Jason Lee, who plays Hendricks, says the Memphis detective's interest in music, his knowledge of his city and close relationship with his mother (Celia Weston) offer appealing dimensions and keep the character from being gimmicky.

On Tuesday, June 22, Lee will return to television with a new drama series on TNT called "Memphis Beat." Lee stars as Dwight Hendricks, a Memphis police detective who moonlights as an Elvis Presley impersonator. The series also stars DJ Qualls, Celia Weston, Sam Hennings, Leonard Earl Howze and Abraham Benrubi.

"It's a city with two faces. It has a vibrant, quirky, alive side with a pulse and a complicated, edgy, gritty side," he says. "The show is a celebration of the South. It's important to represent the South in a realistic but positive way."

When Asked , "Will "Memphis Beat" be more like a procedural in format, where it’s a new case every week? Or will some of the cases take multiple episodes to resolve?"

Jason Lee Said "Some might take multiple episodes. There’s still a lot to explore. We’re only shooting nine episodes for the first season. But yeah, and it’s also very much about the characters and the relationships, as it is the cases. So we’re trying to make it as well rounded a show as we can."

Lee's performance in Almost Famous, in which he played a rock star, was one reason producers thought he would be a good fit, says co-creator Liz Garcia (who is married to Harto).



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