Wild Card (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Wild Card is an American comedy-drama
series starring Joely Fisher
. It was broadcast in the United States
on Lifetime
, and on the Global Television Network
in Canada
from August 2003 to July 2005.
blackjack dealer whose life takes an unexpected turn when her sister dies in a car accident and she has to take care of her sister's three children, teenaged Taylor (played by Vikki Krinsky), preteen Cliff (played by Jamie Johnston), and little kid Hannah (played by Aislinn Paul). When the insurance company denies the family a financial settlement Zoe takes matters into her own hands, which leads her to a new career as an insurance fraud investigator with handsome former criminal Dan Lennox (played by Chris Potter) and serious but sweet Sophia Mason (played by Rae Dawn Chong) becoming her partners.
Each episode is centered on a particular case as well as Zoe's family life.
Sophia later becomes the boss. She leaves the show in the second season, along with Marcos (played by Bronson Picket), and is replaced by M. Pearl McGuire (played by Loretta Devine), who becomes Zoe's and Dan's sassy new boss.
), was created and executive produced by Lynn Marie Latham
and Bernard Lechowick
. The theme song for the first season is performed by Amy Sky
, while the theme song for the second season, "I Believe In Me," is performed by Cherie
.
. Latham and Lechowick were fired as showrunners by the end of the first season, replaced by Doug Steinberg (formerly a consultant on Dawson's Creek
).
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
series starring Joely Fisher
Joely Fisher
Joely Fisher is an American actress best known for her work on television as Paige Clark on Ellen as well as Joy Stark in the Fox sitcom Til Death, and also on stage and in films.-Background:...
. It was broadcast in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on Lifetime
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
, and on the Global Television Network
Global Television Network
Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from August 2003 to July 2005.
Synopsis
Zoe Busiek (played by Fisher) is a former Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
blackjack dealer whose life takes an unexpected turn when her sister dies in a car accident and she has to take care of her sister's three children, teenaged Taylor (played by Vikki Krinsky), preteen Cliff (played by Jamie Johnston), and little kid Hannah (played by Aislinn Paul). When the insurance company denies the family a financial settlement Zoe takes matters into her own hands, which leads her to a new career as an insurance fraud investigator with handsome former criminal Dan Lennox (played by Chris Potter) and serious but sweet Sophia Mason (played by Rae Dawn Chong) becoming her partners.
Each episode is centered on a particular case as well as Zoe's family life.
Sophia later becomes the boss. She leaves the show in the second season, along with Marcos (played by Bronson Picket), and is replaced by M. Pearl McGuire (played by Loretta Devine), who becomes Zoe's and Dan's sassy new boss.
Cast
- Joely FisherJoely FisherJoely Fisher is an American actress best known for her work on television as Paige Clark on Ellen as well as Joy Stark in the Fox sitcom Til Death, and also on stage and in films.-Background:...
- Zoe Busiek - Chris PotterChris Potter (actor)Christopher Jay "Chris" Potter is a Canadian actor, musician and pitchman. He is primarily known for his roles on soap operas and prime-time television. Potter is known for his roles as Peter Caine, on the popular 1990s crime drama, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Dr...
- Dan Lennox - Rae Dawn ChongRae Dawn ChongRae Dawn Chong is a Canadian-American actress.-Life and career:Chong was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the daughter of Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong. She and her sister Robbi were raised by her grandmother, Tommy Chong's mother. Chong's father is of Chinese and Scottish-Irish ancestry and her...
- Sophia Mason (season 1) - Bronson Picket - Marcos Morales (season 1)
- Loretta DevineLoretta DevineLoretta Devine is an American stage, film and television actress known for her roles on Boston Public, Grey's Anatomy, and Eli Stone. She also provided her voice for the stop motion animated television series The PJs. Devine is a NAACP Image Award and Emmy award winning actress.-Early life:Devine...
- M. (Matilda) Pearl McGuire (season 2) - Jamie JohnstonJamie JohnstonJames "Jamie" Johnston is a Canadian actor and singer-songwriter. He is best known for his role as Peter Stone on Degrassi: The Next Generation.-Personal life and career:...
- Clifford "Cliff" Woodall - Vikki Krinsky - Taylor Woodall
- Aislinn PaulAislinn PaulAislinn Paul is a Canadian actress, best known for her role in Degrassi: The Next Generation as Clare Edwards, the younger sister of Darcy Edwards.-Career:...
- Hannah Woodall
Regular guests
- Corey SevierCorey SevierCorey Daniel Sevier is a Canadian actor. He is perhaps best known for his role on the Fox television series North Shore as Gabriel McKay or as Timmy Cabot on the television series Lassie from the late 1990s.-Life and career:...
- Julian (10 episodes) - Yani GellmanYani GellmanYani Gellman is an American film and television actor.Gellman was born in Miami, Florida to a Canadian father and an Australian mother; he was named after a family friend, writer Jan Joors...
- Ryder (8 episodes) - Joe PingueJoe PingueJoe Pingue is a Canadian actor.His film credits include The Boondock Saints, Pushing Tin, Repo Men, The Book of Eli and Knockaround Guys....
- Leo Lombardi (13 episodes)
Production notes
The series, which is set in Chicago, Illinois (filmed in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
), was created and executive produced by Lynn Marie Latham
Lynn Marie Latham
Lynn Marie Latham is an Emmy Award-winning television writer and producer. Her initial foray into writing for television was as a story editor for the short-lived series Berrenger's in 1985...
and Bernard Lechowick
Bernard Lechowick
Bernard Lechowick is an American television writer and producer. He grew up in Mentor, Ohio and is a father of two sons, Richard Latham Lechowick and Vincent Latham Lechowick. Lechowick graduated from the University of Notre Dame...
. The theme song for the first season is performed by Amy Sky
Amy Sky
Amy Sky is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer, theatre actress, and television host. Sky started classical music lessons at the age of five , and plays piano, guitar, cello and recorder....
, while the theme song for the second season, "I Believe In Me," is performed by Cherie
Cherie
Cherie is a French pop and dance music singer whose 2004 hit "I'm Ready" hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.- Singles :*I'm Ready*Older Than My Years *Betcha Never-See also:...
.
Main crew
Lynn Marie Latham, Bernard Lechowick, Linda Gase, and Thania St. JohnThania St. John
Thania Papas St. John is an American television producer and writer.For much of her career she has written and produced for number of notable television series...
. Latham and Lechowick were fired as showrunners by the end of the first season, replaced by Doug Steinberg (formerly a consultant on Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series which debuted on January 20, 1998, on The WB Television Network and was produced by Sony Pictures Television. The show is set in the fictional seaside town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and in Boston, Massachusetts, during the later seasons...
).
Season One
| Episode Number | Episode Title | Original Airdate | # |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot | August 2, 2003 | 1 |
| 2 | "The Learning Curve" | August 9, 2003 | 2 |
| 3 | "Con Artistry" | August 16, 2003 | 3 |
| 4 | "Hell Week" | August 23, 2003 | 4 |
| 5 | "Dearly Beloved" | September 6, 2003 | 5 |
| 6 | "Dead Again" | September 13, 2003 | 6 |
| 7 | "The Cheese Stands Alone" | September 27, 2003 | 7 |
| 8 | "No Bull" | October 4, 2003 | 8 |
| 9 | "Mimi's Assetts" | October 18, 2003 | 9 |
| 10 | "Spooked" | October 25, 2003 | 10 |
| 11 | "Sand Trap" | November 8, 2003 | 11 |
| 12 | "Black Sheep" | November 15, 2003 | 12 |
| 13 | "Bullet Proof" | December 6, 2003 | 13 |
| 14 | "Backstabbed" | December 13, 2003 | 14 |
| 15 | "Auntie Venom" | January 3, 2004 | 15 |
| 16 | "Block Party" | January 10, 2004 | 16 |
| 17 | "Candy Land" | January 17, 2004 | 17 |
| 18 | "Queen Bea" | January 24, 2004 | 18 |
Season Two
| Episode Number | Episode Title | Original Airdate | # |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A Felony for Melanie" | July 11, 2004 | 19 |
| 2 | "Dr. Sidney Loses a Kidney" | July 18, 2004 | 20 |
| 3 | "Sniper Shot, Intern Hot" | July 25, 2004 | 21 |
| 4 | "Roses Are Red, Violets Are Busiek" | August 1, 2004 | 22 |
| 5 | "Bound and Gagged, Your Husband Was Snagged" | August 8, 2004 | 23 |
| 6 | "Wham Bam, Thank You Dan" | August 15, 2004 | 24 |
| 7 | "Slam Dunk Funk" | August 22, 2004 | 25 |
| 8 | "Die, Die, Who Am I?" | September 26, 2004 | 26 |
| 9 | "Premonition Mission" | October 3, 2004 | 27 |
| 10 | "Bada Bing, Bada Busiek" | October 10, 2004 | 28 |
| 11 | "Tick Tock, Writer's Block" | October 17, 2004 | 29 |
| 12 | "Blind in a Bind" | October 24, 2004 | 30 |
| 13 | "Russian Missus Gets No Kisses" | June 11, 2005 | 31 |
| 14 | "See Ya Later, Investigator!" | June 18, 2005 | 32 |
| 15 | "A Whisper from Zoe's Sister" | June 25, 2005 | 33 |
| 16 | "Multiple Personality Fatality" | July 2, 2005 | 34 |
| 17 | "My Boyfriend Is an Axe Murderer" | July 9, 2005 | 35 |
| 18 | "Zoe's Phony Matrimony" | July 16, 2005 | 36 |