It has the latest style in prison design, glass instead of bars, and video cameras for maximum surveillance. ''Oz'' takes place in the Oswald Maximum Security Penitentiary, in an experimental unit the inmates have derisively nicknamed Emerald City. Levinson are in effect glorifying the violence they depict, another critic wrote, in The Village Voice: ''Levinson and Fontana estheticize the material at the same time they're hyping its raw realism.'' ''Ultimately,'' a critic for USA Today wrote, ''the show is as dehumanizing as the prison system it attacks.'' Mr. Others, however, have condemned it for its violence. Crouch wrote, ''is a landmark for the medium.'' The critic Stanley Crouch, writing in The New York Times Magazine, praised it for its ''consistently brilliant acting - some of the best in the history of television.'' The show, Mr. So far ''Oz,'' one of HBO's highest-rated dramatic shows, has received mostly favorable reaction. There is also a chorus, in the person of a crippled convict, Augustus, played by Harold Perrineau, who narrates episodes from a glass cage. At its best, though, ''Oz'' has elements of Greek drama (including eyes being gouged out). Fontana is really trying as hard as he can.Īt its worst ''Oz,'' which begins its third season on Wednesday looks as if it had been conjured up by adolescent boys trying to gross each other out. If you have to do it, you have to do it as horrifically as it really is.'' And Mr. Fontana, who writes most of the show's episodes and is one of its executive producers, along with Barry Levinson and Jim Finnerty.
''The problem with TV violence, it's a lie,'' said Mr.
Is there nothing Tom Fontana won't depict on his HBO prison series, ''Oz''? This one cuts deep," wrote TV and film producer Franklin Leonard.Crucifixion. "One of the first poets I ever saw at the Nuyorican during my first ever summer in New York. "Cobra Kai" and "Harold & Kumar" creator Hayden Schlossberg wrote: "My favorite ever poetry written for a tv show was written by this genius. Grant made many TV appearances on series like Spike Lee's "She's Gotta Have It," "Luke Cage," "Nurse Jackie" and "High Maintenance," though most noteworthy was his role as Poet, the poetry-reciting inmate on "Oz."Ĭolleagues in the acting world mourned the loss of Grant, calling him "a genius." muMs’ presence, performances, and words inspired a generation." "We’ll forever miss our friend, brother, LAB member, Emcee, mentor, poet, actor, spoken-word giant, and fire-breathing teddy bear.
"The LAByrinth Theater family is deeply saddened to share the news of the unexpected loss of Craig ‘muMs’ Grant," the theater company wrote on Instagram. He began writing and acting with The LAByrinth Theater Company. The actor began his career as a poet, joining the Nuyorican Poetry Slam team in New York City. More: Jessica Walter, 'Arrested Development,' 'Archer' star, dead at 80 We all just lost a phenomenal man," Ellis-Evenas said. Craig was more than our client, he was our dear friend. "We are heartbroken over the loss of one of the most genuine, caring, loving souls we have ever had the pleasure of representing. The actor was expected to travel to Atlanta the next week to film his appearances for BET series "All the Queens Men." "We are overwhelmed with sadness and grief over losing our beloved friend and client Craig Mums Grant," Grant's representatives wrote in a coordinated statement provided by Pam Ellis-Evenas, calling him a "deeply talented writer and actor." No cause of death has been determined.Īccording to Grant's reps, the actor was filming for his recurring role as Wayne for Starz series " Hightown" in North Carolina during the time of his death. Watch Video: Warner Bros., HBO Max deal: What it means for theaters, moviegoingĪctor Craig "muMs" Grant, known for his role as Poet on the HBO series "Oz," died Wednesday, his representative confirmed.