Ian Then Some...The Articles & Interviews
Star Magazine
The creators of
Dawson's Creek
have sussed out that they're onto such a good thing that it's time to brighten
up our Saturday evenings with brand-new teen drama -
Young Americans.
It's a sleek, spirited and sassy show which will be hitting Channel 5 with a
vengeance from May 19. One of the stars of the show, Will Krudski, who appeared
in a few episodes of Dawson's
as Pacey's long-lost friend, arrives at Rawley Academy - an exclusive, all-boys
boarding school - as a scholarship student. Rawley is a beautiful area of New
England with views to rival Capeside, but it's a far more lively and
down-to-earth town, despite simmering tension between the privileged
private-school students and the working-class locals. But at least the students
speak more like regular teenagers than qualified psychiatrists.
On the surface, Rawley Academy is an exclusive establishment for a privileged
elite but a few of its students harbor some pretty dark secrets that raise their
ugly heads as the eight-episode series premiers...
Scout Calhoun
Scout is Will's room-mate, and a golden boy with everything going for him.
Dynamic, sporty and self-assured, the world is this man's oyster. It's not
until he meets Bella that life suddenly takes an impossibly complicated turn.
Played by Mark Famiglietti
Mark is as much of a golden boy as Scout- he was class president in high school
- but abandoned his drama degree for Hollywood. He has a passion for the stock
market and plans to return to school one day to study economics or marketing.
But his real ambition is to succeed as an actor, writer and producer - he's
already written two screenplays.
Bella Banks
Bella's the stunning local girl who effortlessly wins the hearts of both Will
and Scout. She's sweet, sunny-natured and genuine but her over-protective
father is less endearing. Convinced that Rawley boys are only after one thing,
he's quick to shatter the budding romance between Bella and Scout with some
devastating news.
Played by Kate
Bosworth
Champion horse rider Kate, 18, is the baby of the cast, who won her first role
in The Horse Whisperer
at 14. She has since appeared in various films, including
The Newcomers
and Remember The Titans
with Denzel Washington.
Hamilton Fleming
A more rebellious character, despite - or because of - being the Dean's son.
Enigmatic and edgy, his independence of mind and spirit endear him to Jake but
the intimacy of their friendship leads to some searching questions about his
sexuality.
Played by Ian Somerhalder
It comes as no surprise to learn that LA-born Ian is a former model, whose work
took him on an exciting path around Europe for four years while his mates were
slaving away at high school. He was involved with the local theatre group
through his high school days and, at the age of 17, committed himself to acting
as a career.
Ryder
Gregor Ryder's (note -his character is listed as Ryder Forrest in all of the scripts) the obnoxious Rawley student with a penchant for making trouble, who'll stop at nothing to get his own way and repeatedly crosses the paths of the Rawley gang.
Played by Charlie Hunnam
Charlie launched his career back in 1989, playing Jason in Byker Grove. However, he's better known over here for playing wild-boy Nathan in Queer As Folk, the outrageous Channel 4 drama about a group of gay men living it up in Manchester. Twenty-one-year-old Charlie's based in Cumbria, but recently he's been working in the US and establishing himself as a TV actor over there.
Jake Pratt
Softly-spoken Jake has a startling secret - he's actually a she, who's disguised herself as a boy in a bid to win attention from her mother. Leading her secret double life is manageable until the chemistry between her and Hamilton becomes overwhelming. It's no surprise that their relationship generated the biggest response from US fans.
Played by Katherine Moennig
Having been involved in school productions since the age of 10, she's a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Young Americans is the 24-year-old's first TV role as Katherine is best known for her theatre work.
Will Krudski
A local working-class boy, Will won a scholarship to attend Rawley - but desperation to escape a tyrannical father drove him to some desperate measures when it came to the entrance exam. It's a dark secret that he can't keep to himself - and though he only reveals the truth to one person, the story spreads further afield.
Played by Rodney Scott
Although Washington-born Rodney dutifully enrolled in college after graduation, the allure of acting won out, and he dropped out to travel to Hollywood. His dedication started to pay off in 1998, when the roles began to flood in.
Young Americans Episode Guide
Warning! Plotlines Revealed
1. Pilot, The Beginning
The first episode sets the scene and fills us in on the gang's background stories. Will is wracked with guilt over the devious way he won his scholarship to Rawley while Scout and Bella experience love at first sight. Meanwhile, outsiders Hamilton and Jake bond immediately.
2. Our Town
The ongoing tension between the Rawley locals and the Academy students poses increasing problems for Will, who has a foot in both worlds. Scout and Bella are struggling to come to terms with their newly platonic relationship and a night out ends in a brawl.
3. Kiss and Tell
The third episode opens with the arrival of glamorous, sophisticated Paige Bennett, a new student at Rawley Girls Academy, who's determined to win Scout's heart - to Bella dismay. Will has a run-in with an obnoxious upperclassman, Ryder; while Hamilton has his eye on someone new - who makes an unexpected pass at Jake.
4. Cinderbella
Will plucks up the courage to ask his dream date, Caroline, to come to the Rawley Summer Cotillion with him. Hamilton and Jake share an intimate moment, while Scout tries to make his evening with Paige a success, but neither Scout nor Bella are finding it easy to forget about each other.
5. Winning Isn't Everything
It's Parent's Weekend at Rawley. Scout can't wait for Bella to meet his father, but she's a little more realistic about how he's likely to react to her. Jake struggles to keep her new identity a secret from her mother.
6. Gone
Ryder starts causing more trouble for Scout, Will and Bella and they embark upon a mission to retrieve a confessional letter before it destroys their lives. Hamilton and Jake finally go on their first proper date.
7. Free Will
Will's euphoric when he becomes poetry tutor to his dream woman, until he learns that Ryder's all set to ruin everything for him. Bella's 16th birthday brings the surprise of a lifetime while rumors begin to fly around Rawley Academy about Jake and Hamilton's blossoming romance.
8. Will Bella Scout Her Mom?
In the final episode of the series, all the year's simmering tensions and unresolved issues come to a head, as the gang find themselves stranded in a cabin overnight. Jake's identity is revealed and Will is horrified to learn that his scholarship funds are withdrawn. Bella has to fight for her family's livelihood, and tracks down the mother she hasn't spoken to for 10 years, which leads to some unexpected revelations about the past.