LOS ANGELES _ Mike Vogel has a long list of television and film credits that include "Grounded for Life," "Pan Am," "Miami Medical" and "Bates Motel." But no project he has worked on has touched the Pennsylvania native as deeply as his new fall NBC series, "The Brave." Getting to play the leader of an elite military group is a thrill for him because it's giving him the opportunity to pay homage to some people who are very close to him.
Vogel explains that some of his "nearest and dearest friends" come out of this community and his driving concern is to make sure that he and the show do them justice.
"There's a great quote. It's debatable whether it was George Orwell or Rudyard Kipling that said, 'People sleep well in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.' And I'd like to add to that. I think we understand it in America, having the freedom of opinion and thought and speech, and to come from many different viewpoints, that's the beauty that makes up our country," Vogel says. "We are afforded that opportunity because rough men and women stand ready to do violence on our behalf and protect that right.
"So, for me, to have the ability to step into that and in some minuscule, tiny way contribute to their real life heroics is an honor, and I'm humbled by it."
How he and the rest of "The Brave" cast will pay tribute is through the series that follows Captain Adam Dalton (Vogel) and his special ops squad of undercover specialists who carry out each mission on the ground in countries around the world. His team includes sniper Sgt. Jasmine "Jaz" Khan (Natacha Karam), CPO Ezekiel "Preach" Carter (Demetrius Grosse), combat medic Sgt. Joseph "McG" McGuire (Noah Mills) and intelligence officer Agent Amir Al-Raisani (Hadi Tabbal). The team works closely with D.I.A. Deputy Director Patricia Campbell (Anne Heche) and her team of analysts.
"The Brave" is one of several new series on the fall schedule dealing with the military; others includes the CW's "Valor" and CBS's "SEAL Team." The approach Vogel talks about is one of the reasons the cast and crew feel like they will be able to distinguish their series from all the rest.
Grosse stresses "The Brave" is not a typical military show.
"While we highlight a very specific group of people who have tactical and military experience, and, yes, we interact with the Department of Defense, and things of that nature, we deal more in terms of the espionage and intelligence levels in the military, the things that we don't normally see that go into avoiding actual firefights and military conflict," Grosse says. "So the thing that makes the show unique and special is that you see the behind-the-scenes things that you normally wouldn't associate with military: espionage, code switching, deep cover kind of stuff."
Executive producer Dean Georgaris piggybacks Grosse's comments by pointing out that the inspiration for "The Brave" is closer to "ER" because that medical drama pulled back the curtain to reveal more about the people than the procedures. Just like "ER," "The Brave" also deals with a lot of complicated issues and tosses around a lot of lingo, but Georgaris expects that just like "ER," that will all feel more natural to the viewers with each episode.
It's interesting Georgaris would use "ER" as an example because when that NBC medical drama debut in 1994, there was a very similar medical drama, "Chicago Hope," that debuted on CBS at the same time. Everyone wondered how so many medical shows could exist; it was "ER" that became the long-running winner.
"The Brave" is designed to focus on two different teams who at times will be 5,000 miles apart and even more distant in other ways. The DIA members have the most exquisite technology in the world, while the team on the ground could be dealing with something as simple as no phone service.
Riding herd over both is the character played by Heche whose past credits include "Aftermath" and "Dig." She was drawn to the project because of the chance to represent a group of people who make life and death situations.
"Being a part of this group of people who are representing and honoring our military and the people who have chosen with their lives to give to others and dedicate their lives to saving others is extraordinary. I think I'm fascinated by people who are who sacrifice themselves," Heche says. "And when I first spoke to Dean about this project, he was very interested in talking about the humanity. Who are the people who give up their lives for others, and how are they affected by the decision that's they have to make every day? What is the toll that it takes to serve your country and put that first above all else?
"I think that's a really complicated human being, and I think this group of people, these actors, the team of producers, care so much. This human being that I've been asked to play is one of the most extraordinary women that I think I've ever been able to dive into."
