NECESSARY ROUGHNESS: Callie Thorne Plays Ball with the Big Boys

In one of the more compelling and intriguing new shows this summer, USA Network debuts its new series Necessary Roughness tonight.  The 90-minute premiere takes viewers into an interesting menagerie of worlds. It brings the world of a psychotherapist into direct contact with the high octane world of sports professionals and other competitive careers, such as politicians and television anchors — all of whom unknowingly need her assistance to get their personal lives back on track so they do not permanently derail their professional lives.

Unfortunately, as Dr. Dani Santino’s own personal life blows-up, her professional life takes off and it becomes a struggle to balance it all. But it also makes her the perfect person to know exactly what her patients are going through. Not willing to watch a person of any stature go it on their own when they are in need of her help, Dr. Dani finds a way to make it all work.

Played by Callie Thorne (known for her stellar work on Rescue Me), Dani Santino is not just a woman on the verge, she is a full-fledged human being. She is a wife scorned, a mother at wit’s end, a friend at sea, and yet an unfailing and unflinching source of strength for her family and her patients.

The delicate dance of tenacity and determination as her personal and professional lives collide, Dani is simply riveting to watch. Callie Thorne makes her addictive and real.

It simply must be seen to be believed. But trust me when I say, just watch the premiere and you too will feel the magnetic pull of such an extraordinary show with its fascinating characters. Adding to the stellar cast are Marc Blucas, Scott Cohen, Mehcad Brooks, Patrick Johnson and Hannah Marks, with special appearances by Craig Bierko and Amanda Detmer.

Marc Blucas portrays the new love-interest and facilitator for connecting Dani to her new clientele. Scott Cohen portrays the “fixer” who makes sure that the clients actually make their appointments with Dani and stay out of the tabloids as much as possible. Mehcad Brooks is TK, the angry, wayward football star that helps Dani make her mark in the competitive world of sports therapy. Then Patrick Johnson and Hannah Marks portray Dani Santiano’s teenage children, who bring their own set of turbulent issues into the Santino household. Craig Bierko is the philandering ex-husband and Amanda Detmer is Dani’s best friend. With such a rich palate of characters populating Dani’s life, the complex and entangled relationships provide a fun intersection with her new professional world. Life is not about compartmentalizing our lives. It is about navigating through all facets of our lives — even when they get messy and intertwined. And for Dr. Dani — she makes it even more mesmerizing.

So do not be fooled by all the commercials and promos, this is not a show strictly about football. It is about an unusual world where high level professionals need a bit of a nudge to help get their lives back on track and Dr. Dani is the person to get them there. Seeing how this all comes together and makes for an addictive television series is amazing. Be sure to tune in for the 90-minute premiere of Necessary Roughness on Wednesday, June 29th at 10/9c on USA Network.