"Brimstone" (1998) TV series 1998-1999

Creators:

Ethan Reiff
Cyrus Voris
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

7 June 1999 (UK)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A dead cop, sentenced to Hell, is returned to Earth by the Devil to recover 113 escaped evil spirits.

Plot Keywords:

Hell | Devil | Soul | Redemption | Deal With The Devil

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Peter Horton	...	Ezekiel Stone (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
John Glover	...	The Devil / ... (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Lori Petty	...	Max (7 episodes, 1998-1999)
Teri Polo	...	Ashur Badaktu / ... (6 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Directed by
Félix Enríquez Alcalá		(4 episodes, 1998-1999)
Larry Carroll		(2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Dan Lerner		(2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Jesús Salvador Treviño		(2 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Writing credits
Ethan Reiff		(4 episodes, 1998)
Cyrus Voris		(4 episodes, 1998)
Janis Diamond		(3 episodes, 1998-1999)
Scott Williams		(2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Angel Dean Lopez		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Peter Horton	....	producer (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Philip L. Parslow	....	producer / line producer (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Ethan Reiff	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Steve Turner	....	associate producer (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Cyrus Voris	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Charles Grant Craig	....	executive producer (11 episodes, 1998-1999)
Félix Enríquez Alcalá	....	co-executive producer (10 episodes, 1998-1999)
James Andrew Miller	....	co-executive producer (6 episodes, 1998-1999)
Donald Marcus	....	supervising producer (3 episodes, 1999)
Ian Sander	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
David Schwartz		(3 episodes, 1998-1999)
Christopher Lennertz		(3 episodes, 1998)
Mark Morgan		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Herbert Davis		(7 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Film Editing by
Kevin Krasny		(6 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Casting by
Penny Perry		(6 episodes, 1998-1999)
Heidi Levitt		(2 episodes, 1998)
Tina Gerussi		(unknown episodes)
Irene Mariano		(unknown episodes)
Barbara Miller		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Jonathan A. Carlson		(9 episodes, 1998-1999)
Chuck Parker		(2 episodes, 1998)

Series Art Direction by
Greg Chown		(1 episode, 1998)

Series Set Decoration by
Kristin Peterson		(8 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Costume Design by
Tom McKinley		(6 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Makeup Department
Susan J. Kelber	....	key hair stylist (8 episodes, 1998-1999)
Barbie Palmer	....	key makeup artist (8 episodes, 1998-1999)
Art Anthony	....	second makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Barney Burman	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Michael Reitz	....	key hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Amanda Terry	....	assistant makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Jeffrey M. Zeitlin	....	unit production manager (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Patrick Ward	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bob Kozicki	....	second assistant director / second second assistant director (9 episodes, 1998-1999)
Bruce Humphrey	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1998-1999)
Richard Peter Schroer	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Art Department
Oliver Doering	....	props (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Sheri Watson	....	set decoration buyer (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Thomas R. Cahill	....	property master (12 episodes, 1998-1999)
Matthew Ferreira	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Malcolm Glassford	....	lead man / set dresser (unknown episodes)
David Maltese	....	buyer / set dresser (unknown episodes)
Bobby Mara	....	general foreman (unknown episodes)
Arlindo Vicente	....	lead man / set dresser (unknown episodes)
Gareth Wilson	....	buyer / set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
James Bailey	....	foley artist (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Al Gomez	....	foley mixer / supervising foley mixer / ... (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Yervant Hagopian	....	utility sound (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Bruce M. Honda	....	dialogue editor (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Deron Street	....	assistant sound editor (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Paul J. Diller	....	sound effects editor (12 episodes, 1998-1999)
Catt LeBaigue	....	supervising sound editor (12 episodes, 1998-1999)
Srdjan 'Serge' Popovic	....	boom operator (10 episodes, 1998-1999)
William Fiege	....	sound mixer (8 episodes, 1998-1999)
Dan Hiland	....	sound re-recording mixer / re-recording mixer (8 episodes, 1998-1999)
Gary D. Rogers	....	sound re-recording mixer / re-recording mixer (8 episodes, 1998-1999)
Timothy A. Cleveland	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 1998)
Edmond J. Coblentz Jr.	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Alan Zielonko	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Kevin Pike	....	special effects pyrotechnician (1 episode, 1998)
Troy Rundle	....	key special effects (1 episode, 1998)

Series Visual Effects by
Eric Heavens	....	digital compositor (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Sam Nicholson	....	visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Victor Scalise	....	visual effects editor (unknown episodes)
Rick Shick	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Jaison Stritch	....	3D visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Monty L. Simons	....	stunt coordinator (12 episodes, 1998-1999)
Nancy Young	....	stunt double: Stacy Haiduk (2 episodes, 1999)
Robin Lynn Bonaccorsi	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Mark Chadwick	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Brennan Dyson	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Charles Grisham	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Anita Hart	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Diana R. Lupo	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Mark Norby	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Gloria O'Brien	....	stunt double: Alexandra Powers / stunt double: Ashe/Teri Polo (unknown episodes)
Clark Tucker	....	stunt double: Jesse Borrego (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Estes	....	computer and video playback operator (2 episodes, 1998)
Rod Benjamin	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Kirk Bloom	....	additional second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Keith Davis	....	set lighting (unknown episodes)
Doug Lawrance	....	camera operator: "b" camera (unknown episodes)
Charles Papert	....	Steadicam operator (unknown episodes)
Peyton Skelton	....	set lighting technician (unknown episodes)
Rick A. West	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Barbara Miller	....	executive in charge of casting (9 episodes, 1998-1999)
Faras Rabadi	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wingate Jones	....	costume supervisor (7 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Editorial Department
Blake McCormick	....	post-production executive (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Thomas M. Bolger	....	assistant editor (8 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Music Department
David Bondelevitch	....	music editor (5 episodes, 1998)
Peter Gabriel	....	composer: theme music (4 episodes, 1998)
Chris McGeary	....	music editor (3 episodes, 1999)
Gabriel Mann	....	composer: additional music (2 episodes, 1998)
James Jacobson	....	musician: synthesizers (unknown episodes)
Matt Kierscht	....	music manager (unknown episodes)
Gil Talmi	....	composer: additional music (unknown episodes)
Jeff Vaughn	....	score mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Gina August	....	driver (13 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Other crew
Scott Williams	....	executive story editor (12 episodes, 1998-1999)
Robert Glover	....	location production assistant (11 episodes, 1998-1999)
Christopher Lee	....	assistant location manager (10 episodes, 1998-1999)
Tano Tropia	....	assistant location manager (10 episodes, 1998-1999)
Janis Diamond	....	story editor (8 episodes, 1998-1999)
Angel Dean Lopez	....	story editor (8 episodes, 1998-1999)
Fred Golan	....	story editor (7 episodes, 1998-1999)
Lisa Martley	....	production coordinator (5 episodes, 1998-1999)
Jain Sekuler	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 1998)
Hobart Lundt	....	coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Mark Patrick Carducci	....	in memory of (1 episode, 1998)

Production Companies

• BEI Brimstone
• Warner Bros. Television

Distributors

• Fox Network (1998-1999) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• RTL Klub Televízió (1999-2000) (Hungary) (TV)

Special Effects

• Makeup Effects Laboratories

Other Companies

• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min | 60 min (13 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

BEI Brimstone

Trivia:

When Stone was killed, he had only $36.27 in his pockets. When he comes back 15 years later, that's all he ever has, each day, no matter how much he spends. It's a reference to the Bible, Ezekiel 36:27: "And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them."

Quotes:

Desk Clerk:Where have you been?
Ezekiel Stone:Out of the country.
Desk Clerk:Oh, where?
Ezekiel Stone:Down under.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Blind Spot (#6.1)" (2006)

Could and should have been bigger than "X-Files"

TV executives are a strange breed. They often commission a series and order a certain number of episodes from the producers. They will then proceed NOT to publicise or market said series, before either scheduling it in a prime-time slot opposite an established runner on a competing channel, or consigning it to a late-night "graveyard" slot to be screened when the world is sleeping. They will then hold up their hands in dismay and wonder why on earth their hoped-for viewing figures have failed to materialise, before abruptly cancelling the show half-way through its planned first season before it has even had a chance to build up an audience base. Such a fate almost befell the now massively popular and seemingly never-ending `X-Files', and alas DID befall the wonderful and innovative `Brimstone' which I believe would have become a huge hit if only it had been given a fair chance. This is particularly galling in view of the utter dross that DOES get renewed season after season – the singularly awful `Friends' and the massively overrated `Quantum Leap' springing immediately to mind here. The basic premise of `Brimstone' is as follows: In 1983, a New York cop, Zeke Stone, takes the law into his own hands and kills his wife's rapist. Soon afterwards he is killed in the line of duty. Because of this one `evil deed' in an otherwise good life, his soul is sent to Hell. Fifteen years later, the Devil returns him to Earth to hunt down `113 of the most vile creatures' – other damned souls who have broken out of Hell and have returned to Earth to sow more evil. The deal is that if Zeke can round up all 113 of the Devil's `wayward children', he gets a second chance at life on Earth as a normal mortal. Outwardly Zeke looks like a normal living man, and he can eat, drink, sleep and feel all human emotions. Yet he is – like the damned souls he is hunting – a `walking dead man' and cannot be hurt except by another damned soul. And the only way for Zeke to return a damned soul to Hell is to get up close and personal and take out their eyes (the `windows to the soul'). Clearly, by giving Zeke so many damned souls to hunt down (he basically rounds up one per episode), it seems that the original intention was for the show to run for 5 or 6 seasons. As it was, it managed to run for just half a season (a total of only 13 episodes) before the Men in Grey Suits at Fox pulled the plug. Unfortunately the final episode of `Brimstone' (which of course was never meant to be the final episode) was a massive anti-climax – Zeke didn't even manage to send that week's damned soul back Downstairs – and the viewer is left with a feeling of the story being left hanging in mid-air. Which unfortunately it was. Series cancelled prematurely just as an ongoing story sub-plot was getting established. The casting of Peter Horton as Zeke Stone and John Glover as The Devil was nothing short of inspired. Horton gives a superb performance as the shabby and down-at-heel detective Stone, with Glover's whimsical, humorous yet obviously `evil' Devil stealing every scene he's in. The interplay between the two leads is an absolute joy to watch, with Zeke simply wanting The Devil to leave him in peace to get on with the job of hunting down the wayward souls, and The Devil constantly popping up at inopportune moments to chide, tease and sometimes threaten the harrassed detective. Lori Petty also does a semi-regular turn as the manager of the run-down hotel that Zeke uses as his base. The show's overall look and feel is dark, gothic and not a little spooky, much of the camerawork being shadowy and brooding, giving the whole thing a very eery atmosphere indeed. The Devil's humour is likewise quite dark, and in keeping with the show, it never degenerates into silly comedy. One can only wonder about what other evil souls Stone would have had to round up in subsequent adventures, had the series been given a fair crack of the whip. As it was, we saw him round up and send back to Hell such adversaries as a Carthaginian general, a sexy but deadly 1920s plague carrier, a beautiful Medieval French temptress who sets her suitors on fire, a former SS concentration camp warder, an ancient Chinese poet who writes using the blood of virgins and – in a nice twist in Episode 3 – his wife's rapist, whom he has to hunt down and `kill' a second time. Originally Fox ordered 19 episodes for the first `Brimstone' season. And some time ago I found on the Web a short synopsis (written by the show's producers) of the six episodes that should have been made but weren't. If anybody reading this wants to know what would have happened in the rest of Season One, mail me and I'll happily send you the synopses. No doubt it's too much to hope for a relaunch of the show by another network. And a DVD or video release are probably just as unlikely. I fear that this great show will soon be forgotten by all but a small die-hard following. So if you see this show in syndication on a local TV channel, watch it while you still can. Don't miss out on this wonderful series.