It’s a waiting game these days for TV show creator and movie writer Shawn Ryan, a Rockford native who lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
Ryan, best known for creating the cop series “The Shield” that ran for six years on FX and the one-season Fox cop drama “The Chicago Code,” said in a telephone interview last month that he expects to hear within days now if Paramount Pictures will give the green light for production of Tom Clancy’s bestseller, “Without Remorse.” Ryan wrote the script.
In January, he expects to hear if two new TV shows he has a role in will become series. “We’re waiting to see if they get picked up in January,” he said of the pilot scripts that have been submitted.
For ABC, Ryan would be the executive producer and is co-writing with Karl Gajdusek scripts for “Last Resort.” The potential series revolves around a renegade U.S. nuclear sub that forms its own nation after disregarding a command to launch a missile. “Both of us have an affinity for Tom Clancy’s world of high-stakes intrigue and military adventure,” Ryan said.
For CBS, Ryan would run the show and Simon Mirren, whose credits include “Criminal Minds” and “Without a Trace,” would write the scripts for an as-yet unnamed drama. It revolves around using real-life science that has been developed within the last 18 months, Ryan said. A genetic scientist discovers he has the psychopathic gene and uses it to help the FBI catch criminals.
Ryan said both potential TV shows are “high priorities” for the networks. “I think we have an advantage, but not a guarantee for success.”
REGISTER STAR PHOTO/GEORGETTE BRAUN Shawn Ryan in Chicago for the filming of "The Chicago Code."
Chicago Code fans still cannot understand why this program was cancelled. Shawn, we think that you owe us a better explanation of why this happened. There is something “fishy” about it because it was one of the best programs on TV and one of the best I’ve ever seen. And, a lot of other people agree with me. We all feel like we were just “left hanging” on this and I, for one, am very upset about it. I am no longer watch FOX programs because all they have on is junk programming. Chicago Code was a breath of fresh air, among many othere great qualities. Please, please, isn’t there some way that you can bring it back on a different network or something????
I don’t think there was anything fishy about it. Its ratings weren’t high enough to please the network. It’s a shame, since it was a great show.
Well maybe its ratings would be better on another network. Why just give up on such a wonderful program with such a wonderful crew and cast?? The only programs that seem to please FOX, as far as ratings, are the ones that are animated and attract children, even though the content of most, if not all, of them is nothing but filth. I will never get over Chicago Code being cancelled and I can’t help but blame Shawn Ryan to some degree for not trying to hold on tighter to his masterpiece.