Grace Park has garnered a gaggle of faithful fans and critical acclaim through her decades as an actress. Starting out as Shannon Ng in the Canadian teenage soap opera, "Edgemont," it wasn't long before she took on the challenge of portraying dual characters in “Battlestar Galactica” as Sharon “Boomer” Valerii and Sharon “Athena” Agathon. The actress’ natural style and elegance, combined with a strength and ferocity that was tailor-made for Grace Park as she became Kono Kalakaua through seven seasons of “Hawaii Five-O.”

Many fans fell into utter dismay in the summer of 2017, when news broke that both Grace Park and Daniel Dae Kim, who were the founding stars of “Hawaii Five-O” when the 2010 incarnation premiered, had opted to leave the show when negotiations for salary parity failed.

Both castmates brought venerable talents in front of and behind the camera, as well as an authentic sense of culture, heritage, and history to the drama. A few viewers have yet to recover from the absence of the beloved actors, but Grace Park is headed to ABC, where Daniel Dae Kim is already involved, for a very different role in “A Million Little Things.”

From wrangling perpetrators to parenthood

Grace Park frequently brought full-force girl power in bringing down perpetrators as part of “Hawaii Five-O.” She had one of the fiercest kicks in all of cop-drama, and could still be vulnerable and sensitive as a wife, daughter, cousin, friend, and coworker. Park will take on the role of Katherine in “A Million Little Things.” The role was initially portrayed by actress Anne Son, in the pilot for the series, and Grace Park will be seen in episodes to follow.

The Canadian-American star’s new role will be quite a departure from the police procedural. In her new drama, she will be part of a group of friends forged together by life’s unexpected circumstances in Boston. While some have achieved measures of success by this era’s standards, while others are struggling and searching in life and relationships.

All of them feel stuck, and when one of the close-knit clan dies, they are driven to go for the “something more” that is so elusive amid the minutia of getting through the days.

Katherine's character is torn between yearning to be a very present parent and having to be the family breadwinner through her legal career. She also carries much of the family’s home life, lacking the support she needs from her husband, Eddie, played by “Grimm” actor, David Guintoli.

His character was a once very successful musician whose career is languishing.

The strong ensemble cast also includes Ron Livingston, Christina Ochoa, James Roday, Romany Malco, Allison Miller, Lizzy Greene, Stephanie Szostak, and Christina Moses. The unity of the close friends becomes crucial in the storylines as it becomes evident how much they need one another to survive and thrive.

ABC seems to be trying to snag some of the same viewers that have been won by "This Is Us" on NBC.

In good company

“A Million Little Things,” written by DJ Nash who is also one of the show's producers, is poised to debut in the fall.

Daniel Dae Kim has come back to ABC in recent years, working as one of the executive producers on David Shore’s “The Good Doctor,” which was a breakout hit for the network in its first season.

The versatile actor and director found a home on ABC’s “Lost,” for several seasons, and he has not ruled out another role in front of the camera on his medical drama.

Now that Grace Park and Kim work for the same network again, the friends and colleagues are bound to share some backlot conversations, along with greater success.
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