LAX (TV series)

LAX is an American drama television series set at the Los Angeles International Airport, drawing its name from the airport's IATA airport code, "LAX". The series premiered on September 13, 2004 on NBC, and aired through April 16, 2005.

For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation).
LAX
GenreDrama
Created byNick Thiel
Starring
Opening theme"Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Dan E. Fesman
  • Heather Locklear
  • Ed Milkovich
  • Harry Victor
  • Nan Bernstein Freed
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 13, 2004 (2004-09-13) –
April 16, 2005 (2005-04-16)

Overview

LAX is a drama focusing on the day-to-day operations of the airport, with its runway manager, Harley Random (Heather Locklear), and its terminal manager, Roger de Souza (Blair Underwood). In the final episode, Harley leaves her job at LAX after she is told by Roger that he wants stability back in his life and no longer wants to be romantically involved with her.

LAX premiered on NBC on September 13, 2004. Ten episodes aired before NBC announced in November 2004 that no further episodes would be produced.[1] The show was moved to Saturdays at 8pm ET and the final episode aired on April 16, 2005. Thirteen episodes total were aired.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Notable guests

Episodes
No.TitleDirected by [2]Written byOriginal air dateProd.
code [2]
1"Pilot"Anthony and Joe RussoMark Gordon and Nick ThielSeptember 13, 2004 (2004-09-13)101
The director of LAX has committed suicide, now two of his underlings fight for the position.
2"Finnegan Again, Began Again"Joe RussoPaul Redford and Mark ThielSeptember 20, 2004 (2004-09-20)102
Harley and Roger tries to find out the real identity of a living person who arrived in a casket. Tony tries to get a little league team on a plane to Albany. The staff tries to control a bird problem outside the airport.
3"The Longest Day"Anthony RussoJill BlotevogelSeptember 27, 2004 (2004-09-27)103
Roger uses his status and experience to control the situation when a plane he is on is disturbed by an electrical surge.
4"Credible Threat"Adam DavidsonAndrew DettmanOctober 4, 2004 (2004-10-04)105
Homeland Security puts LAX on high alert. A man leaves his senile old mother at the airport.
5"Abduction"Scott BrazilKayla Alpert, Russel Friend and Garrett LernerOctober 11, 2004 (2004-10-11)104
The staff gets involved in a custody dispute involving an Arab couple.
6"Unscheduled Arrivals"Scott BrazilRussel Friend and Garrett LernerOctober 18, 2004 (2004-10-18)106
A plane must make an emergency landing. Paparazzi are waiting at the airport for Prince William. An Uzbekistani man seeks asylum.
7"Out of Control"Adam DavidsonDon E. Fesman and Harry VictorOctober 27, 2004 (2004-10-27)107
A suspended airtraffic controller takes the crew of the control tower hostage. Betty's dog attacks a passenger.
8"The Pictures to Prove It"Anthony RussoAlexander WooNovember 3, 2004 (2004-11-03)108
A federal witness disappears at the airport. Caitlin helps an engaged couple.
9"Thanksgiving"Joe RussoAndrew Dettmann and Kayla AlpertNovember 10, 2004 (2004-11-10)109
An airline that is going out of business, cancels all of its flights. Harley is asked by her younger sister to spend Thanksgiving with her parents. Tony is taking care of a 10-year-old boy traveling alone.
10"Secret Santa"Félix Enríquez AlcaláRussel Friend, Nick Thiel, Dan E. Fesman, Garrett Lerner and Harry VictorNovember 17, 2004 (2004-11-17)110
The police search for a robber dressed as Santa Claus. Eddie applies for a job as Harleys assistant. Roger gets kicked out of his house because of his gambling addiction.
11"Cease & Assist"Craig ZiskAndrew Dettmann, Harry Victor and Dan E. FesmanMarch 19, 2005 (2005-03-19)111
An African political activist is on his way home for execution.
12"Mixed Signals"Anthony RussoStory by : Nick Thiel, Russel Friend & Garrett Lerner
Teleplay by : Russel Friend & Garrett Lerner		March 26, 2005 (2005-03-26)112
An incoming airplane accidentally sends out a hijack warning.
13"Senator's Daughter"Joe RussoJon HlavinApril 16, 2005 (2005-04-16)113
Roger has an affair with his wife's divorce attorney. The teenage daughter of a senator has brought home an illegal souvenir from Amsterdam. Harley thinks about an offer she received to run the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Production

LAX (originally titled HUB, and then The Hub) was announced on NBC's development slate on December 19, 2003,[3] after being scrapped by NBC during the previous development season in winter 2003.[4] On January 14, NBC greenlighted production on the pilot.[5] Anthony and Joe Russo signed on as directors of the pilot on February 6.[6] On May 17, 2004 NBC announced that they had picked up the pilot to series.[7] This show was not renewed for a second season.

Exterior shots for the pilot episode were filmed in Texas, although sources differ on whether Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport[8] or Fort Worth Alliance Airport[9] stood in for Los Angeles International. Many other scenes were filmed using a vacant terminal and a disused Boeing 727 at Ontario International Airport, interspersed with establishing shots of the real LAX airport.[10]

The theme song for the show was the beginning of "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra. For the opening sequence of the final episode, a different excerpt of the song was used.

Broadcast

LAX premiered on September 13, 2004 and ended on April 16, 2005 on NBC.

Reception

In a survey by Philips, LAX got 17% of the votes for most anticipated new series.[11]

The show was frequently the butt of comedic jokes due to its poor ratings, including Jay Leno, who remarked the show was "so bad that the actual Los Angeles Airport is thinking of changing its name to avoid being associated with the show." The 13 episodes of the program averaged 6.52 million viewers.[12]

LAX lost 19.09% of the viewers in its time slot versus the previous season, which was occupied by Third Watch.[13]

References
  1. "NBC Grounds LAX, Plots Scrubs Move". The Futon Critic. November 22, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  2. From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "LAX"]". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  3. "Development Update: December 19". The Futon Critic. December 19, 2003. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  4. Michael Schneider (February 13, 2003). "ABC, Fox go for comedy - 'Ed' flies, 'HUB' doesn't". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2016. Meanwhile, NBC has grounded its airport-themed drama pilot "HUB." Heather Locklear had been in talks to star in the project; when that fell through, so did the show.
  5. "Development Update: January 14". The Futon Critic. January 14, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  6. "Development Update: February 6". The Futon Critic. February 6, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  7. "2004 Broadcast Upfront Presentations: NBC, Part 1". The Futon Critic. May 17, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  8. Chris Woodyard (September 9, 2004). "Lights! Camera! Security! Huh?". USA Today. Retrieved February 4, 2016. Despite running an overburdened airport, Los Angeles officials pounced on the opportunity to work with NBC, especially when it appeared its new show might be filmed at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. Part of the series pilot was filmed there. But filming shifted to LAX, and the series, which had been tentatively titled The Hub, became LAX.
  9. Peppard, Alan (10 September 2004). "Best of weather for lunch". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Actress Heather Locklear will be on to talk about her new NBC airport drama, LAX, which shot its pilot in the Dallas/Fort Worth area (with Alliance Airport impersonating LAX).
  10. Chris Woodyard (September 9, 2004). "Lights! Camera! Security! Huh?". USA Today. Retrieved February 1, 2019. To make production easier, the LAX crew rents a closed terminal at Ontario International, about 70 miles east of LAX. It also bought an old Boeing 727 for background and interior shots. Scenes shot at LAX and Ontario are interspersed.
  11. "Viewers Say 'C.S.I.: New York,' 'Joey' Most Anticipated". The Futon Critic. August 30, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  12. "2004-05 Final audience and ratings figures". The Hollywood Reporter. May 27, 2005. Archived from the original on July 8, 2006.
  13. "Report: The New Season Thus Far". The Futon Critic. October 20, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
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