NBC Is Bringing Back “The Donald” Instead of The Donnellys?

In May 2007, Donald Trump’s reality series, “The Apprentice” was just one of many shows eliminated from NBC’s 2007-2008 schedule due to low ratings. However, NBC recently announced that it had reconsidered its earlier decision and was bringing back the cancelled show in a slightly different format Instead of talented people seeking a job with the Trump organization, the new season will feature celebrities competing for charity.

While donating money to charity is always a good thing, another season of “The Donald” is not. The show has clearly taken a dive in recent years. This past season, we lost both Carolyn and George, who were often the only people worth listening to. In fact, the show was trying so hard to attract viewers that the losing team had to sleep in tents and the biggest thing to happen all season was a soap-opera romance between two of the contestants. Now this year, the show needs celebrities to command audience attention.

What I can’t understand is why NBC decided to bring back “The Donald” (who is clearly better off sticking to real-estate than entertainment) instead of “The Black Donnellys.” It can’t be because television is lacking for reality TV shows. It isn’t because the “fans” (and I use this term loosely) fought to get “The Apprentice” back on television. It certainly isn’t because the drowning reality series is going to move NBC from fourth to first place in the network wars.

I do have a few favorite theories. For example, maybe it’s because it’s safer to beat a dead horse (“The Apprentice”) than to try to ride a wild one (“The Black Donnellys”). Maybe it’s because NBC more often than not stands for “Never Be Creative.” Maybe it’s because Ben Silverman is itching to hear the words “You’re fired.” Whatever the reason, it’s a bad choice.

“The Black Donnellys” had drama, romance, humor and action. It had a young and fresh cast and award-winning creators. The plot and characters drew you in slowly but once they had you, you didn’t want them to ever let you go. There was something for every viewer and it’s too bad that so few got the opportunity to experience “The Black Donnellys”.

**To help us bring back The Black Donnellys visit or join us at the Firecracker Lounge.

The girl at the diner: Jenny Reilly

Jenny Reilly is played by actress Olivia Wilde. Jenny, a quiet Irish
Catholic tomboy, grew up alongside the Donnelly brothers. Jenny is
unselfish when it comes to her own family which is comprised of just
her father and herself as she has no mother around. She works at her
father's diner and cares for him and has no other aspirations as she
is not given that opportunity. Jenny, after only a year of marriage,
becomes the widow of an estranged husband. Her husband is rumored to
be (and mostly likely is) dead due to his own debts which are unknown to Jenny.

There is a lovelorn romance that exists between Tommy Donnelly
and Jenny as there is with most dramatic storylines. Tommy is viewed as the
protagonist and Jenny the love interest in the series. Tommy tries
his best to protect Jenny and the Reilly family in any way that he
can even though Mr. Reilly despises the Donnelly family. Jenny
constantly struggles with her feelings for Tommy and feels the need
to understand herself before she can pursue her own desires. As
Olivia Wilde stated in an interview, "I
think when we enter into their story, she's just learning about how
it's impossible to ignore your own innermost needs and desires."

This is something that we see predominantly in the episode entitled
"Lies", where Jenny makes a terrible mistake by misleading a local delivery man named Samson who we find out later has an obsession with Jenny that turns into
rage and resentment. After her encounter with Samson, Jenny visits the church and is unable to find a resolution to her problems but decides to start fresh in the best way she can. Jenny is a character who has pride and rarely
asks for help. In the season finale, you'll see she is violated by Samson and later takes matters into her own hands when she forced to defend herself against him. After taking such action, it will now be increasingly difficult for her to find her identity and fresh start.

While Olivia Wilde has been recently cast in a recurring role on FOX's "House", we will best remember her as portraying one of The Black Donnellys complex and loved characters, Jenny Reilly.

Joey Ice Cream

I Always Wanted Brothers Like That . . .

So goes the famous line uttered by one of The Black Donnellys’ most controversial characters, Joey Ice Cream.

Joey Ice Cream, portrayed by Keith Nobbs , is the fifth-wheel kid from down the block who idolizes the Donnelly brothers and tags along after them like man's best friend on a leash. Joey is there when the Donnellys are celebrating and he’s there when the Donnellys are in trouble. In fact, Joey’s there so often that sometimes the viewers forget all about him—that is, until the cops remind us that Joey’s in jail and he’s the reason we know so much about the Donnelly brothers. Because Joey knows everything there is to know about the Donnellys. And for some viewers, that’s just too much. However, for others, Joey Ice Cream’s all-knowing storytelling is just one more thing that makes The Black Donnellys the most underrated show of this past television season.

Joey Ice Cream’s character is what is known in literary terms as an unreliable narrator or a narrator whose version of events just doesn’t fully ring true for the audience. In Joey’s case, most of the time the viewers don’t know whether the story he’s telling is the truth or whether he is intentionally misleading the cops (and the audience). For instance, in the pilot episode when he’s explaining his unusual nickname, Joey states that he was given the nickname Joey “Ice Cream” because he’s like “ice” under pressure. However, later in the episode we learn that Joey was, in fact, given his nickname simply because he liked ice cream so much. Moments like this make the viewers wonder how much they can really rely on the information they’re receiving from Joey and whether or not there’s some hidden meaning yet to be disclosed.

Interestingly, even though we know from the first moment of the pilot episode that Joey Ice Cream is in jail, we have no idea how he got there. Likewise, even though we’re pretty sure that Joey is stretching the truth (a lot!), we have no idea why he’s making up stories and lying to the police. Is he a pathological liar? Maybe. Does he overestimate his own importance or have a need to be the center of attention? Probably. Is he protecting the Donnelly brothers? Most definitely.

In the end, we are left with more questions than answers when it comes to Joey Ice Cream and, by the time we reach the season finale, only one thing is certain—Joey loves the Donnelly brothers and would do anything to be part of their family. To understand any more than that, we need a second season of The Black Donnellys.

Now that’s the truth according to Joey Ice Cream . . . for what it’s worth.

**For more information about the Save The Black Donnellys campaign, visit www.savetheblackdonnellys.net.

Meet Sean Donnelly

Over the past few days you have been introduced to Tommy, Kevin and Jimmy Donnelly. Today you will meet the last Donnelly brother, Sean Donnelly.


Sean Donnelly, portrayed by Michael Stahl-David , is the baby of the Donnelly clan and he is the ladies man! The brothers don't want any of their soon to be girlfriends to meet Sean because Sean would be off with them in a heartbeat. I don't want to paint the wrong picture of Sean...he isn't necessarily a player, he has a sweet heart and disposition.

Sean also wants to be involved in what his brothers are doing but they will not let their baby brother get mixed up in their dealings—especially after he was beaten-up by the Italians. Sean resents his brothers for protecting him from the family problems and only allowing him to be the “beverage manager” at the bar. But Sean soon forgets all about the family troubles when he meets a girl at the Jukebox store.

We are not really sure what Sean wants to do with his life other than hang with a girl or involve himself in his brothers activities. Ma Donnelly pushes Sean to go back to school but he doesn’t seem too interested…that is until he finds out that Jukebox girl is in school and decides that going back to school would be a great way to impress her!


We don't get to know Sean as in depth as we do the other brothers...so stay tuned, and fight for The Black Donnellys season two because we know there is much more to come!!!!

**Don’t forget to pre-order The Black Donnellys on DVD at Amazon.

The Black Donnellys – the brothers continued….

We gave you two days to learn more about The Black Donnellys' lead character, Tommy Donnelly. Today you will get a chance to understand an equally complex brother, Jimmy Donnelly.

Jimmy Donnelly, portrayed by Tom Guiry , is the eldest Donnelly but is far from the wisest brother. He can best be described as a loaded gun and is always looking for the next opportunity to self-destruct. Jimmy's erratic behavior is further fueled by his alcoholism and drug abuse. However, we learn over time that Jimmy's behavior is more of a front that he puts on in attempt to camouflage the guilt and insecurity that he's carried with him since he was a child. While Jimmy is seen as physically weak due to his crippled leg, he desires to be stronger by other means and wants the respect that his younger brother Tommy has. Thus Jimmy tries to make up for what he lacks physically with his headstrong emotions and irrational and blunt behavior. Though it's hard to feel sympathy for Jimmy sometimes, he certainly is not a monster. Instead, he's just a lost soul who blames himself for his father's death and for his youngest brother Sean's severe beating--a beating that was the result of Jimmy's own misdeeds.

One thing is clear from the outset though--Jimmy doesn't think anything through, he just reacts. A great example is his involvement in Louie “Downtown”'s murder. By kidnapping Louie Downtown, Jimmy causes his brother Sean's beating which in turn leads to Jimmy killing Louie Downtown which eventually leads to repercussions for the entire Donnelly family. Tommy, as the second oldest, continues to pick up the pieces and Jimmy, while he loves his brothers, continues to lead them deeper and deeper into the life they never wanted.

As Tommy said, "Don't you care about anybody?" Jimmy's only reply is, "You're right. I forgot, Tommy. You're the big savior. I'm the scumbag!"

Jimmy does mean well and does place family above all. Why else would he have shot Louie “Downtown” if not to avenge Sean's near-death beating by the Italians?

Interestingly, one of Jimmy's greatest achievements so far has been refurbishing The Firecracker, the Donnelly's family bar. In fact, Jimmy is so proud of the bar that he purchased a new sign for it. The new sign, which features a “cracker” and a “flame,” represents a new beginning for the Donnelly brothers, according to Jimmy.

From the pilot to the finale, we learn more and more about Jimmy that explains why he is the way he is and we are left to wonder if Jimmy will change further as the show progresses. The season finale made us think that he might begin to change his ways but ultimately left us hanging . . . As of now, we can only speculate, but we can find out if you join us in the fight for season two!!!

Kevin Donnelly/Billy Lush

Kevin Donnelly is portrayed by Billy Lush . He is the second youngest Donnelly brother. Kevin won his dad a bet once when he was young and ever since then he thought he was lucky; however, he hasn’t won anything since then. If Kevin goes with his gut though, he is usually right and would probably be a millionaire. Thankfully his brothers are there to help him out! In the first episode Kevin’s gambling debt initiates a series of events that will forever change the lives of the Donnelly brothers.

Kevin is also a very loyal person and would do anything for his brothers, at any cost. His loyalty is first displayed in the pilot episode when he answers Tommy is about to step into the unimaginable to save his brother Jimmy from his demise. Tommy asks, “Where are you going?” and Kevin responds, “Wherever you are.” You knew that Kevin would put family above all and not let Tommy walk into anything without Kevin by his side.

Kevin’s character brings a comedic side to this dark drama with his famous one liners, which seem to be a fan favorite. He can be depended on to always have the best lines of the show that add a great deal of humor and color to The Black Donnellys.

Who Do You Believe ?

Since the LA Times article was released the Black Donnellys has been getting a lot of buzz; some positive some negative. The Firecrackers believe the negative comments stem from people who have not watched the entire season and/or people that believe that the networks are right. Interestingly, one blogger argues: If the networks believe that the show must be cancelled then it wasn’t worth watching to begin with…… If you believe that, you can ask the Jericho fans, Veronica Mars fans and TBD fans; they will tell you a much different story.

Do you believe NBC? NBC supposedly cancelled The Black Donnellys due to declining ratings. However, what most people don’t know is that TBD was a victim of NBC’s own indecisiveness. Originally, the series was going to air in the Thursday night time slot during ER’s hiatus in November 2006. But because ER was doing well at the time, NBC pushed back the airdate of The Black Donnellys to January 2007. NBC subsequently pushed TBD’s premiere date back even further until late February/early March when it became the Monday night replacement for NBC’s other high-profile series, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, which was having ratings difficulties. Not only did NBC anger Studio 60’s viewers, who responded by boycotting The Black Donnellys, it also gambled with the high-budget series by putting it in the dreaded Monday night time slot.

Though The Black Donnellys pilot episode aired after NBC’s hit show Heroes and pulled in nearly 8 million viewers, subsequent episodes followed a game show, Deal or No Deal, and the viewers dropped to 5 million. In addition, The Black Donnellys competed with the NCAA March Madness Finals and CBS’s long-running hit, CSI: Miami. In the end, NBC made poor decisions with respect to marketing, scheduling, and storyline continuity. Regarding the latter, NBC showed an online only episode containing important plot details yet failed to notify The Black Donnellys television audience that such an episode even existed. Then inexplicably, when viewers became confused by the storyline, NBC panicked like they did with Studio 60, and pulled The Black Donnellys off the air after only 5 episodes. The Black Donnellys was replaced with yet another reality TV show, The Real Wedding Crashers. You don’t have to wonder where The Real Wedding Crashers are now. Shuffling shows in and out of the television line-up is not very cost-effective. A new series is a delicate thing and NBC failed The Black Donnellys from the start. NBC clearly did not know what they were doing or what direction they were taking and, unfortunately, The Black Donnellys fans paid the price for NBC’s mistakes.


Do you believe the fans? The Black Donnellys was in the top 10 most downloaded episodes and season passes on ITunes up until the finale aired on May 14, 2007, six weeks after the show was taken off the air. It was the only show that was NOT on the air, but was in the top 10 with hit shows like Lost, Grey's Anatomy, the Office and 24. In addition, following TBD’s cancellation, Mark Cuban immediately picked up the entire first season of the show and it is now airing on HDNet on Wednesday nights. Mr. Cuban noticed the attention TBD was getting in the online community, took note of TBD’s active fan base, and knew The Black Donnellys would be a hit for HDNet!

The petition to save the show has over 37,000 signatures and is climbing everyday! More importantly, the fans have come together to contribute time and money to the Save The Black Donnellys campaign
in order to convince HBO to pick up TBD. Though there are some naysayers, the campaign results so far demonstrate that there are more than just “7” fans out there as some bloggers have incorrectly posted. The fact that these bloggers have taken the time and effort to criticize The Black Donnellys and/or the fan campaign indicates that TBD does appeal to a wider audience. In fact, even the negative posts are assisting the campaign since they are creating a lot more buzz for a show that last aired in April!

So, if you believe the networks, then we will continue to see more reality TV and lackluster shows on the air! If you believe the fans, then we encourage you to watch more than just the pilot, watch the entire season on nbc.com or Itunes.com! Or if you prefer not to watch it on your PC, you can pre-order the DVD from Amazon.com.

Get to know the characters and their story! Fight for the opportunity to see great television!

We look forward to seeing you around the Firecracker Lounge!

Who Are The Firecrackers ?

You have read our press release and you have read our mission statement. So, who are the firecrackers and what is our story?

Jimmy Donnelly, the erratic brother, won a bar, yes, a bar during a card game. The bar, that doesn't make any money, is called The Firecracker. In one episode Jimmy decided that the bar needed a makeover; a jukebox, some fresh paint and a new sign. The new sign was adorned with a “flame” and a “cracker”. This sign represented new beginnings.

When NBC pulled The Black Donnellys off the air after the 5th episode, failed to upload some of the remaining episodes online and refused to respond to us, the fans decided that we needed a new beginning on another network. So the fans dubbed themselves as The Firecrackers and have been fighting for a new beginning ever since!

Visit this link to read about how some of the fans came to be a firecracker.

How can you become a firecracker? It's easy! Visit www.thefirecrackerlounge.com, become a member and chat with us! You can then join us in our daily action items http://www.savetheblackdonnellys.net/daily.html to help save the show!

Firecrackers Mission Statement

Our mission is to get The Black Donnellys picked-up for a second season on another network so that other viewers have the opportunity to watch this great drama and to find those supporters and give them a voice to help participate in the fight to Save The Black Donnellys! www.savetheblackdonnellys.net . They too, can see the intensity and excitement of the series and learn more about The Donnelly brothers: Tommy, Jimmy, Kevin and Sean.

The Petition to Save The Black Donnellys (http://petitionspot.com/petitions/) has reached almost 37,000 signatures and over 1,000 guests and users that visited the NBC Boards when the episodes were abruptly pulled from primetime and aired only online at NBC.com on Monday nights.

Jericho fans were successful in their campaign to bring the CBS cancelled show back to the air. They had sent over $32,000 worth of peanuts to CBS, referencing the last episode to air. With such a huge fan following, CBS responded by adding an additional seven new episodes. What Jericho fans did could only be described as "awesome"! Their motivation and organization is an inspiration to us all.

We must not accept what network moguls and executives throw out to the public. Rather, we have a voice in shaping what we believe should be quality television and we need your voice. The Black Donnellys represents quality television and every vote/donation counts! So, please join us in our effort to save our beloved show.

**Pre-order you DVD today at Amazon.com at $34.99 and please leave a comment! Your vote counts!