Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 65

-r SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2011 WWW.FREEP.COM 3E TTf Writer recalls memorable moments from 1-8-7' 2 5, ft I i A i Native Detroiter Phonz (born Phononzell) Williams worked as a staff writer for the first season of "Detroit 1-8-7." The 27-year-old University of Michigan and King High School graduate says he "committed to working with the Ml, 11 1- r- I I I 'V MARK H. PRESTONABC Coroner Abbey Ward (Erin Cummings), left, and Lt Maureen Mason (Aisha Hinds) discuss the death of a young woman who was shot in her SUV, a case that was eventually connected to the foster care system. Erin Cummings, Jon Michael Hill and episode that dealt with the killing of Tune in tonight AT FREEP.COM WANT TO TALK ABOUT "DETROIT 1-8-7" AND THE SEASON FINALE? JOIN FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER B.J. HAMMERSTEIN FOR A WEB CHAT AT 1P.M. M0NDAYATFREEP.COM.

The broadcast: The "Detroit 1-8-7" season finale airs at 10 tonight on ABC (WXYZ-TV, Channel 7). Rock vs. Rap Charity Bowl-off: There will be lots of action tonight at the Majestic entertainment complex to celebrate "Detroit 1-8-7." Events include a fund-raiser at the Garden Bowl for '1-8-7" star Erin Cummings' Mittens for Detroit campaign and the Detroit Police Flower Fund. Rock, rap and media personalities will compete at the bowling alley for charity. Some of the stars include Cummings, Paradime, Trick Trick, Royce da Dirty Americans and personalities from CIMX-FM (88.7) and WJLB-FM (97.9).

A bowling afterparty and "1-8-7" viewing party will be held at the Majestic and Magic Stick. Raffles, prizes and more entertainment are planned. 6 p.m.-2 a.m., the Majestic, 4120 Woodward, Detroit. 313-833-9700. Open donation at the door.

Supporting the 'Detroit 1-8-7' Finale Event Hosted by SiriusXM's "The WowShane Radio Show" and featuring live entertainment and door prizes, this event will deliver 5Q of its proceeds to Detroit nonprofit Blight Busters. This viewing party is organized by the Keep "Detroit 1-8-7" on ABC fan page on Facebook. 8 p.m.-midnight, Motor City Java House The Artist Village, 17336 Lahser, Detroit. $10. ducers to reapply for film credits.

The network isn't expected to decide the fate of until May. HOPES AND FEARS Detroit-based Embarco Entertainment CEO Mikey Eckstein, who has helped the "1-8-7" team with everything from housing for cast and crew members to getting people acclimated to the city, said he believes ABC will order a sec- ond season. Eckstein, who is hosting a viewing party tonight at the Majestic Theatre, works on other film-related projects in Michigan. He fears that "1-8-7" could be moved to Atlanta (where the pilot was filmed) or Toronto and that he might be forced to relocate his business. "It's going to suck on so many levels if it's not back in Detroit," he said.

"I don't know what my future and my family's would be like in Michigan without this industry, this is my career. I personally have been in talks with another show that was going to film a 14-part series in Detroit but that like so many other projects is now in serious jeopardy of happening here." Others observers are more positive. USA Today TV reporter Robert Bianco said that even ratings and expenses decide whether or not it wants to be the network telling the quality story that "Detroit' is telling," Bianco said. "The question is: Does the network have faith' Specifically, have they seen something special these last few episodes?" CHANNEL 7: FINGERS CROSSED Ed Fernandez, vice president and general manager of WXYZ-TV (Channel 7), the Detroit ABC affiliate that reaped the rewards of the show's strong local ratinps, said ABC has been "incredibly supportive" of "1-8-7" and is hoping the series is renewed in May. "We rermtin optimistic but understand the realities that face the programmers at the network," Fernandez said.

'Detroit 1-8-7' has shown tremendous story-line growth over the past few months and it is our hope that they recognize that" Series fan Lii dsay Warren, 34, who runs a marketing and PR consulting firm in Royal Oak, launched the Keep "Detroit 1-8-7" on ABC page on Facebook in November because she wanted to show her support. The page, which now has more than 5,000 folbwers, is a fan-based communitt that links to an online petition vhere signatures are gathered to send to ABC. She has orgarized a season-finale viewing party MARK H. CKtS I ONABC Aisha Hinds on the set of a "1-8-7" a high school girl. Facebook page and similar online efforts.

"There are so many people from al over the country that want to see '1-8-7' back filming in Detroit and on ABC this fall." I CONTACT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER B.J. HAMMERSTEIN: 313-2234528 OR BJHAMMERSTEINFREEPRESS.COM. 7' Weekly coworkers includes diehard pop culture junkies who keep her up to date on the latest trends with lots of office chatter and gossip. Sadly, she says, "Detroit 1-8-7" never really lit up her hot-topics radar. "I was watching it early on and was really rooting for it," says Reinstein, who has been at Us for nine years.

"I still check the ratings all the time. But, at this point, I don't think it's going to be renewed. It would be a huge shock if it lives to see a second season. "I don't think it was the right show for the female-friendly ABC. It could work, maybe, on a cable network, where it could find its niche audience.

But there wasn't anything new on 1-8-7" that we didn't see 15 years before on 'NYPD If 1-8-7' were actually a hit show, I would have so much pride in it and would be telling everyone: 'Wow, look at this huge hit that is done entirely in Unfortunately, the 'Imported from Detroit' shirts are way cooler than the 'Detroit 1-8-7' shirts." STAGE! HUIIGEY are part of the equation, "1-8-7" will survive to see a second season because ABC sees it as a high-quality program it wants to keep around. "Of all the shows that premiered on the broadcast networks this year, 'Detroit' is the only one I'll be deeply sorry to see not return," Bianco said. "It's the only show that is dealing with serious inner-city life, that is trying to tell a story about a great American city fighting to come back." He added that he doubts "1-8-7" could have a life outside ABC, even though there have been instances when a series successfully switched networks such as in 2009, when NBC's low-rated cop drama "Southland" was resurrected on sister network TNT. "ABC is going to have to "I love the whole cast, to be honest. It's a well-rounded-out cast of characters that are not only interesting but believable.

I can't lie, though. The biggest star of the show for me is Detroit. I recognize every part of the city featured in the show and it makes me swell with pride weekly to see the city that I love so much the city that has taken quite a beating featured so favorably on national TV." SHAUN ROBINSON, 'ACCESS HOLLYWOOD' Cass Tech graduate Shaun Robinson is a busy woman. As weekend cohost of "Access Hollywood," Robinson spends most of her time tracking down celebrities and Hollywood-centric headlines for the popular entertainment show. The Spelman College graduate even added author to her '-V iV i Shaun Robinson Proud former Detroiters weigh writers and pro ducers at making Detroit as au- V- I sible." Here are some ff ol his takes on memorable Mo- 1-8-7' writ-town moments er Phonz from the first Williams season: "BROKEN ENGAGEMENT TRASHMAN" (NOV.

9): With their personal and professional relationship hitting a speed bump, Stone (D.J. Cotrona) and Sanchez (Natalie Martinez) are paired with third wheel Fitch (Michael Imperioli) to investigate the murder of an executive working out of the Wayne State University research and technology park called TechTown. Williams: "While most people think of Detroit as the Motor City, we really wanted to showcase the innovation of what other businesses were doing in the city and how fierce competition could be." "SHELTER" (DEC. 7): After two decayed bodies are discovered, Mahajan (Shaun Majumder) and Longford (James McDan-iel) are called to an underground fallout shelter near the area where the riots occurred i in 1967. Skeletons from the city's closet are revealed in a touching story tackling the sensitive issues of race and the riots.

Williams: "All of our episodes are extremely meaningful to me, but this one really touched me a lot because of my family history and their personal connection to those five days of mayhem. To a certain extent, we're still feeling the effects of what happened. I felt pride in the way this story was told and the characters that were created." "ICE MAN MALIBU" (JAN. 4): The "1-8-7" detectives have to work under the Hollywood spotlight as they're called onto a film set to investigate the homicide of a huge movie star who is filming in Detroit. Williams: "We were all cracking up when we read the draft of the script.

It was really fun for us to spin the Hollywood movie life into the '1-8-7' world." HAMMERSTEIN BtNNV ANDf RSSON BJORN ILVAflS' THE SMASH HIT MLSICAl A8BA" fisher Theatre April 13-17 Special Matinee Thurs. 414 at 1PM ricketmaster.com, 800-982-2787, box office Info: 313-872-10 DO, BroadwaylnDftroit.com, ridxom 4 1 Croups of 12: or in Detroit sponsored by your Southeastern Michigan Lincoln dealers It m.ri If Pill I iflf tonight at the Motor City Java House and Artist Village. It will be a fund-raising event for the Detroit nonprofit Blight Busters, "It's really all about showing our support for the show in a positive way that doesn't slam the network," she said of the in on 1 8 brings a lot of excitement to that area. The people I've talked to here, they all seem to really enjoy the characters and the plot -1 haven't heard anyone say they didn't like the show. I love my city and would love to see it back for a second season." MARA REINSTEIN, US WEEKLY It has been 17 years since Mara Reinstein lived in 1 Michigan.

But Us I Weekly's senior wiiiki, wiiu yrduu- ated from North Farmington High School in 1994, still has Detroit on her mind and in her heart. She proudly rocks her Tigers Mara Reinstein hat with its signature Olde English whether she's working in New York City of traveling across the world to track down A-list stars. Reinstein, 35, who also contributes to the Huffington Post, says her diverse group of Us LIVE OH UiY 11 i mm long list of credits in 2009, when she released "Exactly As I Am: Celebrated Women Share Candid Advice with Today's Girls on What It Takes to Believe in Yourself" (Ballantine, $18). Robinson lives on the West Coast these days, but Detroit is where her family is. She tries to visit for work and pleasure as often as possible.

On May 1, she'll moderate the 56th annual NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner at Cobo. Robinson says she doesn't get to watch much television, but receives reports from her family on "Detroit 1-8-7." "I was very excited when I first heard that a show was going to be filmed in my hometown because it would create jobs for the city of Detroit," she says. "I liked the comedic element of the series and continue to cheer for it and hope that it will catch on. "I know at the beginning there were a lot of concerns about the portrayal of the city, but I know that whenever there is a new movie or a TV show shooting, it '-r By BJ. HAMMERSTEIN FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER Plenty of Motor City natives scattered across the country have been tuning in to "Detroit 1-8-7" this season to catch a glimpse of their hometown.

As the show's first season neared its end, three of them shared their thoughts. TRENT VANEGAS, P1NKISTHENEWBL0C.COM Taylor-made Trent Vanegas is a proud metro Detroiter. He attended Wayne State University before graduating from the University of Oklahoma and launching Pink pop culture and gossip vveu sue. He and his Web site relocated to Los Angeles in 2006. MV.

ah? Trent Vanegas Vanegas says he misses the Motown things people who live here take for granted. Scenes featuring coney dogs and quick flashes of the Renaissance Center and the Joe Louis fist are among the visuals he looked forward to seeing each week on "Detroit 1-8-7." He has even posted screencaps from the show on his Twitter page, which says: "See this? This beautiful city is Detroit Rock City!" "I absolutely think 'Detroit 1-8-7' is entertaining not only because it is set and filmed in my beloved Detroit, but because the writing and acting is quite excellent," he says. "I was never a big fan of 'The so I wasn't sure what to expect from Michael Imperioli in this show. He is such a great lead. I knew from the first 10 minutes of the debut episode that he would be fun to watch.

VfcJ h. 1 IxtJ fc 4 tmltS i-i lh MARCH 26, 2011 HAM 2PM $35 FAMILY MCK TICKETS '3 imam call eox crncE 313 687.8S01 CH TICXETHASTE.1 tIUSICIIALL.ORG Lincoln.com LINCOLN 1 Ml.