MINISERIES TURNS EYE TO BORDER AREA

Adrian Marquez will not appear in one scene when NBC takes a whack at the
family crime drama genre Sunday with the introduction of its miniseries
"Kingpin."

Marquez's name will not be included when the credits scroll down at the
conclusion of the six-episode series about the struggles of a Mexican family
trying to control a drug cartel.

But the sophomore at the University of Texas at El Paso was part of the
series.

And he has the sunburns to prove it.

"I was on the set for three different scenes," Marquez said. "It was pretty
exciting."

Marquez was a stand-in in March as crews shot scenes on West Paisano Drive
and the Paso del Norte Bridge.

"Kingpin" will debut at 9 p.m. Sunday on KTSM. The second episode will air
at 9 p.m. Feb. 4. The twice-a-week pattern will continue through Feb. 18.

"Being a stand-in was better than being an extra," Marquez said. "When you
are an extra, you are kind of like the dregs of the acting pool. They keep
you away from the set until they need you. When you're a stand-in, you get
to hang out around the set because they might need you at anytime."

A stand-in is a person who serves as a substitute for the actor or actress
while the cameras and lights are being adjusted.

Approximately 50 El Pasoans served as extras -- including off-duty police
officers -- for "Kingpin."

The series will bump "Boomtown" -- which will return March 2 -- and the
Tuesday edition of "Dateline" from their regular spots.

"I don't think the officers in the pilot (Det. Jose Baca and Sgt. Zina
Juardo) will be prima donnas about this," Sgt. Al Velarde, the former police
spokesman said, laughing on the set last year. "They're professionals."

Baca and Jurado, both 40, portray El Paso police officers who rescue an
agent tied and locked in a car trunk.

"It's hard work," Baca said. "You figure everyone's pretty good at it, and
it's easy, but it's not. But we did it just for fun. I have two boys, 2 and
11. They ask me if I saw any stars. My family is waiting to see what
happens."

El Paso is one of several cities in which the show is set. The shooting
added $400,000 to $600,000 to El Paso's economy.

"It's tremendous for the economy," said Susie Gaines, El Paso film
commissioner. "They come in, spread their wealth and leave."

"Kingpin" is not standard broadcast fare. It stars Yancey Arias ("The Time
Machine") as Miguel Cadena, the Stanford-educated scion of a Mexican
drug-trafficking family who's poised to take control of the cartel. Sheryl
Lee ("Twin Peaks") plays his American-born wife and Ruben Carbajal their
son, whom they try to shield from the family business.

Bobby Cannavale ("Third Watch") co-stars as Miguel's brother, Chato, who is
loyal but impulsive. Brian Benben plays a plastic surgeon who is involved
with the cartel on the United States side of the border, and Angela Alvarado
Rosa ("Showtime") is a DEA agent tracking the family.

David Mills, a former writer for "Homicide" and "ER," created "Kingpin" and
wrote the pilot.

Allen Coulter, a frequent director of "The Sopranos," directed the first
episode.

"As a broadcast network, we are excited about this new series' potential to
change the landscape of dramatic television," NBC Entertainment president
Jeff Zucker said in a prepared statement. "The move to sweeps and the
high-profile scheduling shows the network's total confidence (in the series)
as a showcase event, and we look forward to the audience response to the
unusual story content and compressed broadcast schedule."

"Kingpin" is being compared to HBO's "The Sopranos," because of its graphic
storyline about drugs, corruption and sex.

"I'm looking forward to seeing it on television," said Jose Sierra, a
locations scout for the El Paso Film Commission. "It looks like it will be
authentic."

As authentic as the sunburn on Marquez's face.

(SIDEBAR)

Watch it

What: "Kingpin," NBC's six-episode series about a family that controls a
drug cartel.

When: 9 p.m. Sunday; the second episode will air at 9 p.m. Feb. 4; the
twice-a-week pattern will continue through to the finale on Feb. 18.

What station: Channel 9-KTSM (cable Channel 10).

Synopsis: The series is about the struggles of a family of Mexican drug
dealers, centering on an attractive couple devoted to their son. The main
character, Yancey Arias as Miguel Cadena, is a thoughtful, well-educated
Mexican with a strong work ethic and family values.

Behind the scenes: Former "Homicide" and "ER" writer David Mills wrote the
pilot. Allen Coulter, a frequent director of "The Sopranos," directed the
first episode.