EXCLUSIVE: Fox's 'Ride-Along' Has 'Sons of Anarchy,' 'Mad Men' Connections

On a Thursday visit to the Chicago set of 'Ride-Along,' which premieres at mid-season on Fox, I was able to pick up a few bits of news.

Not only is a 'Sons of Anarchy' actor guesting on the new Shawn Ryan show, there's also a 'Mad Men' connection.

Adam Arkin (who played Ethan Zobelle on 'Sons of Anarchy') was on the 'Ride-Along' set directing the fifth episode of the Fox drama, and the actor/director said he will also play a law-enforcement role in the series.

"I play the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Illinois" in the fourth episode of 'Ride-Along,' Arkin said. He added that "there's talk" of the character returning for additional appearances on the show, which was created by 'Shield' and 'Terriers' executive producer Ryan, but nothing is set in stone yet.

'Ride-Along,' which is entirely filmed in Chicago, stars Jennifer Beals as a chief of police and Jason Clarke as a detective; they're old friends who team up to battle corruption in the city. I've seen the pilot and it's quite good, but my positive thoughts about the show shot up a few notches when I met Lesli Linka Glatter on the set, which Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn visited Thursday to celebrate the show's investment in the state.

Glatter, who is both an executive producer and director for 'Ride-Along,' has helmed many wonderful hours of television -- 'House,' 'The West Wing' and 'Freaks & Geeks' are among her many credits -- but she's also directed some of the best-ever 'Mad Men' episodes.

Among her notable 'Mad Men' episodes, she directed Season 1's '5G' and Season 4's 'The Chrysanthemum and the Sword' (thank her for that great shot of Peggy on the scooter). But she completely knocked it out of the park with Season 3's 'Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency. There were many notable scenes in that great episodes, but that one scene will live forever in the hearts and minds of TV fans. She was nominated for an Emmy for that episode, and I made sure to tell her I wish she had won.

Glatter (who's pictured at right with Shawn Ryan) mentioned she was supposed to direct one more 'Mad Men' this season but had to drop out when the 'Ride-Along' job came along. She has moved to Chicago until December, when production on Season 1 wraps up, and she'll be directing two episodes of the drama this season.

"I was sad about not doing the second 'Mad Men' episode," Glatter said, but she couldn't pass up the job on 'Ride-Along.' "What I love about the show is that we're using Chicago as a character. There's amazing architecture everywhere you turn. And it's about a shifting moral compass, and how do you find your true north, who you really are, in that environment?"

Also on the 'Ride-Along' staff is executive producer Tim Minear, who worked with Ryan and Ted Griffin on 'Terriers' and has also had a hand in most of Joss Whedon's shows.

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