Austin Kirk says shooting his new Fox TV crime drama “APB” in Chicago “is very appropriate,” reports the Chicago Sun-Times. The actor adds, “While Chicago’s crime statistics only add to all that, doing a true Chicago police show in 2017 is certainly a lot to shoulder for all of us involved with ‘APB,’ ” the actor says. “There are many stories to tell there, and I hope we do it in an accurate and consistent way.” Kirk plays Gideon Reeves, a billionaire tech guru who is deeply affected by a violent crime that takes the life of his business partner and best friend. In the aftermath, Reeves comes up with an intriguing concept: He’ll buy a troubled, crime-ridden police precinct in Chicago and reboot it as a private police force.
“I like the possibilities of this situation,” Kirk says. “You can think this is a novel and perhaps great new idea on how to battle crime. Yet, on the other hand, you might go, ‘Oh, wait, maybe this isn’t such a good idea to give that kind of power to one individual.’ ” Producers of the show, which premiered last night, took the liberty of casting as the mayor an actor (Nestor Serrano) whose demeanor — if not exact physicality — is somewhat reminiscent of Chicago’s own Rahm Emanuel. “APB” executive producer Trey Callaway, a longtime producer on “CSI: New York,” has given a lot of thought to the conflicts between police and the communities they serve. “Of course, the show addresses issues that are specific to Chicago,” he says. “But we also frequently deal with some wider, systemic issues that we’re all aware of across the country. There is clearly a crisis in policing today.”