Mr. Sunshine (2010 TV series)
Encyclopedia
Mr. Sunshine is an American television sitcom that ran from February 7, 2011, to April 6, 2011, as a midseason replacement
. The single-camera
comedy was co-created by Matthew Perry
, who also starred in the series. ABC
canceled the series on May 13, 2011.
).
A green light to produce the pilot came from ABC in early January 2010. Thomas Schlamme, of Shoe Money Productions, was chosen to direct the half-hour pilot. Perry, Schlamme, and co-writers Barnow and Firek were all listed as executive producers for the pilot, along with Jamie Tarses
of FanFare Productions.
Casting began in late January, with Allison Janney
as the first actor added to the cast as Ben's boss. In February, Andrea Anders
was tapped as Ben's "friend with benefits", and Nate Torrence
brought on board to play Roman, the son of Ben's boss. The casting of Portia Doubleday
as Ben's assistant, and James Lesure
as an ex-basketball star, was announced at the end of April.
In May 2010, ABC picked up the pilot for the 2010–2011 television season.
On May 13, 2011, ABC announced that it had canceled Mr. Sunshine.
Midseason replacement
In American and Canadian television, a midseason replacement is a television series that premieres in the second half of the traditional television season, usually between January and May...
. The single-camera
Single-camera setup
The single-camera setup, or single-camera mode of production, is a method of filmmaking and video production. A single camera—either motion picture camera or professional video camera—is employed on the set and each shot to make up a scene is taken individually...
comedy was co-created by Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry is Canadian-American television and film actor.Matthew Perry or Matt Perry may also refer to:*Matthew C. Perry , American naval officer who forcibly opened Japan to trade with the West...
, who also starred in the series. ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
canceled the series on May 13, 2011.
Premise
Ben Donovan (Perry) is the operations manager for the Sunshine Center, a second-tier arena in San Diego, who has to deal with the unusual demands of his job and his unpredictable boss (Allison JanneyAllison Janney
Allison Brooks Janney is an American actress, best known for her role as C.J. Cregg on the television series The West Wing.- Personal life :...
).
Cast and characters
- Matthew PerryMatthew PerryMatthew Perry is Canadian-American television and film actor.Matthew Perry or Matt Perry may also refer to:*Matthew C. Perry , American naval officer who forcibly opened Japan to trade with the West...
as Ben Donovan – manager of the Sunshine Center. - Allison JanneyAllison JanneyAllison Brooks Janney is an American actress, best known for her role as C.J. Cregg on the television series The West Wing.- Personal life :...
as Crystal Cohen – Ben's unpredictable boss. - Andrea AndersAndrea AndersAndrea Anders is an American actress, known for her roles as Alex Garrett on the NBC sitcom Joey, Nicole Allen on the CBS sitcom The Class, and Linda Zwordling on the ABC sitcom Better Off Ted. She was most recently seen as Alice on the ABC sitcom Mr...
as Alice – Ben's former "friends with benefits" now dating Alonzo. - James LesureJames LesureJames Lesure is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Mike Cannon on the NBC comedy-drama Las Vegas, and as Mel Ellis on the NBC/WB sitcom For Your Love. He also starred as basketball star Alonzo Pope on the ABC series Mr. Sunshine, a 2010-11 midseason replacement with Matthew...
as Alonzo Pope – former NBA star, Ben's happy-go-lucky co-worker and Alice's boyfriend. - Nate TorrenceNate TorrenceNathan Andrew "Nate" Torrence is an American comedic actor known for his numerous roles in television advertisements.- Childhood and education:...
as Roman Cohen – Crystal's lovable but weird son. He has a crush on Heather. - Portia DoubledayPortia DoubledayPortia Doubleday is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the 2009 film Youth in Revolt as Sheeni Saunders and in the 2011 film Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son as Jasmine.-Life and career:...
as Heather – Ben's assistant, who everyone believes is crazy.
Development and production
Mr. Sunshine is based on a concept by Matthew Perry, who planned to co-write, star in, and executive produce. The project sparked a bidding war among the networks, with ABC landing the comedy in October 2009. The deal came with hefty penalties if the pilot did not make it to series. Perry teamed with Sony writers Alex Barnow and Marc Firek to pen the script.A green light to produce the pilot came from ABC in early January 2010. Thomas Schlamme, of Shoe Money Productions, was chosen to direct the half-hour pilot. Perry, Schlamme, and co-writers Barnow and Firek were all listed as executive producers for the pilot, along with Jamie Tarses
Jamie Tarses
Jamie Tarses was head of ABC's entertainment division from 1996 to 1999, the first woman and one of the youngest people to hold such a post in an American broadcast network...
of FanFare Productions.
Casting began in late January, with Allison Janney
Allison Janney
Allison Brooks Janney is an American actress, best known for her role as C.J. Cregg on the television series The West Wing.- Personal life :...
as the first actor added to the cast as Ben's boss. In February, Andrea Anders
Andrea Anders
Andrea Anders is an American actress, known for her roles as Alex Garrett on the NBC sitcom Joey, Nicole Allen on the CBS sitcom The Class, and Linda Zwordling on the ABC sitcom Better Off Ted. She was most recently seen as Alice on the ABC sitcom Mr...
was tapped as Ben's "friend with benefits", and Nate Torrence
Nate Torrence
Nathan Andrew "Nate" Torrence is an American comedic actor known for his numerous roles in television advertisements.- Childhood and education:...
brought on board to play Roman, the son of Ben's boss. The casting of Portia Doubleday
Portia Doubleday
Portia Doubleday is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the 2009 film Youth in Revolt as Sheeni Saunders and in the 2011 film Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son as Jasmine.-Life and career:...
as Ben's assistant, and James Lesure
James Lesure
James Lesure is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Mike Cannon on the NBC comedy-drama Las Vegas, and as Mel Ellis on the NBC/WB sitcom For Your Love. He also starred as basketball star Alonzo Pope on the ABC series Mr. Sunshine, a 2010-11 midseason replacement with Matthew...
as an ex-basketball star, was announced at the end of April.
In May 2010, ABC picked up the pilot for the 2010–2011 television season.
On May 13, 2011, ABC announced that it had canceled Mr. Sunshine.