Where has Ben McKenzie gone?  The brooding star of The O.C. disappeared from our TV sets when that series bowed out after an abbreviated fourth season.  To be fair, he has been doing work both on the stage and in films.  Now, it appears that he's coming back to television.  NBC has picked up a pilot entitled LAPD from Jon Wells Productions and Warner Brothers.  It's an ensemble drama about the life and work of various LAPD detectives.  Regina King (24), Kevin Alejandro (Shark) and Michael McGrady (Daybreak) have already signed on for the pilot.  McKenzie has yet to officially sign for an as yet unspecified role, but talks are said to be in advanced stages. 

King, Alejandro and McGrady will all play LAPD detectives.  My guess is that McKenzie will play the obligatory new detective who has to learn the ropes.  Expect it to be trial by fire for McKenzie.  LAPD doesn't appear to have any connection to Steven Bochco's NYPD Blue.  The title may be unoriginal, but anything can be forgiven if the series is good.

I always thought McKenzie was a pretty unsung member of The OC cast.  Adam Brody's Seth Cohen was the more flashy character, but McKenzie was effective playing the quiet and tortured Ryan Atwood.  He didn't get a whole lot to work with on his character, for the most part, but I thought he did the absolute best with what he was given.  And, I don't envy anyone who had to spend so much time in scenes with Mischa Barton.  Let's hope McKenzie doesn't just fade into oblivion.

At the very earliest, you can expect to see LAPD sometime after mid-season.  More likely, if it gets picked up, LAPD would make its debut in the Fall of 2009. 


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
(Image Courtesy of FOX)