David Cassidy on the Web
Cassidys make 'Ruby & Rockits' a family matter
July 16,2009
By Jay Bobbin, http://newsok.com
Jonas Brothers, move over: Here come the Cassidys.
They're older, but they're musically inclined, too - and they're merging their talents for a new sitcom.
"Partridge Family" icon David Cassidy and his half sibling Patrick have a familiar boss in executive producer Shaun Cassidy in "Ruby & the Rockits," premiering at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on ABC Family.
The major players agree their personal histories inform the show. Patrick portrays a 1980s music sensation who left the limelight for a quiet family life, while the brother and former Rockits band mate played by David won't let go of his past fame. After David meets the teenage daughter (Alexa Vega, "Spy Kids") he didn't know he had, he seeks help from Patrick and his family in giving her a stable upbringing.
Sons of the late stage and screen actor Jack Cassidy, Shaun and Patrick are brothers - Oscar winner and "Partridge Family" matriarch Shirley Jones being their mother - and David is their older half brother. (His mother is actress Evelyn Ward.)
"I know the arena of former pop stars and brothers and all that," says Shaun, who also made "American Gothic" and "Invasion" for television. "There's a hint of autobiography in this, but I think most of my shows have an element of humor, even if it's dark humor. They're also about family, even if it's the complicated nature of family, so the theme that runs through my work is just being turned in a more obvious comedic direction."
Teaming him with Marsh McCall ("Just Shoot Me!") as its creators and makers, "Ruby & the Rockits" lets Shaun exorcise some of his feelings about having been a pop star ("Da Doo Ron Ron") while he had a television presence on "The Hardy Boys" in the late '70s.
"To a certain extent, our whole family has lived that life. To be able to tap into that for laughs and heart and pathos, in the form of this show, is a great opportunity. We're also writing songs that are purposely dated, like 'Fax Me Your Heart' and 'Chunnel of Love.' "
Still performing concerts, David Cassidy is happy to send up the image he's maintained since his teen-idol days of the late '60s and early '70s.
"This is the greatest thing I've ever done," he says of the new series, "and I mean that in every respect. You hear people say things like that all the time, but this really is. Working with my brothers is something we've all talked about for a number of years."
