The Enduring Legacy Of Northern Exposure: A Journey Through Cicely, Alaska

In the summer of 1990, a quirky little show called Northern Exposure appeared on the schedule as a mid-season replacement series. Only eight episodes were commissioned, but half a season turned into six seasons, which picked up over 27 awards along the way. The show’s fish-out-of-water premise soon gave way to the fun of exploring the weird, wacky, and philosophical world of Cicely, Alaska. Guest stars reported that there was a real sense of family on set, enhanced by the frequent use of town locals as extras. The guests came in droves, including Adam Ant, Donal Logue, Patrick Warburton, Jack Black, Stephen Root, Regina King, Peter Bogdanovich, and Joanna Cassidy. Later additions to the show included Anthony Edwards, Adam Arkin, and Paul Provenza, along with a first-season recurring role for Grant Goodeve of Eight is Enough fame.

Rob Morrow: From New York to Alaska

Rob Morrow played Dr. Joel Fleischman, a diehard New York City boy uprooted to Alaska as payback for the scholarship that put him through medical school. It was Morrow’s first starring role; up until then, he hadn’t done much beyond an episode of the TV series Fame and one Spenser: For Hire. He’d even been an uncredited extra in a Saturday Night Live sketch, having no idea that he’d be back on that same stage 12 years later to host the show himself. It was Northern Exposure that made him a star.

Near the end of the show’s run, Hollywood beckoned, and Morrow landed the starring role in the Robert Redford movie Quiz Show. Before the final season was over, he was gone, determined to parlay his fame into a film career. He did appear in a few movies, including a memorable turn as Albert Brooks’ brother and Debbie Reynold’s videophone-obsessed son in Mother. However, he continued to find greater success on TV, starring on the series Numb3rs for five years, recurring on Entourage, and making a name for himself as a director.

Janine Turner: The Rise of Maggie O'Connell

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised in Texas, it made sense that Janine Turner’s first acting role (after a few years as a Wilhelmina model) was in the original Dallas series. She did a couple of soaps, playing Demi Moore’s sister on General Hospital, but after playing enough pretty, flighty women, she decided to stop taking those types of roles, determined to make a change. By the time Northern Exposure came calling, she was down to her last eight dollars and thrilled to take the role of pilot Maggie O’Connell, a job that made her a household name.

After Maggie, she played Dr. Dana Stowe in Strong Medicine on Lifetime and appeared in several movies, including the much-panned Cliffhanger with Sylvester Stallone and Dr. T and the Women with Richard Gere. Turner is still acting, but her main passion these days is politics. She’s an active Republican who supported Sarah Palin’s 2008 campaign and spoke at the 2012 Republican National Convention. She’s also a regular on Fox News, where she talks about her passion project: Constituting America, an organization aimed at educating Americans about the U.S. Constitution.

John Corbett: The Charismatic DJ

John Corbett started taking drama classes for the first time after an injury put an end to his job as a steel laborer. He took classes at night while attending hairdressing school during the day, earning his license in 1986. He’d done over 50 national commercials before landing his first real TV role: one episode of The Wonder Years as Karen’s boyfriend. But it was Northern Exposure that really kicked off his career with the juicy role of Chris Stevens, DJ, philosopher, and general dreamboat.

He starred in the short-lived series The Visitor, but his next big break came with the indie film My Big Fat Greek Wedding by writer-actress Nia Vardalos. Corbett had a recurring role on Parenthood, and even shot a scene for the series finale, which was cut from the final version. He was a regular on The United States of Tara and is well-known to Sex and the City fans as Carrie’s former flame, Aiden. Next up, he’s set to star in the new Denis Leary series for FX, Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, where his former Northern Exposure co-star, Rob Morrow, will guest star.

Barry Corbin: The Veteran Actor

Barry Corbin, a longtime TV and movie veteran, was considered an acting mentor by co-stars Morrow, Turner, and Cynthia Geary, all of whom recognized a pro when they met one. Named for Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie, Corbin was born in Texas and still lives there, making his home on a 15-acre ranch in Fort Worth. In 2009, he was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Corbin seems to have been everywhere and done everything. He’s played so many sheriffs he can’t even keep count and learned how to shear sheep for the classic 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds. His credits include WarGames, Any Which Way You Can, Lonesome Dove, Urban Cowboy, and the original TV series Dallas, where he was a natural. More recently, he’s been on One Tree Hill, Anger Management with Charlie Sheen, Modern Family, and The Closer. Even at 74, he continues to work with multiple movies in post-production.

When he got the script for his Northern Exposure audition, Corbin decided to do something different. He walked in, threw the script on the floor, and started doing push-ups while delivering his lines. When he finished, he picked up the script, thanked the casting directors, and left. This unique approach landed him the steady gig as tough guy ex-astronaut Maurice Minnifield.

John Cullum: The Broadway Star

Long before he became Cicely’s tavern owner and mayor, John Cullum was a Broadway star. He won a Best Actor Tony in 1975 for Shenandoah and was nominated again in 2002 and 2007. Cullum understudied both Richard Burton and Roddy McDowell in Camelot in 1960, and by 1964, he was co-starring with Burton in the movie version. He returned to Broadway in 2010 for The Scottsboro Boys and graced the stage again in New York’s Shakespeare in the Park.

Cullum loved that Northern Exposure was shot in Seattle; he often offered to sing “The Star Spangled Banner” in exchange for free admission to various sporting events. However, the writers didn't always remember he was a singer. In one episode, the character Maurice takes over the radio station and plays Broadway hits, but Cullum had to tell the producers that if they chose a specific song, it would be him singing it!

He’s been a staple on TV for decades, known to regular viewers of Law & Order: SVU as lawyer-then-judge Barry Moredock. He has also had roles on The Middle, Nurse Jackie, The Good Wife, Royal Pains, 30 Rock, ER, and Mad Men. His unique career path also includes appearances on The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and the indie film Christine.

Cynthia Geary: From Waitress to Star

The character of Shelly Tambo, wife to Holling Vincoeur, was originally intended to be of Native American descent. However, when Cynthia Geary auditioned for the show after being spotted waiting tables, the producers loved her enough to change the role to fit the actress. Northern Exposure marked her first gig as a series regular, and she quickly became a beloved character.

Shooting in Seattle gave her a permanent taste for the Pacific Northwest, and she still resides in the area with her husband and two children. Like her character Shelly, she is a tavern owner; she and her