OZ: GOD'S CHILLIN' (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas set in the Oswald Maximum Security Penitentiary, nicknamed "Oz." This episode examines the role of religion in prison life. Donald Groves, Emerald City's resident cannibal, becomes fascinated with Catholicism when he learns about the concept of trans-substantiation, in which the communion wine and wafer "become" the blood and flesh of Christ. Alvarez turns repentent when his baby is born gravely ill, and promises to cease his boasting and egomania. The copiously abused Beecher suffers a loss of faith and turns to drugs, with the assistance of the ever-smiling, opportunistic O'Reilly, who also convinces him to assist in a legal appeal. Kenny, a sixteen-year-old murderer tried as an adult, comes to Emerald city, and his loyalty is torn between Said's Muslim group and Keane's gang. Sickened by his dissolute, criminal life, Keane experiences a change of heart and turns to Said for spiritual guidance, to the shock and contempt of his fellow gang members. The FBI comes to Oz to investigate the recent spate of murders there, and O'Reilly decides to eliminate the newly contrite Keane, who can link him to the murder. With the help of some thrill-seeking prison guards, he arranges a brutal gladiator-like battle between Keane and two Hispanic inmates. Tensions between the Italian "wiseguys" and black "homies" continue to mount in the wake of the Ortolani murder, with each side upping the ante of crude insults, gruesome warnings, and promises of revenge.
(This program contains nudity, adult language, and adult situations.)
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: July 21, 1997 11:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:56:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:50211
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Prison administration - Drama; Prison gangs - Drama; Prisons - Drama; Asian American Pacific Islanders Collection
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 1997-2003
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Barry Levinson … Executive Producer
- Tom Fontana … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Jim Finnerty … Co-Executive Producer
- Bridget Potter … Supervising Producer
- Debbie Sarjeant … Co-Producer
- de Segonzac, Jean … Director
- David Darlington … Music by
- Stephen Rosen … Music by
- Ernie Hudson … Cast, Leo Glynn
- Terry Kinney … Cast, Tim McManus
- Harold Perrineau … Cast, Augustus Hill
- Eamonn Walker … Cast, Kareem Said
- Edie Falco … Cast, a Guard
- Leon … Cast, Jefferson Keane
- Rita Moreno … Cast, Sister Peter Marie
- Tony Musante … Cast, Nino Schibetta
- J.K. Simmons … Cast, Schillinger
- Lee Tergesen … Cast, Tobias Beecher
- Sean Whitesell … Cast, Donald Groves
- Dean Winters … Cast, O'Reilly
- B.D. Wong … Cast, Father Ray Mukada
- Raul Aranas … Cast, Jorge Vargas
- Elizabeth Rodriguez … Cast, Maritza Alvarez
- Derrick Simmons … Cast, Billie Keane
- Philip Scozzarrella … Cast, Joseph Mineo
- Kirk Acevedo … Cast, Miguel Alvarez
- Zeljko Ivanek … Cast, Governor James Devlin
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje … Cast, Simon Adebisi
- George Morfogen … Cast, Bob Rebadow
- Skipp Sudduth … Cast, Lenny Burrano
- Scott Cohen … Cast, Agent Jeremy Goldstein
- O.L. Duke … Cast, Paul Markstram
- Goodfella Mike G. … Cast, Joey D'Angelo
- Benny Nieves … Cast, Carlos Rodrigo
- Steve Ryan … Cast, Officer Mike Healy
- J.D. Williams … Cast, Kenny Wangler