Brian Jones/Las Vegas News Bureau
Brad Garrett and Robin Leach at Garrett’s annual Maximum Hope Foundation Charity Poker Tournament at MGM Grand on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012.
Published Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014 | 6:15 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014 | 2:02 a.m.
Brad Garrett, proprietor and frequent headliner at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club in MGM Grand, can act, and not just in comedic roles. He is a vastly underrated dramatic actor and has shown that he can master dramatic comedy. In 2002, Garrett was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role as Jackie Gleason in the TV movie “Gleason.”
Garrett, too, is very tall, 6-feet-8 inches in socks.
Adeptly fusing those qualities, Garrett is returning to television in a “dramedy” where he plays a basketball coach whose team has won an NCAA championship but is suffering from myriad issues away from the court. The hourlong series is in development for ABC and in partnership with David E. Kelley, whose TV credits are at once lengthy and impressive. “Boston Public,” “Picket Fences,” “Chicago Hope,” “The Practice,” “Ally McBeal,” “Boston Legal” and “L.A. Law” are among his most famous series.
Kelley and Garrett most recently worked together on the Robin Williams CBS series “The Crazy Ones,” on which Garrett appeared six times as Gordon Lewis, a partner in the ad agency operated by Simon Roberts (played by Williams).
Garrett pitched this idea of his college coach going off the rails to Kelley and found that Kelley comes from a sports background. His father, Jack, was president of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1993-2001 and also worked in the front office for the Detroit Red Wings organization. He previously coached the Boston University hockey team from 1962-’72 and won back-to-back NCAA titles in 1971-’72. He also coached the New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association from 1972-1975.
In the new, yet-to-be-named series, Garrett’s character suffers a serious meltdown on the court after his team is knocked out of March Madness by an upstart, Cinderella tournament qualifier. His rant spreads across all media, and he becomes an outcast among the basketball coaching community.
The coach is fired and subsequently takes the only offer for coaching he can find.
As the coach of a team at an all-girls prep school. Sort of like “The White Shadow,” but with an entirely female team.
Tall order? For most, maybe. But for Garrett, it sounds like (wait for it) ... a slam dunk.
MGM Grand, a AAA Four Diamond resort, offers 5,044 rooms and suites.
MGM Grand features KÀ by Cirque du Soleil; Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club; and world-class entertainment at the Grand Garden Arena and Hollywood Theatre.
The resort offers signature restaurants by celebrity chefs including Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak, Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans Fish House, Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill and Michelin three star and Forbes Five Star restaurant, Joël Robuchon.
As part of its ongoing “Grand Renovation,” MGM Grand has remodeled all rooms and suites in its main tower and is adding several new experiences to its lineup including Hakkasan Las Vegas Restaurant and Nightclub, a new upscale dining/nightlife concept (coming in April 2013).
MGM Grand also features a state-of-the-art, non-smoking conference center, the Grand Spa, Cristophe Salon, "CSI: The Experience" and an inviting pool complex featuring the tantalizing daylife of Wet Republic.
Upscale accommodations include The Mansion, an exclusive hotel within the hotel; the luxurious two-story SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand; and The Signature at MGM Grand, a luxury all-suite, non-gaming hotel located adjacent to the main resort.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.
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