"The Gates" premieres tonight on ABC.
Just ’cause it’s summer doesn’t mean there’s nothing to watch on TV. We told you about the shows with AA stars that premiered a few weeks ago, including the new Pretty Little Liars and the return of Drop Dead Diva, as well as all the reality show competitions like The Next Food Network Star, Top Chef and Work of Art: The Next Great Artist.
Well, tonight, a highly anticipated new series premieres, one that delves into the whole vampire craze we’re still mired in. The Gates follows the oh-so perfect lives of the residents of the exclusive suburban community The Gates. Now, if you’ve watched the trailers, you know that some of those perfect residents are actually vampires. And yes, I’m a Twilight fan, but that’s not the main reason I’ll be watching the show. There are two good reasons for anyone to watch this blood-fest: two Asian American actresses represent on The Gates tonight, premiering on ABC at 9 pm.
Rhona Mitra, who is of Indian-English-Irish descent, plays Claire Radcliff, the perfect Gates housewife and mother. She has a beautiful home, a handsome husband, and a daughter she loves dearly. But beneath the flawless exterior, Claire is struggling with a unique addiction — one that has the power to destroy her family and everything she holds dear if she fails to keep her urges in check. (Guess we know who one of the vampires are!)
Rhona Mitra plays perfect housewife -- or is she? -- Claire Radcliff in The Gates.
Another AA actress in the series is Janina Gavankar, who plays Deputy Leigh Turner. Always ready with a witty retort and a sharp observation, Leigh is an intimidating addition to The Gates police force. But there’s more to Leigh than the tough exterior, and when it comes to love, she’s got a bad streak going.
Janina Gavankar is cool and confident as Deputy Leigh Turner in The Gates.
Gavankar, who is of Indian and Dutch descent, is best known for her role as the promiscuous Papi in The L Word. Other television credits include Stargate Atlantis, Grey’s Anatomy, The Cleaner, Dollhouse, NCIS and Three Rivers. She’s a native of Joliet, Ill., and is an accomplished pianist, vocalist and orchestral percussionist. Once a member of the girl group Endera, she has had several of her songs licensed for various films and television series.
I’ll be watching The Gates, just because of Gavankar and Mitra. Well, that and morbid curiosity. Will you?
Photos courtesy of ABC.
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