Why Stephen Dorff Agreed to Star on Fox’s ‘Deputy’ – Even Though He Hates Network TV

“I would never want to be on a ‘CSI’-type show,” “True Detective” alum tells TheWrap

| January 2, 2020 @ 10:00 AM
Deputy Stephen Dorff

FOX

Fox describes its new David Ayer-produced cop drama as “a classic Western with a modern-day attitude and emotionally driven, visceral storytelling” that “brings a gritty authenticity” to genre. And if it weren’t for that grit, star Stephen Dorff tells TheWrap he wouldn’t have signed on to the series.

“I hate network TV and I would never want to be on a ‘CSI’-type show,” the “True Detective” alum said. “This show has got a lot more grit… If anything, I think it’s a more cable show, but it’s made for network television with the rules that we have to follow. But we’re pushing it and they’re letting us push it.”

(Here’s where we quickly point out Dorff did appear on Fox’s “Star,” a network drama. But obviously that Lee Daniels show wasn’t the kind of police procedural he’s dissing here.)

Also Read: Winter TV 2020: Premiere Dates for New and Returning Shows (Photos)

“Deputy,” which premieres Thursday, follows Bill Hollister (Dorff), a deputy in the City of Angels and fifth-generation lawman who becomes sheriff of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department — one of the largest police forces in the world — when the elected sheriff dies suddenly.

Bill gets the job, one he never wanted, due to arcane rule in the county charter that dates back to the days of the Wild West. And now he’s gotta figure out how to manage it, while still playing by his own rules.

“He’s kinda always been a guy that wants to put bad guys away and wants to be in the action, but now he’s in a situation where he has to do a lot more,” Dorff told us. “He’s responsible for over 12,000 deputies and over 10 million people in one of the biggest counties in America. It’s kind of an eye-opener when somebody gives you that kind of job when he used to just be a deputy. And that’s all cool stuff to play, that’s what I liked about the character.”

Also Read: Fox Set for First Fall Ratings Win in a Decade, NBC to Snap CBS' 18-Year Total Viewers Streak

Along with Dorff, the drama stars Brian Van Holt, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Shane Paul McGhie and Yara Martinez.

“Deputy” premieres tonight, Thursday, at 9/8c on Fox.

Winter TV 2020: Premiere Dates for New and Returning Shows (Photos)

  • winter premiere dates 2020 ABC/AMC/NBC/Netflix
  • Netflix
  • Say Yes to the Dress America TLC
  • Sister Wives TLC
  • Luke on 'Naked and Afraid: Alone' Discovery Channel
  • America's Got Talent: The Champions - Season 1 NBC
  • "The Bachelor" Peter Weber ABC
  • Love and Hip Hop Miami VH1
  • Manifest - NBC NBC
  • Ellen's Game of Games - Season 2 NBC
  • James Holzhauer Jeopardy Tournament of Champions ABC
  • Wild 'N Out Nick Cannon VH1
  • Gordon Ramsay's '24 Hours to Hell and Back' Fox
  • the haves and the have nots season 2 premiere ratings OWN
  • Schitt's Creek Pop TV
  • Vanderpump Rules - Season 7 Bravo
  • CBS
  • Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Season 1 NBC
  • Netflix
  • Undercover Boss CBS
  • Catfish MTV MTV
  • Criminal Minds CBS
  • curt menefee america's top dog A&E
  • Party of Five Freeform
  • Netflix
  • AJ AND THE QUEEN Netflix
  • Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt For The Bone Collector - Season 1 NBC
  • Jason Bateman The Outsider HBO
  • New Pope HBO
  • Grace And Frankie Netflix
  • Syfy
  • 68 Whiskey Paramount Network
  • CNBC
  • Killer Inside The Mind of Aaron Hernandez Netflix
  • grownish Freeform
  • Everythings Gonna be Okay Freeform
  • Apple TV+
  • Diary of a Future President Disney+
  • Sex Education Gillian Anderson Netflix
  • BBC America
  • Avenue 5 HBO
  • 911 Lone Star Fox
  • HBO
  • Nat Geo
  • Home Town HGTV
  • Legends of Tomorrow The CW
  • Project Blue Book History
  • Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens Comedy Central
  • CBS All Access
  • Station 19 ABC
  • OUTMATCHED Fox
  • The Bold Type Freeform
  • Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix
  • Netflix
  • Hulu
  • Netflix
  • Showtime
  • Our Cartoon President - Showtime Showtime
  • YouTube
  • USA Network
  • Miracle Workers_ Dark Ages TBS
  • NEXT IN FASHION Netflix
  • Miz and Mrs - Season 1 USA Network
  • The Stranger Netflix
  • bojack horseman season 5 trailer Netflix
  • Ted Bundy Falling for a Killer Amazon Prime Video
  • ragnarok Netflix
  • Masked Singer Season 3 Fox
  • Spectrum
  • McMillion$ HBO
  • Desus and Mero Showtime
  • Will Arnett Getty
  • CBS All Access CBS All Access
  • Katy Keene The CW
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Season 6 NBC
  • USA Network
  • Indebted - Season Pilot NBC
  • Edie Falco Tommy CBS
  • USA Network
  • Mythic Quest Apple TV+
  • Locke and Key Netflix
  • MacGyver CBS
  • high maintenance HBO
  • Showtime
  • Showtime Showtime
  • OWN
  • ABC's 'For Life' ABC
  • Survivor CBS
  • The Soup Jade Catta-Preta E!
  • Narcos: Mexico Diego Luna Netflix
  • Love Is Blind Netflix
  • High Fidelity Hulu
  • Hulu
  • Ellen DeGeneres in 'Visible: Out on Television' Apple TV+
  • Outlander Season 5 Starz
  • American Idol ABC
  • Duncanville Fox
  • Extreme Makeover Home Edition HGTV HGTV
  • NBC
  • John Oliver on 'Last Week Tonight' HBO
  • Sacred Lies Facebook Watch
  • The Chef Show Netflix
  • Gentefied Netflix
  • Amazon Prime Video
  • Better Call Saul AMC
  • The Voice - Season 17 NBC
  • Little Big Shots - Season 4 NBC
  • Sophia Lillis I Am Not Okay With This trailer Netflix
  • Altered Carbon Netflix
  • MTV
  • RuPaul's Drag Race Vh1
  • AMC
  • Breeders FX
  • Twenties BET BET
  • The Deed: Chicago - Season 2 CNBC
  • Dave FXX
  • Castlevania Netflix
  • DEVS -- Pictured: Nick Offerman as Forest. CR: Miya Mizuno/FX FX
  • Better Things FX
  • Cake FX FXX
  • Amazing Stories Apple TV+
  • Hillary Hulu Hulu
  • The Most Dangerous Animal of All FX
  • ride with norman reedus AMC
  • Neil DeGrasse Tyson Cosmos Nat Geo
  • Council of Dads NBC
  • On My Block Netflix
  • Elite Netflix Netflix
  • Flack Pop TV
  • The Wall Chris Hardwick NBC
  • HBO
  • Don Cheadle in Black Monday Showtime
  • Pilot The CW
  • The Plot Against America HBO
  • My Brilliant Friend HBO
  • Motherland Fort Salem Freeform
  • Hulu
  • Hank Azaria in 'Brockmire' IFC
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Here’s when 137 broadcast, cable and streaming series debut and come back

Winter is well underway and with it, naturally, comes the Winter TV season. In honor of the colder months and their small-screen offerings, TheWrap has rounded up the premiere dates for not just the new and returning shows on Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS and The CW, but also the ones for the eagerly anticipated series hitting cable channels and streaming services this winter. Click through our gallery to find out when your favorite winter shows will be back and when your possible new favorites will debut.

Also Read: Why Netflix Is Betting You’ll Want ‘The Witcher’ Season 2 – Before You’ve Seen Season 1

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