"The Black Donnellys" (2007) TV series

User Rating:

8.8/10   

Creators:

Paul Haggis
Robert Moresco

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Genre:

Crime

Tagline:

Family Above All.

Plot:

Four young Irish brothers are caught up in New York's underworld of organized crime.

Plot Keywords:

Organized Crime | Irish American | Moral Corruption | Murder | Gangster

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Michael Stahl-David	...	Sean Donnelly (14 episodes, 2007)
Jonathan Tucker	...	Tommy Donnelly (14 episodes, 2007)
Tom Guiry	...	Jimmy Donnelly (14 episodes, 2007)
Olivia Wilde	...	Jenny Reilly (14 episodes, 2007)
Billy Lush	...	Kevin Donnelly (14 episodes, 2007)
Kirk Acevedo	...	Nicky Cottero (14 episodes, 2007)
Keith Nobbs	...	Joey Ice Cream (14 episodes, 2007)
Patrick Brennan	...	Earl (13 episodes, 2007)
Peter Greene	...	Derek 'Dokey' Farrell (13 episodes, 2007)
Brian Tarantina	...	Vinnie Culiari (12 episodes, 2007)
Betsy Beutler	...	Joanie (12 episodes, 2007)
Kevin Conway	...	Jenny's Pop / ... (10 episodes, 2007)
Max Miner	...	Young Tommy / ... (9 episodes, 2007)
Kate Mulgrew	...	Helen Donnelly / ... (9 episodes, 2007)
Jimmy Walsh	...	Young Jimmy / ... (8 episodes, 2007)
Kevin Corrigan	...	Whitey (6 episodes, 2007)
James Badge Dale	...	Samson (6 episodes, 2007)
Michael Rispoli	...	Alo / ... (6 episodes, 2007)
John Bolger	...	Bobby Donnelly (6 episodes, 2007)
Nick Damici	...	Ray / ... (6 episodes, 2007)
T.J. Stanton	...	Young Kevin / ... (6 episodes, 2007)
Molly Schaffer	...	Kate Farrell (6 episodes, 2007)
Jamie Bonelli	...	Nadine (6 episodes, 2007)

Also Known As:

"The Truth According to Joey Ice Cream" (USA) (working title)
"Los hermanos Donnelly" (Spain) [es]

Certification:

Australia:MA | Hungary:16

Filming Locations:

Washington Square Park, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

The episode called "God Is A Comedian" was originally slated to be the 3rd episode to air, but NBC decided to make it an on line-only episode because the content was too violent and graphic for network television. It is currently viewable, only in the USA, on the official Black Donnellys website as well as through i Tunes.

Quotes:

Tommy Donnelly: We're gonna need some Scotch and a lot of it. But we're not gonna be able to pay for it just yet.
Liquor Store Owner: Get outta here.
Tommy Donnelly: I think you're gonna wanna give it to us.
Liquor Store Owner: Oh yeah? And why's that?
Tommy Donnelly: Because your daughter has a crush on Kevin. He's gonna date her if you don't.
Liquor Store Owner: [face drops]

Make No Mistake - The Black Donnelly's Should STAY.

It's early to say this but judging by the first two episodes this show is going to be something special. I love this show. Now, granted I was at first interested in it because the main characters are Irish, as I am. But this show is about so much more than just being Irish, or even just the mob/organized crime. It's like the tagline for the show says.. "Family above all" and how far one brother is willing to go to protect his brothers. Will he put himself first? Or will he save his brothers? Some people say this show is like The Departed (Which I loved, so I'm not saying anything bad about the Departed)

It's only like The Departed because 1.) The main characters are Irish. 2.) It features some organized crime (but mostly dis-organized) and violence. This really is an excellent show. Not many shows have the balls to put so much effort into a pilot. Pilot episodes are usually those boring shows that set up the story but have nothing to them. This series pilot was intriguing and actually had a plot and trusted you to keep up, which is something most pilots wouldn't even dream of doing. The second episode just proved how great this show is. Not only is it violent and all - but it has a dark sense of humor. Which is great, I personally find it very entertaining.

So here's what I'll say... Watch the Black Donnellys. Give this show a chance. This is my new favorite TV show, and if NBC does something RIDICULOUS and cancels this amazing show I will forever give up watching TV because this is a great series and I can't wait to see how it unfolds.