"Oz" (1997) TV series 1997-2003

Creator:

Tom Fontana

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

12 July 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A series chronicling the daily activities of an unusual prison facility and its criminal inhabitants.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Violence | Aryan | Christian | Gay

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 11 wins & 29 nominations

Cast

Ernie Hudson	...	Warden Leo Glynn (56 episodes, 1997-2003)
Harold Perrineau	...	Augustus Hill (56 episodes, 1997-2003)
Lee Tergesen	...	Tobias Beecher (56 episodes, 1997-2003)
J.K. Simmons	...	Vern Schillinger (56 episodes, 1997-2003)
Dean Winters	...	Ryan O'Reily (56 episodes, 1997-2003)
Terry Kinney	...	Tim McManus (55 episodes, 1997-2003)
Rita Moreno	...	Sister Peter Marie Reimondo (52 episodes, 1997-2003)
George Morfogen	...	Bob Rebadow (51 episodes, 1997-2003)
Eamonn Walker	...	Kareem Said (50 episodes, 1997-2003)
B.D. Wong	...	Father Ray Mukada (47 episodes, 1997-2003)
Kirk Acevedo	...	Miguel Alvarez (46 episodes, 1997-2003)
Philip Scozzarella	...	Officer Joseph Mineo / ... (46 episodes, 1997-2003)
Scott William Winters	...	Cyril O'Reily (45 episodes, 1998-2003)
Lauren Vélez	...	Dr. Gloria Nathan (42 episodes, 1997-2003)
Chuck Zito	...	Chucky Pancamo (41 episodes, 1998-2003)
Otto Sanchez	...	Chico Guerra (40 episodes, 1998-2003)
Tom Mardirosian	...	Agamemnon Busmalis (39 episodes, 1998-2003)
Christopher Meloni	...	Chris Keller (38 episodes, 1998-2003)
Granville Adams	...	Zahir Arif (37 episodes, 1997-2003)
Craig muMs Grant	...	Poet (37 episodes, 1997-2003)
Carl DiMaggio	...	Officer Len Lopresti / ... (34 episodes, 1999-2003)
Evan Seinfeld	...	Jaz Hoyt (33 episodes, 1998-2003)
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje	...	Simon Adebisi (32 episodes, 1997-2000)
Robert Clohessy	...	Officer Sean Murphy (32 episodes, 1999-2003)
Timothy L. Brown	...	Officer Jason Armstrong (32 episodes, 1997-2003)
Kristin Rohde	...	Officer Claire Howell (30 episodes, 1999-2003)
R.E. Rodgers	...	James Robson (29 episodes, 1998-2002)
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Governor James Devlin / ... (27 episodes, 1997-2003)
David Zayas	...	Enrique Morales (27 episodes, 2000-2003)
Steven Wishnoff	...	Tony Masters (27 episodes, 1999-2003)
Sean Dugan	...	Timmy Kirk (26 episodes, 1998-2003)
Edie Falco	...	Officer Diane Whittlesey (23 episodes, 1997-2000)
J.D. Williams	...	Kenny Wangler (23 episodes, 1997-2000)

Runtime:

100 min (series finale) | 60 min (53 episodes) | 63 min (season 4 finale) | 68 min (season 2 finale)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo (1997-1998) | Dolby (1999-)

Certification:

Australia:MA | Israel:18 | Portugal:M/16 (DVD rating) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (video rating) | USA:TV-MA

Filming Locations:

Bayonne, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Levinson / Fontana Company, The

Trivia:

Chuck Zito (Pancamo) first auditioned as a Biker, having being a veteran member of the Hell's Angels Biker Club. However because of his complexion and heavy New York accent, Tom Fontana thought he'd fit in better with the Italians on the series.

Goofs:

Continuity: Miguel Alvarez - The large black-and-white rose tattoo on the back of the character's hand, throughout the course of the series, alternates between being on his right hand and on his left.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Agamemnon "The Mole" Busmalis: This is the best Miss Sally ever.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Woman Thou Art Loosed (2004)

Its influence will elevate the level of television drama for years to come.

The stature of this program must be measured in the context of its format. These are not feature films, but one hour dramas, no different in concept or constraint from countless other network counterparts. But, oh how different in result.

Oz is not for everyone. It is violent, lurid, obscene, profane and controversial. Oz us narrated dramatically by a "Greek Chorus" of inmates who make insightful observations not just about Oz, but applicable to the outside world as well. The talent, none of it marquee, is nonetheless the finest assembly of supporting actors an ensemble cast could hope for.

In order to keep ratings up, the stories sometimes veer into the unbelievable, but the grit and reality are never gone for long. Oz is also a bundle of irony. Although it deals with homosexuality with insight and objectivity in every episode, it just as often bristles with gratuitous homoerotic overtone. Despite the fact that it overflows with action and violence, it never mistakes kenesis for story.

Sometimes, Oz borders on, and crosses well into, genius. Its often surreal direction elevates otherwise base events to sublime levels. Music, pacing, convoluted story lines careening and intersecting in ways that are at the same time graceful and clumbsy, just like real life.

This is said to be the last season of Oz, and yet, only two seasons are on DVD. With constant reruns and each episode being aired about a dozen times a week, you may be tired of this jewel anyway, but its influence will elevate the level of television drama for years to come.