Cynthia Watros In 'Fear Itself' This Summer

NBC hopes to scare up some summertime ratings when “Fear Itself” airs Thursday nights, beginning May 29.

In order to insure success, the 13-episode show boasts some well-known talent for acting, writing and directing, as well as a killer timeslot.

“We’ve teamed up with some of the most illustrious writers, actors and directors to create a distinctive, scare-filled series that will push the boundaries of this classic genre,” said Teri Weinberg, executive vice president of NBC Entertainment. “’Fear Itself’ will deliver memorable and horrifying moments that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.”

In one episode, Brandon Routh (“Superman Returns”) and Shiri Appleby (“Charlie Wilson’s War” and “Roswell”) star as a young couple that moves to a subdivision, which appears to be a little too perfect. Another episode has Elisabeth Moss (“Mad Men”) as a rookie cop babysitting a serial killer in her precinct’s cell. Eric Roberts (“Heroes”) and Cynthia Watros (“Lost”) star in another about a private eye staking out a haunted house.

Writers who have signed on include Dan Knauf (“Supernatural”), Steve Niles (“30 Days of Night”), Mick Garris (“Masters of Horror”) and Victor Salva (“Jeepers Creepers”).

Brad Anderson (“Masters of Horror”), Ronny Yu (“Freddy vs. Jason”), John Carpenter (“Village of the Damned”), Ernest Dickerson (“Heroes”), Stuart Gordon (“Re-Animator”), Mary Harron (“American Psycho”) and John Landis (“An American Werewolf in London”) will direct.

Even the show’s timeslot was carefully scripted. Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, said the decision to capitalize on the success of horror films during the summer dictated the necessity of that time slot.

“(There was) the fact that the motion-picture studios were the biggest buyers of our Thursday-night real estate,” he said. “What better venue to advertise your horror film (opening) on Friday than “Fear Itself” on Thursday night?”
Source: Rabid Doll