By Brenna Angel
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-890633.mp3
HARLAN, Ky. – An eastern Kentucky Judge/Executive is worried how a new TV show will portray his community. A new cable series called Justified premieres this week on FX. Based on a story by Elmore Leonard, the show chronicles a Deputy U.S. Marshal who has been sent to work in his hometown of Harlan, Kentucky.
Harlan County Judge/Executive Joe Grieshop only recently learned of the show through word of mouth. He's not surprised Harlan was chosen as the setting for the crime drama, given the area's sometimes violent past.
But Grieshop says a lot of good things are happening in Harlan, including adventure tourism. The Judge fears Justified will hurt that growing industry. "We are going to probably suffer from some of those guests coming in from different parts of the United States because of this TV show that's going to cause people to have second thoughts," Grieshop said.
Grieshop is hoping for a balanced depiction of his community and says he'll be watching when the show premieres Tuesday night at 10 PM EST on FX. "I guess I'll have to because I have to be ready for the onslaught of phone calls that I'll probably get. I'll have to know what occurred and how can we turn this around if it goes negative."