"HAWTHORNE": Jada Pinkett-Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith (The Women, The Matrix trilogy) executive-produces and stars in HAWTHORNE, a character-driven drama series about a nurse who is a true everyday hero. HAWTHORNE premieres Tuesday, June 16, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). Pinkett Smith plays Christina Hawthorne, a compassionate and headstrong Chief Nursing Officer heading up a group of dedicated nurses at Richmond Trinity Hospital who spend long days and nights on the hospital’s front lines.

Joining Pinkett Smith in HAWTHORNE is Michael Vartan (Alias) as Dr. Tom Wakefield, the oncologist who treated Christina’s husband and serves as Chief of Surgery for the hospital. The cast also includes Suleka Mathew (Men in Trees) as Bobbie Jackson, a fellow nurse and one of Hawthorne’s best friends; David Julian Hirsh (Lovebites) as Ray Stein, a nurse struggling with being accepted in a female-dominated profession; Christina Moore (90210) as Candy Sullivan, a nurse with a unique sense of duty; and Hannah Hodson (TNT’s The Ron Clark Story) as Camille, Hawthorne’s daughter. In addition, special guest star Joanna Cassidy (Six Feet Under) portrays Amanda, Hawthorne’s mother-in-law, who also happens to be a member of the hospital board. (TNT)

Pinkett-Smith was on "The View" today promoting the show and mentioned that she would be spending two months in Beijing this summer with her son Jaden while he shoots the new "Karate Kid" movie. She will be shocked by the thick air pollution if she has never been there. We hope neither she nor Jaden has asthma. If so be careful. Here is the link to our visit to China in 2007.