Actors Aaron Tveit (left) as Mike Warren and Daniel Sunjata as Paul Briggs are shown in a scene from the television show "Graceland." Elvis would probably be all shook up by “ Graceland .” The USA Network series premieres Thursday June 6 at 10 p.m. on Bravo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-James Minchin III

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - First things first: "Graceland" — a breezy summer drama about tanned and toned young cops that premieres June 6 on Bravo — has nothing to do with Elvis Presley's fabled home in Memphis, Tenn.

This "Graceland" is set in Malibu, Calif., in a cool surf pad right on the Pacific Ocean.

However, the show is shot way over on the East Coast — in Hollywood, Florida, near Ft. Lauderdale. It's close to where another USA effort, "The Glades," is produced.

"Graceland," it seems, can be anywhere tax incentives beckon.

Why is it called "Graceland"? The seaside beach house, so the story goes, was once the retreat of a drug lord who was a big fan of the '50s rocker.

The series hails from "White Collar" creator Jeff Eastin, who had the idea to throw a bunch of good looking young cops — some FBI agents, some Drug Enforcement Agents, one working for U.S. Customs — under one fabulous, beachfront roof.

It's a bit like "Rookie Blue" meets "Blue Crush."

The U.S. customs agent — keeping an eye on the U.S. Mexican border — is Canadian. Brandon Jay McLaren ("Fallen Skies") is from Vancouver, as is co-star Serinda Swan ("Breakout Kings"). Daniel Sunjata ("Rescue Me") and Broadway star Aaron Tveit ("Catch Me If You Can") are also in the ensemble.

USA and production studio Fox TV did not scrimp on the set. The DEA den is posh and inviting. Sure there are surf boards and throw rugs but the art on the walls is gallery level. The set also has an impressive kitchen and a beautiful Japanese garden.

Inside the house, "it's very much about the characters, not necessarily the cases so much," says McLaren, recently seen on "The Killing." His custom agent is a little on the cranky side. Nobody's allowed to touch his side of the fridge, for example. "Jake is very prickly," he admits.

Beyond that tough exterior is a pussycat, however.

"He's tough to get to know, but once you know him, he'll be loyal to you forever."

As for the surfing scenes, McLaren is glad his character sticks mainly to the shore.

"I'm not the strongest swimmer, I like to just kind of wade in the ocean. That's more my style. And Jake doesn't surf either, so that worked out for me well."

He spoke to a real drug cop who is a consultant on the series while preparing for the role. "Jeff Eastin gave us four or five books to read before we shot the pilot, so that was real helpful as well."

Swan was the last cast member to join the series, surfacing after the pilot was shot.

"I think, by the time my contract was signed, I had 13 hours to get to the set," she says.

The 28-year-old West Vancouver native likes that her drug cop character keeps things light in the house.

"They give her a good sense of humour, but at the same time, she'll kick your ass, which I was like, 'Oh! That sounds like a fun female character to play!'"

Swan's mother was an actress, and she says she's wanted to "play in front of the camera" all her life. She found work on Vancouver-based shows such as "Smallville," "Psych" and "Blood Ties" before landing her first speaking part on "Supernatural." Later, she was called back to play an evil character named Veritas who was "cutting up people and eating tongues" on that show.

"It's actually an amazing transition to come from a one-liner who was ‘Hot Nurse' to then actually having a name," says Swan.

She made more of a name for herself on "Breakout Kings" and hopes to break out even further on "Graceland."

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Bill Brioux is a freelance TV columnist based in Brampton, Ont. While in Florida, he was a guest of Bravo.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2013