Steve Harris - "Awake" PREMIERES THURSDAY ON NBC
Steve Harris plays a detective who is -- in one of the worlds -- Michael Britten's (Jason Isaacs) partner in NBC's new drama "Awake." An accomplished actor who has amazed audiences on television, screen, and stage, Harris has earned a well-deserved reputation for his versatility, charm and charisma. On the big screen, Harris most recently starred in the Screen Gems bank heist "Takers," opposite Matt Dillon, Idris Elba and Chris Brown. He also starred in the Fox Atomic action packed "12 Rounds" where he played "Special Agent Aiken" opposite John Cena. He also starred in the Sony/Screen Gems horror film "Quarantine," the remake of the horror film "Rec" opposite Jennifer Carpenter and Jonathan Schaech. In 2005, Harris starred in Tyler Perry's romantic-dramedy "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," which opened #1, grossing over $21 million opening weekend. Harris starred in Adam Shankman's comedy, "Bringing Down the House" alongside Steve Martin and Queen Latifah. This film was #1 at the box office for three consecutive weeks and grossed over $132 million domestically. He also starred in Steven Spielberg's sci-if thriller, "Minority Report" with Tom Cruise, Collin Farrell and Samantha Morton. "Report" was another box office success that grossed $35 million opening weekend and $132 million domestically. Harris' other film credits include: Leon Ichaso's "Sugar Hill" with Wesley Snipes, Michael Bay's "The Rock" with Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris, and Rob Cohen's "The Skulls" with Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker. Harris, who was nominated for an Emmy Award twice for his role on "The Practice," also recently recurred on the hit series "Friday Night Lights," playing the role of Merriweather. Also on NBC, Harris starred in "Heist," as James Johnson. The hour-long serialized comedic drama centered on a group of professional thieves plotting to simultaneously rob three prominent Beverly Hills jewelry stores during Oscar week. Harris has received great praise from critics and has received numerous awards for his work such as the Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama in 1998 and 1999 and was again nominated in 2000. Additionally, he was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Harris' other television credits include: "Eli Stone," "Law & Order," "Murder One," "New York Undercover," and "Chicago Hope." A native of Chicago, Ill., Harris earned a graduate degree in theater from the University of Delaware. He currently resides in Los Angeles.
AWAKE Premieres, Thursday, March 1 at 10 PM on NBC
Following a tragic car accident, detective Michael Britten (Jason Isaacs, ?Harry Potter, ?Brotherhood?) finds himself awake in two separate realities: one where his teen son, Rex (Dylan Minnette, ?Lost,? "Saving Grace"), died in the crash and his wife, Hannah (Laura Allen, "Terriers") survived; and another where Hannah has perished, leaving Michael and Rex to pick up the pieces. In order to keep both of his loved ones alive, Michael begins living in two dueling realities, churning up confusion. In one reality, Michael and his wife debate about having another child, while in the other his son Rex is turning to his tennis coach, Tara (Michaela McManus, "The Vampire Diaries"), to fill the void from the loss of his mother. Trying to regain some normalcy, Michael returns to solving crimes in both worlds with the help of two different partners, Detective Isaiah "Bird" Freeman (Steve Harris, "The Practice") and Detective Efrem Vega (Wilmer Valderrama, "That '70s Show"). Michael is assigned a different case in each reality and quickly discovers that his dual existence is actually a powerful tool. He begins to solve impossible cases by using his two real ties to gain unique perspectives and link clues that cross over from world to world. Helping Michael to navigate his two realities are his bureau-assigned therapists Dr. Evans (Emmy Award winner Cherry Jones, "24") and Dr. Lee (BD Wong, NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"). While both therapists work to untangle his two worlds, Michael has no interest in proving either one is false. But when memories of the accident begin to haunt him, he is forced to confront the truth about what really happened the night of the crash.
CHEF DAVID BURKE - NYC RESTURANT OWNER
Blazing across distinctions between chef, artist, entrepreneur, and inventor, David Burke is one of the leading pioneers in American cooking today. His fascination with ingredients and the art of the meal has fueled a career marked by creativity, critical acclaim, and the introduction of revolutionary products and cooking techniques. Burke?s mastery of French culinary technique was confirmed when, at age 26, he won France?s coveted Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Diplome d?Honneur for unparalleled skill and creativity with his native cuisine. Additionally, Burke has been honored with Japan?s Nippon Award of Excellence, the Robert Mondavi Award of Excellence and the CIA?s August Escoffier Award. Nation?s Restaurant News named Burke one of the50 Top R&D Culinarians and Time Out New York honored him as the ?Best Culinary Prankster? in 2003. In May 2009, Burke was inducted into the ?Who?s Who of Food & Beverage in America? by the James Beard Foundation. In this same month, he also won the distinctive, Menu Masters award from Nation?s Restaurant News as one of the nation?s most celebrated innovators. Burke trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and soon thereafter, he traveled to France where he spent several stages with notable chefs such as Pierre Troisgros, Georges Blanc and Gaston Lenôtre. Burke returned to the U.S. As a sous chef for Waldy Malouf at La Cremaillere and then for Charlie Palmer at River Café where he ascended to Executive Chef and earned three stars from The New York Times. In 1992, Burke opened the Park Avenue Café with Smith & Wollensky CEO Alan Stillman, and then, in 1996, he became Vice President of Culinary Development for the Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group. In 2003, Burke teamed up with Donatella Arpaia to open davidburke & donatella (now known as David Burke Townhouse), of which now he has sole ownership. Next came David Burke at Bloomingdale?s, a dual concept restaurant offering both a full service ?Burke Bar Café? on one side and a ?Burke in the Box? take-out and eat-in concept on the other side. A similar concept, Burke in the Box, opened at Foxwoods Resort & Casino in May 2008. Burke also opened up David Burke?s Primehouse in The James Chicago Hotel. Burke?s restaurant collection continued to grow when he purchased Fromagerie, a fine dining restaurant in Rumson, New Jersey where his culinary career began under founders Markus and Hubert Peter. David Burke Las Vegas opened in the Venetian Resort, Hotel, Casino in 2007, and the most recent addition to the Burke empire is David Burke Prime at Foxwoods Casino & Resort. Fishtail by David Burke, opened in December 2008 in New York. In February 2011, David Burke Kitchen opened at the James New York hotel in Soho. During his tenure at the River Café, Burke began experimenting with interesting ingredients and cooking techniques. His first culinary innovations, Pastrami Salmon? (now available through Perona Farms), flavored oils and tuna tartare, revolutionized gastronomic technique. During his twelve year period at the Park Avenue Café, Burke created GourmetPops?, ready-to-serve cocktail lollipops. Never one for slowing down, Burke continued to develop creative culinary products including easy Flavor-Transfer Spice Sheets and Flavorsprays, both designed to eliminate fat while keeping the flavor. Additionally, Burke is actively involved with culinology, an approach to food that blends the culinary arts and food technology. A board member of the Research Chefs Association, he is the advisor for flavor developer J.Manheimer, Inc. Burke also offers his consultant services to Hawaiian Tropic Zone (in both NYC and Las Vegas), and restaurant.mc (Millburn, NJ). Burke?s first cookbook, Cooking with David Burke was published in 1995, and his second, David Burke?s New American Classics, by Alfred A. Knopf launched in April 2006. David Burke is one of the very few New York City born and bred Chefs that is still known and recognized on the national radar. While many NYC Chef?s stars have faded?. David Burke always manages to recreate himself and stay current. He?d love to talk about his restaurants ? he just opened David Burke Kitchen at the James Hotel in NYC ? and his other restaurants include: David Burke Townhouse; David Burke at Bloomingdales in NYC, David Burke Primehouse in the James Hotel Chicago; David Burke Prime and Burke in a Box at Foxwoods, David Burke at the Venetian in Las Vegas, Park Ave Café NYC and Fishtail by David Burke in NYC. David has also created and developed a number of food and kitchen products including his signature cheesecake pops (a version of which is now featured at Starbucks). He has also Salt Bricks, Flavor Sprays, Can O Cake, Pastrami Salmon, Dry Aged Beef, Steak Knives, and Induction Burners etc. He could certainly expand on how these products are used and featured at each of his restaurants.
Norm Yost - Proprietor/WinemakerFlying Goat Cellars
Norm Yost graduated from the University of California, Davis with a bachelor?s degree in environmental studies in 1981. When Norm?s college roommate, a graduate from the winemaking program, had a job and he didn?t, Norm morphed from a beer drinking football player into a winemaking craftsman. During his 30 vintages in the wine industry, Norm worked for diverse wineries in cool climate regions, from Oregon?s Willamette Valley to the Russian River in Sonoma County and finally Santa Barbara County. He attributes his vast experience in the industry to the success of Flying Goat Cellars, which he launched in 2000. As the proprietor of his own business, Norm enjoys the freedom to focus on his passion for making Pinot Noir and sparkling wine. He is on the board of directors of World of Pinot Noir and Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance and formerly was a board member of Santa Barbara County Vintners Association and a winemaking instructor at Allan Hancock