Phillip Winchester, is best known for the Cinemax series "Strike Back", in which he plays a British Commando with a sense of humor out to overcome impossible odds and save the world every week. That same premise is the driving force behind "The Player". A likable every-man, with only his wits, his training, and (usually) a handgun has to face off against gangs of trained, ruthless, well-armed bad guys as they try to rob banks, kidnap kids, or otherwise do evil.
This show is the reason why people watch TV. It's fun, it's over-the- top, it's an escape. The staging and action sequences are some of the best stuff I've ever seen on a major network show. In the first episode our protagonist hijacks a dirt bike jumps it through a window and then races through an abandoned mall while shooting bad guys. Even after mowing down several, crashing his bike, and running low on ammo he's still obscenely outnumbered. He's not invincible, he'd not a super-hero , he's a man who bleeds and feels pain. He knows the odds, he knows death is lurking behind every corner, he doesn't flinch.
There's something very inspirational about a human being facing impossible odds and prevailing. I think for some viewers, the Player's weekly battles will be likened to the struggles we face in our daily lives and the feeling that we cannot break out of a tough situation, get a handle on a difficult concept, or do the things we want to do. The Player has a not so subtle message about never giving up, never giving in, not being concerned about what others may think is impossible. It's a very American concept and fitting for a show that exemplifies the best and worst of the American Experience.
This show is the reason why people watch TV. It's fun, it's over-the- top, it's an escape. The staging and action sequences are some of the best stuff I've ever seen on a major network show. In the first episode our protagonist hijacks a dirt bike jumps it through a window and then races through an abandoned mall while shooting bad guys. Even after mowing down several, crashing his bike, and running low on ammo he's still obscenely outnumbered. He's not invincible, he'd not a super-hero , he's a man who bleeds and feels pain. He knows the odds, he knows death is lurking behind every corner, he doesn't flinch.
There's something very inspirational about a human being facing impossible odds and prevailing. I think for some viewers, the Player's weekly battles will be likened to the struggles we face in our daily lives and the feeling that we cannot break out of a tough situation, get a handle on a difficult concept, or do the things we want to do. The Player has a not so subtle message about never giving up, never giving in, not being concerned about what others may think is impossible. It's a very American concept and fitting for a show that exemplifies the best and worst of the American Experience.