| Show sparks memories of postwar era By Christy Slewinski Greenburg-Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 22nd Sept 1991 It's 1945. The war has ended, the troops are coming home. Set in a small Ohio town, ABC's new one-hour drama ``Homefront'' chronicles the lives of everyday people recovering from the effects of World War II. ``It's the beginning of the country's rebirth,'' said series regular Kyle Chandler during a recent telephone interview. Chandler portrays Jeff Metcalf, a 19-year-old whose life drastically changes with the end of the war. While his older brother, Hank (David Newsom) was overseas, Jeff became accustomed to being ``the man'' of his fatherless family. Now, upon the imminent return of his brother, he has been placed in an even more difficult predicament - during his brother's three-year absence, Jeff fell in love with Sarah (Alexandra Wilson), Hank's girlfriend. ``Things don't go as he plans,'' Chandler said of his character. ``It's like he's going down the road and the car is veering to the left or the right, he can't get control.'' Chandler said Jeff's temper is quick to flare and the character has a tendency to say the wrong thing at the wrong time, but despite these shortcomings, he's a ``fun character because he gets himself in some strange situations.'' Chandler also feels viewers will see a good amount of growth in the character of Jeff, who presently works at a road house and spends every other spare moment on the baseball field. Chandler first made a name for himself in another ABC war-related drama, ``Tour of Duty,'' after his original three-episode part in the series stretched to eight. He also did a guest stint on another Vietnam-era show, ``China Beach,'' and stars in the upcoming feature film The Color of Evening with Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn. While a student at the University of Georgia, Chandler ran the career gamut, trying to find his niche between his older siblings - two brothers, a lawyer and a psychologist, and his sister, a chiropractor. Partway through college, he won a role in a college play, and liked it. Towards the end of his college career, Chandler was chosen to participate in a ABC network program to develop young talent. Although short of a degree, Chandler moved to Los Angeles and into the world of show business. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Chandler grew up in a suburb of Chicago and in Loganville, a small town in Georgia where his mother still breeds Great Danes as a business. His father died when Kyle was 13. Chandler said growing up without a father is one similarity he shares with his television character. ``The feelings are there,'' he said. Although the plot of ``Homefront'' revolves around the end of the war, all of the show's storylines don't necessarily revolve exclusively around the returning soldiers. He said a few of the subjects that will be touched upon include social, economic and racial tensions, war brides, and women's independence. Chandler uses the example of his on-screen sister, Linda (Jessica Steen), who is a true ``Rosie the riveter.'' Having worked in a local factory throughout the war, she is reluctant to give up her job when the troops return. Chandler feels that one of the benefits of the show will be the opportunity for viewers to ``learn about America and the effects of the war during that time. ``I've always loved the World War II time period,'' said Chandler, who admits he was always entranced by the vivid stories of the era. ``Homefront'' airs Tuesday at 10 p.m. This week, ABC will air a special 90-minute preview beginning at 9:30 p.m. |
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