FOXDid you know Red Band Society is autobiographical?
We're more than honored to introduce you to Albert Espinosa, the real-life inspiration for Fox's new drama, one of our favorite freshman series of the season. It also happens to be one of TV's most uplifting and hopeful shows.
In the exclusive video below, Espinosa details his decade-long battle with cancer and explains why the "humor" of Red Band Society is so important. And we dare you not to get chills when Espinosa shows off his original red band, which he was wearing when he lost his leg. (Our chills have chills.)
Espinosa battled cancer from the age of 14 to 24, and drew on his experiences in the hospital to create the Catalan drama series, Polseres vermelles, which Red Band Society is based on. And the series features many experience he went through, including the party the gang threw for Jordi (Nolan Sotillo) to say goodbye to his leg in the pilot.
So press play on the exclusive video above to hear Espinosa's incredible story.
Margaret Nagle, Red Band Society's executive producer, also had a personal connection to the story, as her brother Charlie was in a coma for about a year when he was 3 years old, similar to the character of Charlie (Griffin Gluck). "I shared a room with him growing up, and my brother is hilarious," Nagle said, adding that the show will derive dark humor from that experience.
Red Band Society airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Fox.