Q&A with Executive Producer Clyde Phllips
How is this season different from previous seasons?
This season on Nurse Jackie, we're going to more deeply explore the consequences of Jackie's behavior: the shrapnel that affected everyone in her life because she was a drug addict. We're also introducing three new characters:
Dr. Ike Prentiss (Morris Chestnut), a veteran doctor with several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan under his belt. He's a no bullshit, get-it-done medical professional...not unlike Jackie in many ways. Dr. Carrie Roman (Betty Gilpin), a first-year resident. She's a beautiful young woman who has had the road smoothed for her whole life. Now she's in the thick of a life and death world and is put to the test. Oh, and she's as funny and quirky as she is beautiful. Sergeant Frank Verelli (Adam Ferrara), an NYPD patrol cop, confident and warm. He becomes Jackie's love interest. Also, Grace, Jackie's daughter, will be acting out like any teenager would. Well, not just any teenager. She is, after all, the child of a drug addict.
What is the biggest change in Jackie’s life and how will she deal with it now that she is clean?
Her daughter will be acting out and her divorce will be finalized. Her daily life will be filled with the battle that any newly clean addict endures: wanting to back-slide. And she's going to meet a man, a healthy non-danger guy. This will be the first time in her life that she's dated a man while completely sober. We'll be rooting for her to make the right choice.
How is running a comedy different than running a drama?
Interestingly, running Nurse Jackie is similar to running Dexter. Each character has a deep, dark secret that she/he has to keep from her family and colleagues. Only the audience gets to know what Jackie (or Dexter) is really thinking and feeling. Also, in each of these shows, there are real and surprising moments of inner realization and growth. Mining the comedy out of the heavy drama is always a challenge, but when it works, it's just so satisfying. Really, it's all about storytelling; the trick is to make it authentic and original and entertaining.
What attracted you to working on Nurse Jackie?
Nurse Jackie was at a crossroads when I came aboard, poised to move to the next level. This was a show that had been on the air for four years and SHOWTIME was looking to push it further than before. So, coming to this show was attractive because I wasn't being asked to babysit an established show, but to help re-imagine it and to stretch its boundaries.
BIOS
EDIE FALCO
(Jackie Peyton)
EDIE FALCO has broken many awards records. For her role as Jackie Peyton in Nurse Jackie, she has won the Emmy® for “Best Actress in a Comedy,” thus making her the only actress to have won an Emmy® in both the comedy and drama categories. This year, she broke the Screen Actors Guild record by earning her 19th nomination; 11 for individual achievement and 8 for her ensemble work. Other credits include winner in AFI’s Top Ten TV Programs of 2009, as well as a 2009 Golden Globe®. She became the only actress to ever receive the Emmy® Award for ‘Outstanding Lead Actress in a Dramatic Series,’ the Golden Globe® Award for ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a Dramatic Television Series,’ and the SAG Award for ‘Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama,’ all in the same year for her performance as ‘Carmela Soprano’ in the groundbreaking series The Sopranos’ debut season. She has subsequently been nominated for each award for every eligible television season, winning two additional Emmy® Awards, another Golden Globe® Award and SAG Award, as well as the American Film Institute’s Award for ‘Female Television Actor of the Year.’ Most recently, she appeared on Broadway with Ben Stiller in House of Blue Leaves in which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress.
When she received the Television Critics Association Award (TCA) for ‘Individual Achievement in Drama,’ it was the first time in the history of the TCA that this Award was presented to a woman. She is also known to television audiences for her recurring roles in the dramatic series Oz and the acclaimed NBC series Law & Order and Homicide. Falco made her Broadway debut in the Tony® Award-winning play Sideman, which she originated in its off-Broadway production. For her performance, she received a Theatre World Award and a Drama Desk Award nomination for ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play.’ She went on to make her London stage debut in the West End premiere of Sideman, and thereafter opened the London production of the highly successful play The Vagina Monologues. When Falco starred opposite Stanley Tucci in the lauded revival of Frankie And Johnny In The Claire De Lune, the play broke four house box-office records at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre, making it the most successful play on Broadway all season. More recently she appeared off-Broadway in the highly-acclaimed “This Wide Night.” Falco can currently be seen on Broadway starring in The Madrid, a play written by Nurse Jackie writer Liz Flahive.
For the feature film Cost Of Living, Falco received the American Film Institute’s ‘Best Actress’ Award. Her performance in the film Laws Of Gravity earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for ‘Best Female Lead Actor.’ Her other film credits include A Price Above Rubies, Copland, Trouble Corner, Private Parts, Hurricane, Layin’ Low, Breathing Room, The Funeral, The Addiction, Bullets Over Broadway, Trust, The Unbelievable Truth, Random Hearts and the title character in the award-winning film Judy Berlin. For her performance in John Sayles’ Sunshine State, Falco received the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and New York Film Critics Online Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress.’ She also starred in the feature films The Quiet, The Great New Wonderful and Freedomland.
EVE BEST
(Dr. Eleanor O’Hara)
EVE BEST is an award-winning classically trained British actress. She has twice been nominated for a Tony Award: in 2008 for her portrayal of ‘Ruth’ in The Homecoming, and in 2007 for the role of ’Josie,’ in Moon for the Misbegotten (in which she starred opposite Kevin Spacey). In addition to the Tony nomination for Moon, she won both the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Actress.
After reading English at Oxford, Best trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). She made her professional London stage debut starring opposite Jude Law in Tis Pity She’s a Whore, and won both the Evening Standard Award for Outstanding Newcomer and the London Critics Circle Award for Most Promising Newcomer 1999. In 2003, she won the London Critics Circle award for Best Actress in Mourning Becomes Electra, and in 2005, she won both the Olivier Award for Best Actress and the London Critics Circle Award for Hedda Gabler.
Her additional theater credits include The Duchess of Malfi, Much Ado About Nothing, Three Sisters, The Coast of Utopia, The Heiress, and The Cherry Orchard As You Like It, The Misanthrope and Macbeth.
She starred as the title role in Dolley Madison for PBS in addition to such British television credits as Final Flight, The Shadow Line, Prime Suspect VII, Lie With Me and Shackleton.
Her feature film debut was in the Academy® Award nominated The King’s Speech, directed by Tom Hooper, starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush, in which she plays Wallis Simpson, opposite Guy Pearce and she has just started shooting on the feature Someone You Love.
MERRITT WEVER
(Zoey Barkow)
MERRITT WEVER graduated from LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts.
Wever has appeared in such feature films as Righteous Kill, Into The Wild, Michael Clayton, Neal Cassady, Twelve & Holding, A Hole In One, Season Of Youth, Bringing Rain, Signs, Series 7: The Contenders, The Adventures Of Sebastian Cole, Arresting Gena, Tough (‘Best Actor’ award, First Run Film Festival), Greenberg, The Missing Person and Tiny Furniture.
Her television credits include Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, Conviction, ¼ Life, NCIS, The Wire, Blue River, Something The Lord Made, The Good Wife. She was nominated for a 2012 Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Nurse Jackie.
Her theater appearances include Sam & Lucy, Bad Girls, Smashing, Cave Dweller, Roulette, Cape Cod Souvenirs, To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday, Running On Earth, Here We Are, Children Of The Flames, Female of the Species, Touch(ed), The Illusion and Uncle Vanya (2012 Joe A. Callaway Award).
PAUL SCHULZE
(Eddie Walzer)
PAUL SCHULZE is a true New Yorker: he was raised on the East Side and attended S.U.N.Y. Purchase in Westchester County where he was exposed to theater. Not long after graduating, he landed his first feature film role in the critically acclaimed, independent film Laws of Gravity, which co-starred fellow S.U.N.Y. Purchase alum Edie Falco. Schulze went on to star in numerous films and television series, most notably in The Sopranos where he played ‘Father Phil Intintola,’ a priest with an arguably inappropriate fondness for ‘Carmela Soprano’ (played by Falco). He also appeared for three seasons in the hugely successful series 24 as CTU director ‘Ryan Chappelle’ before his character’s unexpected and controversial demise.
Schulze’s other film credits include Panic Room, where he played the rookie cop opposite Jodie Foster in one of the film’s most memorable and intense scenes, and Rambo, the latest installment in the franchise, where he played missionary ‘Michael Burnett’ who continually butts heads with Sylvester Stallone’s character.
Schulze turned in an emotional performance on the crime-drama Law & Order: SVU, playing ‘Patrick Holbart,’ a father who has unknowingly sold his children into a human trafficking ring. He also recently guest starred on various TV series such as Fairly Legal, Person of Interest, Franklin & Bash, and The Mentalist. Paul will next appear in the road trip comedy You Are Here alongside Zack Galifianakis, Amy Poehler, and Owen Wilson.
DOMINIC FUMUSA
(Kevin Peyton)
DOMINIC FUMUSA recently starred in Sarah Ruhl's critically-acclaimed Passion Play in New York. Other recent stage work includes Stephen Belber’s hit play Fault Lines, directed by David Schwimmer at the Cherry Lane Theater. In New York and in London, Fumusa originated the role of ‘Toddy Koovitz’ in Richard Greenberg’s Tony® Award-winning Take Me Out, directed by Joe Mantello. In New York, London and Los Angeles, he created the character of ‘Vince’ (a role that was specifically written for him) in Stephen Belber’s Tape. He also starred in the New York premiere of Melissa James Gibson's Obie Award-winning Sic at SoHo Repertory. Fumusa made his Broadway debut opposite Marisa Tomei and Quentin Tarantino in Wait Until Dark. Other Broadway credits include A Flea In Her Ear at the Roundabout Theater Company. In addition, he portrayed Mitch Albom in a six-month, twelve-city national tour of Tuesdays With Morrie, opposite Harold Gould. Regional credits include plays at the Guthrie, Huntington, Kennedy Center, Actors Theater of Louisville, Williamstown, NY Stage & Film, The Stratford Festival of Canada and Chicago Shakespeare.
Fumusa’s television credits include Damages, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, SHOWTIME’s Brotherhood, Person of Interest, Bones, Kings, NYPD Blue, Hack, Numb3rs, Threshold, and numerous appearances on Law & Order and CSI.
His feature film work includes the recently released independent films Allegiance (with Aidan Quinn), Staten Island / aka Little New York (opposite Ethan Hawke) and Helena FromThe Wedding. Other features include Management (with Jennifer Aniston and Woody Harrelson), This Is A Story About Ted And Alice (opposite Melissa Leo), Dealbreaker (directed and written by Gwyneth Paltrow), Grilled (opposite Burt Reynolds), and The Guru (opposite Heather Graham).
ANNA DEAVERE SMITH
(Mrs. Gloria Akalitus)
ANNA DEAVERE SMITH has performed in film, television and on stage. She has received numerous awards for her work including the prestigious 2013 Gish Prize for achievement in the arts and the 1996 MacArthur Award.
Smith has been featured in several films, including Rachel Getting Married, The American President, The Human Stain, Dave and Rent. She was a regular on the CBS series Presidio Med and she played the National Security advisor on the West Wing.
Smith has been said to have created a new form of theater which combines journalism, dramatic writing and keen acting skills. She creates one-person shows, based on interviews, in which she portrays several characters – as many as 46 in one show. She has toured the US and abroad, to critical acclaim with her plays Fires in the Mirror, Twilight Los Angleles and Let Me Down Easy. Those plays were also broadcast on PBS.
She has received honorary degrees from Juilliard, The University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern among many other schools. She is a professor at New York University and is the author of the books Talk To Me: Travels in Media and Letter to a Young Artist: Straight Up Advice on Making a Life in the Arts. She is founding director of Anna Deavere Smith Works an organization that convenes artists from around the world who use art to enhance the betterment of humankind.
RUBY JERINS
(Grace)
RUBY JERINS played Robert Pattinson’s sister in the Summit feature, Remember Me. In 2010, Jerins starred with Leonardo DiCaprio in the Martin Scorsese feature, Shutter Island.
The daughter of artist Edgar Jerins and actress Alana Jerins, and sister of child actress Sterling Jerins, she made her début in the film The Wedding in 2001, alongside Jaid Barrymore and Stephen C. Bradbury, playing the flower girl. Jerins has also guest-starred or recurred in television series such as Kidnapped, Law & Order, The Guding Light, As The World Turns, Six Degrees and SNL.
Jerins is a trained professional ballet dancer and recently performed a solo with the American Ballet Theatre Company in their production of Les Sylphides at The Metropolitan Opera Theatre in Lincoln Center. She is currently attending the illustrious, La Guardia High School in NYC where she continues to hone her craft.
MACKENZIE ALADJEM
(Fiona)
MACKENZIE ALADJEM started her entertainment industry career when, at the age of seven, she was cast as "Molly" in the National Broadway Tour of Annie. Recent film credits include The Lincoln Lawyer and This is Forty, and other television credits include the Lifetime movie Of Two Minds, and recurring roles in The Middle, All My Children, and Passions. When she's not acting, Aladjem loves to sing, dance, and play with her four dogs Charlie, Jackson, Lucy and Lucky.
PETER FACINELLI
(Dr. Fitch Cooper)
PETER FACINELLI recently appeared on the big screen as Dr. Carlisle Cullen in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. He also starred in the previous four installments of the blockbuster franchise, Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Twiglight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, all of which are based on Stephenie Meyer's #1 New York Times best-selling literary series.
Last summer, Facinelli traveled to Bogota, Colombia to film Gallows Hill, directed by Victor Garcia and written by Richard Do’Ovidio. He also recently completed work in the independent film Freezer, which stars Dylan McDermott. His past film credits include Penny Marshall's Riding in Cars with Boys with Drew Barrymore, The Scorpion King opposite Dwayne Johnson, the dramedy Finding Amanda with Matthew Broderick, Tempted with Burt Reynolds and Saffron Burroughs, a starring role in Walter Hills' sci-fi thriller Supernova with James Spader and Angela Bassett, The Big Kahuna opposite Kevin Spacey and Danny Devito, Dancer, Texas, Pop 81, Foxfire, alongside Angelina Jolie, and the cult classic Can’t Hardly Wait opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt.
For television, Facinelli’s past television credits include the following: a pivotal supporting role on the 2007 season of Damages, FX's award winning legal thriller starring Glenn Close; a recurring role on the award winning HBO Series Six Feet Under, for which he shared the cast's 2005 nomination for the SAG Award for Best Ensemble in a Drama; as well as a starring role in McG's sexy one-hour drama Fastlane in 2003.
In 2010, Facinelli started a production company, A7sle Films. A7sle Films' first feature, Loosies, was released earlier this year by IFC. Facinelli wrote and starred in the fast-paced dramatic comedy about a successful pickpocket in the New York City subways. The company has produced projects across film, TV and digital platforms with Electus, 5x5, Boom Comics, College Humor, YouTube, ISH, and ARC Productions. A7sle Films has acquired the rights to several properties including Street Soldier: My Life as an Enforcer for Whitey Bulger and the Boston Irish Mob by Edward Mackenzie Jr. and Phyllis Karas, My Name Is Not Isabella Jennifer Fosberry's New York Times bestselling children's storybooks, and The Last Word a documentary that tells the chilling true story of Johnny Frank Garrett.
A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Facinelli splits his time between New York and Los Angeles.
BOBBY CANNAVALE
(Miguel Cruz)
BOBBY CANNAVALE worked with legendary director, Woody Allen on his soon to be released untitled film. Other film credits include Roadie, Weakness, Win Win, The Station Agent (Audience Award, Sundance Film Festival; SAG Award nomination), The Other Guys, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, Diminished Capacity, Fast Food Nation, The Night Listener, Snakes on a Plane, Haven, Shall We Dance, Happy Endings, Romance & Cigarettes, Gloria, The Bone Collector and Washington Heights.
His many television appearances include Boardwalk Empire, Nurse Jackie (Emmy nomination), Modern Family, Will and Grace (Emmy Award), Six Feet Under and the starring role in Cupid.
He is a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company. He received the 2011 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play, as well as a Tony nomination for his performance in The Motherf**cker with the Hat. He made his Broadway debut in 2008 in Theresa Rebeck’s, Mauritius (Tony nomination). He also received rave reviews in the 2005 Off-Broadway revival of Hurlyburly. He most recently starred on Broadway opposite Al Pacino in David Mamet’s, Glengarry Glen Ross.
MORRIS CHESTNUT
(Dr. Ike Prentiss)
MORRIS CHESTNUT is in high demand for leading roles in major motion pictures, having starred in films such as Think Like A Man, Not Easily Broken, The Game Plan and Ladder 49.
Born in Cerritos, California, the athletic actor grew up playing sports and attended college at Cal State Los Angeles before entering the film business in 1990 with a small role in Freddy's Nightmares. This led him to a memorable co-starring role as high school football player, Ricky Baker, in director John Singleton's acclaimed Boyz n the Hood, a part that brought the actor into mainstream Hollywood stardom.
Among his many credits are the films The Cave, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, Like Mike, The Last Boy Scout, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, G.I. Jane, The Best Man, The Brothers, Breaking All the Rules, Confidence, Two Can Play That Game, G.I. Jane, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, and The Inkwell.
Most recently, Chestnut starred in Identity Thief (Melissa McCarthy and Jason Batemen) and The Call (Halle Berry), and will next been seen in Kick-Ass 2 (Jim Carrey).
He has also appeared on numerous television series such as American Horror Story, V, and C-16: FBI.
STEPHEN WALLEM
(Thor)
STEPHEN WALLEM was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois and worked as a stage actor and After Dark Award-winning cabaret singer in Chicago before moving to New York to make his television debut on NURSE JACKIE. National tours include Forever Plaid, Into The Woods and Scrooge with Richard Chamberlain. He accrued nearly 2,500 performances as both ‘Jinx’ and ‘Sparky’ in various companies of Forever Plaid, including Chicago, Las Vegas, Denver and the first national tour.
Wallem portrayed 'Hazel' in the Encores! City Center production of Pipe Dream, 'Judas’/‘Padre’ in the Court Theatre’s acclaimed production of Man Of La Mancha (After Dark Award for ‘Outstanding Performance,’ Joseph Jefferson Award for ‘Best Ensemble’) and reprised his performance at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven. For the Ravinia Festival, he appeared with Tony® winners Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Michael Cerveris and George Hearn in A Little Night Music, Passion, Sunday In The Park With George and Doll with David Hyde Pierce (all directed by Lonny Price). In New York, Wallem originated the role of ‘Arvid’ in the Broadway workshop of Kristina, written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA. He also performed his cabarets Off the Wallem and Schwartz and All at Don't Tell Mama and Birdland along with guest appearances in the Sondheim Unplugged series at 54 Below. He teamed with Edie Falco for a sold-out run of the original cabaret The Other Steve and Edie at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.
Wallem is also a playwright, composer, and director. Along with longtime collaborator Danny Musha, he is the author of Something on My Mind, produced by Ben Vereen for Good Vibes and the musical Frozen River, which work-shopped at Lamb's Theater in Manhattan. He co-directed Is There Life After High School? at Chicago Academy for the Arts, and wrote and directed Crisis at Broadway High. Wallem and Musha's ballad "Another New Place" was recorded by cabaret duo Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael for their latest CD, Better Two-gether.
BETTY GILPIN
(Dr. Carrie Roman)
BETTY GILPIN recently created the role of ‘Elizabeth’ in the premiere of Sam Shepard’s Heartless at the Signature Theatre in New York. She made her Off-Broadway debut in the Second Stage’s production of Roberto Aguirre-Saca’s Good Boys and True and appeared in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of The Language Archive, the Second Stage’s production of Howard Korder’s Boys Life and in the Manhattan Theatre Club’s productions of That Face and We Live Here. She co-starred with Wendie Malick in Noah Haidle’s two character play, What is the Cause of Thunder? At the Williamstown Theatre Festival and also co-starred in the world premiere of Lucas Kavner’s Fish Eye at Here in New York. Television and film appearances include The Good Wife, Past Life, The Unusuals, Possible Side Effects, Fringe, New Amsterdam, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: SVU, Medium, Death in Love, The Northern Kingdom, Ghost Town with Ricky Gervais and the soon-to-be released Beach Pillows. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree at Fordham College at Lincoln Center and lives in New York City.
ADAM FERRARA
(Officer Frank Verelli)
ADAM FERRARA, the stand-up comedian and actor who Entertainment Weekly dubbed “hilarious,” proudly played Chief Needles Nelson on the Emmy® nominated FX drama Rescue Me. He has also costarred alongside Kevin James in the hit movie Paul Blart: Mall Cop and in Definitely Maybe with Ryan Reynolds and Isla Fisher.
Besides hosting the critically-acclaimed BBC sensation, Top Gear US, Ferrara is an internationally touring headliner. A two-time nominee for best male stand-up by the American Comedy Awards, he appears on numerous TV shows, including The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Late Show With David Letterman, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, The View and Rachael Ray. His third comedy special is entitled Funny as Hell where he brings the stage to life with his honest, clever and fearless perspective on family, relationships and himself.
Ferrara began his TV career on NBC’s Caroline in the City. Since then, he has appeared as a series regular in the critically acclaimed ABC series The Job, which also starred Denis Leary. He also guest-starred on NBC’s Law & Order and was a frequent guest star on the CBS hit The King Of Queens and ABC’s Ugly Betty. At a Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, Denis Leary was quoted as saying, “Adam Ferrara is a great comedian, but he’s really pissing me off now because he’s become such a great dramatic actor.”
Apart from opening for his comedy idol, George Carlin, and performing at both Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall, Ferrara was asked to perform at a benefit for the President and all of the Senators. Stuck in traffic on the way to the event, Ferrara quipped, “I’m still moving faster than Congress.”
CLYDE PHILLIPS
Executive Producer
Veteran showrunner Clyde Phillips has vast experience in both drama and comedy, having been the showrunner of the SHOWTIME hit Dexter for four years. Additionally, he created Get Real, Suddenly Susan, and Parker Lewis Can’t Lose; as well as working on Boomtown as Consulting Producer. Prior to that, Phillips produced several made-for-television movies including Police Story and Charles & Diana. A national best-selling mystery novelist, Phillips’s fourth book “Unthinkable” will be published this Spring.
He lives in Wilton, Connecticut and on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
RICHIE JACKSON
Executive Producer
RICHIE JACKSON is the president of Jackson Group Entertainment, a production and management firm. His producing credits include the Broadway musical A Catered Affair (‘Best Musical,’ Drama League Award) written by Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino, directed by John Doyle, and the film Shortbus, written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell. Jackson recently produced the highly-acclaimed off-Broadway play This Wide Night starring Edie Falco.
TOM STRAW
Executive Producer
TOM STRAW is an Emmy and Writer’s Guild-nominated writer-producer as well as New York Times best-selling author.
After a decade as a DJ, radio programmer, and TV weathercaster, Straw began his television writing career on the CBS sitcom, Mary. After joining the hit NBC series Night Court, his writing was recognized with two WGA “Best Comedy Writer” nominations in consecutive years and the show was nominated for an Emmy for “Best Comedy Series.”
Straw co-executive produced Parker Lewis Can’t Lose in its first season (his first of several collaborations with Clyde Phillips), then went on to become executive producer of Good & Evil and Nurses, for which he also wrote and directed multiple episodes. He also directed episodes for The Home Court. Straw has also executive produced Dave’s World and Grace Under Fire for which he was also the head writer. After moving to the New York Area, Straw to over as the head writer and executive producer of Cosby and later, Whoopi. Other television credits include a stint as a writer for The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Straw’s first novel, The Trigger Episode, a mystery, was published in 2007 by Carroll & Graf, New York. Under a pseudonym, he subsequently has written four mystery novels, all of which have been top-10 New York Times Bestsellers. He lives in Connecticut with his family.
SYNOPSES
Episode 501 - "Happy Fucking Birthday"
Written By: Clyde Phillips
Directed By: Randall Einhorn
An overturned bus makes for a crazy day at All Saints. Two new doctors join the staff: Dr. Carrie Roman, a resident who fucked her way to the middle, and Dr. Ike Prentiss, a badass Army doc. Dr. Eleanor O’Hara just wants to spend every minute with her new son. Coop is wary of Prentiss but starts crushing on Carrie. And in the middle of the chaos, Akalitus gives Eddie back his old job. After witnessing yet another tense morning between the Peytons, Zoey announces that it’s time for her to move out of Jackie’s house and O’Hara tells Jackie it’s her last day at All Saints and she’s moving to London to be with her baby and her family. And all this, the day before Jackie’s birthday. And the end of a long day, Jackie puts one pill into a small jewelry box next to her wedding ring in her night stand. It’s a new year.
Episode 502 – “Luck of the Drawing”
Written By: Tom Straw
Directed By: John Cameron Mitchell
Jackie and Kevin are at a stalemate in their divorce mediation. Unless Jackie can figure out her work hours, Kevin wants full custody. A little boy comes in with a spider in his ear Prentiss uses a skill he picked up serving time in Rikers and coaxes the spider out. Hannah Cohen, a patient from the bus crash is back, she contracted sepsis at All Saints. Zoey is named hand wash monitor while Prentiss is named Chief of the ER. Coop is pissed and wants to quit but Jackie tells him he’ll get respect if he mans up. Jackie takes advantage of Akalitus’s memory lapses and gets her to sign off on a schedule but Kevin surprises her by announcing he’s petitioning for psych tests on the girls. Jackie, overwhelmed by the day, downloads to the only person who will understand. She calls Charlie Cruz’s voicemail. When Jackie gets home, Zoey surprises her with the girls, cake, a piñata, and a surprise Skype guest, O’Hara. Grace releases her wrath on the piñata.
Episode 503 – “Smile”
Written By: Liz Flahive
Directed By: Randall Einhorn
Jackie and Kevin are back in mediation, signing papers for joint custody. After the meeting, Jackie rear ends Kevin and wakes up as a patient in her own ER. Kevin accuses her of using. Zoey does Jackie's intake and Akalitus's forgetfulness is on display as she takes care of Jackie. Coop begins covering for Carrie and taking on a lot more work and more sparks fly. When Carrie checks on Jackie she writes her a script for Oxy, not knowing she's an addict. Officer Frank Verelli comes to get Jackie's statement. There's an instant connection between them and he asks her out on a date. Zoey gets Jackie's approval on her brand new apartment. Prentiss gives Jackie a bunch of pre-signed test approval forms so she doesn't need to clear everything with him. Jackie and Eddie argue over the terms of their relationship. Jackie takes Frank up on his offer and they go out for coffee. Frank takes her home in his cop car and asks her out on another date. She smiles and accepts.
Episode 504 - "Lost Girls"
Written By: Michael Davidoff & Bill Rosenthal
Directed By: Romeo Tirone
An agitated and heavily medicated Jane Doe is brought into the ER. Jackie tasks Zoey with finding out who she is. Coop invites Carrie to dinner, but Carrie has plans. Later, her plans fall through and she comes back to Coop. He stands up to her, refusing to be her fallback, but his attraction gets the better of him and their date is officially back on. Jackie and Kevin are called into Fiona's school because she's been struggling and acting out in class. They vow to be more unified as parents. Jackie catches Grace sneaking around the city to see her much older boyfriend. When Jackie gets back to the hospital, she learns that Akalitus lost Jane Doe just as her concerned husband shows up at the hospital. Akalitus tells Jackie that the "concerned" husband has been drugging Jane Doe and she's helping her get to a safe house. When Prentiss finds out, the nurses unite to take the blame, but he surprises them all by saying if this happens again they should come to him.
Episode 505 - "Good Thing"
Written By: Cindy Caponera
Directed By: Randall Einhorn
Jackie starts her day telling Grace she’s not allowed to go to a school dance with her boyfriend. Jackie is nervous about her date with Frank later that night. Zoey and Thor decide they’ll help her get ready and Eddie offers her some friendly pointers. A dancer comes in with a hurt knee. Prentiss diagnoses it as a sprain and discharges him but Akalitus and Coop catch his spiral fracture just as he’s about to leave. Carrie sexually rewards Coop for his catch. Prentiss and Zoey work in perfect harmony on a pregnant gunshot victim who collapses in the waiting room. Later that night, Jackie and Frank skip the fancy restaurant in favor of a pub. It’s a great date with a good guy. All is going well until Jackie’s phone rings: It’s Mike Cruz, urging her to lose the date. She follows Cruz to his apartment and he confronts her about calling Charlie’s phone. He falls apart talking about Charlie. A moment of shared grief turns into connection and need and they have sex. At the same time, Grace and her friends sneak out to the dance and a surprise police raid separates Grace from Danny and all of her friends. Alone on the streets of New York, Grace frantically tries calling Jackie but all of her calls go to voicemail. Back at Cruz’s apartment, Jackie notices her missed calls and rushes out to pick up Grace.
Episode 506 – “Walk of Shame”
Written By: Abe Sylvia
Directed By: Seith Mann
Jackie and Grace both have to recover from their nights of indiscretion. Jackie and Kevin discipline Grace together. Jackie calls Frank to apologize for running out on him. He asks her for a redo that night, but she says she’ll get back to him. Zoey gets stitched up by Prentiss because she was hit in the head by her shower head. Carrie uses flashcards to strengthen her skills then cons Coop into doing more of her work. A skateboarder comes in with a broken arm. Jackie makes Coop promise he’ll give Carrie the next patient. Cruz enters, ready to do his exit interview. Everyone is unsure how to feel about and act around him. Carrie is forced to take on Louie, a heaving drunken mess with a broken nose. As Carrie tries to treat him, he calls her a cunt. Carrie shows a hint of emotion, which she later channels sexually with Coop. Jackie tells Cruz last night was a mistake, but that’s not how he feels. To him, they’re not a one time thing and he’d like to see her later. Prentiss dismisses Anthony, a young black boy, as a drug seeker, but Jackie orders a few tests. When she checks on Louie, he frees himself of his restraints and pushes Jackie over. The commotion triggers a reaction in Anthony, which Prentiss recognizes as PTSD. Jackie arrives at Cruz’s apartment and gives him a final kiss goodbye. Then she makes the healthier choice and takes Frank up on his offer and they share their first kiss.
Episode 507 – “Teachable Moments”
Written By: Daniele Nathanson
Directed By: Jesse Peretz
Frank cancels his and Jackie's lunch date because he picks up an extra shift at South Street Seaport. Akalitus forgets to hire an escort for a psych patient who ends up laying waste to the pharmacy. Eddie and Jackie, who have reached their limits with Akalitus's forgetfulness, use this as an opportunity to run her blood. Thor is nervous because the night before he got high but they promise to lose his blood sample. Zoey points out Prentiss's terrible bedside manner, both with patients and other hospital staff. While transcribing dictation, Zoey hears Coop and Carrie having sex, unaware the machine was recording. Jackie lectures Coop yet again about his relationship with Carrie, and after Carrie botches an appendicitis diagnosis, Coop finally resolves to mentor her. The hospital shuts down when a call comes in. Cop shot at South Street Seaport. Jackie's whole world stops until she sees the cop isn't Frank. Prentiss saves the cop and is bear hugged by the entire NYPD. This scare brings Jackie and Frank closer together.
Episode 508 - "Forget It"
Written By: Gina Gold & Aurorae Khoo
Directed By: Randall Einhorn
What clearly is going to be "the night" for Jackie and Frank is interrupted by Kevin, figuring she was at work. Kevin is apologetic, but Jackie is angry, lying about how hard it was to get this one night with Frank. "The night" is postponed and Frank leaves. Akalitus's blood results are in and her memory loss is a result of a new medication she's been taking. Akalitus is so relieved to know but wishes she didn't choose to take this burden on herself. Zoey helps Prentiss organize his disaster of an office. Jackie and Grace get into a fight after Jackie discovers Grace left campus for lunch. Jackie is convinced that Grace is sneaking behind her back to see Danny, but Grace assures her they broke up. Frank tells Jackie that after witnessing hers and Kevin's argument, he's worried that's going to be him down the line. He urges her to work on her issues. And so, Jackie attends an AA meeting. In a moment of panic, Carrie makes the right diagnosis on a patient who cannot breathe. Jackie calls Grace to apologize for her behavior earlier. When they hang up, Grace and Danny snort a line together. Jackie makes amends to Kevin her way.
Episode 509 - "Heart"
Written By: Liz Flahive
Directed By: Jesse Peretz
Jackie and Frank have sex for the first time and he tells her he loves her. Akalitus has an extra spring in her step. Coop wants to take his mentoring of Carrie to the next level, but is discouraged to learn that she's working a little too closely with Prentiss. He breaks up with Carrie who is genuinely upset. Kevin and Grace show up at the hospital after Kevin found a bag of pills in Grace's bag. Grace lies about the pills, saying they are Jackie's, so they both get their blood drawn for testing. Jackie delivers Grace to Akalitus and Thor who give her a scared straight tour of the emergency department. Zoey tells Jackie she's nervous about the pill in her night table but Jackie shuts her down, hurting Zoey's feelings. Grace has to assist Jackie with a man who collapses on the sidewalk. Zoey and Prentiss sleep together. Jackie wants the girls to live with Kevin.
Episode 510 - "Soul"
Teleplay By: Clyde Phillips & Tom Straw
Story By: Abe Sylvia
Directed By: Randall Einhorn
It's Jackie's one-year anniversary of sobriety and she's taking her cake today. Jackie and Frank fight. He feels he took a big unreciprocated step forward in their relationship, and now he's taking one backward. Wally, an 80 year old gay man with advanced liver cancer is admitted into the hospital. Thor instantly gravitates toward him. Zoey acts very professionally and rigid around Prentiss after their intimate evening. Jackie is confused by Frank's present, a loaf of horseshoe bread. Carrie is notified there will be a peer review of her first few months of residency. She and Coop plead for her to stay, but Akalitus, Prentiss and Jackie vote against and Carrie is fired. However, after consulting a lawyer, Carrie presents the hostile and inappropriate sexual work environment she's had to work in and Akalitus has no choice but to reinstate her residency. Wally asks Jackie to administer his last rites. When Zoey learns that Grace isn't going to Jackie's anniversary celebration, she rents a car and kidnaps Grace from school. Grace has a breakdown about Jackie. Jackie and Frank make up and he leaves so she can get ready for her ceremony. As she's about to leave the house, Jackie nonchalantly takes the pill from her ring box and swallows it. Jackie arrives at her celebration, stoned, and in front of everyone, including surprise guest O'Hara who has flown in for the special day, Jackie announces that she's been sober for one year.
Nurse Jackie
SEASON 5
Cast and Production Credits
Cast Credits
Jackie Peyton....................................................................................................... EDIE FALCO
Dr. Ellie O’Hara........................................................................................................ EVE BEST
Zoey Barkow................................................................................................. MERRITT WEVER
Eddie Walzer................................................................................................... PAUL SCHULZE
Kevin.......................................................................................................... DOMINIC FUMUSA
Mrs. Gloria Akalitus............................................................................. ANNA DEAVERE SMITH
Grace................................................................................................................. RUBY JERINS
Fiona................................................................................................... MACKENZIE ALADJEM
Dr. Fitch Cooper........................................................................................... PETER FACINELLI
Special Guest Stars
Miguel Cruz.............................................................................................. BOBBY CANNAVALE
................................................................................................................ MORRIS CHESTNUT
Guest Starring
Thor........................................................................................................... STEPHEN WALLEM
.......................................................................................................................... BETTY GILPIN
..................................................................................................................... ADAM FERRARA
Production Credits
Executive Producers...................................................................................... CLYDE PHILLIPS
............................................................................................................................ TOM STRAW
.................................................................................................................... RICHIE JACKSON
.............................................................................................................. CARYN MANDABACH
Co-Executive Producers........................................................................................ LIZ FLAHIVE
................................................................................ MICHAEL DAVIDOFF & BILL ROSENTHAL
................................................................................................................. RANDALL EINHORN
Supervising Producer.................................................................................. CINDY CAPONERA
Consulting Producers....................................................................................... LINDA WALLEM
............................................................................................................................. LIZ BRIXIUS
Producers............................................................... BRAD CARPENTER, MICHELE GIORDANO
Associate Producers.................................................... BRIAN SABOWSKI, RUSS HAMMONDS
Director of Photography................................................................................... BILL COLEMAN
Production Designer.............................................................................................. RAY KLUGA
Edited by...................................................................................... AGNES CHALLE-GRANDITS
Costume Designer.............................................................................................. INGRID PRICE
Music byPAT IRWIN
Music Supervisor................................................................................................ MICHAEL HILL
Casting by............................................ JULIE TUCKER, C.S.A. and ROSS MEYERSON, C.S.A.
NURSE JACKIE is a co-production of Showtime and Lionsgate
