‘SEAL Team’: David Boreanaz on What He Learned From Real Veterans
Meet Jason Hayes (David Boreanaz), head of an exclusive military team protecting the USA while raising families (and hell). On the hot, dusty L.A. set of CBS’s SEAL Team, a camo-clad Boreanaz shows us how it’s done: dodging bullets to escape a bombed-out building, then going back to make sure his guys get out alive.
Watching this scene, you might think you’ve tuned in to CNN. The sets, gear and guns are super-detailed, thanks to technical advisers who include veterans of Delta Force, Army Rangers and Tier One Navy SEALs (that’s “sea, air, land” for us civilians).
“The No. 1 thing I learned from them is that they have each other’s backs,” says Boreanaz, the square-jawed star of long-running TV hits Bones, Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. “We never leave someone behind, have passion for what we do—and we really like to have a good time.”
Viewers certainly like SEAL Team. With 10 million watching each week, the drama was just renewed for a second season. “It works because with David you feel safe,” says CBS senior executive vice president of programming Thom Sherman. “You know he is going to take care of it.”
He can’t do it without his crew, Bravo Team. There’s tough Texan Sonny Quinn (AJ Buckley), whose phobias about sharks and spiders run deeper than his fear of dying in combat. Family man Ray Perry (Neil Brown Jr.) quotes Psalms as accurately as he shoots. And newbie Pashto-speaking son of a legendary SEAL Clay Spenser (Max Thieriot) has a test-the-boundaries style that reminds Jason of the buddy who died at his side on an ill-fated mission.
So far, the team has freed hostages, killed a terrorist leader and rescued innocent civilians threatened by chemical weapons. (Not to mention Ray’s wife gave birth, Jason’s marriage broke up and Clay almost got engaged.) Bravo’s missions will only get more dangerous when they close in on solving a mystery Jason’s been obsessed with since their C-17 went wheels down on the current Afghanistan deployment: Who killed their friends in SEAL Echo Team?
Just as eager for justice is brilliant, fearless CIA analyst Mandy Ellis (Jessica Paré). “She and Jason are so determined. But they’re losing their tempers, going off half-cocked,” the actress says. “They make decisions that might put them and others in jeopardy.”
And as the season comes to a close, “a pretty spectacular thing happens to the team—and Jason,” hints executive producer Chris Chulack. Boreanaz adds: “You’ll see Jason start to really unravel. As the SEALs say: The only easy day was yesterday.”
SEAL Team, Wednesdays, 9/8c, CBS
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Love this show. I'm glad the team is overseas now... can do without all the soap-opera lovey-dovey stuff.
I never watched Bones, ANgel, or Buffy, but I really like Boreanaz in this role. He and his team are great, and come across as real people who love what they do and give 1000 percent to it. I also love the fact that they have a dog on their team... love seeing that.
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Have you ever watched The Unit? A military tv drama series in similar vein to Seal Team from the last decade - circa 2005 to 2009 - which I absolutely loved. You will recognise great actors like Dennis Haysbert (24), Max Martini (Captain Phillips, Saving Private Ryan), Robert Patrick (Terminator 2) and Seal Team's very own Michael Irby. The drama is of a different nature to Seal Team but the action is unlike any other.
If you love Seal Team, look up The Unit on DVD. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
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Actually I did watch The Unit. Not every episode... I think I discovered it in its second or third season. And yes, I did like it. I do think, though that there was too much family/spouse drama, and too much other 'stuff' that did not pertain to their military duties.
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Well, yes. I think that's what Mamet and the creators of the show went for seeing as it was based on Eric L. Haney's novel, 'Inside Delta Force'.
I feel they tried to dramatise what these warriors had to go through whether in a foreign country or with their families at home. And the ramifications that came with it. What I loved most of all was the planning and execution of missions. It really made me as the audience think and appreciate the intricacies of clandestine missions and what it would be like living the life of an elite special forces soldier.
Oh, and they had a fair few women in leading roles too 😉
I'm quietly hoping for a 2019/20 reboot because I honestly felt it was the best of its kind though I can't see where CBS would fit it into their roster.
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Still, too much family/personal drama for my taste. :-p
For the record, SEAL Team has two women in major roles. And they're NOT spouses or girlfriends... they're on the team.
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I am glad David likes his new show but it just doesn't have the spark that Bones and Angel and Buffy did and that lays on the writers. They have gotten the military aspect right but for a show that is( or was ) supposed to be about their personal lives Seal Team falls far short. Between the lack of chemistry between David with both his on screen wife and Jessica Pare and this new lady he has the emotional aspect is also lacking . I don't ( nor ever expected) Jason to be like Booth but seeing Jason choosing his time with his buddy over his child was one of their bad moments that defined Jason as completely unlikeable . While I love David as a performer Jason's behavior need to be delineated better( again on the writers) and CBS needs to find him a better leading lady and refocus on Jason's therapy at least ONCE in awhile. And yes 10 million watch( a lot of that on delayed viewing) but Seal Team has actually HURT CBS on Wed despite their claims to the contrary. Their demo numbers following Survivor are not good and they lose their time slot consistently to shows it shouldn't be. If Seal Team gets some better writers it might become a watchable show for me but right now it is not, it is a bore
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