After spending a summer in the pen as the tough-talking inmate who steers Ashley Judd toward vengeance in "Double Jeopardy," and Saturday nights in "Profiler"'s morgue probing bodies, is it any wonder that Roma Maffia jumped to play a character that would let her wear Shirley Jones' false eyelashes?
Enter "The Partridge Family"--the campy show featuring those harmonizing, bell-bottomed objects of Rosie O'Donnell's affection. The '70s sensation provides the backdrop for NBC's "The David Cassidy Story," airing Sunday, January 9, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), and Maffia is the title character's stylish, quick-witted agent.
As Cassidy's right-hand gal Ruth, Maffia got to don a straight wig--a change from her Minnie Driver mane of curls--and, in what could be called method acting once removed, Mom Partridge's eyelashes.
"Two pairs of Shirley Jones' false eyelashes were kept from the original 'Partridge Family,'" Maffia tells UltimateTV. "I wore them a couple of times--and I thought, 'I love this!'"
She talked with the real David Cassidy on the set to learn about the person he "loved dearly." Maffia describes Ruth as "a cross between Rosalind Russell and (character actress) Selma Diamond. She was one of these 1940s, quick-talking, fast-paced babes."
Maffia is a study not in contradictions but in subtleties. Her slightly gravel-y voice lends itself to sarcastic, clipped repartee on screen, but can also sound gentle and reflective in person. Her olive skin and large dark eyes project an ethnic ambiguity that once scared casting directors, but now Maffia finds it an asset.
"Ten years ago it was different. You'd look at the television and see many more blondes and blue-eyed people. And I thought, 'Oh my God, if I looked like this, I'd get a job in a heartbeat,'" Maffia recalls. "It's opened up for me somewhat...It's more flexible and people are willing to have me play Italian or Hispanic or Greek or whatever."
Maffia, who is actually of West Indian, English and German descent, has played a Skolowski ("Double Jeopardy" ), a Jones ("Nick of Time" ), a Ruocco ("Kiss the Girls" ) and two Alvarezes ("Disclosure" and "Profiler").
Despite the breadth of characters she's played, the name Roma Maffia still isn't quite a household one. It can't hurt, though, that her "Profiler" character, forensic pathologist Grace Alvarez, has been at the center of the series' more emotional plot twists the last two seasons, enduring two accidental pregnancies and an ailing marriage. Or that "Double Jeopardy" was one of the summer's highest grossing movies. So have the offers been pouring in since her comically gritty turn?
"You mean less glamorous roles and more inmates? Those don't stop coming in!" she jokes. "No, I couldn't say, 'Oh, that had a direct effect (in getting quality roles).' Hopefully in this lifetime."
Maffia never set out to be a movie star, though. Growing up, she rarely watched TV or went to the movies. Instead, she caught the performing bug at tap and ballet classes, which spurred her to try theater.
"I really came to L.A. not wanting to come to L.A. I knew coming from New York that the only way I would be able to do higher profile plays more often was if I got at least a little bit known in the film and television world."
During hiatus, she performs in plays on both coasts and works with the Virginia Avenue Project, a theatrical mentoring program for kids. "It has nothing to do with teaching children how to be actors," Maffia qualifies. "Nothing could be more boring to me." Instead, the project lets kids write, direct and perform their own plays with the help of a few theater-loving grown-ups.
But for now, it's back to the autopsy table, where she counsels the occasionally squirmy "dead bodies." "They're so cocky. I tell them, 'Look, not everyone can play dead. Just relax, let's go.' It's actually kind of fun."
Taken from UlimateTV
LET’S DO IT AGAIN! NBC’S ‘THE PRETENDER’ AND ‘PROFILER’ MEET ONCE MORE IN TWO-HOUR CROSSOVER EPISODE CONCERNING AGENT’S DEATH
Previous Crossover Last May Proved to Be Hit with Viewers in High-Rated Episode
“The Pretender” and “Profiler” -- NBC’s Saturday-night pair of thriller aces -- will once again become one seamless crossover episode on Saturday, Feb. 5 (8-10 p.m. ET) for the first time since the two dramas intersected last May in a highly rated series merger.
What’s different this time is that while former child genius
Jarod (series title star Michael T. Weiss) of “The Pretender”
(Saturdays, 8-9 p.m. ET) again joins forces with the FBI’s
Violent Crimes Task Force on “Profiler” (Saturdays, 9-10 p.m.
ET) to solve a crime and bring justice to the helpless, he will
be working with an entirely new FBI profiler in Rachel Burke (Jamie Luner).
Their working relationship yields unexpected romantic heat when Jarod poses as a Secret Service agent to find out the killer of a good friend (guest star Max Martini) who helped him escape years before from the twisted think tank known as the Centre.The victim was also a Secret Service agent, who allegedly died from a drug overdose, and the VCTF is called in to investigate it as a possible homicide. This puts Jarod on a collision course with lead Agent Bailey Malone (Robert Davi) and his new profiler Burke, as they discover a snake’s nest of renegade agents within the Secret Service.
On May 8, 1999, the two thriller series shared a two-hour
crossover episode for the first time and led all time period
competition in all key adult demographics for both hours (except
for women 18-34 during the first hour).
Now in its fourth season, “The Pretender” is a production of NBC Studios and 20th Century Fox Television. Steve Mitchell, Craig Van Sickle and Tommy Thompson are executive producers.
Also in its fourth year, “Profiler” is a production of Three-
Putt Productions in association with NBC Studios. Stephen
Kronish and Clifton Campbell are the executive producers.
Taken from NBC
"I'm leaving the show after this year, because the darkness of it got to me. Becoming a mother [her son, Walker, is almost 2] changed my life. I want to do quality work and keep it at that.
- Ally's reasons for leaving Profiler (US magazine, August 1999)
Luner Joining ‘Profiler’
Jamie Luner (Savannah, Melrose Place) has joined the cast of Profiler in a new role that will replace Ally Walker, who
recently announced she was leaving the NBC TV series. According to a number of sources, Luner will play an ex-prosecutor turned FBI agent profiler.Luner will be introduced in the fall two-part season opener, which will also feature Walker’s last two appearances on the program. (Cinescape)
'Profiler' Offers Crime Time for Luner
BY RICHARD HUFF
Daily News Staff Writer
Ultry former "Melrose Place" cast member Jamie Luner has moved to a new address: NBC.
The actress is joining the Peacock Network's Saturday night drama "Profiler," where she'll fill a starring slot being vacated by Ally Walker.
Walker, who plays Dr. Sam Waters, will leave the show after the first two episodes of the upcoming season. Luner's new character, Rachel Burke, will help the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force locate Waters, who in last season's cliffhanger disappeared following an encounter with a serial killer.
"I think they [the producers] are going to add some wonderful elements, and humor; they're going to add a little bit of lightness," Luner told The News. "They want to add some color and emotions."
"Profiler" was built around the Waters character, a brilliant forensic
psychologist with a gift for being able to create accurate profiles of serial
killers. Her mentor, Bailey Malone, is played by Robert Davi ("Die Hard").
After the past season ended, Walker made it clear she'd grown tired of the show
and wanted to leave. She recently came to exit terms with NBC.
Luner, who also starred in the WB drama "Savannah," said she has no fears of
stepping into Walker's shoes as the female lead. The show will maintain its
integrity, she explained, while also gaining some elements.
"They're still going to have the amazing stories," she said. "But they're just
going to add to them. That would be the lighthearted element, which is a lot more realistic to life."
I'm guessing you've heard about the news....bad, bad, news. I'm still not exactly sure if this is 100% true, but Variety is a pretty reliable source. You'll be sure to be kept updated with all the news that I receive! Here's the article about Ally's maybe-soon to be departure!
***
Profiler' Star Ally Walker Wants Out
By Josef Adalian
NEW YORK (Variety) - ``Profiler´´ star Ally Walker is angling to leave the NBC Saturday drama to concentrate on her film career.
Terms of Walker's exit are still being negotiated, but production insiders say Walker is almost certain to be cut loose from her contract.
A likely scenario has Walker appearing in the first four segments of the NBC Studios show, though it's possible she won't return at all to the program, which begins its fourth season in the fall.
Walker's initial request to get out of her contract, which called for her to remain with the show for several more seasons, originally met with some resistance from NBC brass. But NBC ultimately decided to try to accommodate Walker, perhaps hoping to recharge the so-so rated series.
Still unclear is how Walker, who plays the title character in
``Profiler,´´ will be replaced. NBC executives had considered simply finding a new actress to play the same part, but one source said the network may now create a new character for a new star.
NBC may have some extra time to find a replacement since the network's Saturday shows have premiered later in the season in recent years due to the NBC's baseball coverage.
``Profiler´´ was originally designed as part of NBC´s Saturday ``thrillogy,´´ which at one time also included
´´Sleepwalkers´´ and ``The Pretender.´´ The latter show
remains a Saturday staple, but NBC has since given up on the concept of a third spooky drama for the 8 p.m. timeslot.
A NBC spokeswoman declined comment, as did a publicist for Walker.
