[35] The series was renewed for a third 10-episode season by USA Networks on January 7, 2013 ^[36]

On June 19, 2013, USA Network announced it will debut a webisode series, called TK Gets Real, that will feature Terrance "TK" King (Mehcad Brooks) as he seeks to become a reality star. The web series will last six weeks.^[37] The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Shereé Whitfield will appear in the web series alongside Brooks and new cast member Karissa Lee Staples.^[38]

Awards and accolades

Awards and accolades for Necessary Roughness

Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result
2012	Golden Globe Award[39]	Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series—Drama	Callie Thorne	Nominated
2013	Young Artist Awards[40]	Best Performance in a TV Series - Leading Young Actor	Patrick Johnson	Nominated

International broadcasts

•  Bangladesh: Star World
•  Belgium: RTBF
•  Brazil: Lifetime^[41]
•  Bulgaria: bTV Lady
•  Denmark: TV3 Puls (as Terapi på første klasse)^[42]
•  Finland: YLE TV2 (as Unelmien kohlimat)
•  France: Gulli (as La diva du divan)^[43]
•  Germany: sixx (as Dr. Dani Santino - Spiel des Lebens^[44])
•  Hungary: Super TV2 (as Doktor D)
•  Iceland: SkjárEinn
•  India: Star World
•  Israel: HOT3
•  Italy: Fox Life (as "Terapia d'urto")^[45]
•  Malaysia: beTV
• Middle East: OSN First
•  Netherlands: RTL Lounge
•  New Zealand: TV2
•  Norway: TV3
•  Russia: SET
•  Slovenia: POP TV
•  Spain: Cosmopolitan TV (as "Terapia de Choque") ^[46]
•  Sweden: TV3
•   Switzerland: RTS (as "La diva du divan")
•  Taiwan: AXN
•  Thailand: SET
•  Turkey: Dizimax Drama

References

1. "Exclusive: More USA Summer Premieres: "Burn Notice," "Suits" on Thursday, June 23; "Royal Pains," "Necessary Roughness" on Wednesday, June 29". The Futon Critic. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
2. Levine, Stuart (January 19, 2011). "USA expands slate with two new series". Variety. Archived from the original on January 23, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
3. "Shows A-Z – necessary roughness on usa". The Futon Critic. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
4. Gorman, Bill (January 19, 2011). "USA Orders Two New Series: 'A Legal Mind,' & 'Necessary Roughness'". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
5. Seat42f. "USA Network Renews Necessary Roughness For A Third Season". Retrieved 7 January 2013.
6. Ross, Robyn (April 3, 2013). "USA Announces Summer Premiere Dates". TV Guide. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
7. Andreeva, Nellie (November 19, 2013). "USA’s ‘Necessary Roughness’ Cancelled". Deadline. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
8. "Dream On". Necessary Roughness. Season 1. Episode 6. August 3, 2011. USA Network.
9. full name revealed in episode "Sympathy For The Devil"
10. Goldberg, Lesley (March 27, 2013). "'Necessary Roughness' Adds Assistant for Callie Thorne". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
11. "Sucker Punch". Necessary Roughness. Season 3. Episode 9. August 14, 2013. c. 31 minutes in. USA Network. Paloma's family name is on the check which Connor McClane holds.
12. Nededog, Jethro (June 12, 2013). "USA's 'Necessary Roughness' Producers Explain Necessary Changes on Season 3". The Wrap. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
13. episode "Losing Your Swing"
14. Masters, Meg (August 3, 2011). "Exclusive: Necessary Roughness Doc Scores a Date With Housewives Homewrecker". TVLine. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
15. http://www.tvguide.com/News/David-Anders-Necessary-Roughness-1063053.aspx
16. Seidman, Robert (June 30, 2011). "Cable Ratings: 'Royal Pains' 'Necessary Roughness' Top Wednesday Cable + 'Franklin & Bash,' Not So Raven? & Much More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
17. Gorman, Bill (September 15, 2011). "Wednesday Cable: 'Storage Wars' Tops; 'Necessary Roughness,' 'Melissa & Joey' Finales; 'Operation Repo' Premiere & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
18. Gorman, Bill (September 15, 2011). "'Covert Affairs,' 'Royal Pains,' 'Necessary Roughness' Renewed By USA". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
19. Kondolojy, Amanda (June 7, 2012). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Spurs/Thunder' Leads 'CMT Music Awards' + NHL Stanley Cup, 'Royal Pains', 'Necessary Roughness' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
20. Bibel, Sara (February 21, 2013). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: NBA Basketball Wins Night, 'The Americans', 'Top Chef', 'Workaholics', 'Necessary Roughness', 'Southland' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
21. Bibel, Sara (June 13, 2013). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Royal Pains' Wins Night, 'Necessary Roughness', 'Real World', 'Only In America', 'Mythbusters' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
22. Kondolojy, Amanda (August 22, 2013). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Duck Dynasty' Dominates + 'Modern Dads', 'Deal With It', 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
23. Andreeva, Nellie (September 20, 2010). "USA And Lifetime Pilots Find Their Leads". Deadline.com. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
24. "Development Update: Thursday, December 17". The Futon Critic. December 17, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
25. "Development Update: Monday, May 17". The Futon Critic. May 17, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
26. Ausiello, Michael (September 20, 2010). "Scoop: 'Rescue Me' star Callie Thorne to headline USA pilot 'Necessary Roughness'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
27. Ausiello, Michael (September 24, 2010). "Exclusive: 'Buffy' alum Marc Blucas suits up for 'Necessary Roughness'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
28. Andreeva, Nellie (October 6, 2010). "TV Castings: Scott Cohen Boards USA Pilot & Sara Rue Joins 'Rules Of Engagement'". Deadline.com. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
29. Andreeva, Nellie (October 28, 2010). "Pilot Castings: Mehcad Brooks Joins USA's 'Roughness', Trio Added To Lifetime's 'Wall'". Deadline.com. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
30. Seidman, Robert (November 3, 2010). "USA Network Greenlights The Pilot Production of Three New Originals: 'Eden,' 'Wild Card' and 'Over/Under'". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
31. Wightman, Catriona (October 21, 2010). "Amanda Detmer joins new USA pilot". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
32. Mitovich, Matt Webb (October 21, 2010). "USA Network’s Shrink Series Adds ‘What About Brian’ Beauty". Fancast. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
33. Stanhope, Kate (November 4, 2010). "Exclusive: Craig Bierko Joins USA Network's Necessary Roughness". TV Guide. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
34. Ho, Rodney (October 25, 2010). "USA Network casting call for athletes and coaches for TV drama pilot ‘Necessary Roughness’ Nov. 4". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
35. Gelman, Vlada (15 September 2011). "Breaking: USA Renews Covert Affairs, Royal Pains and Necessary Roughness". TVLine. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
36. "‘Necessary Roughness’ Renewed by USA for Season Three - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
37. Kondolojy, Amanda (June 19, 2013). "USA Network Launches 'Necessary Roughness' Webisode Series". TV by the Numbers. USA press release. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
38. Reiher, Andrea (June 19, 2013). "Bravo's Sheree Whitfield helps as 'TK Gets Real' on 'Necessary Roughness'". Zap2it. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
39. "Callie Thorne". Official Website of the Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
40. "34th Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
41. "Necessary Roughness". Canal Lifetime Brasil. August 26, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014 – via YouTube.
42. Archived June 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
43. "La diva du divan - Gulli". Gulli.fr. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
44. Bernd Michael Krannich (2011-12-02). "Necessary Roughness: Deutschlandpremiere bei Sixx im Januar". Serienjunkies.de. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
45. "Terapia d'urto - FOXLife | solo su SKY canale 114". Foxlife.it. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
46. "Terapia de Choque - Cosmo TV". cosmopolitantv.es. Retrieved 2012-02-28.

External links

• Official website
• Necessary Roughness at the Internet Movie Database
• Necessary Roughness at TV.com