OUTSIDERS
WGN America, 9:00 p.m. ET
SERIES PREMIERE: This new WGN America series stars David Morse as the long-haired, big-muscled, wild-eyed head of a mountain clan that lives off the grid in the hills of Appalachia, descending into town only to abscond with whatever supplies they need. The town puts up with it because of the family’s imposing ways, but a coal company is less forgiving, and sets out to evict the long-time squatters. Thus begins the major conflict that fuels this series, which is sort of a cross between Sons of Anarchy and Deliverance, with unsettling echoes of the current standoff in Oregon. It’s got some interesting and unexpected twists and turns in the opening hours – but nothing as unexpected as the executive producers behind the scenes on this dark new show. One is Peter Tolan, who worked with Denis Leary on Rescue Me. Another is actor Paul Giamatti. In what, for now, is purely an offscreen role. And a third, the creator of Outsiders, is Peter Mattei, whose previous TV credits include the squeaky-clean Clarissa Explains It All. Explain that, Clarissa… For a full review, see Ed Bark's Uncle Barky's Bytes. For the full story, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower.