Human Target is a fun, intelligent and wonderfully compelling series that begins season two on Fox on Wednesday, November 17 at 8. In Canada, the show is on CTV beginning Sunday November 21 at 7pm. There are a lot of things to recommend the show, based on the DC comic book series, including Mark Valley, Jackie Earle Haley and the great Chi McBride.
It's also a fun set to be on and Human Target has the hard-working and experienced crew every successful series needs. The scripts don't just shoot well they're also an interesting read, not easy for a script to achieve, or at least the one I read was. Now the reason I managed that, to read a script, and know a little extra about Human Target is from having acted on the show.
Human Target Shopkeeper in Episode 11: Victoria
I spent a 12-hour day on Human Target last February playing a shopkeeper in the 11th of 12 episodes in their inaugural season. I've played a few shopkeepers in my day, as well as cab drivers, homeless guys, janitors, henchmen and, yes, even mental patients (TV scripts care little for political correctness); playing this shopkeeper was particularly enjoyable.
They're not the characters, shopkeepers or homeless people etc. aren't, that TV shows usually have back so more often you just have a day or two to work before your character is gone, sometimes killed but more often just gone. It can be hard finding status for a brief period amidst people who work long days together for months or years but when the set is relaxed and the regular players and producers friendly, as on Human Target, it's easy.
On Being a Day Player Actor in TV and Film
In the past year or more I've found that often the regular actors on TV Shows fiddle about on laptops between shots and you don't say much to them anymore other than 'hello' and of course your lines. On Human Target I spent much of the time I wasn't on camera talking with Mark Valley, who I had a scene with along with guest star Christina Cole.
Mark and I and Target producer Stephen Scaia talked about Vancouver, Boston, hockey, L.A., the then-upcoming Olympics, acting and kids. Being a veteran at being a 'day player' actor I've been on dozens of shows shot in Vancouver so I also talked with various crew members about shows we may worked on together years before. Bottom line is you gotta do a good job on set no matter the atmosphere but it's easier when you have positive contact with cast and crew.
Human Target Season Two Picks Up From Season One
This season the show has added Indira Varma and fiesty Brit Janet Montgomery. From the clips I saw it picks up nicely from where it left off in terms of story-line and action - McBride said they've "ratcheted up" the action a level - and the show continues to deliver the kind of dead-pan humor it's known for. They're funny people, these actors, Verma and Montgomery included, and funny people play funny. That the show doesn't take itself too seriously makes it more appealing.
Let this serve more as a recapitulation as to how last season ended than a giving away of anything: the second season has to begin by resolving the cliffhanger we were left with at the end of season one. It's not giving plot away to report that Chance and Guerrero will be giving it their all to rescue the kidnapped Winston, whose very life hangs in the balance. And there are those new characters to fold into the plot.
Human Target one of Stronger Shows on Fox Network
Now the online chat suggests the series is one of the more anticipated Fox's series for this new season and, unless they need the same shopkeeper again, I'll be watching and not partaking at all this season. But watch I will as this is one of the fastest moving TV hours this side of 24 Hours.
Judging by comments on the show's website it's also rated high by viewers. "This is the one show I will not miss, either online or live," writes a viewer signing himself as Kawboy. "It's a show that has entertained the whole family and I don't have to tell my kids to go to bed because they can't watch this or that scene. Too bad the season is so short."
And, I might add, too bad the season won't require a certain shopkeeper again.
Sources:
Fox/Human Target Website.
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