New TV Show Based on Wine Crime Stars John Cho

August 26, 2016 – Variety, the authority on all things Tinsel Town, says that Star Trek’s John Cho has been lined up to play the lead character in a new series named “Connoisseur” for USA Network.  The hour-long drama is about a clever con man who dupes wealthy wine collectors into buying his counterfeit wines.

At least two sources say the story is based on John Fox, owner of bankrupted wine purveyor, Premier Cru in Berkeley, California.  Fox pled guilty to scamming clients to the tune of $45 million selling wines that he never delivered.  He faces up to 20 years in prison.  However, Blake Gray of the Gray Report, as well as Decanter, the UK wine magazine, both say the series is based on Rudy Kurniawan, a wine collector who faked famous and highly collectible Bordeaux and Burgundy wines in his kitchen in Los Angeles making millions of dollars and acquiring fame in the process. His story is definitely one for a drama series and seems the more likely choice.

John Cho, who will also produce the series, plays Clay Park, a genius who dupes the wealthy and powerful but whose shenanigans involve him with an organized crime syndicate and attracts the FBI.  There’s an added twist relating to tragedy in his family years ago in Korea.

No word on when the series will be released.