Secret societies Action-packed movie trilogy takes to TNT

By Meagan Sylvester TV Media

Much like the notorious Illuminati — a secret society alleged to have masterminded world events and other fateful conspiracies — a prestigious group of underground guardians will once again take to the small screen following a successful, action-packed trilogy that first appeared on TNT nearly a decade ago.

Working from their headquarters located beneath the Metropolitan Public Library in New York City, a group of hired “librarians” works tirelessly to protect the unknowing world from supernatural threats and mystical (but dangerous) relics, all while recovering other powerful artifacts and safeguarding them from misguided hands.

“The Librarians,” set to air Sunday, Dec. 7, on TNT, is reprising its franchise following a decade-long hiatus from the world of nerdy, action-packed adventure. Luckily for fans of the made-for-television movie series that first debuted in 2004, the leading role will be played by its original front man, Noah Wyle (“ER,” “Falling Skies”).

The vivacious combination of action, adventure, history and treasure has led some critics to liken the series to other popular movie franchises, including Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones and Dan Brown’s internationally acclaimed novel “The Da Vinci Code.”

Since the series’ original installment, the quick-witted but tenacious Flynn Carsen (Wyle) has taken on more than one can handle as the organization’s top librarian. In order to keep each daunting task at bay, Flynn has recruited four professionals from around the globe to defend the library’s precious artifacts from magical elements that threaten its very existence. But that’s not to say Flynn’s new partners-in-protection are welcomed by the perpetual, longtime scholar.

First in the newly assembled team is Rebecca Romijn (“X-Men,” 2000, “Ugly Betty”) as Eve Baird, a highly skilled and “tough-as-nails” soldier who puts her military background to sode — “The Crown of a ruthless killer who won’t stop until every librarian is dead.

While executive producer John Rogers has admitted the show is not the “smartest, darkest, deepest or the most heart-churning show on television,” according to a recent interview with StarPulse.com, it does accomplish its overarching intention: to be fun for the fans of yesteryear and for new viewers looking to stray away from sensational television.

In fact, the show prides itself on avoiding the sort of entertainment that competes with controversial issues and increasingly dark content to attract viewers.

One stark difference between “The Librarians” and other popular programming is its use of comic relief, Rogers said in early November. “I think that sometimes going dark is the easy way to go because there’s this craving for legitimacy that a lot

Rogers says that while the show is scripted, the cast has been creative with some impromptu acting to foster more organic characters, making filming a little more interactive between the actors and writers. By keeping up with this tradition, Rogers hopes audiences will not only relate to the characters, but also like them on a personal level as well.

This kind of fun-loving TV genre has proven to be a success in the past, as the first installment, “The Librarian: Quest for the Spear,” ranked as basic cable’s No. 1 movie of the year back in 2004. But its success wasn’t limited to the first film, as the second installment, “The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines,” premiered as the No. 1 original movie sequel of all time on basic cable, while also placing among the year’s top five telecasts. Success continued in 2008 when “The Librarian: Curse of Judas Chalice” premiered to more than 5.7 million viewers on TNT alone.

While the show doesn’t take itself too seriously, fans of the early series will be able to pick up where they left off when “The Librarians” airs on Sunday, Dec. 7, on TNT.

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