# LAX (TV series)

LAX is an American drama television series set at the Los Angeles International Airport, drawing its name from the airport's IATA airport code, "LAX". The series premiered on September 13, 2004 on NBC, and aired through April 16, 2005.

## Overview

LAX is a drama focusing on the day-to-day operations of the airport, with its runway manager, Harley Random (Heather Locklear), and its terminal manager, Roger de Souza (Blair Underwood). In the final episode, Harley leaves her job at LAX after she is told by Roger that he wants stability back in his life and no longer wants to be romantically involved with her.
LAX premiered on NBC on September 13, 2004. Ten episodes aired before NBC announced in November 2004 that no further episodes would be produced. The show was moved to Saturdays at 8pm ET and the final episode aired on April 16, 2005. Thirteen episodes total were aired.

## Cast
### Main

* Heather Locklear as Harley Random
* Blair Underwood as Roger De Souza
* Paul Leyden as Tony Magulia
* Frank John Hughes as Henry Engels
* Wendy Hoopes as Betty
* David Paetkau as Nick

### Recurring

* Joel David Moore as Eddie Carson
* Sasha Barrese as Caitlin Mansfield

### Notable guests

* Chad Todhunter as Mystery Man
* Tony Hawk as himself
* Daniel Morton as a Serbian co-pilot
* Sam Doumit as Rachel, Senator's daughter
* Charisma Carpenter as Julie, Harley's sister

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 1 | "Pilot" | Anthony and Joe Russo | Mark Gordon and Nick Thiel | September 13, 2004 (2004-09-13) | 101 |
| The director of LAX has committed suicide, now two of his underlings fight for the position. ||||||
| 2 | "Finnegan Again, Began Again" | Joe Russo | Paul Redford and Mark Thiel | September 20, 2004 (2004-09-20) | 102 |
| Harley and Roger tries to find out the real identity of a living person who arrived in a casket. Tony tries to get a little league team on a plane to Albany. The staff tries to control a bird problem outside the airport. ||||||
| 3 | "The Longest Day" | Anthony Russo | Jill Blotevogel | September 27, 2004 (2004-09-27) | 103 |
| Roger uses his status and experience to control the situation when a plane he is on is disturbed by an electrical surge. ||||||
| 4 | "Credible Threat" | Adam Davidson | Andrew Dettman | October 4, 2004 (2004-10-04) | 105 |
| Homeland Security puts LAX on high alert. A man leaves his senile old mother at the airport. ||||||
| 5 | "Abduction" | Scott Brazil | Kayla Alpert, Russel Friend and Garrett Lerner | October 11, 2004 (2004-10-11) | 104 |
| The staff gets involved in a custody dispute involving an Arab couple. ||||||
| 6 | "Unscheduled Arrivals" | Scott Brazil | Russel Friend and Garrett Lerner | October 18, 2004 (2004-10-18) | 106 |
| A plane must make an emergency landing. Paparazzi are waiting at the airport for Prince William. An Uzbekistani man seeks asylum. ||||||
| 7 | "Out of Control" | Adam Davidson | Don E. Fesman and Harry Victor | October 27, 2004 (2004-10-27) | 107 |
| A suspended airtraffic controller takes the crew of the control tower hostage. Betty's dog attacks a passenger. ||||||
| 8 | "The Pictures to Prove It" | Anthony Russo | Alexander Woo | November 3, 2004 (2004-11-03) | 108 |
| A federal witness disappears at the airport. Caitlin helps an engaged couple. ||||||
| 9 | "Thanksgiving" | Joe Russo | Andrew Dettmann and Kayla Alpert | November 10, 2004 (2004-11-10) | 109 |
| An airline that is going out of business, cancels all of its flights. Harley is asked by her younger sister to spend Thanksgiving with her parents. Tony is taking care of a 10-year-old boy traveling alone. ||||||
| 10 | "Secret Santa" | Félix Enríquez Alcalá | Russel Friend, Nick Thiel, Dan E. Fesman, Garrett Lerner and Harry Victor | November 17, 2004 (2004-11-17) | 110 |
| The police search for a robber dressed as Santa Claus. Eddie applies for a job as Harleys assistant. Roger gets kicked out of his house because of his gambling addiction. ||||||
| 11 | "Cease & Assist" | Craig Zisk | Andrew Dettmann, Harry Victor and Dan E. Fesman | March 19, 2005 (2005-03-19) | 111 |
| An African political activist is on his way home for execution. ||||||
| 12 | "Mixed Signals" | Anthony Russo | Story by : Nick Thiel, Russel Friend & Garrett Lerner Teleplay by : Russel Friend & Garrett Lerner | March 26, 2005 (2005-03-26) | 112 |
| An incoming airplane accidentally sends out a hijack warning. ||||||
| 13 | "Senator's Daughter" | Joe Russo | Jon Hlavin | April 16, 2005 (2005-04-16) | 113 |
| Roger has an affair with his wife's divorce attorney. The teenage daughter of a senator has brought home an illegal souvenir from Amsterdam. Harley thinks about an offer she received to run the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. ||||||

## Production

LAX (originally titled HUB, and then The Hub) was announced on NBC's development slate on December 19, 2003, after being scrapped by NBC during the previous development season in winter 2003. On January 14, NBC greenlighted production on the pilot. Anthony and Joe Russo signed on as directors of the pilot on February 6. On May 17, 2004 NBC announced that they had picked up the pilot to series. This show was not renewed for a second season.
Exterior shots for the pilot episode were filmed in Texas, although sources differ on whether Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport or Fort Worth Alliance Airport stood in for Los Angeles International. Many other scenes were filmed using a vacant terminal and a disused Boeing 727 at Ontario International Airport, interspersed with establishing shots of the real LAX airport.
The theme song for the show was the beginning of "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra. For the opening sequence of the final episode, a different excerpt of the song was used.

## Broadcast

LAX premiered on September 13, 2004 and ended on April 16, 2005 on NBC.

## Reception

In a survey by Philips, LAX got 17% of the votes for most anticipated new series.
The show was frequently the butt of comedic jokes due to its poor ratings, including Jay Leno, who remarked the show was "so bad that the actual Los Angeles Airport is thinking of changing its name to avoid being associated with the show." The 13 episodes of the program averaged 6.52 million viewers.
LAX lost 19.09% of the viewers in its time slot versus the previous season, which was occupied by Third Watch.