Stu's News

Tim Russert, we'll miss you

2008-06-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

I wrote the following for Variety, but wanted to share with my blog readers. I've been watching the coverage of Tim Russert's death all weekend and it leaves me just absolutely heartbroken.

Life can be so freakin' fleeting.

I know I'm supposed to be a hardened journalist and not let news — both good and bad — affect me, but I can't help but feel devasted by the sudden and tragic loss of Tim Russert (pictured with his wife, writer Maureen Orth, and son Luke, who just graduated Boston College), who died at only 58 years old.

There's an old adage that we feel a special connection to people we see on television all the time. Much more so than in film, as those on TV are in our living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and everywhere else we watch.

And even more than that, Russert was on in the mornings on the "Today" show, in the afternoons occasionally as a political analyst on MSNBC, in the evenings on "Nightly News With Brian Williams" and then Saturdays on his conversational talkshow and, of course, the political big daddy, "Meet the Press" on every Sunday ayem.

What a tragedy. I still can't believe he's gone.

Russert was the booming political voice of NBC, and I'll always remember him with his dry erase board on election night in 2000, telling everyone how important Florida was going to be in determing whether Al Gore or George W. Bush would be president. "Florida, Florida, Florida" he reiterated over and over again. And was he ever right.

Just an hour before I heard the news Friday, I received my weekly email blast from NBC, which lists the guests on this Sunday's edition of "Meet the Press." And last night I set my Tivo for "Tim Russert," which I watch every Saturday. Tivo never disclosed who the guests were on his talkshow, so it was always a surprise if he'd be chatting up a public figure hawking a book -- Barbara Walters and Steve Martin were recent guests -- or a couple of politicos trying to get a sense of the presidential race.

Last week on "Meet the Press," Russell had what he called the "NBC political dream team" -- folks such as Andrea Mitchell, David Gregory, Chuck Todd and others -- figuring out what Obama's ascension as the Democratic presidential nominee meant, and where does Hillary go from here. He had such enthusiam for this stuff. His arms would wave, his voice would fill the room and full-throated discussions would ensue.

And then there was the family side of him. His first book, "Big Russ and Me," about his relationship with his father, and their relationship with Buffalo, N.Y., was a bestseller, and his affection for Dad was out there for all the world to appreciate.

His second tome, "Wisdom of Our Fathers," was also an homage to family, and to those men — sometimes quiet, sometimes boisterous — who took care of their wives and children, sometimes under trying circumstances, in the best way they knew how.

I interviewed Russert several years ago. He was at work, at the NBC studios in Washington, D.C., in the middle of a crazy news day, but took time to talk about his job, life and what it meant to be a political journalist. That conversation takes on added meaning to me now.

We'll elect another president in November, and there will be plenty of discussion of all things politics between now and then, but this election just won't be the same. Can't be without Russert.

I'm already missing the dry erase board.

It's Showtime … again

2008-06-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

It may not be the '80s anymore, but I'm feeling very Showtime this week.

As in the Showtime Lakers, who used to regularly meet the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals a few decades ago. The real champs — that would be the Lakers, of course — won most of those battles after the Celtics handed it to them in the '60s on a regular basis.

As we get set for the first game Thursday (June 5) from what they used to call the Boston Gah-den, ESPN and every sports radio station here in town is doing nothing but talking about this storied rivalry. It was our best five -- Kareem, Magic, Worthy, Rambis and Byron Scott -- versus theirs, or what I would call good vs. evil.

I actually attended one of those Final games at the Fabulous Forum -- before Great Western bought the naming rights -- and watched the Lakers lose on a last second shot by Boston guard Dennis Johnson. It was a tough loss but a great game.

So make sure you root for the purple and gold over the next week or two. Or, hopefully, for only four games as the Lakers work on a sweep!

And down the stretch they come

2008-05-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

It's still two weeks away, but I'm starting to get excited about the thought of Big Brown winning the Triple Crown if he can capture the Belmont Stakes.

The last time it happened was exactly 30 years ago when Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Back then, winning the Triple Crown didn't seem all that difficult as it happened three times in the decade: 1978, 1977 with Seattle Slew and, of course, 1973 when Secretariat won the Belmont by an astonishing 31 lengths -- footage we're sure to see a few dozen times as the race on June 7 approaches.

I'm a horse racing guy. I went to the track as a little kid with my grandparents in Queens, N.Y., and amused myself by looking for winning tickets thrown on the ground. Never happened, but it was still a grand day.

Much later in life, I got a job as an editor at the Racing Times, where my colleagues and I would write and edit copy based on the horses running at the local Southern California track at the time of year (Santa Anita, Hollywood Park or Del Mar) or the big races around the country.

We would handicap races and debate the merits of some of the best horses as they would race against each other. The paper eventually got sold and we all had to find new work, but it was one of the best jobs I ever had.

Anyway, thoroughbred races has taken some hard knocks the past few years -- lower attendance, less interest among the casual sports fan, losing gambling dollars to the casinos, the deaths of Barbaro and, most recently, Eight Belles — but it's still a great game.

For nothing more than to give the sport a lift, I'm hoping Big Brown gets to the winner's circle at Belmont safe, sound and then runs for years to come.

Coming soon to a TV near you

2008-05-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

With the networks announcing its new shows this week in New York -- an annual ritual called the TV Upfronts -- now's the time to take a look at the series I might want to check out.

Many looked interesting, but some more than others. There's the new J.J. Abrams series "Fringe" on Fox (above) and CBS has a series called "The Mentalist," with Simon Baker, that many people are high on.

Truth be told, though, it's some of new cable entries that are whetting my appetite more than on broadcast.

TNT is introducing a new show called "Truth in Advertising" with Tom Cavanagh ("Ed") and Eric McCormack ("Will & Grace") that looks very intriguing, about those who toil on Madison Avenue. If the concept sounds familiar, yeah, "Mad Men" on AMC is one of the best series on TV right now, so this might be a pale imitation. But we'll see.

On HBO, you have the new miniseries "Generation Kill" from David Simon, creator of "The Wire," and a vampire drama from "Six Feet Under" creator Alan Ball. And September marks the beginning of the last season of FX's masterful cop drama "The Shield."

So lots to look forward to. Now I've just got to find the time to watch everything.

Cannes 2008: Au revior mon amis

2008-05-07T20:07:00.000-07:00

A bunch of my colleagues leave for Cannes tomorrow for the festival that takes over every inch of the small southern French city that rests on the shores of the Mediterranean. The crowds, as seen in the photo above, can become overwhelming.

I went last year but won't be attending this time around, which is absolutely OK. Lots of stuff to do at work here in the office and as glamorous as it sounds, spending 12 days at the fest is an exhaustive experience.

Since we put out a paper every day, you're stuck in the office for 12 hours --usually 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. -- with a skeleton staff: four editors, two designers and a small handful of reporters. And that's all you have to put out a 100-page paper during the first few days of the festival. As the fest winds down, the papers get smaller as well.

After work, many of us go to dinner together, and dinner in Cannes for parties of four or more never runs less than 2 hours. So by the time you settle back in at your apartment -- it's more cost effective to rent apartments than stay in hotels -- you don't get to bed before 1 or 2 a.m., depending on how many bars and latenight spots you want to hit up.

Then get up at 8-ish and start the cycle all over again. For 10 straight days. It's a great experience, but wearing nonetheless.

So to my friends heading over there during the next few days: safe journeys, get as much rest as possible, and be sure to see at least one movie… if you can squeeze it in.

All caught up on Tivo

2008-04-27T21:27:00.000-07:00

'Cept for the last two episodes of the HBO miniseries "John Adams," I caught up and watched everything on Tivo this weekend.

Yup, two episodes of "Back to You" -- not sure why I'm still watching, but I feel obligated to finish the season out and finish what I started -- plus two episodes of "ER" and my usual weekend contingency: "Ebert and Roeper at the Movies," ESPN's "The Sports Reporters," "CBS Sunday Morning" and "60 Minutes." I'm feeling very accomplished now.

I even was able to catch "Cloverfield" on DVD, which I somehow missed in the theater. I thought it was a fine thriller, with a big-ass monster heading up and down Manhattan. The hand-held camera, which has never bothered me in such stellar shows as "Homicide," didn't do me any favors, though, and I honestly felt a little nauseous at the end of the movie. If I'd seen it in the theater, I would've had a hard time keeping my Raisinets down.

I caught "Lost" on Friday night -- a day after its broadcast airing -- and I absolutely love the show but I don't invest as much time and thought into it as others, who suss out every possible theory as to why Ben does this, why Jack does that and everything in between. I just enjoy it for its pure entertainment value, and showrunners Damon and Carlton always outdo themselves on that front.

It was a good weekend to stay inside, as the temperatues in L.A. hit near record highs. It got toasty playing golf Saturday morning in Burbank, though our 7:30 starting time made it quite bareable. If we had teed off a couple of hours later, we would've fried.

I'm looking forward to seeing a couple of movies this week that I've heard great things about. My Variety colleague Eddie Cockrell, a great film critic out of Australia, saw a small film called "Shotgun Stories" a year ago while we were at the Berlin Film Festival and gave it a rave. It's now just opened in the States and I'm going to try and catch it on Wednesday.

Tomorrow night is "Iron Man," the Marvel Comic-turned-feature film, which has gotten great -pre-release buzz. It needs to be a big box office winner, too, as I choose it in my summer box office pool. Go Robert Downey Jr.!

R.I.P. Danny

2008-04-18T16:56:00.000-07:00

The E Street Band has given us in the Bruce community so much joy over the past 30 years, it's like we feel we know the folks on stage better than we actually do.

Really, we only connect with them through their music and the occasional print or TV interview, but when E Street organist extraordinaire Dan Federici passed away yesterday, it felt as if we lost a dear friend, and in many ways we did.

Federici, pictured here a few years ago in Florida with my good friend and fellow scribe Pete Kerasotis, was never center stage in concert, always to Max's right, playing away with such ease and professionalism that we barely gave it much thought. But that was Danny's gift. He made it look so easy that he never received the proper credit he deserved.

While other members of the band — with the exception of Garry Tallent — have much more showy roles, Danny blended in and helped create the legendary E Street sound we've loved and appreciated since that first listen we all heard way back when.

The E Street family has become so ingrained in us, that when I texted a friend upon hearing the news -- saying only DANNY DIED -- there was no one else who my friend could've imagined had passed away. For us who've made the trek around the country more than once, more than twice even, there's only one Danny, as there's only one Roy, Steve, Nils, etc.

Our heartfelt prayers go to Danny's family, friends and those who've played with him on E Street for the past 40 years. Here's hoping he's strapping on the accordion for one hell of an encore somewhere in the great beyond.

There's magic in the night

2008-04-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

Twenty-four years after seeing my first Bruce Springsteen concerts, it felt like old times catching him twice this week at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Bruce got his "Magic" message across all right, as he did in October at the L.A. Sports Arena, but there was definitely a looser vibe at these shows. Having fun was a top priority this time around, and Bruce and the venerable E Street Band delivered in spades.

The setlists were top-notch, with opening songs that had everyone guessing. Monday night we were treated to "Light of Day" while on Tuesday "Thunder Road" was the first out of the gate, a classic that felt so wonderfully fresh after not being played in L.A. for years.

For some reason, while watching Bruce play "The Promised Land," I kept thinking what it must feel like to actually be Bruce Springsteen, and be "on" all the time, never having the luxury of having an off night. Other thoughts that came into my head were what would it be like to be one of Bruce's children and having a dad so famous that he's recognized around the world.

But I transgress. It was a great couple of nights, seeing friends in the Springsteen fan community that come into my life every time Bruce is in town. Folks I've known for decades — many by face only, with their names often escaping me — always greet me with a warm smile, hug and/or handshake. Our lives are far different from one another but we've always shared this common bond.

My friend and I arrived at the arena Tuesday around 3:30 in order to get our wristband and get randomly selected to watch the concert in the pit i.e. the very front of the floor adjacent to the stage. As it turned out, we didn't make it into the pit but were close enough to have an unobstructed view of Bruce and the E Streeters from about 30 feet from the stage.

Many folks good naturedly give me a hard time about my Springsteen obsession, but I embrace it wholeheartedly. Bruce and the band have given me such wonderful memories over the years, it's been an absolute joy, and honor, to be along for the ride.

With all of us getting older -- both me and the folks up on the stage night after night -- I'm just hoping it doesn't end soon.

What was I thinking????

2008-04-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

OK, I'm officially jealous.

A bunch of my good friends are headed to Sacramento tomorrow morning for the Springsteen show Friday night in the state capitol. Arnold and the Boss rockin' out together. Should be quite a sight.

I'm seeing him twice next week in Anaheim but Bruce is doin' Cali and I'm not there. Twenty years ago this would've been considered blasphemy -- blasphemy I tell you!! -- but with jobs, kids, bills, blah, blah I can't pull this one off. Shame on me!!

The set lists listed on Backstreets have been really terrific, with all kinds of wild cards in there -- "Trapped," "Rosalita," "Lost in the Flood" and a slew of other gems. I just hope he saves a few goodies for Anaheim.

Have fun my amigos. Go forth and conquer!

"Damages" up close

2008-03-30T18:56:00.000-07:00

Last Monday I was asked to moderate a panel at the Willam Paley Festival at the Cinerama Dome at Hollywood.

Every year, the Paley Festival brings the cast and creators of 10-12 TV shows -- both past and present -- to discuss the inner workings of a show in front of a few hundred fans. For a TV junkie, it's a great event to get to know the actors and writers who shape the shows we like.

I moderated "Damages," a well-executed and smart legal drama on FX that stars Glenn Close as a lawyer who bends the rules in extreme ways for her clients. The first season was about one case -- Ted Danson is a corporate guru who has swindled the pension and savings from his employees.

Both stars were at the Dome Monday and couldn't have been nicer. They've been very accessible as far as talking to the press about the show and the Paley fest is a publicist's best friend, getting all kinds of coverage on the Internet.

Danson is a long way from his days as bartender Sam Malone on "Cheers," and Close proved she's as much a presence on TV as she is in film after a stellar turn a few years back on FX's best show, "The Shield." It was nice to pick their brain about what makes good TV and why they feel like "Damages" is as good as anything out there on the small screen.

Moderating these panels can be a lot of fun -- just as long as you're very familiar with the show. If you're faking it up on stage, everyone will know. I've done seven panels now -- "Friday Night Lights" twice, "ER," "Scrubs," "28 Days," "Nip/Tuck" and "Damages" -- and it's a great way to interact with the cast and creators, all the while asking questions that you hope the audience finds as interesting as you do.

For comedies, like "Scrubs," you don't need to do much. Ask a question and let everyone start cracking jokes. The rapport between Zach Braff and Donald Faison had everyone in hysterics. Certainly funnier that I would've been.

Viva Las Vegas!

2008-03-21T20:14:00.001-07:00

Just got home from Vegas this afternoon after my first annual -- and I can't believe I haven't done this before -- trip to casinos for the NCAA basketball tourney.

What a great time. I hit about 80% of my tickets yesterday. Sticking with straight win bets rather than parlays seemed a potent strategy and I got a few breaks along the way.

For instance, in the Michigan State-Temple game, I had the first half under at 61.5. With the store 34-26, a Michigan State player was fouled with 0.8 seconds left and had two free throws. He sinks them both and I'm a loser.

First up, swish. Second, off the back rim. Ka-ching! Stu's a winner!

Every seemed to go my way and for my friend Dave too, who hit a bunch of parlays and cashed more tickets than me. Hell, he hit a 10-1 horse by betting on the color of the horse's silks. Dave had game all weekend -- except for this morning, when he gave a few sheckels back.... Damn that Drake!!

We stayed at Planet Hollywood, and it was a terrific hotel. Situated right on the Strip next to Paris and across the street from Bellagio, it was a nice walk from there to Caesars, where we spent much of Saturday, including a great dinner at Bradley Ogden.

Though I didn't see any of the game, the Bruins sure looked good, winning by more than 40! Lots of tough teams ahead, though, including all the No. 1 seeds -- Kansas, North Carolina and Memphis.

Let the madness continue!

Missin' Marlo...

2008-03-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting. Here's the tidbits that are crossing my mind today:

-- I'm still lamenting the loss of "The Wire." After watching season five and blogging about it for the paper, I can't believe it's over. What a spectacularly written saga about the lives of those who call Baltimore home. I said it before the season started and I stand by it now. A case can be made for it to be called the the best show in the history of television.

-- Just about finished watching the entire season of HBO's current psychiatrist in residence series "In Treatment," and I like it a lot. No question Gabriel Byrne will be, and should be, talked about when Emmy nominations are discussed. Byrne wouldn't be the first person to come to mind if I was casting the series, but he's certainly done an outstanding job.

As have the rest of the cast, they're all solid. Each episode feels like a mini play, with, for the most part, only two or three actors in the entire episode. Melissa George plays his Monday client, Laura, who has developed a serious crush on her good doctor. Blair Underwood, a Navy pilot, his Tuesday patient and Wednesday is teen girl Mia Wasikowska, who I've never seen before but is annoying real as a teen girl who attempted suicide.

"Sports Night" fans will recall Josh Charles, with on-screen wife Embeth Davidtz, as a couple who do nothing but fight. And Friday, Byrne and Michelle Forbes ("Homicide") bring their relationship up for exploration to Diane Wiest. It's all good stuff. HBO replays a few billion times a week so make sure to check it out.

-- Last but not least on the HBO viewing schedule, I watched the part of the network's Emmy sure thing "John Adams" tonight. It's a bit tough to get into the first 20 minutes or so but, after that, it feels like a textbook about the Revolutionary War coming to life -- and that's meant as a compliment.

-- On vacation from work this week and then off to Vegas with my good friend Dave on Wednesday through Friday. Should be a blast. Gonna play some poker, maybe shoot some craps and watch and bet on the NCAA basketball tourney. Wish me luck!

-- Only three more weeks til Springsteen plays a couple of nights in Anaheim. The tour is really rounding into form now and we should be in store for some fun shows. I plan on going both nights (April 7-8) but only have tickets for the second, so if you have a single you can't use or know someone with an extra, lemme know.

-- How good was "Lost" last week!!! Can't belive Sun has a baby and Jin is dead. And that she's one of the Oceanic 6. Great stuff, Damon! Keep it up...

-- Until next time, Go Bruins!

Wrestling with demons

2008-02-28T18:27:00.000-08:00

I wrote a story earlier this week about how the WWE -- that's Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment for those who don't know a turnbuckle from a flying scissors kick -- and it reminded me of my teen years growing up on Long Island and a huge fan of wrestling.

Sure, we all knew it was fake, but the theatrics were just so much fun. I remember watching it once a month on cable from a sold out Madison Square Garden, and then our whole family went one night to the Nassau Coliseum to witness the action live and in person.

Abruzzi, Italy's favorite son, Bruno Sammartino, was the reigning champ for many of the years that I was a devotee of the squared circle (as announcer and future WWE guru Vince McMahon would call it).

But it wasn't just Bruno who I rooted for. Fellas such as Ivan "Polish Power" Putski, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Andre the Giant, Haystacks Calhoun, Bob Backlund (another champ) and S.D. "Special Delivery" Jones were all favorites, among many others. As for the best of the tag teams, there was the legendary Chief Jay Strongbow and his partner, Billy Whitewolf.

The bad guys consisted of "Magnificent" Don Moracco, Big Bob Duncan, Baron Scicluna (from the Isle of Malta, no less!), "Superstar" Billy Graham and, the one and only George "The Animal" Steele.

Wrestling got hugely popular in the mid-80s and early '90s when Hulk Hogan became champ and lost of all of its charm. I gave up on it then but it still holds a place in my heart, reminding me of a time where I'd do anything to stay up to midnight on a Saturday night, hoping to catch the local broadcast, where guys would be flying off the ropes and landing dropkicks aplenty.

Sing us a song, you're the piano man

2008-02-24T22:01:00.000-08:00

Priscilla and I headed down to the Honda Center in Anaheim Saturday for the Billy Joel concert. I reviewed the show for the paper (this is a condensed, edited version of my original review and I'm happy to send the full-length one to anyone who's interested) and we ended up sitting in some choice seats, given to us by the promoter. With no traffic there or back, it was a fun night out indeed.

Billy Joel was a huge star while I was growing up on Long Island. Teens on the Island just loved him for his music and because he was from Hicksville, a town on the Island. It was a case of local boy making good.

And for reasons that still befuddle me, other musical groups that were also popular when I was in junior high and high school included a swath of Southern rockers, including Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Marshall Tucker Band, the Outlaws and, of course, Bay Area legends the Grateful Dead.

Joel played most of his hits to a sold-out crowd of fortysomethings looking to recapture their youth via his music. From his days in the early 1970s, Joel was a hit machine with one No. 1 single after another. He stopped writing pop music a couple of decades ago but remains a huge concert draw, witness his 12 shows a few years back at Madison Square Garden, which is, coincidentally, the first place I saw him in 1980 on the "Glass Houses" tour.

Anyway, here's the set list from Saturday night:

Angry Young Man

California Here I Come

My Life

Everybody Loves You Now
The Entertainer

The Ballad of Billy the Kid

Allentown

New York State of Mind

Zanzibar
Root Beer Rag

Movin' Out

Don't Ask Me Why

Captain Jack

Always a Woman to Me

Keeping the Faith

River of Dreams

Highway to Hell (sung by a roadie, Joel on guitar)

We Didn't Start the Fire

Still Rock 'n' Roll to Me

You May Be Right

Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Only the Good Die Young

Piano Man

Culture shock

2008-02-20T14:18:00.000-08:00

The LA County Museum of Art opened up a new wing on Monday, called the Broad Contemporary Art Museum, in honor of philanthapist and very rich guy Eli Broad.

LACMA, which is practically across the street from Variety, is a great place to hang out. It has a few restaurants and a gift shop in case you need to buy a gift for someone who has everything.

Anyway, Priscilla and I gave it a visit … but, alas, tickets to the new portion of the place were sold out so we couldn't see the new exhibit. Tickets were free all weekend and more than 60,000 attended. Maybe next time.

Just walking around was a nice diversion from the malls and shopping complexes that are our usual weekend hangouts.

Here's a photo of me in front, by the lampost installation. I'll leave the light on for you!

L.A.'s hip hangout

2008-02-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

We spent last night at the Grove, the superhot spot where all of L.A. hangs out now nowadays.

I remember about 7-8 years ago when the Grove was first being discussed. There were fierce detractors about how about a new shopping complex would destroy the ambiance of the genteel Farmers Market, one of the city's enduring landmarks from the days of Buster Keaton and the Hollywoodland sign.

Well, there's little doubt Charlie Chaplin or Judy Garland could've imagined shopping at an Apple store or American Girl. But would they have objected so much. Everything in Hollywood changes -- from talkies to shopping meccas.

Priscilla and I met a couple of friends for dinner at Cheesecake Factory at 6 p.m. Yeah, that plan went out the window when we arrived to find an 80-minute wait. We dashed across to La Piazza, where a pasta dinner hit the spot. Coffee and cake was had at Nordstrom, where they not only can do a $1,000 suit but a nice mocha as well.

Some folks still can't stand the Grove, with its immense crowds and Disneyland-like feel. Me, I'm OK with it. Just as long as I can find a parking spot.

It's been awhile, part deux

2008-02-16T07:41:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I usually don't take two years between posts, but my good friend Bobby P. just began his new blog and linked to mine, so now I feel an obligation to get Stu's News back up in working order. I'll try to post something every day or two to keep things fresh.

So as if we never missed a step, here goes:

Just flew back from Berlin … and boy are my arms tired (Thanks. I'll be here all week. And don't forget to tip your waitresses.)

Seriously, just had my third go-around at the Berlin Film Festival, where Variety puts out a daily paper. I've been the reviews editor on these editions -- we publish at Berlin and Cannes -- and it's akin to a working vacation.

We put in extremely long hours -- about 12 a day -- but stay at nice hotels and are able to enjoy delicious meals on the company's dime. Here's the Marriott Hotel we stayed at. Nice. And right in a great part of town called Potsdamer Platz, where the majority of the fest takes place.

Since I'm working all day, I was only able to catch two movies, but both were very good. Check out the Variety reviews of "Elegy" and "Quiet Chaos."

Luckily, I wasn't forced to endure the Madonna movie "Filth and Wisdom." I have to hand it to her for still being culturally relevant 20-something years breaking into the music scene in a big way … but that still doesn't make her a director.

It sure would nice to attend a film festival one day as a moviegoer and be able to attend 3-4 films a day. One day, just not today.

So it's been awhile...

2006-06-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. No real excuses. Busy at work, busy at home, blah, blah, blah...

My Variety colleague Mike Schneider called me out of my derelict posting duties so now I feel the need to refresh.... here goes... This is in dedication to former Herald Examiner and LA Times sports columnist's Allan Malamud's Notes on a Scorecard...

Had lunch with Paula Malcomson of "Deadwood" yesterday. What a spunky gal! Just like her character, Trixie, on the show. Curses like a sailor and full of spirit. She has seven dogs and is looking for a series to show off her thespian talents. There's got to be something out there for her...

Any "Rescue Me" watchers out there? What did you think of the controversial final scene last week with Denis Leary and Andrea Roth?...

Who you got in the World Cup? Brazil looks tough at this point...

Went to the Dodgers game Saturday night and my friend Michael Speier's daughter was on the Diamond Vision scoreboard. A star is born....

I was disappointed in "Superman," especially after reading all the great reviews. I didn't see a huge improvement off the original and Brandon Routh was a bit of a bore, in my opinion...

Seeing "Devil Wears Prada" tonight. Looks like it could be fun....

Lets hope "Entourage" improves off last Sunday's poor episode and that it gets back on track from the first two winning episodes of the season....

More to come....

ABC's fall sked

2006-05-16T08:48:00.000-07:00

DAY TIME SERIES

MONDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Wife Swap”
9:00 p.m. “The Bachelor”/”Supernanny”
10:00 p.m. “What About Brian”

TUESDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars” (new night)/”Set for the Rest of Your Life” (new alternative series)
9:00 p.m. “Let’s Rob…” (new comedy series)
9:30 p.m. “Help Me Help You” (new comedy series)
10:00 p.m. “Boston Legal”

WEDNESDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars” (new night)/”George Lopez”/
“According to Jim” (new night)
9:00 p.m. “Lost”
10:00 p.m. “The Nine” (new drama series)

THURSDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Big Day” (new comedy series)
8:30 p.m. “Notes from the Underbelly” (new comedy series)
9:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy” (new night and time)
10:00 p.m. “Six Degrees” (new drama series)

FRIDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Betty the Ugly” (new comedy series)
9:00 p.m. “Men in Trees” (new drama series)
10:00 p.m. “20/20”

SATURDAY: 8:00 p.m. “ABC Saturday Night College Football”

SUNDAY: 7:00 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8:00 p.m. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
9:00 p.m. “Desperate Housewives”
10:00 p.m. “Brothers & Sisters” (new drama series)

Editors please note: Shows picked up but not listed on the schedule will debut later in the 2006-07 season.

Following, in alphabetical order, are descriptions of the new series joining ABC’s primetime schedule next season (all times are Eastern):

DRAMAS

“Brothers & Sisters” (one-hour, Sunday, 10:00 p.m., ET) – The adult children of William Walker, along with their respective families, have gathered to celebrate Kitty’s birthday. Little do they know that, on this day, their lives will take a dramatic turn.

Kitty's radio success has led to a TV pundit job in Los Angeles, but her New York boyfriend just proposed. Down to earth Thomas has joined forces with his sister, Sarah, a high powered executive and mother of three, in an effort to fix the family business. Kevin’s well-ordered life is shaken by the news that his ex-wife is moving his adolescent son to Texas. Justin, a Gulf War vet, has kicked nicotine, but other addictions keep him from moving forward in his career and love life. These siblings are about to find out that underneath the idyllic family façade lie many secrets that threaten to either tear the family apart or bring them closer together.

As told through the insightful eyes of the family's most outspoken and public sibling, Calista Flockhart (“Ally McBeal”) stars alongside Rachel Griffiths (“Six Feet Under”) and Ron Rifkin (“Alias”) in this warm, humorous and relatable drama from producer Ken Olin (“Alias”) and Jon Robin Baitz, one of Broadway's most prominent playwrights (“The Substance of Fire”).

Cast:
Calista Flockhart (“Ally McBeal”): Kitty Walker
Ron Rifkin (“Alias”): Saul Ashman
Balthazar Getty (“Alias”): Thomas Walker
Rachel Griffiths (“Six Feet Under”): Sarah Walker
Dave Annable (“Reunion”): Justin Walker
Patricia Wettig (“Prison Break”): Holly Harper
John Pyper-Ferguson (“Smallville”): Jed Traylor
Sarah Jane Morris (“Felicity”): Jennifer Walker
Jimmy “Jax” Pinchak (“CSI”): Teddy Traylor Credits:
EP/Writer: Jon Robin Baitz (“The Substance of Fire”)
EP/Director: Ken Olin (“Alias”)
EP: Marti Noxon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”)
Production Company: Touchstone Television

“Day Break” (one-hour) – We’ve all had bad days… the kind of day where nothing goes our way and we just can’t wait to put it behind us. Detective Brett Hopper is having one of those hellacious days… only he can’t put it behind him because he’s living the same day over and over again.

On this particular day, Hopper will be accused of killing Asst. DA Alberto Garza. He will offer a solid alibi which no one will believe. He will realize he's been framed. And he will run, discovering en route that not only he, but his loved ones, are also in danger. He’ll then wake up and relive the same day over and over again. In order to break the cycle and move on, he will have to figure out who framed him and solve the complex mystery surrounding Garza’s death. He will also be forced to heal the fractured relationships with those he loves. Only when Harper figures out why his life is broken and how to fix it will he awaken to a brand new day.

Taye Diggs (“Kevin Hill”) stars in an action-packed, thrilling re-imagining of the “Groundhog Day” concept from director Rob Bowman (“The X-Files,” “Reign of Fire”) and the writer of “After the Sunset.”

Cast:
Taye Diggs (“Rent”): Det. Brett Hopper
Meta Golding (“JAG”): Jennifer Mathis
Moon Bloodgood (“Eight Below”): Rita Shelton
Victoria Pratt (“Mutant X”): Andrea Battle
Ramon Rodriguez (“Rescue Me”): Damien
Adam Baldwin (“NCIS”): Chad Shelton Credits:
EP: Jeff Bell (“The X-Files”)
EP: Matt Gross (“Don’t Say A Word”)
Co-EP/Writer: Paul Zbyszewski (“After the Sunset”)
EP/Director: Rob Bowman (“The X-Files”)
Production Company: Touchstone Television

“Men in Trees” (one-hour, Friday, 9:00 p.m., ET) – Finding a good man in today's world isn't as difficult as some women think. You just have to watch out for the signs. You wouldn't drive with a blindfold on but, for some reason, women continue to date with one.

Relationship coach Marin Frist knows what to look for, what to avoid and what will make her happy. As the many fans of her two bestselling books could tell you, we're all in charge of our own happiness. Marin's personal happiness includes the upcoming wedding to her "perfect man." But like many people full of advice, she fails to apply it to herself. On her way to a speaking engagement in Alaska, she learns that her fiancé has cheated on her... the wedding plans are instantly over. Slapped in the face with personal failure, a snowstorm then leaves her stuck in a small town full of the one thing she really doesn't need -- available men. Marin's friends and her publisher try to lend long-distance support, but the fact remains she’s been living with her eyes closed for too long. Now that they're finally open, she sees the amazingly beautiful world surrounding her, and for the first time she'll have the chance to stop and breathe. Now if she could just get the raccoon out of her hotel room, this place might be perfect.

From the head writer of “Sex and the City” and the director of the Academy Award®-winning “Walk the Line” comes a fun and sexy drama about finding love in the most unexpected places. Anne Heche (“Nip/Tuck”) stars.

Cast:
Anne Heche (“Nip/Tuck”): Marin Frist
James Tupper (“Gilmore Girls”): Jack
Suleka Mathews (“The West Wing”): Sara
Derek Richardson (“Felicity”): Patrick
Emily Bergl (“Gilmore Girls”): Annie
Abraham Benrubi (“ER): Ben
Sarah Strange (“Life As We Know It”): Theresa
Seana Kofoed (“Law & Order”): Jane
John Amos (“The West Wing”): Buzz Credits:
EP/Writer: Jenny Bicks (“Sex and the City”)
EP: Kathy Conrad (“Walk the Line”)
EP/Director: James Mangold (“Walk the Line”)
Production Company: Tree Line Film, Perkins Street Productions, NS Pictures Inc., Warner Bros. Television

“The Nine” (one-hour, Wednesday, 10:00 p.m., ET) – So much in life is beyond your control. You may go about your day like any other when suddenly a random moment, an accident, a blessing, even a stranger redirects your life forever. And on that day, it's up to you to decide if that moment will stop you in your tracks or lift you up to new heights.

Nine people will face just such an unexpected twist when they are caught in a bank robbery gone wrong and endure a 52-hour hostage standoff that will leave more than one person dead. When all is said and done, these people will never be the same. They will share the common bond of what happens inside the bank and will be forever affected and intertwined because of it.

From the creator of “Without a Trace” and an executive producer of “The West Wing” comes a dramatic character study that will keep audiences hooked with the mystery of what happened during the hostage standoff. Each episode will begin with a flashback to reveal another 10 minutes of the hostage crisis, uncovering why and how these nine strangers are still linked today. Tim Daly (“Wings”), Chi McBride (“Boston Public”) and Scott Wolf (“Party of Five”) star.

Cast:
Chi McBride (“Boston Public”): Malcolm
Jessica Collins (“CSI”): Lizzie
Tim Daly (“Wings”): Nick
Kim Raver (“24”): Kathryn
Scott Wolf (“Party of Five”): Jeremy
John Billingsley (“Star Trek: Enterprise”): Egan
Lourdes Benedicto (“24”): Eva
Camille Guaty (“Prison Break”): Franny
Owain Yeoman (“Troy”): Lucas
Dana Davis (“Veronica Mars”): Felicia Credits:
EP/Writer: Hank Steinberg (“Without a Trace”)
Co-EP/Writer: K.J. Steinberg (“Beautiful People,” “Judging Amy”)
EP/Director: Alex Graves
Production Company: Warner Bros. Television, Sunset Road Productions

“Six Degrees” (one-hour, Thursday, 10:00 p.m., ET) – Who will you touch? Who will touch you? They say that anyone on the planet can be connected to any other person through a chain of six people, which means that no one is a stranger… for long. In this hour-long drama from the producers of “Lost” and “Alias,” six very different New Yorkers go about their lives without realizing the impact they're having on one another – yet. A mysterious web of coincidences will gradually draw these strangers closer, changing the course of their lives forever. Is it happenstance? Fate? Is there a greater force at work in our world, guiding us along and connecting our lives?

This intriguing tale of intertwined destinies reminds us that romance, success, peace or forgiveness might be right around the corner, but they can also be lost in an instant. It’s a story that underlines just

how small the world really is, and how someone just five people away might be shaping our future right now. Jay Hernandez (“Friday Night Lights”), Erika Christensen (“Flightplan”), Bridget Moynahan (“Sex and the City”), Dorian Missick (“Lucky Number Slevin”), Hope Davis (“About Schmidt”) and Campbell Scott (“The Secret Lives of Dentists”) star.

Cast:
Jay Hernandez (“Friday Night Lights”): Carlos
Bridget Moynahan (“I, Robot”): Whitney
Hope Davis (“Proof”): Laura
Campbell Scott (“Loverboy”): Steven Casemen
Dorian Missick (“Lucky Number Slevin”): Damian
Erika Christensen (“Traffic”): Mae Anderson Credits:
EP: J.J. Abrams (“Lost,” “Alias”)
EP: Bryan Burk (“Lost,” “Alias”)
EP/Writer: Stu Zicherman (“Elektra”)
EP/Writer: Raven Metzner (“Elektra”)
Director: Rodrigo Garcia (“Six Feet Under”)
Production Company: Touchstone Television

“Traveler” (one-hour) – Jay, Tyler and Will are friends who have spent the last two years in grad school. They are about to depart on a summer trip when a simple prank to rollerblade through one of New York City's most famous museums makes Jay and Tyler prime suspects in a terrorist bombing that destroys the museum seconds later. Hopeful that Will can help clear up this misunderstanding, they learn he's been missing since the explosion and think he may be dead. They’re unable to turn to authorities when they realize they can't prove Will even exists. In every photo from the past two years, he has managed to block his face.

Who will believe them? Friends, family, lovers? The boys are pawns in a conspiracy that will take years to unravel, and the government may not have their best interests at heart. Their friendship will be tested like never before as they try to uncover the truth, while avoiding detection of not only the FBI, but everyone in America who has seen their faces on TV as suspects in the bombing.

Director David Nutter, who has defined many series including “The X-Files,” “Without a Trace” and “Supernatural,” along with the writer of “Eight Below” and the Oscar®-winning producers of “American Beauty” combine “The Fugitive” with “Enemy of the State” in a taut, tense thriller of innocents on the run. Flashing back to the prior two years to illustrate the formation of this friendship and Will's insidious behavior, this action-packed drama taps into our paranoia with pure adrenaline-fueled entertainment. Matthew Bomer (“Tru Calling”) and Logan Marshall-Green (“The O.C.”) star.

Cast:
Matthew Bomer (“Tru Calling”): Jay Burchell
Logan Marshall-Green (“The O.C.”): Tyler Fog
Aaron Stanford (“X-Men 2”): Will Traveler
Viola Davis (“Law & Order: SVU”): Agent Jan “Naj” Marlow
Steven Culp (“Desperate Housewives”): Agent Fred Chambers Credits:
EP: Dan Jinks (“American Beauty”)
EP: Bruce Cohen (“American Beauty”)
Writer: David Digilio (“Eight Below”)
Production Company: Warner Bros. Television, The Jinks/Cohen Company

COMEDIES

“Betty the Ugly” (one-hour comedy, Friday, 8:00 p.m., ET) – In the superficial world of high fashion, image is everything. Styles come and go, and the only constants are the wafer-thin beauties who wear them. How can an ordinary girl -- a slightly plump plain-Jane from Queens -- possibly fit in?

If you took a moment to get to know Betty Suarez, you'd see how sweet, intelligent and hard-working she is. But few people do because, in the world of fashion, Betty is the oversized square peg in the petite round hole. When publishing mogul Bradford Meade hands the reigns of his fashion magazine, Mode, over to his son, Daniel, he specifically hires Betty as his son's new assistant – mostly because she's the only woman in NYC Daniel won't sleep with. Though this “player” is reluctant to accept her at first, Betty’s indomitable spirit and bright ideas will eventually win him over. Neither of them really knows the ins and outs of the fashion world, but the two of them are a formidable team against the label-wearing sharks who will do anything to see them fail.

Executive producers Salma Hayek and Silvio Horta, the creator of “Urban Legend,” bring the Latino television phenomenon to an English-speaking audience. America Ferrera (“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”) and Eric Mabius (“The L Word”) are the “Working Girl” couple who tackle the colorful, cutthroat world of fashion head on.

Cast:
America Ferrera (“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”): Betty Suarez
Eric Mabius (“The O.C.”): Daniel Meade
Ana Ortiz (“Boston Legal”): Hilda
Vanessa Williams (“Chicago Hope”): Wilhelmina Slater
Tony Plana (“24”): Ignacio
Ashley Jensen: Christina
Becki Newton (“Charmed”): Amanda
Mark Indelicato: Justin
Alan Dale (“The O.C.”): Bradford Meade Credits:
EP/Writer: Silvio Horta (“Jake 2.0”)
EP: Ben Silverman (“The Office”)
EP: Salma Hayek (“Frida”)
EP: Jose Tamez (“The Maldonado Miracle”)
Director: Richard Shepard (“Criminal Minds”)
Production Company: Touchstone Television

“Big Day” (half-hour, Thursday, 8:00 p.m., ET) – If “24” married “Father of the Bride,” their child would be “Big Day.” Everything matters at a wedding, and the smallest imperfections can reverberate throughout the event as if lives actually hang in the balance. Choice of side salad? A trivial decision you would think, but for the mother of the bride, this might as well be the most critical decision of her life, and if you're the caterer, you’d better get it right. That’s just the beginning -- the maid of honor accidentally drinks the best man’s contacts after sleeping with him, and the father of the bride wants to stop the wedding. Things are about to get even more complicated for Danny and Alice, as their day turns into a season-long roller coaster where nothing goes according to plan. Over the course of an entire season, each episode will focus on one day – Danny and Alice’s wedding day.

The writers of “What Women Want” and “13 Going on 30” take a full season to dissect the biggest day in any family's life. Marla Sokoloff (“Desperate Housewives”), Josh Cooke (“Four Kings”) and Wendie Malick (“Just Shoot Me”) star.

Cast:
Marla Sokoloff (“Desperate Housewives“): Alice
Josh Cooke (“Four Kings”): Danny
Wendie Malick (“Just Shoot Me”): Jane
Kurt Fuller (“Desperate Housewives”): Steve
Miriam Shor (“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”): Becca
Stephen Rannazzisi (“Kitchen Confidential”): Skobo
Stephanie Weir (“Fun with Dick and Jane”): Lorna Credits:
EP/Writer: Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa (“13 Going on 30”)
Director: Michael Spiller (“Jake in Progress”)
Production Company: Sony Pictures Television

“Help Me Help You” (half-hour, Tuesday, 9:30 p.m., ET) – Whoever came up with the idea of group therapy? Take a bunch of people who are all really messed up in different ways and put them in a room together to try and help each other out. The group leader, Dr. Bill Hoffman, is probably the craziest and most self-obsessed of all, but his patients would never know it because he hides behind his very respectable celebrity image as a bestselling author of phenomenally successful self-help books.

Directed by Brian Dannelly (“Saved,” “Weeds”), the series explores the comical side of group therapy as members of the group apply the good doctor's advice to the real world with enthusiastic effort, until they begin to realize maybe Dr. Bill should be doing the heavy lifting along with them. Ted Danson (“Cheers”) stars.

Cast:
Ted Danson (“Cheers”): Dr. Bill Hoffman
Charlie Finn (“The Dukes of Hazzard”): Dave
Jim Rash (“That ‘70s Show”): Jonathan
Suzy Nakamura (“Dodgeball”): Inger
Darlene Hunt (“I Heart Huckabees”): Darlene
Jere Burns (“Good Morning Miami”): Michael
Jane Kaczmarek (“Malcolm in the Middle”): Guest Star/Anne Credits:
EP/Writer: Jennifer Konner (“Undeclared”)
EP/Writer: Alexandra Rushfield (“Undeclared”)
Director: Brian Dannelly (“Weeds”)
Production Company: Regency Television

“In Case of Emergency” (half-hour) – Who you were in high school is usually not who you end up being. Harry, Jason, Sherman and Kelly all went to the same high school. Several years on since graduation, their lives haven’t exactly turned out the way they planned. Diet guru Sherman will hijack a pastry truck and over-indulge after discovering his wife left him and cleaned him out. In the face of a fraud indictment, financial whiz Jason will dodge the suicide bullet only to shoot himself in the foot… literally. Unhappily divorced, Harry goes for a relaxing "massage," only to discover his scantily clad “masseuse” is Kelly, their high school valedictorian. A series of emergencies will reunite this hapless brood and they’ll find, at the end of the day, that they’ve got each other in case of emergency.

Director Jon Favreau (“Elf,” “Swingers”) directs Jonathan Silverman (“Jekyll”), David Arquette (“Scream”), Greg Germann (“Ally McBeal”) and Kelly Hu (“The Scorpion King”) as a fresh quartet of emotionally and physically injured oddballs, and Lori Laughlin (“Full House”) as the doctor who grounds them all. Together, they're proving that any colossal mistake can be overcome with a lot of help from your friends... and pain killers.

Cast:
Jonathan Silverman (“The Single Guy”): Harry Kennison
David Arquette (“Scream”): Jason Ventress
Greg Germann (“Ally McBeal”): Sherman Yablonsky
Kelly Hu (“CSI:NY”): Kelly Lee
Lori Loughlin (“Full House”): Dr. Joanna Lupone
Nicholas Roget-King (“Yours, Mine and Ours”): Dylan Credits:
EP/Writer: Howard J. Morris (“According to Jim”)
EP: Emile Levisetti (“Hope & Faith”)
EP/Director: Jon Favreau (“Elf,” “Swingers”)
Production Company: Touchstone Television

“Let’s Rob…” (half-hour, Tuesday, 9:00 p.m., ET) – For almost 20 years, Eugene Gurkin has dreamt of opening a bar, but his dead end job on the late, late janitorial shift won't even fund a bottle of premium booze. In the wake of a co-worker's death, he catches an episode of television. Call it divine intervention, call it a dumb idea, but whatever it is takes hold of Eugene and soon he recruits a group of misfits into his "gang" for a heist to finance their dreams. The target: Rock icon Mick Jagger’s super-luxe Central Park West apartment. Working together, this band of affable, new-age Robin Hoods, who have never even shoplifted a candy bar, are soon casing the joint and prepping for their crime. What they don't know is that there's a much richer target for them… the chance to find hope, self-esteem and confidence within themselves.

From Jon Beckerman and Rob Burnett, producers of “Late Show with David Letterman” and creators of “Ed,” comes a hilarious tale of haves and have nots. Donal Logue (“Grounded for Life”) stars. Mick Jagger appears in a cameo (he is not a series regular).

Cast:
Donal Logue (“Grounded for Life”): Eugene Gurkin
Maz Jobrani (“Life on a Stick”): Gary
Sofia Vergara (“Four Brothers”): Esperanza Villalobos
Kevin Michael Richardson (“The Boondocks”): Rockefeller Butts
Lenny Venito (“NYPD Blue”): Francis “Squatch” Scuacieri
Josh Grisetti: Louis Plunk Credits:
EP/Writer/Director: Rob Burnett (“Ed”)
EP/Writer: Jon Beckerman (“Ed”)
EP: Mick Jagger
EP: Victoria Pearman
Production Company: Touchstone Television

“Notes from the Underbelly” (half-hour, Thursday, 8:30 p.m., ET) – Andrew and Lauren have just found out they're going to have a baby, and they’re having a difficult time following rule number one – keeping it secret. Suddenly switching to decaf, becoming a teetotaler at cocktail parties, and going to the OBGYN are all difficult to keep from family and close friends.

Well Andrew and Lauren are about to learn that, when the secret gets out, the politics of parenthood can be just as demanding as raising a child. Sometimes all that "help" from loving but intrusive parents and "advice" from well-meaning but competitive friends who are trying to show you what great parents they are is not exactly what you're looking for. Knowing what's best for the child could be the easiest part... maintaining your relationships with family and friends can be the real challenge.

Director Barry Sonnenfeld and two producers of “Two and a Half Men” create a comic take on life's greatest adventure. As these friends watch their lives change to accommodate the little stranger, their relationships change in ways they never expected before they were expecting. Peter Cambor and Jennifer Westfeldt (“Kissing Jessica Stein”) star.

Cast:
Peter Cambor (“Up to the Roof”): Andrew
Jennifer Westfeldt (“Numbers”): Lauren
Melanie Paxson (“Cupid”): Julie
Rachael Harris (“The West Wing”): Cooper
Michael Weaver (“Monk”): Danny
Sunkrish Bala (“Barbershop”): Eric Credits:
EP/Writer: Stacy Traub (“What I Like About You”)
EP: Eric Tannenbaum (“Two and a Half Men”)
EP: Kim Tannebaum (“Two and a Half Men”)
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld (“Lemony Snicket’s a Series of Unfortunate Events”)
Production Company: Warner Bros. Television, The Tannenbaum Company

ALTERNATIVE SERIES

“Greg Behrendt’s Wake-Up Call” – Greg Behrendt, acclaimed author of He’s Just Not That Into You, will address one couple’s major issues and use his knowledge of relationships to give them the tools to fix theirs. Through his off-the-cuff comedy and bruised-and-battered romantic experience, Greg takes a close look from a different angle to give our couple advice as a close friend, but also that of sage wisdom.

“Just for Laughs” -- ABC has licensed six half-hour episodes of the hidden-camera comedy series. The series cuts across cultural boundaries and has universal appeal, entertaining audiences of all ages and demographics by mixing clever practical jokes, hidden cameras and a few unsuspecting victims.

“Set for the Rest of Your Life” -- Just imagine: You’re leaving the studio financially independent with a monthly payment for as long as you live! Yes, even if you are to live another 100 years. With a big smile on your face, you will be cashing a monthly check for the rest of your life. Now how does that sound? In this high-tension game show, the contestant will first battle for the highest monthly check possible. Does he end up with $50 a month? $500 a month? Or will he receive well over $10,000 a month? The contestant’s next battle is even more important: Time! Does he win that payment just for one month? For a quarter of a year, half a year, one year? For three, ten, twenty years maybe? Or… for the rest of his life? And… did the contestant’s partner, hidden in a sound-proof isolation booth away from where it’s all happening, help to make that dream come true or turn that dream into a nightmare? “Set for the Rest of Your Life” is a game show for strong relationships only, that’s for sure!

ABC Media Relations: Nicole Nichols (818) 460-5267
Hope Hartman (818) 460-6360
Susan Sewell (212) 456-1508

-- ABC --

NBC lineup

2006-05-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

NBC in 2006-07:
Six New Series, Changes on Six Nights of the Week

NBC, the first network to officially unveil its 2006-07 primetime line-up, will introduce six new series this fall (four dramas and two sitcoms), plus the already announced Sunday Night Football, which replaces regularly scheduled programming on Sunday in fourth quarter. Three established series -- My Name Is Earl, The Office and Law & Order: Criminal Intent -- will move to new time periods, The Apprentice will be rested until midseason, Deal or No Deal will air two nights per week (Monday and Friday at 8 p.m.), and benched reality/competition The Biggest Loser will return to the Wednesday 8 p.m. anchor hour. Also slated for midseason is Crossing Jordan, Scrubs and another edition of Dateline, plus new sitcom The Singles Table, new drama Raines, and a reality/competition series from Simon Cowell called America's Got Talent (which kicks off this summer).

NBC, overall, will make changes on six nights of the week (excluding Saturday, which will remain occupied by Dateline and encore telecasts of its drama series). Although ER, which was rumored to be moving to another night, will remain intact Thursday at 10 p.m., new drama The Black Donnellys will temporarily step into the hour in midseason. ER will return later in the season to finish off the remaining 9 episodes of its 22-episode order.

In addition to the demise of veterans The West Wing and Will & Grace, not returning to NBC this fall are sitcoms Joey and Teachers; midseason dramas Conviction, Heist and The Book of Daniel; the non-scripted Most Outrageous Moments, and fall 2005 occupants Surface, E-Ring, Three Wishes and Inconceivable.

Here is NBC's fall 2006 schedule with new shows in caps, followed by the new program descriptions:

Monday
8:00 p.m. Deal or No Deal
9:00 p.m. HEROES
10:00 p.m. Medium

Tuesday
8:00 p.m. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
9:00 p.m. KIDNAPPED
10:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU

Wednesday
8:00 p.m. The Biggest Loser
9:00 p.m. 20 GOOD YEARS
9:30 p.m. 30 ROCK
10:00 p.m. Law & Order

Thursday
8:00 p.m. My Name Is Earl (new time)
8:30 p.m. The Office (new time)
9:00 p.m. STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
10:00 p.m. ER (THE BLACK DONNELLYS in midseason)

Friday
8:00 p.m. Deal or No Deal
9:00 p.m. Las Vegas
10:00 p.m. Law & order: Criminal Intent (new day and time)

Saturday
8:00 p.m. Dateline
9:00 p.m. Drama series encores.
10:00 p.m. Drama series encores.

Sunday
7:00 p.m. FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA
8:00 p.m. SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Sunday After Football Season
7:00 p.m. Dateline
8:00 p.m. AMERICA'S GOT TALENT
9:00 p.m. The Apprentice 6 (only one edition next season)
10:00 p.m. RAINES

New Program Descriptions

Dramas

THE BLACK DONNELLYS (midseason)
Created by Crash and Million Dollar Baby scribe Paul Haggis, and set in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen, four young Irish brothers involved in organized crime sink deeper into the criminal underworld. The ensemble cast includes Kirk Acevado, Tom Guiry, Keith Nobbs, Jonathan Tucker, and Olivia Wilde.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Based on the book and the feature film, the lives of a high school football team and their coach (Early Edition's Kyle Chandler) in a small Texas town are the focus. The cast also includes Connie Britton (Spin City), Zach Gilford, Adrianne Palicki, and Jesse Plemons.

HEROES
A group of regular people find out that they have super human powers, including a disillusioned cop in Los Angeles who can hear thoughts of other people. The cast includes Santiago Cabrera, Tawny Cypress, Greg Grunberg, Ali Larter, Masi Oka, Adrian Pasdar, Hayden Panettiere, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Loenard Roberts, and The Bedford Diaries star Milo Ventimiglia.

KIDNAPPED
After the 15-year old son of a wealthy family has been abducted, the subsequent investigation (where everything, of course, is not as perfect as it seems) is followed throughout the course of the season. Dana Delany, Timothy Hutton, Jeremy Sisto, Delroy Lindo, and Mykelti Williamson star.

RAINES
An eccentric, but brilliant Los Angeles police officer (Jeff Goldblum) solves murders in an unusual way: the victim becomes his partner, while his ability to communicate with the dead remains a figment of his imagination until the mystery is solved. Matt Craven, Dov Davidoff, Luis Guzman, Linda Park, and Nicole Sullivan (The King of Queens) also star.

STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
Friends star Matthew Perry returns to NBC in this one-hour dramatic look at life behind-the-scenes at a long-running sketch comedy series (reminiscent of Saturday Night Live). Also starring are Sex and the City's Evan Handler, comedian D.L. Hughley, Sarah Paulson, Amanda Peet, former Wings star Steven Weber, and The West Wing's Bradley Whitford.

----------

Comedies

30 ROCK
The head writer (Tina Fey) of a fictional sketch comedy called The Girly Show tries to come to terms with a temperamental star and a difficult executive producer. Alec Baldwin, Rachel Dratch, Jack McBrayer, and Tracy Morgan co-star.

20 GOOD YEARS
After suddenly realizing they only have about 20 good years left, two New York friends in their 50s (3rd Rock From the Sun's John Lithgow and recent Arrested Development star Jeffrey Tambor) try to make the most of it.

THE SINGLES TABLE (midseason)
Five strangers at a wedding bond, and become friends, after they are seated at a table for singles only. The cast includes John Cho, Conor Dubin, Pascale Hutton, Jarrad Paul and Rhea Seehorn.

----------

Non-Scripted

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT (midseason)
Describe as a variety show competition, and airing from Las Vegas, the best in singing, dancing and comedy, plus novelty acts will complete in front of a panel of celebrity judges who decide which acts advance.

Grades for the freshman class

2006-05-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

Tim Goodman, the top notch TV critic of the SF Chronicle, gave grades to each of the past season's new shows. Good stuff:

The freshman crop of broadcast television series typically clocks in at an 80 percent failure rate, so it's not like you have to be hard on the new kids come grading time.

They make it easy for you.

But still, it must be done. And not all of the grades will reflect rating highs or lows. It's a combination of critical merit and whether they are adding value of some kind to their respective networks -- be it holding the audience of a lead-in series, lowering the demographic or establishing a beachhead on a heretofore dead night.

More weight will be given, however, to whether they are lousy or not. The red pencil is sharpened. The smiley (or frowney) stickers have been bought in bulk. Now, as the freshman season nears its end, let's bust out the letters.

-- "The War at Home," Fox, Sundays. Grade: D. The network will no doubt disagree, saying the ratings have been modest or hopeful, but this series is flat-out awful. And it degrades Fox by even being on the schedule.

-- "How I Met Your Mother," CBS, Mondays. Grade: B+. Easily one of the most underrated of the mainstream TV comedies. Who knew Neil Patrick Harris was this funny?

-- "Kitchen Confidential," Fox, canceled. Grade: B-. Don't blame the show -- based on the book and life of its writer, chef Anthony Bourdain. Blame Fox. This was a decently funny series with a lot of upside that went untapped, of course.

-- "Out of Practice," CBS, Mondays. Grade: C-. This is the network being its old self: star-studded pilot, traditional (and boring and trite) execution, with dull swipes at broad, predictable humor.

-- "Prison Break," Fox, Mondays. Grade: C+. It found a decent audience, but not much else. The premise was ludicrous -- successful white-collar professional robs a bank so he can get sent to prison and bust out his brother on death row -- the writing weak, the acting bad and the execution seriously flawed.

-- "Courting Alex," CBS, Mondays. Grade: C-. How any show can ruin the efforts of Jenna Elfman is mystifying, but this one does.

-- "The New Adventures of Old Christine," CBS, Mondays. Grade: B+. Finally a workable vehicle for "Seinfeld" alum Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The series is growing and getting better.

-- "Just Legal," WB, canceled. Grade: B-. Right show, wrong network. If Don Johnson as an aging, drunken lawyer paired with young, idealistic Jay Baruchel had been on CBS, it may have played for eight seasons. These kinds of programming miscues are why the WB is folding.

-- "Commander in Chief," ABC, on hiatus. Grade: C. Don't read much hope into "on hiatus." This series, an out-of-the-box hit that ruined itself with behind-the-scenes wrangling, then awful writing, is dead.

-- "Sex, Lies & Secrets," UPN, canceled. Grade: F. Deserved its fate. Then again, it never deserved to air.

-- "Free Ride," Fox, Wednesdays. Grade: D. This could have been a great series, but it tried too hard and the network allowed an obviously ill-conceived character to drag the whole thing down. A case of not enough notes, no guiding hand.

-- "Freddie," ABC, Wednesdays. Grade: D. Moronic and excessively awful, but enough people actually watched it so it has been renewed. As a reminder -- that doesn't make it good.

-- "Invasion," ABC, Wednesdays. Grade: B. Solidly entertaining, well-written and acted, the series never really caught on behind "Lost" when almost everyone believed that was a successful pairing. Still, you can't fault ABC on this one.

-- "The Loop," Fox, hopefully canceled. Grade: F. One word: Asinine. But the theme song, "Hockey Monkey," was great.

-- "Pepper Dennis," WB, hopefully canceled. Grade: D. Rebecca Romijn couldn't save this because she couldn't hire better writers on her own. She played a TV reporter. Here's the news of the day: The WB may have had one of the worst development seasons in recent memory.

-- "The Unit," CBS, Tuesdays. Grade: B+. David Mamet and Shawn Ryan ("The Shield") have taken their R-rated sensibilities and made a compelling series about Delta Force soldiers, led by Dennis Haysbert. Very entertaining.

-- "Teachers," NBC, hopefully canceled. Grade: D+. Why the plus part? Sarah Shahi from "The L Word" was in this. Still, not enough to merely dislike it.

-- "E-Ring," NBC, canceled. Grade: D. Benjamin Bratt, Dennis Hopper, the military ... no. Leave that to CBS. It just never seemed realistic. Or compelling.

-- "Criminal Minds," CBS, Wednesdays. Grade: B. Who knew CBS could tap into the FBI profiler bucket one more time and pull up a hit? Excessively violent and at times pretentious, it still had enough good performances from a disparate cast to win viewers.

-- "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," NBC, canceled. Grade: C-. A good idea (Stewart) gone bad (taking the zing out of her). In retrospect, she was held down by the concept and let down by NBC.

-- "The Bedford Diaries," WB, canceled. Grade: F. One of the worst dramas of the year, which caught some headlines about censorship because WB cut content against the producers' wishes. They should have cut it all.

-- "Related," WB, Wednesdays. Grade: C+. It's not going to make the jump to the CW, but it was better than its ratings. A good cast needed better writing and more time.

-- "Bones," Fox, Wednesdays. Grade: B. More forensics, but also more funny. There's witticisms, chemistry and solvable crimes, but there's a fluff factor that prevents it from moving up a notch.

-- "The Night Stalker," ABC, canceled. Grade: D. What a woeful "reimagining" of the cult TV series. It was boring and lifeless and, ultimately, pointless.

-- "What About Brian," ABC, hopefully canceled. Grade: C-. What about him? He's gone missing. Maybe he's looking for love (the premise) because he sure didn't find it here.

-- "My Name Is Earl," NBC, Thursdays. Grade: A+. Finally, a hit sitcom that's actually funny and, not to be too wonkish about it, saved NBC's backside on Thursday night. The series also helped along "The Office" until people could find it, love it and jump on board. So "Earl" is a triple threat. For critics, there's much to love, but on the simplistic end, "Earl" gets belly laughs every week and that's a rarity. And even better, it's a single-camera comedy with no laugh track. Because of the success of "Earl," a record number of similar-styled comedies were made as pilots. Let's hope they get picked up.

-- "Reunion," Fox, canceled. Grade: D. Laughably bad, convoluted and stylistically limiting, this series set out to follow high school seniors as they grew up -- one eventually killing another. It was DOA.

-- "Everybody Hates Chris," UPN, Thursdays. Grade: A. One of the buzz shows of the fall morphed into a funny and touching coming-of-age series based on the childhood of comedian Chris Rock. Easily one of the best network shows that nobody watched, it will get a second chance on the CW.

-- "Sons & Daughters," ABC, canceled. Grade: A. Brilliant, ridiculously funny, improvised and inspired, this was a series that was too smart for the room and you just can't do that on network television.

-- "Supernatural," WB, Thursdays. Grade: B. Entertaining and scary, this urban legend thrill ride was a big surprise (and bright spot) for the WB. Look for it to make the cut at the CW.

-- "The Evidence," ABC, hopefully canceled. Grade: D. The best thing about this cookie-cutter cop show was that it was set in San Francisco. After those two minutes of enjoyment, things became very mediocre.

-- "Heist," NBC, canceled. Grade: D-. A bad series about thieves made worse by trying to make them coy and cool instead of believable or interesting.

-- "Four Kings," NBC, canceled. Grade: D. Faux chemistry, bad boy jokes and unbelievable actors. Seth Green was better than the material, but not enough to overcome it.

-- "Love, Inc.," UPN. Grade: D. There's no love here. It tried too hard and failed easy.

-- "The Book of Daniel," NBC, canceled. Grade: C. Pill-popping priest talks with Jesus. Aidan Quinn was great, but the series tried to hit seven or eight controversial topics at once but never got good at any of them.

-- "Hot Properties," ABC, canceled. Grade: D-. Yet another series that tried to take the magic of "Sex and the City" and transfer it to broadcast television. What they forgot was the writing, acting, premise and overall quality.

-- "Emily's Reasons Why Not," ABC, canceled. Grade: C-. Heather Graham was a welcome addition to the small screen, but not believable as a woman desperate for attention. That's actually funnier than the show.

-- "South Beach," UPN, canceled. Grade: F. Executive produced by J.Lo. Still awful.

-- "Crumbs," NBC, canceled. Grade: D. Fred "Wonder Years" Savage as a gay writer. Cliche filled and humorless, it's a show you probably barely remember. (Well, that could be said about most of these.)

-- "Modern Men," WB, canceled. Grade: F. Yet another example of why the WB is no longer in business at the end of this month. Three guys, modern, who need love help. Vapid and unoriginal and cruel to endure.

-- "Ghost Whisperer," CBS, Fridays. Grade: C. Uncommonly lame, this series should be a C- at best, but a whole lot of people found and liked it on a Friday night. Jennifer Love Hewitt's breasts were prominent stars in most episodes, so maybe there's your real clue. It couldn't have been the writing or the believability -- she talks to dead people. Ah, but the show lived. CBS won.

-- "Love Monkey," CBS, canceled. Grade: A-. Tom Cavanagh played a record company executive who loved music, had cool friends, lived in Manhattan, spoke believable and funny dialogue but just happened to live on a network that doesn't make shows like that. Had he carried an M-16 or worked for the FBI, he'd still be on. One of the bigger shames of the fall.

-- "Close to Home," CBS, Fridays. Grade: B. You have to hand it to CBS. The network knows how to make crime and punishment series that people will watch, even on Fridays. Do they make too many? See: "Love Monkey." But "Close to Home" is a solid show, worth seeking out.

-- "Three Wishes," NBC, Fridays. Grade: B. This should have been a smash hit. People love feel-good, helpful reality shows. Who knows what went wrong.

-- "Threshold," CBS, canceled. Grade: B. Initially a buzz show in a pack of paranormal offerings for the fall, the series lacked the spark that made people want to watch more, and it just faded away.

-- "Inconceivable," NBC, canceled. Grade: F. The title says a lot about why it was even on the air. This fertility series wanted to be a broadcast version of FX's "Nip/Tuck," but was poorly, conceived.

-- "In Justice," ABC, probably canceled. Grade: C-. This show was set in Oakland. But even that's a blur, now. Kyle MacLachlan as a crusader for justice, if memory serves. It didn't really know what it wanted to be and probably won't get a chance to figure that out next season.

-- "Killer Instinct," Fox, canceled. Grade: F. Woeful. Set in San Francisco, so the Bay Area just went 0-3 in the fall.

-- "Twins," WB, canceled. Grade: F. Astonishingly bad. The WB was sold inferior product by producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick ("Will & Grace"), who were allowed to do pretty much anything, including write bad jokes.

Well, something was probably forgotten in that jumble of mostly forgettable shows. Some of those D grades were generous -- even dubious. Take your pick. Here's hoping that you picked well this season and avoided either the pain of time-sucking lameness (most of what the WB offered) or the pain of finding something great in the dreck (poor "Love Monkey" and "Sons & Daughters") only to watch helplessly as it failed.

Starting next week, most of this class will be dismissed. From then until fall, every network will be looking forward to the new freshman.

Looking over the 2005-06 season

2006-05-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

My friend and colleague Jon Weisman had an online discussion about the almost concluded TV season. Here's the transcript:

Jon: Well, since you're in the thick of this stuff year round, why don't you start us off with what you saw as the overriding story of the '05-'06 season?

Stu: From a programming standpoint, I'd say it was the dominance once again of American Idol. Shows just aren't supposed to find bigger audiences as they get older but Idol defies the odds. Idol just crushes the competition the way the 1977 and 1978 Yankees crushed the Dodgers -- as I'm a big Bombers fan and this is on Jon's Dodger site, I thought you'd enjoy the analogy. Wednesday night's Idol elimination show drew 28.5 million viewers, unheard of in the 500-channel universe.

The other networks are dumbstruck about how to counterprogram against it and the best strategy seems to get away from it as far as possible.

Jon: Or wait three years and reverse the crushing. Perhaps the other networks need to cast Pedro Guerrero and Fernando in something.

As far as dramas go, there were plenty of great shows to fill our Tivos this year. Good watercooler shows, like Lost and The Sopranos, which are compelling at worst and usually brilliant. (I don't buy into the theory that Lost is spinning its wheels - I think it is doing well to take its time.) Big Love - surprisingly unconcerned with soap opera plot twists given its premise - is finding itself. The recent House two-parter was some of the best television I've seen this year. Veronica Mars is clever and entertaining each week, and I can't wait to see if this year's season finale lives up to the awesomity of last years. Those are some of my favorites.

Stu: You're right. There's never been as many great dramas as there are right now. My Tivo is bursting with 'em. Just on Sunday nights you have West Wing, Sopranos, Big Love and Grey's Anatomy. Then there's Lost, which -- to its credit never plays it safe, and House. Those are just the ones on the air right now.

And starting soon is my favorite show of 'em all, Deadwood, with my second choice The Wire to begin in the fall. And what about all the FX stuff: The Shield, Rescue Me and the recently ended Thief, which got killed in the ratings but was intriguing nonetheless.

I'm surprised I still have to time to sleep and eat after catching up on all these.

Jon: Is Thief done already? I've got three of them waiting for me to watch after enjoying the first two. Over There was another worthwhile FX show that died a quiet death. I might add ... as a segue to comedy .. that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on FX deserved more attention - any attention, really. It had a great sensibility - twentysomething adults with just the right touch of stupidity.

Stu: Yeah, Thief just tanked in the ratings, even though the reviews were glowing. My feeling is that people got it confused with AMC's Hustle and the far inferior Heist on NBC. You know, Heist ... Thief.... five letters each, cops and robbers series... Yeah, doesn't make sense to me either but it's a theory.

Jon: Actually, that makes a lot of sense. Scary.

Stu: Philadelphia did have some moments but you definitely liked it more than me. I've never been a huge fan of the traditional sitcom, except for Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond, which was great 'til the very end. But I have to give props to the sweet and enduring "How I Met Your Mother" and segueing back to Seinfeld, the Julia Louis-Dreyfus vehicle The New Adventures of Old Christine. Check that one out. In every episode there's 1 or 2 laugh-out loud funny scenes.

Jon: Well, this will get interesting now. I gave up on Mother and Christine pretty quickly - not that they didn't have their moments, but with so many things that were better on, I just couldn't carve out any time for those and have any semblance of a life. I like Neil Patrick Harris okay, but I don't buy him in that role on Mother at all. And the voiceovers by Bob Saget are useless - really, I find them insulting. We disagree about Raymond remaining good until the end, but that's a story from another year.

Talk about laugh-out-loud moments this year, I don't think anything can top The Office. That show has really taken off. It has hilarious premises and executes them almost perfectly. It has the almost effortlessly funny Steve Carrell at the lead and a deep supporting cast. And it has, bar none, the sweetest romance on TV in Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer).

Stu: I definitely need to give another look at The Office. After enjoying the Ricky Gervais series on which it's based, I tuned in last season and was underwhelmed. But you, and everyone else it seems, has told me to give it another try. And I will. I'll make it a priority during the summer when NBC repeats it.

Getting back to dramas for a sec, I have a contrarian viewpoint on House. I like it -- it's getting raves and huge ratings -- but am getting bothered by the same dramatic form every week. Person with near-death malady checks into hospital, everyone misdiagnoses for a half-hour, in final 10 minutes lightbulb goes off in House's head and he astonishingly diagnoses patient by thinking about a completely unrelatable event or case. Problem solved.

Sure that changes sometimes, but it's starting to get a bit old for me. Sorry to digress....

Jon: No, I actually agree with that critique. House (which I assume owes a good portion of its ratings to the Idol lead-in) sometimes falls into that trap. I think that tumors took the prize for like three weeks in a row. I also think that the role of Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) is a cipher - she exists mostly as a foil to Dr. House and can be remarkably slow on the uptake. But I do think that the other House characters are sharply defined. The recent two-parter also gave the show the time to really make House and the staff work to solve the mystery, right until the end.

Years ago, I used to watch ER and Law and Order, but they got old for me, and I never picked up any members of the CSI family. I regret missing out on Maura Tierney, Parminder Nagra and Linda Cardellini, because I've liked them so much in other things, but nothing feels more tired to me than the heavily promoted "very special" ER that seems to come every other week. Am I missing anything?

Stu: Whenever someone mentions Linda Cardellini, I immediately think of the underrated NBC gem Freaks and Geeks of many years ago. It was based on those awkward high school years, circa 1980 Michigan. I grew up on Long Island but that's when I graduated high school and the show hit all the right notes. Check that one out on Netflix now. Now!

Jon: You don't need to tell me about Freaks and Geeks! Its cancellation was perhaps the biggest television crime of the past decade.

Stu: And May 14 marks the final episode of The West Wing, which except for a few episodes here and there, might justly be considered one of the greatest dramas ever. Besides winning four straight Emmys, it perfectly balanced the fine line between intelligent political discussion and broad entertainment - Josh and Donna's romance, Zoe getting kidnapped, the president's creepy son-in-law. I'm really gonna miss it.

Speaking of which, Aaron Sorkin and his consigliere, Tommy Schlamme, have a new show this fall about the behind-the-scenes look at a Saturday Night Live-type variety show. I'm anxiously awaiting to see the pilot and hope it can match my high expectations.

Jon: That seems like a good place to begin wrapping up - by looking ahead. What else should we keep our eyes on? (Or is it too soon to say?)

Stu: A bit tough to say at this point until the fall lineups are announced the week of May 15. Among the nearly hundred pilots shot, the network chieftains will have to decide which shows look best and have the greatest chance to succeed. They often don't make those decisions until the last minute, literally. So I'll get a better sense at that point.

But until September rolls around, do tune in to Deadwood at the beginning of June. I don't mean to sound like an HBO flack but the show is the best written series ever on television. And that's not a fact I throw around lightly.

And speaking of throwing it around lightly, what's up with Eric Gagne? How's that for bringing it back to our regularly scheduled Dodger blogging...

Jon: Um, we're still waiting for the programmers to decide whether Gagne gets canceled or is just on hiatus.

Thanks for doing this, Stu. I can't let you go without asking these final questions:

1) Who should win American Idol, and who will win?
2) Can you pick a single favorite moment from the past TV season?

Stu: 1) I see the final two between Katharine and Chris. Very tough call on who triumphs but by the slightest of margins I say Chris. She's got a better voice but he seems to have more of a following.

2) Almost impossible to pinpoint hundreds of hours of viewing but the final 10 minutes of the last episode of Six Feet Under stands out as a great moment, when we see how and when all the characters will die. And watching Tony Soprano get gunned down by his own Uncle Junior was both shocking and exhilarating.

Jon: Wow - you stole mine. Even though it was last August (I looked up the date and can't believe so much time has passed), when I think of indelible moments from 2005-06, nothing stands out like that closing montage. Six Feet Under had its detractors, but I'm still haunted by that finale.

As for Idol - which I became sucked into against my will during its second season out of loyalty to my wife, but I guess I should take responsibility for my actions - I have also seen Chris and Kat in the final two. I'd like to see Kat win, though Chris is deserving enough that I think he could have lost weeks ago and still done fine with his career. But the wild card is Taylor, who has been something of a high quality novelty act all along, but whose support has never faltered. And wild cards often win the big one, as baseball keeps reminding us ...

CBS finales

2006-04-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

SEASON FINALES
-Ghost Whisperer - Friday, May 5: 8 p.m. ET
-Criminal Minds - Wednesday, May 10: 9 p.m. ET
-Survivor Panama: Exile Island - Sunday, May 14: 8 p.m. ET (two hours)
-How I Met Your Mother - Monday, May 15: 8:30 p.m. ET
-NCIS - Tuesday, May 16: 8 p.m. ET
-The Unit - Tuesday, May 16: 10 p.m. ET
-The Amazing Race 9 - Wednesday, May 17: 8 p.m. ET (two hours)
-CSI: NY - Wednesday, May 17: 10 p.m. ET
-CSI - Thursday, May 18: 9 p.m. ET
-Without A Trace - Thursday, May 18: 10 p.m. ET
-Close To Home - Friday, May 19: 9 p.m. ET
-Numb3rs - Friday, May 19: 10 p.m. ET
-Cold Case - Sunday, May 21: 8 p.m. ET
-The King of Queens - Monday, May 22: 8 p.m. ET
-Two and a Half Men - Monday, May 22: 9 p.m. ET
-The New Adventures of Old Christine - Monday, May 22: 9:30 p.m. ET
-CSI: Miami - Monday, May 22: 10 p.m. ET

Know when to hold 'em...

2006-04-24T17:15:00.000-07:00

I'm off to Vegas the first weekend of May to visit my parents and, in a perfectly timed coincidence, that Saturday is the Kentucky Derby. Dad and I will spend that day huddled at the Suncoast trying to handicap the race and put a few sheckels down on the Derby winner to be.

And I'll be in town for recent opening of the newest hotel in town, the Red Rocks casino only a 5-minute drive from my parents house. I hear they'll have a nice poker room, where I can be found playing a few rounds of hold 'em with the Vegas locals.

On the way

2006-04-24T17:12:00.000-07:00

While I enjoyed last night's "Sopranos" episode -- I'm glad Tony finally told Artie that his constant jabbering with his customers isn't charming or endearing but downright annoying -- the best part of the hour for me was the "Deadwood" trailer for season 3 that preceded the episode.

Just seeing Al Swearengen again on screen with fresh dialogue is as good as it gets.

Cashing in our Bonds

2006-04-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

Went to the Dodgers-Giants game the other for the sole reason to boo Barry Bonds. So far he's batting an 0-fer when it comes to home runs. Lets cross our fingers he doesn't break Aaron's HR records.

I guess that since he was forced into stop taking steroids, his home run production has drastically reduced. Hmmm... what a coincidence.

"Bonds on Bonds," the reality show on ESPN, is doing him no justice either. He might be thinking that the show gives him a chance to tell his side of the story but all it's doing is making him look like an egotistical jerk. Which he is.

Ace folds

2006-04-20T17:36:00.000-07:00

Now that Ace has rightfully eliminated from "American Idol," the real competition now begins. Elliott, whose voice is decent enough to make us forget he has no personality, should be the next to go... Stay tuned...

American Idol column

2006-03-28T10:39:00.000-08:00

Folks:
I wrote a column for MSNBC on being at a taping of American Idol. It was edited down a bunch, though, so I'm pasting on my original version as well. I'm much more satisfied with the longer -- and more detailed -- column. The URL for MSNBC column is down below for comparison.

Enjoy

By STUART LEVINE

Driving down Beverly Boulevard, you notice a group of 80-100 people lined up against the fence. Men and women, boys and girls have all gathered since early morning with placards and homemade signs. From a passing glance, it looks to be some sort of rally or protest.

But a closer examination of the signs say nothing about getting out of the war in Iraq or that Arnold must go. Instead, they read "Sick with McPheever" and "Marry me Ryan!" This eclectic group is gathered for a united cause, indeed, but nothing that's going to make the front page of the L.A. Times the next morning. They're all here to try and get a seat for tonight's taping of "American Idol."

There's only two ways to become part of the studio audience: scoring free tickets from someone associated with the show's network and producer - Fox and Fremantle - or if you're friends or family of any of the Idols. Either way, there's no charge for tickets but they're extremely hard to score. If neither of those options sound viable, waiting in line and hoping you'll be used as a seat filler is the way to go.

Once "Idol" whittles down to its final 12 contestants, the production moves to Stage 36 at CBS Studios, adjacent to L.A.'s historic Farmers Market and only a short walk from the sets where Bob Barker reigns over "The Price of Right" and "The Young and the Restless" has been filming for decades.

On this Wednesday night, taping begins at 6 p.m., live for the East Coast feed. By 4:30, both ticket holders and the first group of line dwellers are moved to a holding area in back of the stage. It'll be about 40 minutes till the doors open, so now's the best time to get a feeling for who the audience is solidly behind.

Sitting patiently is Sharon Pickler with her niece and two other girls. Pickler's dressed in a "Pickler for mayor/council" T-shirt but, surprisingly, she's not related to dopey but adorable Kellie. Rather, they just happen to share the surname. She lives in Tustin Ranch, an affluent Orange County suburb about an hour away and drove up for support. Her father was a local councilman for 12 years in Anaheim and the shirts, which were probably sitting in the closet for years with no meaning attached beyond politics, now perfectly capture the spirit of the day.

Pickler's rooting for Kellie, of course, and offers some motherly advice: "I think she's darling but I hope she doesn't overdo the makeup."

It's 5:20 and the doors open up. Upon walking in, the first thing that strikes you about the set - and it's pretty much true of any set where a popular show is filmed - is how small it seems in person. The cameras have a way of making it seem like a mini Madison Square Garden but, in reality, capacity is only 300 seats and no matter where you sit the performance stage is right in front of you.

As the chairs begin filling up, the crowd looks to be a majority of 12- to 14-year-old girls, with mostly moms and big sisters in tow. After the initial rush of being there slowly wears off, the fans look for any whiff of celebrity. The Idols are tucked away backstage and won't make an appearance until just before the show starts so contestants families, who are now mini-celebrities in their own right, will have to suffice.

They're all seated in the first five rows, as assigned by the producers. Having them in one general area makes it easier for the cameras to register their expression after each performance.

From a few rows above you can spot Katharine McPhee's mom and sister nervously talking to well-wishers and, oh, look, sitting a few feet to the right of them is Ace's hunkish brother. He's easy to identity as they're practically twins. There's a bunch of screaming girls who get a sight of him and shriek in a ear-piercing high-pitched tone as only 12-year-old girls can do. He waves to his adoring female fans - most of which don't even know his name - who shriek in response to his response and wave back.

The CBS pages now walk up and down the aisles holding up Styrofoam cups. For what possible reason? They're asking anyone with gum to throw it into the cup. Yes, these young adults and college graduates working at the studio, all in hope that this is their way into a showbiz career, are gum collectors. Mom and Dad, who paid $40,000 a year at USC for their children's education, would be proud.

"Yeah, it's kind of gross," says one blonde woman, realizing the demeaning nature of the task. "I don't look in the cup."

The band starts to take their seats, glancing at the sheet music they've been given for the night's songs. They only have to accompany two singers - Barry Manilow and whoever gets eliminated - so it's a fairly uneventful evening for them.

It's 15 minutes before showtime and twentysomething Cory comes on stage to warm up the crowd. He yells into the microphone, picks a couple of unsuspecting fools who join him in a few dance moves and the energy of the place rises considerably.

He tells the audience that at the end of the show there'll be three contestants standing right where he is now, and one of them will be voted off (like we already didn't know this). He then adds, "When the bottom three are announced, make sure you go 'Oooh,' 'aww,' gasp out loud in shock and act surprised. All of this will help the ratings."

I really don't think my vocal amazement that Bucky might be booted is gonna kick up the ratings from a staggering 24 million to 25 million, but if that's what it takes...

We're 10 minutes out and here come the introduction of the judges. In almost rock-star fashion, Cory announces the arrival of Randy, Paula and Simon. "Stand up and put your hands together for Ran-dy, Ran-dy, Ran-dy." Each judge gets his own intro and the biggest round of applause, by a slight margin, is for Paula. When's Simon's name is called, there's a very small smattering of boos but, mostly, its raise-the-roof adulation.

All three come out separately from a door on the side of the stage and high five their adoring faithful on the way in. It's like Springsteen in New Jersey. Randy and Paula - whose makeup is sparkling, even from several yards away - run through much of the audience to soak up the love. Simon makes a beeline right to the judge's table but has a big smile on his face and looks genuinely happy to be here.

Now the Idols arrive from behind center stage and make their first appearance. They all look a tad shorter in person than on TV (except for Taylor, who seems to stand above the rest) and, in general, more nervous. Maybe that's because there's a bit of trepidation in the air, though, knowing someone's not going to be coming back.

Oh, and Kellie seems much cuter. And Mandisa looks thinner than earlier impressions. If it's true, that television adds 10 pounds, then Mandisa suffers the most from that stigma.

It's showtime. After some prodding from the persistent stage manager, Ryan quickly runs to the back of the audience for his intro only seconds before 6 and the crowd is asked to be silent. Then, as soon as he finishes, the stage manager - a small woman with head-set mic - who just asked us not to make a sound asks us to cheer wildly. At this point, if they'd requested us to stand on our head it wouldn't be out of the question.

During the commercial breaks, the Idols banter with one another and wave to the fans. Names from the audience are yelled out in rapid fire one after another - "I love you Paris!," "You're so hot Chris!" - and the Idols never stop smiling, acknowledging their new-found fame with aplomb and sincerity.

As the stage manager announces that there's 90 seconds until we're back on the air, even the judges find time to interact. One man holds up a sign, proclaiming to have driven 1,400 miles from Kansas just to see Paula in person. Once she hears this, she runs up to him gives him a warm hug and a peck on the lips.

Another woman, Eleanor, boldly shouts: "Simon, I want a piece of you" in an overly seductive way. He doesn't hear her so she shouts it again. Finally, he spots her and asks, "What kind of piece?" She responds, "Any way you want. In a good way or a bad way." That line draws a big reaction from the crowd and Simon is laughing as well. Everyone's having a good time.

Paula and Simon then whisper into each other's ear and for what seems like a friendly conversation. Their backs are to the crowd so it's impossible to read facial expressions, though. Unlike the night before when they were at each other's throats, there's no ill will carrying over. At another commercial break later on, all three judges disappear via the side door, leaving the set entirely and returning just a few seconds before the show's back on the air.

Bucky, Lisa and Kevin have been chosen as the least-voted contestants and all look extremely nervous as they await their fate. During the commercial, they stand in their assigned spots, looking straight ahead and not talking to one another, all the while fidgeting a little and hoping they'll be around one more week. One girl shouts out that she wants Kevin to go to the prom with her. He doesn't respond.

The general sense is that Bucky will probably be the one to say goodbye but when it's Kevin's fate to bid adieu, a huge sadness fills the room, an emotion completely unexpected. The frivolity from just 30 minutes ago is now a wave of tears and heartbreak. While nobody was expecting Chicken Little to win, this just seems so unexpected and harsh.

He sings his final ballad on the cusp of the stage. With the band accompanying him and the room's wall-to-wall speakers and sound-proof acoustics, the song comes across vocally strong, much more so than on TV. That might be the biggest difference between being here and watching at home. When the Idols sing, it sounds so much better in person.

The red lights on the cameras turn off a few seconds into Kevin's song but that does nothing to change the somber atmosphere. During the song's final moments, Kevin walks over to his Idol contestants and dedicates the song to them, pointing to all of his friends who've gone through this surreal adventure with him.

As soon as the song ends, Kevin looks completely dejected. The first person to offer condolence is Paula, who runs up from her seat and gives him a long and compassionate hug.

Soon, the other Idols do the same, and Randy and Simon join too. There's a sense of real loss, one of the family gone. The camaraderie has never been more apparent than right now.

As soon as the hugs are over, Kevin is forced into doing a TV interview, the Idols slowly head off stage and the crowd meanders out. As people scatter, the CBS pages are offering studio audience tickets to a taping of "Game Show Marathon," in which "American Idol" tickets will be raffled off.

Only six more days until the hysteria starts up again. And, remember, no gum chewing allowed.

MSNBC version:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12038418/

Best of TV

2006-03-24T16:35:00.000-08:00

In this week's Entertainment Weekly, "24" is named best show on TV right now. I don't watch that one -- one of the few series that I actually miss -- so I can't say one way or the other. "Sopranos" is No. 2 and you can always make a case for that one.

My friend Robert P. turned me on to "The Shield" this season (ranked No. 10) and it's a tour de force every week. Just rented the first season via Netflix and watching each episode now.

What's your top 10 of TV right now? Here's mine:

Note: It must be noted that neither personal faves "The Wire" nor "Deadwood" is currently on the air. Also, this is just a list of primetime shows. Other non-primetime faves include Pardon the Interruption, Ebert and Roeper, The Sports Reporters and Sunday Morning Shootout.

OK, here goes:

10. Thief (premieres on Tuesday)
9. The New Adventures of Old Christine
8. Big Love
7. House
6. The Shield
5. Lost
4. Grey's Anatomy
3. The Sopranos
2. American Idol
1. The West Wing

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1175885_3_0_,00.html

How 'bout them Bruins

2006-03-24T16:29:00.000-08:00

Last night's miracle comeback puts me in a dilemma.... I want to root for UCLA but I have Memphis defeating them in my NCAA tournament pool... What should I do????

Marder's the man

2006-03-24T16:26:00.000-08:00

My longtime friend Keith Marder has been named the new king of PR at CBS-owned CSTV, the network's new college sports outlet.

Keith and I met at the Daily News a gazillion years ago and then became a executive publicist for the WB, which was blown to bits a few weeks ago.

Here's his release... hey, shouldn't we all get a press release when something significant in our life changes ....??

KEITH MARDER NAMED DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS,

CSTV NETWORKS, INC.

Keith Marder has been named Director of Communications, CSTV Networks, Inc., it was announced today jointly by Brian Bedol, CEO, CSTV Networks and Gil Schwartz, Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications, CBS Corporation. In this new role, Marder will oversee all media relations and internal communications for CSTV. He will report to Bedol and will be based out of New York.

"We are very pleased to bring someone of Keith's experience and talent to CSTV," said Bedol. "He is that rare PR executive who brings a background in television, journalism and sports, and I'm confident that combination will be of great value as we continue to grow our operations and footprint in the new media landscape."

"Keith is a savvy PR executive whose creativity, humor and strategic thinking greatly distinguished The WB's media relations function," said Schwartz. "He is well regarded among the reporters who cover our industry, and he brings to this new role a wealth of knowledge, experience and relationships with the media. He's a great addition to CSTV, and I look forward to seeing his contributions."

Most recently, Marder spent seven years at The WB Television Network where he served as Director, Network Communications. While at The WB, he was involved in strategically positioning the network and worked to publicize all of its shows and talent. He also worked closely with the advertising department and served as the main liaison for traveling talent.

Prior to joining The WB, Marder spent several years in print journalism. After interning at the New York Racing Association, he joined the sports department of the Albany Times Union, working as the college sports columnist and covering several sports, including college hockey as the primary beat reporter for Union College and later RPI. While on the hockey beat, he helped create the first-ever independent college hockey national rankings, which is something that is now done at CSTV. After 10 years in the sports department, Marder shifted his focus to television, becoming the paper's critic. He then moved on to the Los Angeles Daily News in the same capacity before joining The WB in 1999. In addition, he wrote "The Notre Dame Football Encyclopedia."

Marder is a graduate of the University of Albany with a bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in journalism.

About CSTV Networks

CSTV Networks, Inc., now part of the CBS Corporation, is the leading digital and cable programming company dedicated to college sports. Connecting more fans to more college sports than any other company, its many platforms for programming distribution include CSTV: College Sports TV, televising regular-season and championship events for 35 men's and women's college sports; CSTV.com and its network of nearly 250 official athletic sites; CSTV All Access, broadband services providing live audio and video of more than 7,000 events annually; as well as satellite television and radio, in-flight entertainment, wireless networks and more. Further information is available at www.CSTV.com.

Tony's in trouble

2006-03-14T11:25:00.000-08:00

How shocked were you that Uncle Junior shot Tony at the end of "The Sopranos"? HBO and the critics did a great job keeping that juicy tidbit out of the press.

I'm sure he'll survive but these types of "that didn't just happen, did it?" scenes make for great TV, on HBO and elsewhere.

Seinfeld part 2

2006-03-08T16:47:00.000-08:00

Just when everyone was writing off the sitcom along comes the funniest comedy in a while.

CBS' "The New Adventures of Old Christine" made me laugh out loud several times. Starring "Seinfeld" alumnus Julia Louis-Dreyfus, this show made me laugh out loud in each of the first three episodes I watched.

Lets hope the ratings catch fire as this one deserves to be around for a few years. Maybe the "Seinfeld" curse will now officially be over.

Mamet speak

2006-03-08T16:42:00.000-08:00

Fans of David Mamet, writer of films such as "Glengarry Glen Ross," will be glad to hear that his new CBS series "The Unit" opened to boffo ratings last night, which means it could be around for a while.

I have it on Tivo and haven't watched it yet but it seems to me Mamet-speak would be better suited for cable, where his dialogue wouldn't be as constricted, compared to broadcast.

Oscar recap

2006-03-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

So what did everyone think? Everything went according to form, except for the big prize when "Crash" crashed the "Brokeback" party.

I miss the days when there was real tension in the air for the big categories, when you had no idea who was going to win until the envelope was opened. Unexpected wins for people such Daniel Day Lewis, who won for "My Left Foot" over Tom Cruise and "Born on the Fourth of July," was uplifting.

Nobody knows more than me how marketed and pre-planned everything is now in the Oscar race but more spontaneity is really needed.

Sunday night on HBO

2006-03-07T15:45:00.000-08:00

If you're a TV fan, that actually used to mean something. Well, the magic returns this Sunday when "The Sopranos" returns for 12 new episodes, with 8 more scheduled for the beginning of 2007.

Also, be sure to check out "Big Love," about a husband (Bill Paxton) and his three wives. I've watched the first episode and it's good stuff.

It's nice to have Tony and the gang back. Though, personally speaking, I'll take the consistency of "Deadwood."

Which makes me think, if you've got to back one guy in a fight to the death, who's it gonna be:

Tony Soprano or Al Swearengen??

If poker's too exciting for you....

2006-03-07T15:44:00.000-08:00

Here's ESPN's next big thing...

ESPN DEPORTES BREAKS GROUND BY TELEVISING DOMINO TOURNAMENT
Telecast of the 2005 World Domino Tournament Begins March 21, 2006
Tournament Scheduled to Air in English on ESPN2 June 2006

In another groundbreaking effort to develop distinct programming initiatives, ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s Spanish-language network, has announced that it will bring dominoes to the television screen with its telecast of the 2005 World Domino Tournament, which took place November 18 – 20, in Las Vegas. ESPN Deportes’ telecast will focus on the quarterfinals, semifinals and the finals of the competition. The 2005 World Domino Tournament will be aired on ESPN Deportes beginning March 21 at 10 p.m., ET. In addition, to the delight of English-speaking domino fans, the 2005 World Domino Tournament will be aired on ESPN2 June 2006.

“ESPN Deportes is once again pushing the envelope providing innovative programming,” said Lino García, general manager, ESPN Deportes. “Dominoes is one of the most popular games among Latinos and it has also proven to have a strong following among English-speaking fans. Our goal is to make dominoes the next mainstream sport on television.”

“We hope to bring Domino to light via a commitment to high-quality production standards that are synonymous with ESPN’s original programming,” said Chris Calcinari, vice president, production and operations, International and ESPN Deportes. “Our coverage of the 2005 World Domino Tournament will utilize cutting-edge technology, combined with compelling story telling that will break through and entertain our viewers. Our presentations will be produced in both English and Spanish-language and will air on our ESPN Deportes and ESPN2 networks.”

“Dominoes is part of the Latino lifestyle and in Las Vegas we felt the passion that comes with this game. By having ESPN televise the 2005 World Domino Tournament, it takes dominoes to its proper place”, said Ralph Paniagua, President of R. Paniagua Inc, organizer of The 2005 World Domino Tournament.

The telecast, produced in a reality show format, will include seven one-hour shows. ESPN’s veteran announcer Álvaro Martín will be joined by actor/comedian Casper Martinez for commentary of the tournament on ESPN Deportes and ESPN2.

The 2005 World Domino Tournament featured more than 40 teams from the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean competing in a two-day tournament that featured the most skilled professional players. Coverage will include various compelling features that will air within the shows and on SportsCenter the week leading up to the launch of the series.

ESPN Deportes is the brand under which ESPN Inc. has been serving U.S. Hispanic sports fans since 2000. In addition to ESPN Deportes TV, the roster of branded initiatives now includes ESPN Deportes Radio, the only around-the-clock national Spanish-language sports radio network; ESPNdeportes.com, a fully integrated Spanish-language website; ESPN Deportes La Revista, a Spanish-language version of the popular ESPN The Magazine; and ESPN Deportes Wireless, which offers mobile phone subscribers images of their favorite Latino sports stars.

R. Paniagua INC. is a leading Broadcast, Event and online publishing company based in New York City. Since 1984 RPI has provided innovative alternative programs that target the U.S Latino market place.

Breaking news

2005-11-22T15:20:00.000-08:00

Forget politics, the war in Iraq and the bird flu, this is real news, courtesy of our good friends at "Access Hollywood":

OVER HALF OF "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD" VIEWERS POLLED PREFER ACTRESS SIENNA MILLER'S HAIR SHORT

SHOW AIRS ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2005

BURBANK, Calif. - November 22, 2005 - A website poll conducted by "Access Hollywood" reveals that over half of the hit entertainment newsmagazine's participating viewers prefer actress Sienna Miller's new cropped coif to her former long locks. The story airs on "Access Hollywood" on Tuesday, November 22, 2005.

Yesterday, "Access Hollywood" asked viewers to go to www.accesshollywood.com, and weigh in on whether or not they prefer Miller's new haircut.

56-percent voted in favor of the actress's short hairstyle, while 44-percent preferred her hair long.

On yesterday's "Access Hollywood," New York Correspondent Tim Vincent asked Miller which look she likes better. "Long probably," she said. "Long is more me, but to be honest, it's fun to have a change. I'm young...it was quite liberating cutting it all off."

Euro trash

2005-11-16T15:37:00.000-08:00

That'll be me come February, when I'm off to Berlin for 2 weeks to cover the Berlin Film Festival for Variety.

We put out a daily paper there for the fest and it'll be a busy time. Never been before but it should be a memorable experience.

If anyone has hotel, restaurant or sightseeing recommendations, I'm all ears.

Intelligent ladies

2005-11-16T15:33:00.000-08:00

I spoke on the phone with Claire Danes and Scarlett Johansson this week, for Oscar profile for their respective films, "Shopgirl" and "Match Point."

Both women were very nice, well spoken and gave a lot of thought to questions regarding their characters, the relationship they had on set with their directors (Scarlett was directed by Woody Allen) and how they prepared for their roles.

It's always nice to see a film and then talk to the actor about your thoughts on it and how they, as actors, played out certain scenes that resonate long after the movie's over.

Celeb sighting

2005-11-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

Had lunch at Canter's Deli today and, upon walking in, almost bumped into Dustin Hoffman ordering from the counter.

Movie marathon

2005-10-31T14:56:00.000-08:00

Saw 4 movies over a 48-hour period last week.... short synopsis...

Jarhead: Good but nothing particularly earth shattering or new. I'm not sold on Jake Gyllenhaal in such a complex role. Peter Sarsgaard, as always, was very good.
Grade: B

Prime: Like chicken soup, being Jewish will help. Uma Thurman is gorgeous and Meryl Streep hands out the guilt with the best of any Jewish mother.
Grade: B-

Brokeback Mountain: Heath Ledger is a hands-down Oscar nominee in this story of gay cowboys. Director Ang Lee paints a beautiful portait of love in the strangest of situations.
Grade: B+

Match Point: Woody's back. Wish all his movies of the past 5 years could be this good.
Grade: A-

Ball's back in court

2005-10-31T14:54:00.000-08:00

If you're a Six Feet Under fan, take note...

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31, 2005 - HBO has concluded an exclusive two-year television deal with "Six Feet Under" creator Alan Ball to develop and produce original programming for the network, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. Ball's first project under the agreement will be an hour-long series based on the popular "Southern Vampire" books of Charlaine Harris.

"HBO and Alan Ball are battle-tested, a perfect creative fit," noted Strauss. "His new show promises to be every bit as original and provocative as 'Six Feet Under,' which was a landmark series for the network."

"I'm thrilled to be working with HBO again," said Ball. "I picked up 'Dead Until Dark,' the first book of the 'Southern Vampire' series, on impulse and could not put it down. The same was true of the remaining books. Charlaine Harris has created a rich world filled with unique characters, a world that's as terrifying as it is hilarious, as well as sexy, generous and profound. I'm humbled she put her trust in me and I look forward to bringing her vision to television."

Ball will executive produce the project, as well as write and direct the pilot, with other talent to be announced as it is confirmed. The series will take place in the rural South, at a time when vampires have made their existence known to the world following the Japanese development of synthetic blood.

New blood

2005-10-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

Nice to see the Astros and the White Sox in the World Series. (Granted, I would've much prefered the Yankees or Angels but it wasn't meant to be).

Don't have a particular rooting interest but I'll probably pull for the 'Stros, with former Yanks Andy Pettite and Roger Clemens on the staff.

New Commander in Chief

2005-10-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

The TV show, not the president. Creator Rod Lurie was fired by ABC/Touchstone and was replaced by small-screen legend Steven Bochco, who'll hire his own staff to write and direct "Commander."

Word has it that Lurie was late in delivering episodes on time, which cost Touchstone (the TV division of Disney) a lot of extra money. Touchstone didn't want to get in an Aaron Sorkin/"West Wing" scenario, when Sorkin was way over deadline in delivering scripts, costing Warner Bros. big bucks.

Baseball playoffs

2005-10-11T18:08:00.000-07:00

My heart was divided in the Yankees-Angels series but now that the Halos have won, I'll be able to devote my encouragement solely for the Angels.

I don't really have a strong opinion on who'll win the National League series, except that I'll be rooting for the Astros. Me thinks Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa comes off as too smug and seems to believe he's smarter than everyone else. And I'd like to see former Yanks Roger Clemens and Andy Petite back in the Series.

Tough choice

2005-10-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

Now that my two favorite baseball teams -- Yankees and Angels -- are battling in the first round of the playoffs, I'll root in full force for whoever comes out of that.

If Game 1 is any indication, the Bombers are looking good.

The final 3

2005-09-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

My hometown Yanks and Bosox decide the season this weekend at Fenway. Nothing like a season-ending series between these to rekindle my hatred of the Sox.

Geez, they win a World Series for the first time in about 80 years and we're supposed to stop Earth from spinning, just for them. Enough with Stephen King essays the heartache of being a Sox fan. Boo-friggin-hoo. We've won 26. When you catch up, let me know.

"Here's the pitch to Bucky.... it's a long drive and it's over the Green Monster in left..."

First week

2005-09-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

Now that most of the new and returning shows have had their season premiere, a look at the ratings after week #1:

-Total Viewers:
CSI (CBS, season premiere: 29.02 million)
Desperate Housewives (ABC, season premiere: 28.36)
Lost (ABC, season premiere: 23.47)
Criminal Minds (CBS, Thursday 10 p.m. preview: 19.57)
CSI: Miami (CBS, season premiere: 19.21)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC, season premiere: 18.98)
Survivor: Guatemala (CBS: 16.98)
Law & Order: SVU (NBC, season premiere: 16.82)
Invasion (ABC, premiere: 16.43)
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC: 16.41)
60 Minutes (CBS, season premiere: 16.35)
NFL Monday Night Football (ABC: 16.10)
NCIS (CBS, season premiere: 15.48)
Destination Lost (ABC: 15.27)
My Name Is Earl (NBC, premiere: 15.25)
Two and a Half Men (CBS, season premiere: 15.04)
ER (NBC, season premiere: 14.37)
Cold Case (CBS, season premiere: 13.68)
House (Fox: 13.64)
Out Of Practice (CBS, premiere: 13.18)
Crossing Jordan (NBC, season premiere: 13.08)
Law & Order (NBC, season premiere: 13.03)
Medium (NBC, season premiere: 12.69)
Las Vegas (NBC, season premiere: 12.49)
Ghost Whisperer (CBS, premiere: 11.25)
Surface (NBC, premiere)
Numb3rs (CBS, season premiere: 11.18 each)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS, premiere: 10.94)
Dancing With the Stars: Dance-Off (ABC, 10.91)
CSI R (CBS, Wednesday: 10.75)

Serious cinema

2005-09-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

Now that the Toronto Film Festival has ended, all the award-contending films are screening here in town. So far, I've been impressed.

"Good Night, and Good Luck" is terrific. Directed by George Clooney -- who also co-stars -- its a look at Edward R. Murrow and his influential news program, "See It Now." Both he and the show railed against Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the height of the Communist scare and blacklisting in the States.

Murrow is played by veteran character actor David Strathairn, who's poised, stoic presence makes him an Oscar nom in my book. One of the best performances of the year, in one of the best movies of the year.

Speaking of Oscar noms for best actor, Phillip Seymour Hoffman is a front-runner in the category for his portrayal of Truman Capote in "Capote." Some people like the movie a lot more than me, but his perf is unquestionably great.

More to come soon...

Emmy reaction

2005-09-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

And the Emmmys wonder why they don't get the respect that Oscar does.

People make fun of the Golden Globes but at least they have the guts to select new shows and performers and be a bit forward thinking.

Nobody's a bigger "Raymond" fan than me but "Desperate Housewives" was the most talked about show in TV this year and it should've been rewarded as such with best comedy. (Though it's really not a comedy but that's another rant for another time.)

And don't even get me started on William Shatner and James Spader. If there was any justice in the world, "Deadwood's" Ian McShane should've won. But when he didn't, he should've let loose a classic Al Swearengen expletive to let the whole audience know how robbed he was.

Horrible vs. terrible

2005-09-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

I was having a discussion with someone talking about which event is worse: the 9/11 attacks or Hurricane Katrina.

What do you think? Why?

All hail Caesar!

2005-09-13T16:49:00.000-07:00

After only three episodes, HBO renewed "Rome" for a second season.

This was really a no-brainer for HBO, considering all the money it spent on production and marketing (over $100 million). Even if the numbers were poor, which they're not, the network would want to give it a second season to appeal to as many viewers as possible — and save face.

The ratings so far have been pretty good, but not "Sopranos"-level good. That's OK, though, as the viewing audience remains a bit more diluted than even a couple of years ago. And with "Desperate Housewives" dominating Sunday night viewing, HBO can't expect huge numbers anymore.

When talking to HBO about ratings, the network is always quick to point out that, unlike broadcast networks, they look at culmulative numbers -- viewers totaling up during an entire week, the when the episode is run 3 or 4 times. To just look at the Sunday premiere of a new episode, especially in the time where "Housewives" is so dominant, isn't particularly fair.

Are you watching? I've been enjoying it. I don't think it's in the realm of "Sopranos," "Deadwood" or "The Wire," but it's certainly compelling.

Here's the HBO official release:

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 12, 2005 - HBO has renewed its epic drama series ROME for a second season, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. Production of the 12-episode second season will begin next March, with the debut set for 2007.

"Although the first season of ROME is just underway, we're affirming our support for this exciting and ambitious series by preparing for a second season now," noted Strauss. "I'm delighted that critics and subscribers share our enthusiasm for the show."

The initial episodes of ROME have inspired legions of critical praise. TV Guide hailed it as a "feast for the eyes" and a "ripping good story," as well as a "shamelessly enjoyable historical romp." USA Today called ROME "as extravagant, enticing and chaotic as Rome itself," adding, "you may never want to leave." The Washington Post described the series as "ravishing and wickedly shocking," and "a feast for the senses that includes generous portions of food for thought."

Chronicling the fall of a republic and the rise of an empire, the 12-episode first season of ROME kicked off Aug. 28 on HBO. New episodes debut Sundays (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT); throughout the series run, the previous week's episode will air Sunday (8:00-9:00 p.m.), leading into the debut of that week's new episode.

A co-production between HBO and the BBC, the first season of ROME began shooting in Rome in March 2004, with production for the series based at Rome's Cinecittà Studios. Among the actors starring in the first season are Kevin McKidd ("Kingdom of Heaven") as Lucius Vorenus, Ray Stevenson ("King Arthur") as Titus Pullo, Ciarán Hinds ("Road to Perdition") as Gaius Julius Caesar, Kenneth Cranham ("Gangster No. 1") as Pompey Magnus, Polly Walker ("Patriot Games") as Atia of the Julii, James Purefoy ("Vanity Fair") as Mark Antony, Tobias Menzies ("Foyle's War") as Marcus Junius Brutus, Lindsay Duncan ("Under the Tuscan Sun") as Servilia of the Junii, Indira Varma ("Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love") as Niobe, Max Pirkis ("Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World") as Gaius Octavian and Kerry Condon ("Angela's Ashes") as Octavia of the Julii.

The new TV season

2005-09-13T16:35:00.000-07:00

As a purveyor of much of the new TV season in advance, several folks have asked me what are the best new shows are to watch this fall.

The short answer is … there's nothing all that compelling. That's a lot different from last year, when you could easily tell that "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" were standout hits from the pilot.

Interestingly, with TV being a copycat business, you'd think that the networks would try to imitate "Housewives" but what happened is that the supernatural elements of "Lost" became the element that everyone wanted. There's something like 4 or 5 new shows dealing with the spooky.

There's ABC's "Invasion," CBS' "Threshold" and "Ghost Whisperer," NBC's "Surface" and WB's "Supernatural." Of those "Invasion" and "Threshold" are best but nothing that really makes you salivate, waiting until the next episode.

Other non-scary dramas that have potential include Fox's "Prison Break" and ABC's "Commander-in-Chief." I really wanted to like this Geena Davis as president series but I think it comes off as a cheap "West Wing". But I'll watch the first few episodes to see if I can be swayed.

For the first time in countless years, comedies are better than dramas this fall, in terms of new shows. I highly recommend UPN's "Everybody Hates Chris" and CBS' "How I Met Your Mother." Both made me laugh, which isn't easy to do.

Not as good as the top two, but not bad are Fox's "Kitchen Confidential" and NBC's "My Name Is Earl." NBC, which fell in the toilet last year, really needs a hit and is counting on "Earl" as a savior.

My bad

2005-09-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

Geez, I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted. What kind of self-respected blogger can I be??? Vacation, busy at work, school starting, blah, blah, blah … no excuse.

Sorry for the delay. I'll post a couple of choice items now...

More Tony and Carm

2005-08-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

HBO ANNOUNCES EIGHT BONUS EPISODES OF THE SOPRANOS FOR 2007

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11, 2005 - HBO announced today that in addition to THE SOPRANOS' upcoming sixth season, which will include 12 episodes, HBO will produce an additional eight bonus episodes, to debut in January 2007.

Currently filming its sixth season, the critically acclaimed, Emmy(r)- and Peabody-winning THE SOPRANOS will continue in production for these eight additional episodes. The sixth season is slated to launch in March 2006.

"We are obviously delighted that we will be able to extend THE SOPRANOS' series beyond its slated 12 episodes," said Chris Albrecht, chairman and CEO, HBO. "When something is as remarkable as THE SOPRANOS, our audience would like to see it continue as long as possible, so we are thrilled that David Chase felt there are more stories to be told."

"With every season, this series continues to creatively evolve and grow. We are all looking forward to spending more time with 'The Sopranos'," said Brad Grey, executive producer of the series.

HBO's hit drama series stars three-time Emmy(r) winners James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano and Edie Falco as Tony's wife Carmela, plus Lorraine Bracco as therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi, Michael Imperioli as Tony's nephew Christopher Moltisanti, and Dominic Chianese as Uncle Junior.

In Sept. 2004, the series won four Emmys(r), including Drama Series; Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Michael Imperioli); Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Drea de Matteo); and Writing for a Drama Series (Terence Winter, "Long Term Parking").

Drama series

2005-08-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

I wrote some capsules on the drama series Emmy nominees for today's Variety. Let me know what you think:

Deadwood

Network: HBO

Exec producers: David Milch, Gregg Fienberg

Emmy series pedigree: None

Millions of viewers: 5.6 (cumulative over best week)

Why it could win: There would be little arguing that "Deadwood" is the most intelligently written show on TV. The acting is superb (despite the lack of supporting noms) and everything from the set design to wardrobe to language is so authentic, you can practically feel the dust coming through your screen.

Maybe not: Even the most ardent supporters thought the storyline about the annexation got a bit dense and hard to follow.

Quote: "I don't think that Swearengen has any more of an articulate understanding of what moves him than Bullock does; it's just that his compulsions do not invoke a legal framework," says Milch to Salon.com.

Critically speaking: "Deadwood itself is almost a breathing organism -- a muddy, grim landscape of freewheeling brutality, where death comes quickly and pigs literally devour the evidence. Meticulously shot and scored, it's a perfectly realized backdrop to Milch's exploration of the depth to which people will plunge -- or not -- in lawless surroundings," says Brian Lowry, Variety.

Lost

Network: ABC

Exec producers: J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Bryan Burk, Carlton Cuse, Jack Bender

Emmy series pedigree: None

Millions of viewers: 15.9

Why it could win: In the copycat world of broadcast television, here was something new and imaginative. Abrams, who has managed to delight auds with "Felicity" and "Alias," is building up a reservoir of goodwill at the TV Acad.

Maybe not: Not that it's unprecedented, but winning with a freshman series isn't easy. Voters like shows that have established themselves. Most Emmy-winning dramas of the recent past have a bit more gravitas to them ("The West Wing," "The Sopranos").

Quote: "Basically one of the things that we realized very early on in doing a show about a plane that crashes on an island (was) that we didn't want to do the 'Gilligan's Island' treatment, where every single week somebody else is washing up on shore and it's the theater pro one week and the Russian cosmonauts. So we realized ... we had to populate the island with a very, very large cast because these are the people that we're going to be with," says Lindelof.

Critically speaking: " 'Lost' provides the best sustained mystery since 'Twin Peaks,' and seems more intricately plotted than made up on the fly. Even '24' doesn't seem as planned or as shocking. I have no idea where 'Lost' is going, but, so far, I've loved every step of the journey," says David Bianculli, New York Daily News.

Six Feet Under

Network: HBO

Exec producers: Alan Ball, Robert Greenblatt, David Janollari, Alan Poul, Bruce Eric Kaplan, Rick Cleveland

Emmy series pedigree: Two noms (2002, '03)

Millions of viewers: 6.2 (cumulative over best week)

Why it could win: As the show bows out after this season, an Emmy win would be a nice sendoff. While the show has at times floundered in the past, it's often been a water-cooler skein through good times and bad.

Maybe not: The self-loathing and whining became a little too much at times and some voters might not feel the same passion for the show as when it began in 2001.

Quote: "If you're very, very lucky, when you work on something, if you have all the right elements, the collaborative project will take on its own life. And when that happens, if you're smart, you recognize it and get out of the way. You stand back and allow it to unfold organically. And that's really what happened here," said Ball to About.com.

Critically speaking: "This acclaimed series appeals to our fascination with death but is more deeply rooted in a time-honored television winner: great characters," says Tim Goodman, San Francisco Chronicle.

24

Network: Fox

Exec producers: Brian Grazer, Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Howard Gordon, Evan Katz

Emmy series pedigree: Three noms (2002, '03, '04)

Millions of viewers: 11.9

Why it could win: Series refocused on its strengths, ditching Jack Bauer's hapless daughter Kim and going all-out on an action-packed terrorism storyline. The pace and intensity of the show remain unmatched on primetime TV.

Maybe not: The real-time format has gone from high-concept to gimmick rather quickly. Also, repetition and a limited bag of tricks that writers keep dipping into to create weekly cliffhangers might have stretched credulity too far for serious-minded Emmy voters.

Quote: "People felt we had a resurgence since the second half of last season, and I have to tell you we're very surprised. Fans who regularly watch us tell us this is our best season. ... We look for different ways to tell suspense stories. What we do now is what we've always done: Keep fans on the edge of their seats," says Surnow.
Critically speaking: " '24' is not as richly woven as 'The Wire' on HBO, but it is still one of the best shows on television. It is certainly the best secret-agent show," says Alessandra Stanley, New York Times.

The West Wing

Network: NBC

Exec producers: John Wells, Christopher Misiano, Alex Graves

Emmy series pedigree: Four wins (2000-03), nom in '04

Millions of viewers: 11.1

Why it could win: Talk about spending your well-earned political capital: "The West Wing" had a brilliant 2004-05 season, taking the action out of the Beltway and into the heartland. The race for the presidency, from the perspectives of the leading Democratic and Republican candidates, was great drama.

Maybe not: The show has already won four times and seemed to be on its last legs before this season. It'll be tough to win back those viewers who turned away last year.

Quote: "People seemed to be really engaged. ... In dealing with the primaries, it was one of the areas during the first five years of the show that we hadn't explored. One of the things you're constantly doing is look for places in the story you haven't done sometime before," says Wells.

Critically speaking: "For two years the show was in steep decline but this year they told stories you could care about. The campaign episodes took you back to the better times," says Matt Roush, TV Guide.

Dodgers dilemma

2005-08-10T17:06:00.000-07:00

For the first time in 26 summers, I haven't been to a Dodgers game. Not on purpose but just haven't gotten around to buying tickets -- or nobody's given me any at the last minute, which also often happens -- and weekends have been fairly crazy.

Weekdays are mostly spent going to movies, an event for work or just heading home and spending time with the family. Plus, the joy of paying $10 for parking, and $10 for a hot dog and Coke hasn't overwhelmed me either.

So now the question is should I try to go out to the Ravine and catch at least one game as to not break the streak or do I boycott the season as I think owner Frank McCourt is a money-grubbing selfish jerk.

Your call???

Agony of de-feet

2005-08-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

Since going to New York in March and walking a ton, I've had constant foot problems.

Just a short note alerting you to not take your feet for granted. They get you where you need to go and hardly ever complain.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming....

ABC party

2005-07-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

The ABC bash last night at the Abbey in West Hollywood was a swarm of TV writers and celebrities.

As soon as I walked in, I practically crashed into Patrick Dempsey (aka Dr. McDreamy) from "Grey's Anatomy." After sitting down with three other journalists for dinner, I wandered the room and passed by Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross of "Desperate Housewives," plus newest "Housewive" Alfre Woodard; William Shatner of "Boston Legal," Jorge Garcia of "Lost," and from the new shows: Kyle Secor of "Commander in Chief" (and of one my faves of all time, "Homicide"), William Fichtner of "Invasion" and the beautiful Heather Graham of mid-season entry "Emily's Reasons Why Not." I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting.

These network-sponsored parties give out-of-town journalists -- and those in town too if they choose -- an opportunity to interview the stars of these shows in an informal manner, just shooting the breeze.

The problem is that the party gets so loud, it's almost impossible to hear anyone. But that's a minor quibble. It's a fun night out of celebrity oogling.

One From Keith

2005-07-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

Here's one of the one-liners from my friend Keith's presentation at last week's TCA presentation:

"We here at the WB are happy to see that Tom Cruise is dating one of our alumni, Katie Holmes from our hit show 'Dawson's Creek.'

"Of course, we always thought if he ended up dating someone from Dawson's, it would've been James Van Der Beek, but we're happy nonetheless."

WB holds court

2005-07-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

The WB, home to one of my favorite shows of all time, "Felicity," took center stage at today's Television Critics tour. Like all the other nets, they were touting their new shows this fall — Don Johnson returns to TV in a Jerry Bruckheimer lawyer drama, "Just Legal" — but the highlight of the event was the first WB exec on the dais, my good friend Keith Marder.

Keith, whom I worked with at the Los Angeles Daily News many years ago when he was the paper's TV critic, has been at the WB for about 6 years now as corporate communications guru. For the past several TCA's Keith leads off the presentation with jokes about the TV industry that make even the most cynical critics laugh.

As he always does, Keith's material went over well and was top notch. The jokes are a bit too industry-inside for anyone to appreciate here but huzzahs to Keith and may he be the next Jerry Seinfeld in another life.

Next up for me at TCA, ABC on Tuesday.

Tiger on the loose

2005-07-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

With his win Sunday in the British Open, Tiger now has 10 Grand Slam wins and is only 8 behind Jack Nicklaus. In what was once thought of as impossible, it now seems that Tiger has an excellent chance to break the record.

I've said it before... and will say it again... the best sporting event every year is any of the four major golf tournaments -- Masters, US Open, British Open, PGA Championship -- in which Tiger is in contention.

It's not TV. It's HBO

2005-07-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

I attended HBO's state of their network address Friday at the Television Critics Tour at the Beverly Hilton. Twice a year, all the broadcast and cable networks come to L.A. to tout their new shows and talk about about how their networks are doing better than ever.

"Entourage" has been renewed for a third season and the way HBO chairman Chris Albrecht was talking, it'll probably be around a lot longer than that. This season, from my point of view, has been great. I'm rooting for Jeremy Piven to take home the Emmy.

March 2006 marks the new-season premiere of "The Sopranos." While series creator David Chase has often said this would mark the end of "Sopranos," he may be softening his stance a little. He's contemplating another season after this one, which is currently filming back in New York.

And for all you Larry David fans out there, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" debuts at the end of September.

As for "Rome," which I covered the nighttime party for Variety, this series is the network's next big thing. It took me a little while to understand who was who in first episode (which premieres Aug. 28) but the prognosis is good. Curious to see what everyone thinks about it.

Movies 2005: Halfway home

2005-07-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

Now that we're just past the halfway point of 2005, why not take a look back at the best movies over the last six months. While it may be tough to put a list of 10 together -- it's been a fairly uneventful season so far -- I'll give it my best shot.

And, as always, this is just a list of films that I've personally seen, which doesn't include the well-reviewed "Batman Begins" and highly regarded documentaries such as "Mad Hot Ballroom" and "Murderball," among many others.

Anyway, if you've missed any or all of these and are looking for a night at the cinema (or available on DVD), you shouldn't be disappointed.

In alphabetical order, not preference:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: A dessert for the senses, Depp and Burton once again team up for an unorthodox winner.

Cinderella Man: Russell Crowe, as usual, was rock solid as Depression-era fighter Jim Braddock. His underdog story was noteworthy but director Ron Howard failed to deliver a knockout punch.

Crash: Well-intentioned and thoughtful look at the racial and class structure of Los Angeles. It has its faults but "Million Dollar Baby" playright Paul Haggis is on his way to an impressive directorial career.

Fever Pitch: I hate the Red Sox but still was enamored with this tale of a Boston fan who can't decide between his two passions: baseball or Barrymore.

Hitch: Who knew Kevin James could be this funny? Nothing lasting about it but at least its original and has the gorgeous Eva Mendes too.

Hostage: Bruce Willis, in one of his best roles, in a taut action thriller about a family under seige by a group of moral-less teens.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: Based on the popular teen book, this could've gone all wrong but somehow manages to charm anyway.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Uber-geek George Lucas closes out his "Star Wars" legacy -- finally -- with an effort that made everyone happy.

War of the Worlds: Sure, nobody's thrilled with the ending and enough with Tom Cruise already. But Spielberg's special effects wizardry overcame it all.

The Wedding Crashers: Probably the funniest film of the past couple of years. Buy stock in Vince Vaughn now.

So what did I miss? Am I totally off base?

Best burgers

2005-06-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

In this month's GQ magazine, they list the best burgers, fries and shakes/malts around the country. Our local joint, The Counter in Santa Monica, was ranked No. 14 in all of the country for their burgers -- which are delicious, I might add -- and the their malts ranked an astonishing No. 2!!!

If you're in the neighborhood of Santa Monica/West LA, check it out. It's on Ocean Park Blvd., just west of Centinela on the north side of the street next to a Starbucks. Yummmm!

Star sighting

2005-06-30T16:53:00.000-07:00

Had a good one this morning. On my way to the post office, I spotted Jerry Seinfeld and his wife browsing through magazines on the newsstand on Beverly, between Wilshire and Olympic... if that means anything to you.

Drama's golden age

2005-06-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

Folks:
Wrote this in today's Daily Variety and thought I'd share. I'd love to know your thoughts.

BY STUART LEVINE
No matter where you flip the dial these days, you're bound to land on a great drama.

There's been no shortage of compelling dramas throughout TV's seven-decade history -- be it about cops, docs, lawyers or crooks -- but one could make the case that there's no time like today. While the 1950s may be referred to as the Golden Age of drama, the gold standard is back in a big way.

"One thing you can look at is that one (program) sometimes inspires another," says HBO entertainment topper Carolyn Strauss. "It shows you what's possible."

Broadcast and cable are carrying the banner with equal aplomb.

Procedurals -- those self-contained stories that wrap everything up in a nice, tidy bow at the end of 60 minutes and make a mint for the studios in syndication -- have caught on like wildfire and are, generally, well executed. "CSI" has been the most-watched show on television for the past few years: Its producer, procedurals guru Jerry Bruckheimer, will have an astonishing nine such shows on the air next season, plus one comedy.

NBC, though in tough times now, still offers up solid "The West Wing" and has made a killing with the venerable "Law & Order" franchise since 1990. ABC got back in the game last season with "Lost," "Grey's Anatomy" and dramedy "Desperate Housewives" (though that skein is being submitted for Emmy consideration as a comedy). Fox's real-time "24" has managed to remain compelling over four seasons.

Then there's the wired world, where HBO set the stan-dard high with what some might consider a game changer in "The Sopranos." Since launching in 1999, it became the ultimate water-cooler show and speculation from creator David Chase that the mobster saga might go on to a seventh season -- one beyond what many believed would be its last -- made for front-page news a few weeks ago.

Also at HBO there's "Six Feet Under," current critical fave "Deadwood" and little-seen but highly regarded "The Wire."

On the basic cable side, FX broke the mold in 2002 with "The Shield," which earned Michael Chiklis a win for lead actor. The net also has done well with "Nip/Tuck" and "Rescue Me."

Strauss and FX's new prexy-G.M., John Landgraf, agree that there's no winning formula that works every time in gestating a hit show.

"As I say to a lot of people who pitch, it's having all the stars aligned," Strauss explains, "the way an idea is presented, how it's put together, how it's shot. One misstep is all it takes to derail. The cast is wrong or there's a missed tone in the pilot."

"It's the freedom encouraged by creators and writers to take risks, to make shows as good as they are," says Landgraf, who took over the net after Peter Liguori moved to Fox. "The standards are very high right now."

Strauss' comments about the importance of casting are well taken. While it's impossible to say whether "Sopranos" would've worked without James Gandolfini, or "Deadwood" without Ian McShane or "NYPD Blue" without Dennis Franz, those actors have become the faces of their series in a way that allows auds to connect in a passionate way.

"Casting is crucial," Strauss elaborates. "Look at 'The Sopranos.' There were no second choices."
While cable has the ability to stretch the parameters of drama to include nudity, language and violence -- though that might be up for discussion now as the Federal Communications Commission has signaled it might be willing to reconsider whether cable fare is under the same strict guidelines as its over-the-air counterpart -- broadcast has managed to enliven the genre, even with major constraints.

Broadcast nets don't have the luxury of launching only one or two dramas a year, and having its marketing departments put their efforts into just those series. Toppers such as CBS' Les Moonves and NBC's Jeff Zucker order dozens of pilots, only to whittle the number down to a few for the fall sked.

Landgraf, who was VP of primetime series at NBC from 1994-99, realizes the pressure network execs are under to satisfy critics and Madison Avenue. While they strive for quality, demos are a higher priority.

"Networks are factories that produce a product called television," he says. "When you're doing that many episodes to appeal to that big of an audience, you have to round corners and edges. And you can say that about furniture. When you look at a little network like ours, it's more like handcrafted programming."

Where the networks have taken the lead over their cable counterparts is with procedurals. CBS is the leader in this category, be it with the "CSI" franchise or Thursday night stalwart "Without a Trace."

Says Laverne McKinnon, the Eye's top drama exec, the key to quality dramas in these days of fragmented audiences is a willingness to listen to those outside TV's traditional training ground.

"The quality of storytelling has improved. From a drama perspective, I think we've been able to tap into a larger talent pool of writers: features, theater, book authors and essayists. There's no longer the stigma from five to 10 years ago about crossing over mediums."

Everyone knows that TV is a cyclical game -- just ask the folks over at ABC -- and the current comedy famine/drama feast could turn at a moment's notice. That being said, upcoming dramas from cable and broadcast indicate the change may not be coming all that soon.

HBO has high hopes for "Rome," which is costing the net a lot of coin (though it's a co-production with the BBC) and begins in September. On July 27, FX launches Steven Bochco's Iraq War series, "Over There."

Fox is generating buzz for "Prison Break," which stars Wentworth Miller as a desperate man who breaks into jail in order to help his death-row brother break out; ABC has Geena Davis starring in Rod Lurie's "Commander-in-Chief"; and NBC is hoping Bruckheimer's magic rubs off on "E-Ring," about life at the Pentagon.

And, as always in TV, the pressure's on. Sure, the networks might have a handful of drama superstars in their current lineups but if the genre's going to continue to thrive, it's all about finding the next big hit.

"These shows are representing us," says HBO's Strauss. "We have to get them right."

The worst job

2005-06-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

Here in Hollywood, that would be as an assistant to an executive or actor. Here's the latest story from the trenches:

I used to work for a C-list actor who wasn’t a screamer really, he was worse. He had bizarre brain synapses and he was obsessed with vegetables.

He was working on a now-cancelled FBI show. We were shooting in Santa Monica and he had a hankering for Koo Koo Roo:

Actor: I want the turkey dinner
Me: okay.
Actor: The turkey dinner. With the carrots and gravy
Me: (tuning him out. I know what’s in the turkey dinner.) Right.
Actor: And get whatever you want.

So, I went to the Kook in Venice. Ordered the turkey dinner, and a BBQ chicken salad without peppers for me. I returned to the trailer, and put his turkey dinner in the fridge. I was happily munching away on my salad, slightly peeved that they’d forgotten to take out the peppers, when Actor returned from set.

Actor: Where’s my turkey dinner?
Me: In the fridge.
Actor: Why is it in the fridge?
Me: Because you were still shooting.
Actor: (accusatory) It’s really hot outside.
Me: (??) I know. That’s why I put it in the fridge.

He fetches his damn turkey dinner, and I return to my salad and my To Do list. Munch munch munch…suddenly, I hear:
Actor: Green beans.
Me: What?
Actor: Green beans.
Me: (??)
Actor: (getting agitated) Green beans, green beans green beans.Me: (??)
Actor: I asked for GREEN BEANS with my turkey dinner.
Me: (He did? Oh shit.)

I looked him straight in the eye. Then down at my salad. Then back at him. I waved my fork towards my lunch:

Me: And I asked for no peppers in my salad. (Too bad, buddy. Life’s not fair. Sometimes you don’t get what you asked for.)
Actor: (glaring silence.)

He fired me the next day. Now whenever I hear “green beans” I cringe and then chuckle.

Name of the day

2005-06-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

In Variety, we run a column of notable births in the industry. Think this child will be the next SuperGirl??

Emily and Penn Jillette, a girl, Moxie CrimeFighter Jillette, June 3, Los Vegas. Mother is non-pro; father is comic/magician and half of the performing duo Penn & Teller.

TV's best

2005-06-03T16:55:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Chronicle TV critic offers up some thoughts on the best TV shows on the air now. This is his top 10 list of best shows on the air, in order of greatness.

-- "Deadwood"
-- "The Wire"
-- "The Sopranos" (returns next spring)
-- "Arrested Development"
-- "The Shield"
-- "Rescue Me"
-- "Lost"
-- "Desperate Housewives"
-- "24"
-- "MI-5"

If you've been reading this blog at all since its launch several months ago, you know my feelings on Deadwood. But here's what Goodman says too... so you know it's just not me:

Call it Monday mourning. "Deadwood" ended last night and the only thing one can blurt out at a moment like this is all too obvious to anyone who has seen the show:
"You -- suckers! Why only 12 episodes?"

Television's most profane -- and easily one of its most magnificent -- offerings is over, and what a satisfying, orgiastic little run it was. Twelve episodes, three months and thousands upon thousands of f-bombs, or so it seemed. Only "Deadwood" could drag you through the mud of evil men, bad women and offensive language and make you feel glad about paying for the pleasure.

And just now, right in this instant of having the magnitude of this Shakespearean effort wash over us, who's to deny that "Deadwood" is the best show on television, bar none? (If you're keeping track, by the way, that puts three dramas and one comedy from HBO in the top 10 - at least.) Who's prepared to walk away from the table without voting David Milch's astonishing Western the best thing ever? The acting is, across the board, fall-down-on-the-ground great. From Ian McShane's Emmy-deserving turn as Al Swearengen to W. Earl Brown's layered bear of man that is Dan Dority to Paula Malcomson's angry, tart, devoted and dangerous hooker, Trixie. Not just those three -- all of them. Cameo performances on this show have the sheen of magnificence and that's damned hard to do.

Is "Deadwood" the best show on television?
Who knows. You can get weary parsing out that stuff. "Deadwood" -- despite that nagging, beautifully corrupt sense of Shakespeare -- is utterly original, like nothing else on TV. This is a television series playing in its own stratosphere, defined by genius all around it. Number it as you will, just bring it back as soon as possible.

Emmy season

2005-06-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

No, really, it is.

We're cranking up our Emmy stories now that the voting period has begun. I'll post a few of my efforts here over the next week or two if you'd like to check them out.

By STUART LEVINE,
Tue., May 31, 2005, 10:00pm PT

With the Bartlet administration on the way out, there were some industry observers who believed at the beginning of last season that "The West Wing" was nearing its end as well.

The handoff from show creator Aaron Sorkin to John Wells in 2003 made many hardcore viewers nervous. That's no knock on Wells, who has been a writer and exec producer on such series as "ER" and "China Beach," but Sorkin's shoes would be tough to fill.

"We thought we were done after Aaron left," says two-time Emmy nom Janel Moloney, who plays Donna Moss. "It takes time for a show to deal with a big change like that. We knew the shows would have a different tone."

Also making the transition difficult was that ratings were dipping and "Wing" is an expensive show to produce. With NBC paying Warner Bros. approximately $6 million per episode (before recent negotiations knocked that number down to about $3 million), the series seemed ripe for cancellation.

Then came the election: no, not Bush-Kerry, but the race between Rep. Matthew Santos (D-Texas) and Sen. Arnold Vinick (R-Calif.). The storyline, which took the action out of the White House and into the frozen fields of Iowa and New Hampshire, revitalized the show.

The Democratic and Republican primaries, at which Santos and Vinick (Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda, respectively) won their parties' nominations, were embraced by longtime viewers. While ratings were still down, the numbers were bright spots for the Peacock, whose viewership tumbled this season.

"For two years the show was in steep decline but this year they told stories you could care about," says TV Guide critic Matt Roush. "The campaign episodes took you back to the better times. It's back on track, though still not what it used to be."

Says Wells: "People seemed to be really engaged. ... In dealing with the primaries, it was one of the areas during the first five years of the show that we hadn't explored. One of the things you're constantly doing is look for places in the story you haven't done sometime before."

Equally intrigued by the storyline was Smits, who met with Wells about playing Santos. "John's idea was to give insight about what goes into particular points of the campaign," the thesp says. "We talked about the power of the media and show how great it would be to have young people aspire to be in politics."

Wells was quick to realize that it was important in casting Vinick, a likable Republican centrist. "I sat down with Alan before the season and talked about a political campaign," recalls Wells. "It was clear that, for the Republican candidate, we would need people that had the same stature as Martin (Sheen)."

It wasn't just "West Wing" that critics say enjoyed a comeback season. Other rebounding skeins include "Gilmore Girls" and "24."

"Gilmore Girls," which just wrapped season No. 5, was rejuvenated when it's two leads -- Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) -- parted ways. Lorelai, busy with a new relationship, and Rory, off to college, had new challenges to confront.

And the ratings went up. "Gilmore" improved in most key demos for the young-skewing WB, and the series saw a hefty 30% jump in women 18-49.

" 'Gilmore Girls' came back," opines Roush. "If there was ever a show to break into the comedy category, it would be this. They figured out how to tell stories with Rory at college. This show's in good shape."

Series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino says she knows why the show took off this year.

"Apparently America has just been waiting to see Rory whore it up," she jokes. "I guess that the storylines that we chose this year really clicked with people. It was more of a romantic comedy year than we've done before, and people really seem to enjoy that, especially the Luke/Lorelai situation."

Over on "24," Kiefer Sutherland is trying to save the world from annihilation ... again. After the much-buzzed-about first season, some viewers thought "24" was losing its steam. Those same people believe this season (No. 4) the skein recovered its mojo.

"People felt we had a resurgence since the second half of last season and I have to tell you we're very surprised," says exec producer Joel Surnow. "Fans who regularly watch us tell us this is our best season. ... We look for different ways to tell suspense stories. What we do now is what we've always done: keep fans on the edge of their seats."

The lone wolf

2005-05-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

Priscilla and Zoe were back east for the Memorial Day weekend, so I bachelored up and did all the guy things that would barely past muster if the girls were around.

Friday night was spent at Hollywood Park with my friend Jay, who's a writer with the Daily Racing Form. You would think he'd be able to select some winners but no. Nice expert, eh?

Saturday night was poker and, after all was said and done, I pocketed a hefty $8. Got to know when to hold and fold em, my friends.

Sunday and Monday was spent catching up on Tivo, riding my bike to the beach, going to the gym and, some might say in a shocking development, cleaning up around the house and doing laundry.

After nearly 15 years of marriage -- our anniversary is this week -- I'm well trained.

It's Carrie!

2005-05-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

So, as Zoe predicted all along, it was Carrie who took home the crown last night as this year's American Idol. After Bo's beautiful solo number last week, I thought Carrie was toast but the Oklahoma girl came through. Way to go Carrie!!!

Fox

2005-05-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

FOX PRIMETIME SCHEDULE: FALL 2005(All Times ET/PT)

MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
8:30-9:00 PM KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL
9:00-10:00 PM PRISON BREAK

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM BONES
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE

WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM THAT '70s SHOW
8:30-9:00 PM STACKED
9:00-10:00 PM HEAD CASES

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE O.C.
9:00-10:00 PM REUNION

FRIDAY
8:00-8:30 PM THE BERNIE MAC SHOW
8:30-9:00 PM MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE
9:00-10:00 THE GATE (working title)

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA'S MOST WANTED
11:00 PM-MIDNIGHT MADtv

SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 PM Animated Encores
7:30-8:00 PM KING OF THE HILL
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM THE WAR AT HOME
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

The following new dramas will premiere on FOX this fall:

PRISON BREAK (Monday, 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)
MICHAEL SCOFIELD (Wentworth Miller, "The Human Stain") is a desperate man in a desperate situation. His brother, LINCOLN BURROWS (Dominic Purcell, "John Doe," "Blade: Trinity"), is on death row and scheduled to die in a few months for a murder Michael is convinced Lincoln did not commit. With no other options and time winding down, Michael holds up a bank to get himself incarcerated alongside his brother in Fox River State Penitentiary. Once he's inside, we learn that Michael – a structural engineer with the blueprints for the prison – has hatched an elaborate plan to break Lincoln out and prove his innocence. Senior correctional officer BELLICK (Wade Williams, "Collateral") offers some prison wisdom as Michael arrives. Then, with the help of his cellmate, SUCRE (Amaury Nolasco, "Mr. 3000"), Michael begins to align himself with a disparate group of prisoners, including former mob boss JOHN ABRUZZI (Peter Stormare, "Fargo," "Minority Report") and CHARLES WESTMORELAND (Muse Watson, "I Know What You Did Last Summer"), a man some believe to be the infamous skyjacker D.B. Cooper. On the outside Michael has only one ally, his defense attorney and longtime friend, VERONICA DONOVAN (Robin Tunney, "The Craft," "End of Days") – who is Lincoln's former girlfriend. Meanwhile, Lincoln's 15-year-old son, LJ (Marshall Allman), is now adrift without his Uncle Michael's positive influence. Rounding out the cast are Sarah Wayne Callies ("The Celestine Prophesy") as prison doctor SARA TANCREDI, whom Michael ends up visiting more often than he should, and Stacy Keach ("Titus," "Mike Hammer") as the powerful WARDEN POPE, who forges a close, almost father-son relationship with the new convict. This intriguing new series promises to reveal additional pieces of the puzzle each week as Michael carries out his daring plan to mastermind the ultimate PRISON BREAK – and solve the far-reaching national-scale conspiracy that landed him there in the first place.
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Adelstein-Parouse Productions, Original Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Paul Scheuring, Dawn Parouse, Marty Adelstein, Neal Moritz, Brett Ratner
WRITER: Paul Scheuring
DIRECTOR: Brett Ratner
CAST: Wentworth Miller as Michael, Dominic Purcell as Lincoln, Robin Tunney as Veronica, Sarah Wayne Callies as Dr. Tancredi, Peter Stormare as Abruzzi, Amaury Nolasco as Sucre, Wade Williams as Bellick, Marshall Allman as LJ

BONES (Tuesday, 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT)
From executive producers Barry Josephson ("Hide and Seek," "Like Mike") and Hart Hanson ("Joan of Arcadia," "Judging Amy") comes the darkly amusing drama BONES, inspired by real-life forensic anthropologist and novelist Kathy Reichs. Forensic anthropologist DR. TEMPERANCE BRENNAN (Emily Deschanel, "Boogeyman"), who works at the Jeffersonian Institution and writes novels as a sideline, has an uncanny ability to read clues left behind in a victim's bones. Consequently, law enforcement calls her in to assist with murder investigations when the remains are so badly decomposed, burned or destroyed that the standard identification methods are useless. Brennan's equally brilliant colleagues at the Jeffersonian's Medico-Legal Lab include earthy and bawdy ANGELA MONTENEGRO (Michaela Conlin, "The D.A."), who's created a unique way to render an original crime scene in a three-dimensional computer image; Brennan's assistant, ZACK ADDY (Eric Millegan), a young prodigy whose genius IQ actually gets in the way of his finishing the several doctorates he has begun; "the bug guy," DR. JACK HODGINS (TJ Thyne, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"), who's an expert on insects, spores and minerals, but conspiracy is his hobby; and Brennan's boss, imposing lab director DR. DANIEL GOODMAN (Jonathan Adams, "American Dreams"). Brennan often finds herself teamed with Special Agent SEELEY BOOTH (David Boreanaz, "Angel"), a former Army sniper who mistrusts science and scientists when it comes to solving crimes. Brennan and Booth clash both professionally and personally, but so far the chemistry between them has only played out in a fictionalized account in Brennan's latest mystery novel.
PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Barry Josephson, Hart Hanson
WRITER: Hart Hanson
DIRECTOR: Greg Yaitanes
CAST: Emily Deschanel as Brennan, David Boreanaz as Booth, Eric Millegan as Zack, TJ Thyne as Dr. Hodgins, Michaela Conlin as Angela, Jonathan Adams as Dr. Goodman

HEAD CASES (Wednesday, 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)
Bill Chais ("The Practice," "Family Law") created this comedic drama starring Chris O'Donnell ("Scent of a Woman") as attorney JASON PAYNE, whose superstar career at a prestigious Los Angeles law firm backfired when his wife, LAURIE (Krista Allen, "Unscripted"), kicked him out of the house and, to make a bad day even worse, he had a nervous breakdown. After three months at a "wellness center," Jason found himself with no job, no place to live and no support system. Enter SHULTZ (Adam Goldberg, "A Beautiful Mind," "Saving Private Ryan"), an unkempt, unpredictable sufferer of explosive disorder, assigned to be outpatient "buddies" with Jason by their mutual therapist, DR. ROBINSON (Rockmond Dunbar, "Soul Food"). A low-rent lawyer who usually represents deviants and petty criminals, Shultz eagerly latches onto a very reluctant Jason, inserting himself in all aspects of Jason's personal and professional life. The intrusion is the last thing Jason needs, preoccupied as he is with trying to re-establish a relationship with his 8-year-old son, RYAN (Jake Cherry, "Miracle Run"), reach some kind of accord with Laurie, and lend emotional support to KATE (Rachel Leigh Cook, "She's All That"), a troubled young woman he met at the wellness center. For Jason and Shultz, what begins as a bumpy alliance gradually turns amicable as each helps steer the other toward against-all-odds legal victories. Ultimately, they hang up their shingle together and set out to take on underdog clients while attempting to keep each other "sane."
PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Bill Chais, Jeff Rake, Barry Josephson
WRITER: Bill Chais
DIRECTOR: Andy Fleming
CAST: Chris O'Donnell as Jason, Adam Goldberg as Shultz, Krista Allen as Laurie, Jake Cherry as Ryan, Rachel Leigh Cook as Kate, Rockmond Dunbar as Dr. Robinson

REUNION (Thursday, 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)
Part character drama and part mystery, REUNION marks a groundbreaking concept in series television as it chronicles the lives of a group of six friends over the course of 20 years – all in just one season. From the hopes and dreams of 18-year-olds to the realities that irrevocably mark those lives two decades later, REUNION's stories are of love and loss, marriage and death, triumph and scandal. WILL (Will Estes, "U-571," "American Dreams") longs to leave his small town behind. Aided by an athletic scholarship, he will be the first in his family to go to college. CRAIG (Sean Faris, "Life As We Know It"), handsome and privileged, looks forward to the Ivy League with his girlfriend, SAMANTHA (Alexa Davalos, "The Chronicles of Riddick"), whose ambition is surpassed only by her looks and intelligence. The beautiful and sensual JENNA (Amanda Righetti, THE O.C.) dreams of becoming an actress; behind his cynicism, AARON (Dave Annable, "Little Black Book") dreams that his relationship with Jenna will go beyond friendship. CARLA (Chyler Leigh, "Not Another Teen Movie"), innocent and quirky, must choose between loyalty to her father and staying near her best friends. REUNION opens in 2005 at the funeral of one of the friends, whose death is being investigated by DETECTIVE MARJORINO (Mathew St. Patrick, "Six Feet Under"). Before the identity of the deceased is revealed, we're transported back to 1986, as the group is celebrating their high school graduation. The pilot episode follows all six through the summer of 1986, and we witness the formative events that alter their dreams and desires forever. Episode two finds the group a full year later, in 1987; episode three tells the story of a seminal event in 1988, and so on – culminating in the season finale at the friends' 20th high school reunion. REUNION also will build toward answering two important questions raised in episode one: Which of the friends is dead? And how did that death occur?
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Warner Bros. Television, Class IV Productions
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jon Harmon Feldman, Steve Pearlman, Andrew Plotkin
WRITER: Jon Harmon Feldman
DIRECTOR: Jon Amiel
CAST: Will Estes as Will, Sean Faris as Craig, Dave Annable as Aaron, Alexa Davalos as Samantha, Amanda Righetti as Jenna, Chyler Leigh as Carla, Mathew St. Patrick as Detective Marjorino

THE GATE (working title) (Friday,, 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT): Created by Josh Berman ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"), THE GATE (working title) tells the chilling stories of bizarre crimes committed by San Francisco's most aberrant criminals. The series centers on Detective GRAHAM HALE (Johnny Messner, THE O.C.) of the San Francisco Police Department's Deviant Crime Unit. Intense and private, Hale is haunted by personal demons, and he chose this assignment after going AWOL for a year following his partner's death in the line of duty. Hale's new partner is rookie Detective AVA LYFORD (Marguerite Moreau, "Life As We Know It," THE O.C.), whose no-nonsense demeanor and by-the-book tenacity hide both her insecurities and her secrets. Unbeknownst to Hale, she has a hidden agenda – and it might lead to his downfall. In the course of investigating his cases, Hale works closely with his boss, the likable Lieutenant MATT CAVANAUGH (Chi McBride, "Boston Public," "The Terminal"), and with DR. FRANCINE KLEPP, a forensic pathologist in the Coroner's lab and the former roommate of Hale's late partner, Meg. Exploring the idea that "behind every monster there's a mystery," the stories of THE GATE remind us that the "monsters" are everyday people, hidden in plain sight – and that, in each of us, a monster may lurk just beneath the surface.
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Regency Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Russel Friend, Garrett Lerner
WRITER: Josh Berman
DIRECTOR: Rob Lieberman
CAST: Johnny Messner as Det. Graham Hale, Marguerite Moreau as Det. Ava Lyford, Chi McBride as Lt. Matt Cavanaugh

Comedies
THE WAR AT HOME (Sunday, 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT)
When DAVE (Michael Rapaport, "Hitch," "Small Time Crooks," "Boston Public") and VICKY (Anita Barone, "Daddio," "The Jeff Foxworthy Show") were growing up, their parents had it easy. Back then, there were no "time-outs," no one had any "boundaries" and "parenting" wasn't even a word. Parents also had no idea what their kids were really up to; ignorance truly was bliss. Now Dave and Vicky have teenagers of their own, and anything their kids might even think about doing, Dave and Vicky have already done … at least twice. But knowledge isn't power – it's a giant pain! Every day is a battle to keep the kids in line. Fifteen-year-old LARRY (Kyle Sullivan, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE) isn't exactly a frequent diner at the cool kids' table in the cafeteria, while 16-year-old HILLARY (Kaylee Defer, QUINTUPLETS, "Listen Up") knows it all and is just emerging onto the dating scene. Meanwhile, at 13, MIKE (Dean Collins, "Jack & Bobby") is all hormones and video games. Dave and Vicky figure if they can send these three off to college without a police record or kids of their own, they've done their job. This witty, irreverent show from Rob Lotterstein ("Will & Grace," "Ellen," "Dream On") goes inside the heads of a modern family through the use of a confessional space where the characters reveal everything they could never actually say to one another – as they do their best to win THE WAR AT HOME.
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: ACME Productions, Warner Bros. Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Michael Hanel, Mindy Schultheis
WRITER/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Rob Lotterstein
DIRECTOR: Andy Cadiff
CAST: Michael Rapaport as Dave, Anita Barone as Vicky, Dean Collins as Mike, Kaylee Defer as Hillary, Kyle Sullivan as Larry

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL (Monday, 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT)
Based on renowned chef Anthony Bourdain's best-selling autobiography, KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL explores the deliciously crazy world of upscale restaurants. Chef JACK BOURDAIN (Bradley Cooper, "Alias," "I Want to Marry Ryan Banks") found enormous success at a young age, but his culinary genius also led to a lifestyle of boozing, womanizing and drugs. After hitting rock bottom and deciding to sober up, the only job he could get was slopping soggy pasta for the masses at a tacky opera-themed restaurant. Out of the blue, Jack is offered an opportunity to get back in the game as head chef at a top New York restaurant. There's just one problem: the owner gives Jack a mere 48 hours to fully staff his kitchen and prepare to dazzle over 300 customers – including the food critic for the New York Times (who also happens to be a jilted ex). Jack hastily assembles a renegade crew of colleagues from his past, including chefs STEVEN DAEDALUS (Owain Yeoman, "Troy"), SETH KLEIN (Nicholas Brendon, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") and TEDDY WONG (John Cho, "Harold & Kumar"). Also along for the ride are TANYA (Jaime King, "White Chicks," "Pearl Harbor") the hostess, a rookie pastry chef named JIM (John F. Daley, "Freaks and Geeks"), and the owner's daughter, the gorgeous MIMI (Bonnie Somerville, "NYPD Blue"), who can't wait for Jack to fail. In KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL, executive producers Darren Star ("Sex and the City") and David Hemingson ("Just Shoot Me," AMERICAN DAD) expose the secrets of the restaurant business through the delectable story of a talented chef who's determined to climb back to the top of the food game.
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, New Line Productions, Inc., Darren Star Productions, Inc.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Darren Star, Jim Rosenthal, David Knoller
WRITER/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: David Hemingson
DIRECTOR: Darren Star
CAST: Bradley Cooper as Jack, Bonnie Somerville as Mimi, Owain Yeoman as Steven, Nicholas Brendon as Seth, John Cho as Teddy, Jaime King as Tanya, John F. Daley as Jim

CBS

2005-05-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

Monday

8:00 p.m. The King of Queens (new day and time)
8:30 p.m. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
9:00 p.m. Two and a Half Men (new time period)
9:30 p.m. OUT OF PRACTICE
10:00 p.m. CSI: Miami

Tuesday
8:00 p.m. NCIS
9:00 p.m. The Amazing Race
10:00 p.m. CLOSE TO HOME

Wednesday
8:00 p.m. Still Standing (new day)
8:30 p.m. Yes, Dear (new time)
9:00 p.m. CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00 p.m. CSI: NY

Thursday
8:00 p.m. Survivor: Guatemala
9:00 p.m. CSI
10:00 p.m. Without A Trace

Friday
8:00 p.m. GHOST WHISPERER
9:00 p.m. THRESHOLD
10:00 p.m. Numbers

Saturday
8:00 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
9:00 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
10:00 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery

Sunday
7:00 p.m. 60 Minutes
8:00 p.m. Cold Case
9:00 p.m. Sunday Night Movie

The new dramas are (all times ET/PT):
GHOST WHISPERER (Friday, 8:00 PM) stars Jennifer Love Hewitt ("Party of Five") in a drama, inspired by the work of famed medium James Van Praagh, about Melinda Gordon (Hewitt), a young newlywed with the unique ability to communicate with the earthbound spirits of people who have died and who seek her help. Melinda uses her gift to relay significant messages and important information to the living, but sometimes the messages she receives are
intense and confusing. As a result, she is often met with questions and skepticism by the survivors. But when Melinda is able to help both the lost souls who contact her and those who are still alive, she knows that her unique talent is an asset and not a liability. David Conrad ("Profiler") and Aisha Tyler ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation") also star. John Gray ("Helter Skelter," "Martin & Lewis"), Ian Sander and Kim Moses ("Profiler") are executive producers for Touchstone Television in association with Paramount Network Television.

THRESHOLD (Friday, 9:00 PM) stars Carla Gugino ("Sin City"), Charles S. Dutton ("Something the Lord Made"), Brian Van Holt ("House of Wax"), Robert Patrick Benedict ("Felicity") and Brent Spiner ("The Aviator") in a suspenseful drama about a team of experts who are assembled when the U.S. Navy makes a chilling discovery: an extra terrestrial craft has landed in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. Dr. Molly Anne Caffrey (Gugino) is a government contingency analyst whose job is to devise response plans for worst-case scenarios. When her plan called THRESHOLD is activated upon the news of the UFO, she and her hand-picked team of eclectic specialists get to work deciphering the intention of the craft and preparing for the possibility of a crisis situation -- an alien invasion. Brannon Braga ("Enterprise"), David Heyman ("Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban") and David Goyer ("Blade: Trinity") are executive producers for Paramount Network Television.

CLOSE TO HOME (Tuesday, 10:00 PM) stars Jennifer Finnigan ("The Bold and the Beautiful") in a legal drama that tears away the facade of suburbia to reveal that sometimes quiet and tranquil streets can hide the darkest of crimes. Annabeth Chase (Finnigan) is a young, aggressive prosecutor with a perfect conviction record who tries the cases that take place in her own backyard. Returning to work after having her first child, Annabeth is ready to take on the most difficult cases, fueled by her passion to protect her community and her family. Kimberly Elise ("Diary of a Mad Black Woman"), John Carroll Lynch ("The Drew Carey Show") and Christian Kane ("Friday Night Lights") also star. Jerry Bruckheimer ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Without A Trace"), Jonathan Littman ("Cold Case," "The Amazing Race"), Jim Leonard ("Thieves") and Simon West ("Lara Croft: Tomb Raider") are executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television.

CRIMINAL MINDS (Wednesday, 9:00 PM) stars Emmy and Tony Award winner Mandy Patinkin ("Chicago Hope"), Thomas Gibson ("Dharma & Greg") and Daytime Emmy Award winner Shemar Moore ("The Young and the Restless") in a suspense thriller about an elite squad of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next move before they strike again. Each member of the team brings their own area of expertise to the table as they pinpoint predators' motivations and identify their emotional triggers in order to stop them. Matthew Gubler ("The Life Aquatic") and Lola Glaudini ("The Sopranos") also star. Mark Gordon ("The Day After Tomorrow," "Grey's Anatomy") and Ed Bernero ("Third Watch") are executive producers, and Jeff Davis and Deborah Spera ("Fathers and Sons") are co-executive producers for Touchstone Television in association with Paramount Network Television.

The new comedies are (all times ET/PT):

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (Monday, 8:30 PM) is a comedy about Ted (Josh Radnor) and how he fell in love. It all started when Ted's best friend, Marshall (Jason Segel, "Freaks and Geeks"), drops the bombshell that he's going to propose to his long-time girlfriend, Lily (Alyson Hannigan, "American Pie"), a kindergarten teacher. At that moment, Ted realizes that he had better get a move on if he hopes to find true love, too. Helping him in his quest is Barney (Neil Patrick Harris, "Doogie Howser, M.D."), a friend with endless, sometimes outrageous, opinions, a penchant for suits and a fool-proof way to meet women. When Ted meets Robin (Cobie Smulders, "Veritas: The Quest"), he's sure it's love at first sight, but destiny may have something else in store. With voice-over by Bob Saget ("Full House"), the show is told through flashbacks from the future. Carter Bays & Craig Thomas ("Late Show with David Letterman") are executive producers for Twentieth Century Fox Television.

OUT OF PRACTICE (Monday, 9:30 PM) is a comedy about a family of physicians who share the same profession but have little else in common. Ben Chase (Christopher Gorham, "Felicity") is an earnest young couples' counselor whose family doesn't consider him to be a "real" doctor because he doesn't have "M.D." after his name. But despite their lofty credentials, Ben might be the best prescription for the future of this family. Stockard Channing ("The West Wing"), Henry Winkler ("Happy Days"), Ty Burrell, ("In Good Company") and Paula Marshall ("Spin City") also star. Joe Keenan ("Frasier") and Christopher Lloyd ("Frasier") are executive producers for Paramount Network Television. Multiple Emmy Award winner Kelsey Grammer ("Frasier") directed the pilot.

The midseason series are:
EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT MEN stars Jenna Elfman ("Dharma & Greg") in a comedy about Bex Atwell (Elfman), an attractive secretary with simple goals: find true love, have an exciting career and a normal relationship with her father. But in a world where men behave like, well…men, she realizes that she may be overly ambitious. Now, Bex is determined to figure out what men are all about while wondering why women even bother to try to understand them in the first place. Brady Smith ("Just Pray"), Hugh Bonneville ("Doctor Zhivago"), Rhea Seehorn ("Romy and Michele: In the Beginning"), Lauren Tom ("Friends") and Dabney Coleman ("Nine to Five") also star. Fred Barron ("According to Bex," "Caroline in the City") is the executive producer for Touchstone Television in association with Paramount Network Television. Multiple Emmy Award winner James Burrows directed the pilot.

THE UNIT stars Dennis Haysbert ("24"), Scott Foley ("Felicity"), Robert Patrick ("The X-Files") and Golden Globe Award winner Regina Taylor ("I'll Fly Away") in an action drama that follows a covert team of special forces operatives as they risk their lives on undercover missions around the globe, while their families maintain the homefront, protecting their husbands' secrets. Max Martini ("Saving Private Ryan"), Michael Irby ("Piñero"), Demore Barnes ("The Associates"), Abby Brammell ("Revenge of The Middle-Aged Woman") and Amy Acker ("Catch Me If You Can") also star. Pulitzer Prize-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated writer David Mamet ("Glengarry Glen Ross") and Emmy Award-nominated writer Shawn Ryan ("The Shield") are executive producers for Twentieth Century Fox Television.

ABC

2005-05-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

MONDAY

8:00 p.m. "Wife Swap" (through January. New night and time)
9:00 p.m. "Monday Night Football" (through January)
(the following will premiere after MNF)
8:00 p.m. "The Bachelor" (new time)
9:00 p.m. "Emily’s Reasons Why Not" (new comedy series)
9:30 p.m. "Jake in Progress" (new night and time)
10:00 p.m. "What About Brian" (new drama series)

TUESDAY

8:00 p.m. "According to Jim" (new time)
8:30 p.m. "Rodney" (new time)
9:00 p.m. "Commander-in-Chief" (new drama series)
10:00 p.m. "Boston Legal" (new night)

WEDNESDAY

8:00 p.m. "George Lopez" (new night and time)
8:30 p.m. "Freddie" (new comedy series)
9:00 p.m. "Lost" (new time)
10:00 p.m. "Invasion" (new drama series)

THURSDAY

8:00 p.m. "Alias" (new night and time)
9:00 p.m. "The Night Stalker" (new drama series)
10:00 p.m. "Primetime Live"

FRIDAY

8:00 p.m. "Supernanny" (new night and time)
9:00 p.m. "Hope & Faith"
9:30 p.m. "Hot Properties" (new comedy series)
10:00 p.m. "20/20"

SATURDAY

8:00 p.m. "ABC Movie of the Week"

SUNDAY

7:00 p.m. "America’s Funniest Home Videos"
8:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
9:00 p.m. "Desperate Housewives"
10:00 p.m. "Grey’s Anatomy"

Descriptions of the 12 new entertainment series joining ABC’s primetime schedule next season, listed in alphabetical order, follow (all times are Eastern):

"Commander-in-Chief" (one-hour drama, Tuesday, 9:00 p.m., ET) -- Mackenzie Allen has a lot on her plate… She has twin teenagers and a six-year-old at home, an ambitious husband at the office, and she is about to become the first female President of the United States.
Before that happens, however, Mackenzie, who serves as Vice President, has to decide whether or not to go against the dying wishes of the current President, who has asked her to step down and let someone "more appropriate" fill his shoes in the Oval Office. Not only does the President want her to resign, so does the entire party that elected her in the first place.
But when the moment of truth arrives, Mackenzie isn't willing to be a mere footnote in history. Instead of allowing her detractors to keep her down, she decides to trust her instincts and accept the most powerful job in the world.
"Commander-in-Chief" stars Academy Award®-winner Geena Davis and comes from Rod Lurie, acclaimed writer/director of the Oscar-nominated film, "The Contender," and creator of the critically acclaimed ABC series, "Line of Fire."
Cast:
Geena Davis ("Thelma and Louise"): Mackenzie Allen
Donald Sutherland ("M*A*S*H"): Nathan Templeton
Harry J. Lennix ("Ray"): Jim Gardner
Ever Carradine ("Once and Again"): Kelly Ludlow
Kyle Secor ("Homicide: Life on the Street"): Rod Allen
Julie Ann Emery ("Line of Fire"): Joan Greer
Andrew James Allen: Horace Allen
Caitlin Wachs: Rebecca Allen
Jasmine Anthony: Amy Allen
Credits:
Executive Producer/Writer: Rod Lurie ("Line of Fire")
Executive Producer: Marc Frydman ("Line of Fire")
Director: Rod Lurie
Production Company: Touchstone Television, Battle Plan Productions

"Freddie" (half-hour comedy, Wednesday, 8:30 p.m., ET) -- Four women to every man are great odds when you're a single guy out on the town, but not ideal when it comes to your living situation. Freddie is a young, successful chef with his own restaurant, a stylish bachelor pad and a trust fund baby for a best friend. The world should be Freddie’s oyster at this stage in life, but bachelorhood isn’t working out exactly as he envisioned.
Freddie loved growing up in a house full of women. He loved the energy of everyone running around, loved cooking for them all, but now he's finally realizing why his father used to lock himself in the bathroom just for some peace and quiet. Still, Freddie believes family always comes first, which is why he insisted his sister, sister-in-law, niece and grandmother come live with him after his brother passed away. Slowly but surely they are taking over his domain, and voicing their many opinions about his love life. Freddie will have to learn to balance his role as provider, brother, grandson, and uncle, all while trying to enjoy what should be his swinging single days.
The creative forces behind "The Drew Carey Show" and "George Lopez" serve up a comedic dish based on the raucous femme-filled real life of star Freddie Prinze, Jr. ("She's All That," "Scooby Doo").
Cast:
Freddie Prinze, Jr. ("Scooby Doo"): Freddie
Jacqueline Obradors ("NYPD Blue"): Sofia
Brian Green ("Beverly Hills, 90210"): Chris
Jenny Gago: Grandma
Chloe Suazo: Zoey
Credits:
Executive Producers/Writers: Bruce Helford ("The Drew Carey Show," "George Lopez"), Freddie Prinze, Jr., Bruce Rasmussen ("The Drew Carey Show")
Producer/Writer: Conrad Jackson
Executive Producer: Deborah Oppenheimer ("The Drew Carey Show," "George Lopez")
Production Companies: Warner Bros. Television, Mohawk Productions, The Firm

"Hot Properties" (half-hour comedy, Friday, 9:30 p.m., ET) -- In a Manhattan real estate office, four very different women cater to high-end clients while coping with their own personal predicaments. Married to a handsome 25-year-old, fortysomething Ava Summerlin wants to start a family, while self-improvement junkie Chloe would settle for any guy who can remember her the next day. Recently divorced, after being married ten years to a gay man, voluptuous Lola dreads jumping back into the dating pool, and the latest addition to this eclectic work group is rich girl Emerson Ives, who instantly bonds with the women upon learning that her supposedly virginal fiancé was anything but. And the ladies' office neighbors from down the hall, therapist Dr. Sellers Boyd and plastic surgeon Dr. Charlie Thorpe, help keep things lively around the water cooler.
In the tradition of "Designing Women," "Golden Girls" and "Sex and the City" comes an uninhibited comedy with real career women trying to have real relationships. One of the Emmy Award-winning producers of the mega-hit "Frasier" reveals just how exciting the world of New York real estate can be.
Cast:
Audra Blaser: Emerson
Stephen Dunham ("Monster-in-Law"): Charlie
Evan Handler ("Sex and the City"): Sellers
Gail O'Grady ("NYPD Blue"): Ava
Nicole Sullivan ("King of Queens"): Chloe
Sofia Vergara ("Chasing Papi"): Lola
Credits:
Executive Producer/Writer: Suzanne Martin ("Frasier")
Production Company: Interbang Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television

"Invasion" (one-hour drama, Wednesday, 10:00 p.m., ET) -- For centuries man has searched the skies for signs of intelligent life… but to no avail.
What if the explanation lay in the fact that aliens were already here... already among us? And what if all of the natural disasters we’ve been experiencing of late were smokescreens designed to mask something far more ominous?
When yet another devastating hurricane threatens Florida, temporarily cutting off a small town at the edge of the Everglades, U.S. Park Ranger Russell Poole takes heroic measures to keep both the town’s citizens and his family safe. In the middle of the violent storm, his young daughter is the only one to see small lights floating towards the water, seemingly unaffected by the vicious winds. At the time he thinks nothing of her claim, but begins to suspect that something may indeed be amiss when his missing ex-wife is found naked, with no memory of what happened during the storm.
As the tiny town struggles to recover while his nemesis, the Sheriff, quarantines the entire area, Poole begins to investigate the strange goings on, unwittingly beginning a fight for the survival of the human race.
Veteran writer/producer Shaun Cassidy and celebrated director Thomas Schlamme ("The West Wing") bring you the suspenseful tale of a blended family that finds itself at the center of a conspiracy to mask an alien takeover that is happening one neighbor at a time.
Cast:
William Fichtner ("Black Hawk Down"): Sheriff Underlay
Eddie Cibrian ("Third Watch"): Russell
Kari Matchett: Mariel
Lisa Sheridan: Larkin
Tyler Labine ("That Was Then"): Dave
Alexis Dziena: Kira
Evan Peters ("The Days"): Jesse
Ariel Gade: Rose
Credits:
Executive Producer/Writer: Shaun Cassidy ("American Gothic")
Pilot Executive Producer/Director: Thomas Schlamme ("The West Wing")
Production Company: Warner Bros. Television, Shaun Cassidy Productions

"The Night Stalker" (one-hour drama, Thursday, 9:00 p.m., ET) -- There are things in the dark, things adults deny but children are right to fear…
When a pregnant woman is snatched from her home, the shocked citizens of L.A. believe it’s an act of domestic violence. But crime reporter Carl Kolchak suspects that the truth is far more complicated. That’s because 18 months ago Kolchak’s wife was killed in a bizarre fashion and he has been the FBI’s no. 1 suspect ever since.
Kolchak's determination to find the truth behind his wife's mysterious murder has led him to investigate other crimes that seem to have some kind of supernatural component. But he's trying to piece together a puzzle that keeps changing shape. Who or what is committing these crimes? How are they all related? And why do some victims end up with a strange red mark on their hands in the shape of a snake? With sidekick Perri Reed, a sexy if skeptical fellow reporter in tow, Kolchak will go to any lengths to answer these questions. But when he does discover the truth – will anyone believe him?
Cast:
Stuart Townsend ("League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"): Carl Kolchak
Gabrielle Union ("Something the Lord Made"): Perri Reed
Eric Jungmann ("Not Another Teen Movie"): Jain McManus
Cotter Smith ("X2"): Tony Vincenzo
Credits:
Executive Producer/Writer: Frank Spotnitz ("The X Files")
Executive Producer/Director: Daniel Sackheim ("The X Files")
Production Company: Touchstone Television

MIDSEASON

"Crumbs" (half-hour comedy) -- Family is enough to drive anyone a little crazy. Children keep secrets from their parents so they won't upset them, dads leave for other women and moms try to run over dads with the car. Actually, that was the point that the Crumb family realized Mom was crazy.
Estranged brothers Mitch and Jody Crumb reunite in their small hometown to deal with their mother, Suzanne, who is being released from a psychiatric country club and has yet to discover that her ex-husband, Billy, is about to have a baby with his new girlfriend. They have issues… major issues. Central to everything is the dynamic between these two brothers: Mitch is the prodigal son who is returning home after a failed Hollywood career, and Jody is the older brother who has stayed in the confines of their small New England town to run the family business. Together for the first time as adults, this family will have to stick by one another despite their combustible relationships.
The creator of "Caroline in the City" mines his own WASP family for comedy that's smart, funny and surprising. The series stars Fred Savage ("The Wonder Years") and Jane Curtin (two-time Emmy Award winner for "Kate & Allie," "SNL," "3rd Rock from the Sun") and is from the producers of "Smallville" and "One Tree Hill."
Cast:
Fred Savage ("The Wonder Years"): Mitch
Eddie McClintock ("The Sweetest Thing"): Jody
Maggie Lawson ("Pleasantville"): Andrea
William Devane ("Knot’s Landing"): Billy
Jane Curtin ("SNL," "3rd Rock From the Sun"): Suzanne
Credits:
Executive Producer/Writer: Marco Pennette ("Caroline in the City")
Executive Producers: Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola -- ("Smallville," "One Tree Hill")
Production Company: Touchstone Television

"Emily’s Reasons Why Not" (half-hour comedy, Monday, 9:00 p.m., ET – after Monday Night Football) – Emily Sanders is a successful young woman with terrific taste, great friends and a fabulous job in publishing. She didn’t get to this place in life by accident. She worked hard and always followed a set of self-imposed guidelines referred to as the "Reasons." Reasons why not to take that new job offer, reasons why not to tell a vacation fling to look you up if he’s ever in Los Angeles, reasons why not to trust your crafty, back-stabbing former assistant, Glitter Cho. However, when Emily crosses professional lines and gets involved with the roguishly handsome, two-timing author of their new bestseller, there’s no denying that somewhere along the way her internal GPS system crashed. She’s got to get back on track, and once again be heedful of the trustworthy reasons that help her navigate her way through life.
Based on the bestselling novel of the same title, Heather Graham stars in this comedy about one independent woman’s adventures in life, friendship, love and their infinite possibilities…
Cast:
Heather Graham ("Scrubs," "Boogie Nights"): Emily
Nadia Dajani ("Ned and Stacey"): Reilly
Khary Payton: Josh
Smith Cho: Glitter
Credits:
Writer: Emily Kapnek ("As Told by Ginger")
Executive Producers: Gavin Polone ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Vivian Cannon ("Thief"), Robin Schiff ("The Bad Girls Guide")
Production Companies: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Pariah

"The Evidence" (one-hour drama) -- People lie. The evidence doesn't. It's the foundation of every conviction – with evidence, justice is possible; without evidence, guilty men walk free.
Acclaimed producer John Wells, ("ER," "The West Wing," "Third Watch") and director Gary Fleder ("Blind Justice," "Runaway Jury") put a twist on the standard police procedural. At the top of each episode, all of the clues (a locket, a phone, a severed finger) are revealed in a videotaped evidence log. The show then flashes to the day the crime was committed and invites viewers to play along with the heroes as they find each clue, determine its meaning, put the pieces of the puzzle together and figure out who done it.
No one knows the importance of evidence more than Inspector Sean Cole. After he lost his wife in a brutal murder, the only evidence the cops had was accidentally destroyed, and it ruined his faith in the system. Fortunately his partner and best friend, Bishop, is there for him, pulling him back to work, pushing him forward, as they both try to solve these complex cases set against the beautiful streets of San Francisco.
Cast:
Orlando Jones ("Mad TV," "Runaway Jury"): Cayman Bishop
Nicky Katt ("Boston Public"): Inspector Sean Cole
Martin Landau ("Ed Wood"): Dr. Sol Gold
Credits:
Executive Producers/Writers: Sam Baum, Dustin Thomason
Executive Producer/Director: Gary Fleder ("The Shield," "Runaway Jury")
Production Company: John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television

"In Justice" (one-hour drama) -- There are a lot of procedurals on the air that focus on putting people in jail. This is a show about getting them out.
very year, hundreds of innocent men and women get convicted of crimes they didn't commit. Sloppy police work. False testimony. Biased juries. In the blink of an eye an innocent man can lose his life to the mistakes of an imperfect system. And every year the number of innocents who live without hope behind bars multiplies, while the real criminals walk free.
The innocent have finally found a champion in a blustery but charismatic attorney named David Swayne. A legendary litigator, Swayne is the head of the Justice Project, a high-profile, non-profit organization made up of hungry young associates who fight to overturn wrongful convictions, liberate the falsely accused and discover the identity of those really to blame. Whether the ego-driven Swayne is doing this in the pursuit of justice or publicity remains to be seen. Thank goodness he has his partner, crackerjack investigator and ex-cop Charles Conti, to keep him honest. He's the serious to Swayne's swagger, and together they work to rectify the mistakes of the justice system one case at a time.
Using real life stories as inspiration, the producers of "life as we know it" have created a legal drama reminiscent of "Reversal of Fortune," in which clients who are presumed guilty must ultimately be proven innocent.
Cast:
Jason O'Mara ("The Agency"): Charles Conti
Kyle MacLachlan ("Twin Peaks," "Sex and the City"): David Swayne
Constance Zimmer ("Good Morning, Miami"): Brianna
Daniel Cosgrove ("Beverly Hills, 90210"): Jon
Larissa Gomes: Tina
Credits:
Executive Producers/Writers: Robert King and Michelle King
Executive Producer: Stu Bloomberg ("life as we know it")
Production Company: Touchstone Television

"The Miracle Workers" (one-hour alternative series) -- "The Miracle Workers" are an elite team of physicians who embrace revolutionary medical treatments many never knew existed. Each week, the show will focus on a single patient with a serious medical condition and follow as this dream team of medical professionals changes his or her life forever through treatment. The team will utilize their extraordinary expertise in cutting edge medical technology to restore not only the health but also the hope of the patient. Each episode will feature some of the world's most renowned medical experts performing breakthrough procedures to heal those who need it most, making possible what was previously thought impossible. For individuals who otherwise would never have access to elite medical specialists or the ability to afford costly procedures, "The Miracle Workers" will make possible what was previously thought impossible.
Credits:
Executive Producers: Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, co-heads of DreamWorks Television; David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe from Renegade 83 Entertainment
Co-Executive Producer: Bill Guttentag
Production Companies: Dreamworks Television and Renegade 83 Entertainment

"Sons & Daughters" (half-hour comedy) -- Family is always unpredictable, so why write a family comedy when you can live dangerously and improvise instead? Like real families, you never know what will happen when you give characters total freedom.
Adult siblings Cameron, Sharon and Jenna have many years of shared history in this small town. Like every other family on the planet, their history includes many mistakes. This is proven by the multiple marriages and many children in their close extended clan. Sharon has postponed her mid-life crisis for the sake of her kids, but her sexless marriage, slacker son and nosey daughter don't make things easy for her. Jenna, the youngest, wanted to be a singer, but instead is a single mom who still lives at home. Luckily her parents love babysitting their grandson. Middle child Cameron, despite having kids from two marriages and a difficult relationship with his oldest son, Henry, is the glue that holds the family together. With all the messy interpersonal relationships, rivalries and religious differences, everyone needs someone to be the family's designated driver.
Leading this three-ring family circus is executive producer Lorne Michaels, the comedy veteran behind the long-running "Saturday Night Live."
Cast:
Fred Goss ("Significant Others"): Cameron Walker
Gillian Vigman ("Mad TV"): Liz Walker
Alison Quinn: Sharon Fenton
Jerry Lambert: Don Fenton
Desmond Harrington ("Taken"): Wylie Blake
Corri English: Jenna Halbert
Dee Wallace ("ET, the Extra Terrestrial"): Colleen Halbert
Lois Hall: Aunt Rae
Noah Applebaum: Ezra Walker
Alexandra Gold Jourden: Marni Walker
Trevor Einhorn ("BASEketball"): Henry
Eden Sher: Kerry
Greg Pitts: Tommy White
Max Gail ("Barney Miller"): Wendal Halbert
Credits:
Executive Producers/Writers: Fred Goss, Nick Holly
Executive Producer: Joanne Alfano, Lorne Michaels ("Saturday Night Live")
Production Companies: Broadway Video in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Director: Fred Goss

"What About Brian" (one-hour drama, Monday, 10:00 p.m., ET – after Monday Night Football) -- Brian is the guy everyone wants as a best friend. He's the guy who'll stand by you at your wedding, drive you to the hospital, cheer your kids on at their little league game... the guy whom every wife dotes on and every husband wants to either grab a beer with or live vicariously through. But as all of his friends pair off and Brian emerges as the last bachelor standing, questions begin to arise in his head: Is there such a thing as Mr. or Mrs. Right? Why does love have to be so complicated? What is his problem with commitment? And the most pressing question of all -- could all of his problems stem from the fact that he is harboring a crush on his best friend’s girl?
At 34, Brian is the last single guy in his group of friends: his best friend, Adam, was going to break up with picture-perfect Marjorie, but proposed instead. Brian's sister, Nic, and her boy-toy husband, Angelo, are trying hard to have kids. The bohemian Dave and Deena have three little girls and no sex life. And, like all married people, they can't wait for Brian to join their "club," though they're not exactly sure why. As for Brian, well, he's a serial monogamist but still holds out hope that one day he'll open the door and be blinded by love.
"What About Brian" is from the producers of "Lost" and "Alias" and the screenwriter of "City of Angels" and "For Love of the Game."
Cast:
Barry Watson ("7th Heaven"): Brian
Matthew Davis ("Legally Blonde"): Adam
Polly Shannon ("Street Time"): Marjorie
Rick Gomez ("Band of Brothers"): Dave
Amanda Detmer ("Kiss the Bride"): Deena
Raoul Bova ("Under the Tuscan Sun"): Angelo
Rosanna Arquette ("Pulp Fiction"): Nic

Credits:
Executive Producer/Writer: Dana Stevens ("City of Angels")
Executive Producers: J.J. Abrams, Thom Sherman, Bryan Burk ("Alias," "Lost")
Executive Producers/Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo ("Arrested Development")
Production Company: Touchstone Television, Bad Robot

The WB

2005-05-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

THE WB's 2005-2006 PRIMETIME PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (All times ET)

Sunday
5:00-5:30 p.m. Easy View presentation of “What I Like About You”
5:30-6:00 p.m. Easy View presentation of “What I Like About You”
6:00-7:00 p.m. Easy View presentation of “One Tree Hill”
7:00-7:30 p.m. “Reba” (encore presentation)
7:30-8:00 p.m. “Reba” (encore presentation)
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Charmed”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Blue Collar TV”

Monday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “7th Heaven”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “JUST LEGAL”

Tuesday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Gilmore Girls”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “SUPERNATURAL”

Wednesday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “One Tree Hill”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “RELATED”

Thursday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Smallville”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Everwood”

Friday
8:00-8:30 p.m. ‘What I Like About You”
8:30-9:00 p.m. ‘TWINS”
9:00-9:30 p.m. ‘Reba”
9:30-10:00 p.m. ‘Living With Fran”

CAPS AND BOLD DENOTE NEW SERIES Italics denote returning show with a new day and/or time period

Monday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “7TH HEAVEN"Returning for its record-breaking tenth season on The WB, the series stars Stephen Collins, Catherine Hicks, David Gallagher, Beverley Mitchell, Nikolas & Lorenzo Brino, George Stults and Tyler Hoechlin. Brenda Hampton, Aaron Spelling and E. Duke Vincent serve as executive producers on the series produced by Spelling Television, Inc.

9:00-10:00 p.m. “JUST LEGAL"
“Just Legal” is a fast-paced procedural drama with humor starring Jay Baruchel (‘Undeclared," ‘Million Dollar Baby”) and Don Johnson (“Miami Vice, ” “Nash Bridges”) as lawyers who save their clients, and in the process, save themselves. David “Skip” Ross (Baruchel), 19, a brilliant legal prodigy, dreams of becoming a great trial lawyer. When he can't land a job at a prestigious L.A. firm because he's too young, Skip ends up working for Grant Cooper (Johnson). Once a great lawyer, now burnt-out by the realities of life, Cooper is barely scraping by in his beachfront law office. Together, Skip and Cooper become defenders of the accused and crusaders for the unjustly wronged. Their cases vary from stories ripped from today's headlines to clever mysteries with procedural twists. Skip's middle-class parents, Deborah (Veanne Cox, “Erin Brockovich”) and Lenny Ross (Raphael Sbarge, “The Guardian”), and his under-achieving younger brother Tom (newcomer Michael Mitchell), are all extremely proud of Skip's accomplishments, but are also concerned for his well-being, especially when his first case involves proving the innocence of a young woman named Paradise (Peyton List, “The Greatest Game Ever Played”) who has been falsely accused of a gang-related murder. Always the underdogs, forced to do the gritty work of finding clues and tracking down witnesses in the beautiful, but often dangerous world of Southern California, Cooper teaches Skip to be a lawyer and a man, while Skip renews Cooper's faith in the law and himself. Jerry Bruckheimer (“CSI, ” “Cold Case, ” “Without a Trace”), Jonathan Littman (“CSI, ” “Cold Case, ” “Without a Trace”) and Jonathan Shapiro (“The Practice, ” “Boston Legal”) are executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

Tuesday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “GILMORE GIRLS”
Returning for its sixth season on The WB, the series stars Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Melissa McCarthy, Scott Patterson, Keiko Agena, Yanic Truesdale, Liza Weil, Sean Gunn, Kelly Bishop and Edward Herrmann. Amy Sherman-Palladino, Daniel Palladino and Gavin Polone serve as executive producers on the series produced by Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Hofflund/Polone in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.
9:00-10:00 p.m. “SUPERNATURAL”The WB has a long tradition of interweaving character dramas and the world of the supernatural. It began with “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and continues with hits like “Smallville” and “Charmed. ” This fall, The WB will take viewers on a completely new kind of thrill ride; a journey into the dark world of the unexplained that will deliver the terror of films like “The Ring” and “The Grudge. ” Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki, “Gilmore Girls”) has done his best to escape his family's eerie history, but, along with his older brother Dean (Jensen Ackles, “Smallville”), Sam is bound by tragedy and blood to a dangerous, other-worldly mission. Criss-crossing the mysterious back roads of the country in their `67 Chevy Impala, the Winchester brothers search for their missing father – and hunt down every evil supernatural force they encounter along the way. From Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers McG (“Charlie's Angels” “The O.C. ”), writer/executive producer Eric Kripke (‘Boogeyman") and director/executive producer David Nutter (“Without a Trace, ” “Smallville, ” “Roswell, ” “Band of Brothers, ” “The West Wing, ” “ER, ” “The X Files”).

Wednesday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “ONE TREE HILL”
Returning for its third season on The WB, the series stars Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz, Paul Johansson, Sophia Bush, Barbara Alyn Woods, Barry Corbin, Craig Sheffer and Moira Kelly. Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and Mark Schwahn serve as executive producers on the series produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

8:00-9:00 p.m. “RELATED”
The four Sorelli sisters are a bundle of contradictions. These quirky young women are best friends one minute and bitter enemies the next. They confide in one another, yet manage to keep a lot of secrets. They worry about each other, give advice and push each other's buttons. First-born sister Ann (casting TBD) is a 33-year-old legal aid lawyer and the nurturing mother hen of the group. Ann works out of a run-down office, helping people who have no voice, while her closest sibling, Ginnie (Jennifer Esposito, “Crash” “Spin City”), also an attorney, spends her days in a high-powered law firm working for huge corporations. While Ann worries about her long-time relationship with chef and restaurant-owner Danny (Jon Hamm, “The Division” “Kissing Jessica Stein”), Ginnie is trying to figure out how to tell her husband Bob (Callum Blue, “Dead Like Me” “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement”), her bosses and her family that she is pregnant. Next in line is 23-year-old Marjee (Lizzy Caplan, “Mean Girls”), a special events coordinator who stresses out over her demanding celebrity clients while secretly yearning for respect and approval from her older sisters. The youngest sister, Rose (Laura Breckenridge, “Boston Public”), is a 19-year-old college student who just switched her major from pre-med to experimental theater and is afraid to deliver this news to her over-achieving family. A comedic ensemble drama, “Related” is a poignant reminder that family is what life is all about. From Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. and Class IV Productions with executive producers Marta Kauffman (“Friends”), Steve Pearlman, Andrew Plotkin, director/executive producer Mimi Leder (“ER, ” “Pay It Forward”) and writer/co-executive producer Liz Tuccillo (“Sex and the City” and the best-selling book, “He's Just Not That Into You”).

Thursday
8:00-9:00 p.m. “SMALLVILLE”
Returning for its fifth season on The WB, the series stars Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Allison Mack, John Glover, Annette O'Toole and John Schneider. Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Greg Beeman, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and Ken Horton serve as executive producers on the series produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

9:00-10:00 p.m. “EVERWOOD”
Returning for its fourth season on The WB, the series stars Treat Williams, Gregory Smith, Emily VanCamp, Debra Mooney, John Beasley, Vivien Cardone, Chris Pratt, Stephanie Niznik, Merrilyn Gann, Scott Wolf, Sarah Drew and Tom Amandes. Greg Berlanti, Mickey Liddell and Rina Mimoun serve as executive producers on the series produced by Berlanti/Liddell Productions, Everwood Utah, Inc. in association with and distributed by Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

Friday
8:00-8:30 p.m. “WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU”
Returning for its fourth season on The WB, the series stars Amanda Bynes, Jennie Garth, Wesley Jonathan, Nick Zano, Leslie Grossman and Allison Munn for Tollin/Robbins Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

8:30-9:00 p.m. “TWINS”
Having explored the hilarious complexities of sexuality with the wildly successful “Will & Grace,” Emmy Award-winning producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick bring their unique take on contemporary relationships to The WB. This time, they're targeting societal stereotypes and perceptions of brains vs. beauty with a bitingly funny comedy about twin sisters. Mitchee (Sara Gilbert, “Roseanne”) has the intelligence and the determination of a successful businesswoman. Her twin sister Farrah (Molly Stanton, “Passions”) is a stunningly perfect lingerie model. Mitchee and Farrah are about to inherit their parents' undergarment business, which gained world-renown for form-fitting inventions that make every woman look and feel like a goddess. These anything-but-identical twins are true reflections of their parents. Mitchee takes after their father, Alan (Mark Linn-Baker, “Perfect Strangers”), a brilliant designer who built the company up from nothing, while Farrah is the image of their mother, Lee (Melanie Griffith, “Working Girl”), a beautiful former lingerie model who is not a deep thinker. There are loyal staff members, especially the flamboyant Neil (Chris Fitzgerald, “Personal Velocity”) and hot new marketing exec, Jordan (Steve Braun, “True Calling, ” “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”), but with Mitchee and Farrah in charge, this business – and this family – are going to need a lot of, um, support. From KoMut Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. with executive producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick (“Will & Grace, ” “Boston Common”).

9:00-9:30 p.m. “REBA”
Returning for its fifth season on The WB, the series stars Reba McEntire, Christopher Rich, Melissa Peterman, JoAnna Garcia, Steve Howey, Scarlett Pomers and Mitch Holleman. Kevin Abbott, Mindy Schultheis, Michael Hanel and Matt Berry serve as executive producers. Chris Case, Pat Bullard, Reba McEntire, Patti Carr & Lara Runnells and Don Beck are co-executive producers on the series produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Acme Productions.
9:30-10:00 p.m. “LIVING WITH FRAN” Returning for its second season on The WB, the series stars Fran Drescher, Ben Feldman, Ryan McPartlin and Misti Traya. Robert Myer, Jamie Kennedy, David Garrett & Jason Ward and Fran Drescher serve as executive producers on the series produced by Regency Television.
Sunday

8:00-9:00 p.m. “CHARMED”
Returning for its eighth season on The WB, the series stars Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs, along with Brian Krause and Dorian Gregory. Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent and Brad Kern serve as executive producers on the series produced by Spelling Television, Inc.

9:00-10:00 p.m. “BLUE COLLAR TV”
Returning for its second season on The WB, the series stars Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy, Brooke Dillman, Ashley Drane, Ayda Field, Heath Hyche, Peter Oldring and Gary Anthony Williams. Fax Bahr, Adam Small, Jeff Foxworthy, J.P. Williams, Garry Campbell and Brian Hartt serve as executive producers on the series from Bahr/Small Productions and Parallel Entertainment in association with Riverside Productions, Inc., distributed by Warner Bros. Television.

MIDSEASON SERIES
“PEPPER DENNIS”
Feature film star and supermodel Rebecca Romijn (“X-Men, ” ‘Just Shoot Me”) stars as Pepper Dennis, a beautiful and ambitious reporter with her sights set on anchoring Chicago's top-rated evening news broadcast. Pepper's career is her top priority, but she does have close friends, especially the station's makeup artist Kimmy (Lindsay Price, “Beverly Hills, 90210”) and cameraman Chick (Rider Strong, “Boy Meets World”), who has a secret crush on Pepper. Complicating Pepper's daily life is the fact that her spoiled, needy and recently separated sister Kathy (Brooke Burns, “North Shore," ”‘Baywatch”) has moved in with her. Worst of all, the hot guy Pepper woke up with this morning, Charlie Bishop (Josh Hopkins, “The Perfect Storm, ” “Ally McBeal”), just showed up in the newsroom, grabbed her dream job and is now practically her boss. She's trying to despise him, but Charlie is smart, handsome, funny, available and interested. Office romances can be so complicated. From 20th Century Fox Television and writers/executive producers Gretchen J. Berg & Aaron Harberts (“Wonderfalls, ” “Roswell, ” “Beverly Hills, 90210”) and director/executive producer Shawn Levy (“The Pink Panther, ” “Cheaper by the Dozen, ” “Big Fat Liar”).

“THE BEDFORD DIARIES”
“The Bedford Diaries” explores contemporary New York City-based college life through the unique prism of a provocative Human Behavior and Sexuality class. Controversial and charismatic Professor Macklin (Emmy Award-nominated Matthew Modine, “And the Band Played On, “ “Any Given Sunday”) will challenge and inspire the show's youthful ensemble of students as they explore their identities, relationships and sexuality in the most exciting city in the world. Among the students is the smart and attractive Sarah (Tiffany Dupont, “Cheaper by the Dozen”). Sarah has everything going for her until her brother Owen (Penn Badgely, “The Mountain”) walks into class. It's one thing to share in class, but Sarah hadn't planned on discussing her sexuality in front of a sibling. Owen's new class partner is Natalie, “The Jumper” (Corri English, “The Dale Earnhardt Story”). Two years ago, Natalie had a change of heart mid-dive off the roof of the Student Union. Now physically recovered, she has to face the gossip mill and her ex, Richard (Milo Ventimiglia, “Gilmore Girls, ” “American Dreams”). The quintessential Park Avenue bad boy up until the moment his girlfriend jumped, Richard is now a semi-changed man – sober, attending class and editor-in-chief of The Bedford Bugle. In stark contrast is the working-class Lee (Ernest Waddell, “As the World Turns”), who has a noble heart, an artistic soul, a serious girlfriend and a fascination with Zoe (Victoria Cartagena, ‘Baby Fat”). Zoe talks a fast, flirty and kinky game, but despite her brash veneer, she's still a virgin. Also starring Audra McDonald (‘Wit, ” ‘Law & Order”) and Peter Gerety (“The Legend of Bagger Vance”). From HBO Independent Productions, Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. and The Levinson/Fontana Co. with executive producers Tom Fontana (“Oz, ” “Homicide: Life on The Street”), Jim Finnerty (“The Jury," “Oz") and Julie Martin (“Homicide: Life on the Street”), along with executive producer Barry Levinson (“Rain Man, ” “Diner”).

"MISCONCEPTIONS"
Amanda Watson (Jane Leeves, “Frasier”) was more than a little shocked to find out that all her teenage daughter Hopper (Taylor Momsen, “Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams”) wanted for her birthday was to meet her biological father. After all, Hopper has always heard that her dad is well-bred, handsome, athletic, well-educated and a successful doctor. The only problem is Amanda never actually met him, she only knows him from the profile she was given at the Ivy League sperm bank. After discussing the situation with Horace (French Stewart, “3rd Rock From the Sun”), her best friend and co-worker at an art museum in Chicago, Amanda decides it's time to track down the father of her child and is mortified to discover that her supposedly ideal donor was not the Olympic medalist, Yale-educated surgeon that she has imagined all these years. Meet Eddie Caprio (Adam Rothenberg, “Coyote Beach"), a man who needed a little cash after junior college and lied about his identity. Eddie has a certain undeniable charm, yet he's too scattered and immature for Amanda's taste. He can't hold a job, he prefers beer to fine wine, and his idea of dressing up is wearing a clean baseball cap. In Amanda's eyes, Eddie is barely capable of taking care of himself, let alone Hopper. However, when Eddie tracks her down, Hopper falls head-over-heels for her fun-loving dad, and Amanda is forced to allow him to be part of their lives. Could Eddie's appeal be getting through to Amanda, too? Apparently, they're going to have plenty of time to find out. From Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television with executive producers Brian Grazer (“Arrested Development," “24, “A Beautiful Mind"), David Nevins (“Arrested Development," “24," “Miss Match"), Jeff Kleeman (“Titanic," “Golden Eye," “Sleepy Hollow") and Michael Saltzman (“The Pink Panther," “The Naked Truth," “Murphy Brown," “Wings").

‘MODERN MEN”
Tim (Josh Braaten, “Less Than Perfect"), Kyle (Max Greenfield, “Veronica Mars") and Doug (Eric Lively, “The L Word") are childhood friends who are at different stages in their lives when it comes to women. Doug can't move on from his ex-wife, Kyle is a womanizing bachelor, and Tim's relationships keep falling apart due to...well, he doesn't actually know. Tim's sister Tina (Marla Sokoloff, “Desperate Housewives," “The Practice"), a confident young law student, tries to make him understand that today's career-minded, self-sufficient women don't need a man for support, they're looking for a deeper and more meaningful connection. Though their situations are different, each of these guys has come to the same realization -- it takes a lot more than they expected to keep a woman happy and satisfied. After getting no help from Tim's dad Tug (George Wendt, “Cheers"), who's stuck in the Stone Age when it comes to the opposite sex, Tim, Kyle and Doug are just desperate enough to seek the help of Dr. Stangl (guest star Wendie Malick, “Frasier," “Just Shoot Me"), a renowned life coach. Now the question is whether these guys are capable of taking Dr. Stangl's advice and applying it to their every day situations. This fresh, male perspective on modern relationships is from Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer “CSI," “Cold Case," ‘Without a Trace"). Joining Bruckheimer are executive producers Jonathan Littman (“Without A Trace," the “CSI" and “The Amazing Race" franchises) and Marsh McCall (“Just Shoot Me," “The Naked Truth"), along with co-executive producers Ross McCall and Aaron Peters (“Just Shoot Me," “The Simple Life"). From Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

NBC

2005-05-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. "FATHOM"
9-10 p.m. "Las Vegas
10-11 p.m. "Medium"

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. "The Biggest Loser"
9-9:30 p.m. "MY NAME IS EARL"
9:30-10 p.m. "The Office"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "THE APPRENTICE: MARTHA STEWART"
9-10 p.m. "E-RING"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order"

THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. "Joey"
8:30-9 p.m. "Will & Grace"
9-10 p.m. "The Apprentice"
10-11 p.m. "ER"

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "THREE WISHES"
9-10 p.m. "Dateline NBC" (new time period)
10-11 p.m. "INCONCEIVABLE"

SATURDAY
8-11 p.m. "NBC SATURDAY NIGHT MOVIE"

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
8-9 p.m. "The West Wing" (new day and time)
9-10 p.m. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
10-11 p.m. "Crossing Jordan"

2005-06 NEW SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
New Comedies
"MY NAME IS EARL" --Earl (Jason Lee, "Almost Famous," "Chasing Amy") has taken one too many wrong turns on the highway of life. A bully and a low-rent crook, Earl wins a lottery and after an epiphany, he is determined to turn his good fortune into a life-changing event as he sets out to right all the wrongs from his past. Despite his seemingly limited intelligence, he is oddly effective -- and ultimately, the comedy series, like Earl himself, has a voice and style all its own. Written and executive-produced by Greg Garcia ("Yes, Dear"), "Earl" also stars Jamie Pressly ("Not Another Teen Movie") as Earl's wife Joy, Ethan Suplee ("Cold Mountain") as his hapless brother, and Nadine Velazquez ("The Bold and the Beautiful") as a hotel maid whom the brothers befriend. "My Name Is Earl" is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television.
Additional Comedies

"FOUR KINGS"-- Emmy Award winners David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, creators of the award-winning comedy "Will & Grace," present "Four Kings," an exploration of four lifelong friends on the cusp of adulthood: Barry (Seth Green, the "Austin Powers" franchise, "The Italian Job"), Bobby (Shane McRae, "One Life to Live"), Ben (Josh Cooke, "Committed") and Jason (Todd Grinnell, "The Dangling Conversation") couldn't imagine life without one another. Since childhood, these bosom buddies haven't spent so much as a birthday apart, but when Ben's grandmother, who dubbed them the "Four Kings of New York," passes away, Ben inherits her apartment and decides to share it with his lifelong friends. But despite the comfort of their posh new surroundings and efforts to cling to their youth, adulthood begins drawing these Four Kings knee-deep into situations that aren't always easy to escape in this honest exploration of life-term friendship. "Four Kings" is produced by KoMut Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television. David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are the creators and executive producers. James Burrows ("Will & Grace," "Friends") directed the pilot.

"THICK AND THIN" -- From multi Emmy-Award winning producer Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video Television comes this half-hour comedy about Mary (Jessica Capshaw, "The Practice"), a formerly fat woman who embarks on a new journey as a fit and newly single woman. That's easier said than done, however, when Mary's family and friends still see her as her former self. They include her overweight mother (multiple Emmy winner Sharon Gless, "Cagney and Lacey"), her overweight younger sister (newcomer Amy Halloran), her father (Martin Mull, "Roseanne"), and her weight-loss program buddy (Mel Rodriguez, "Panic Room"). But it is at the pool-and-spa company franchise she owns in suburban Florida that she finds her most unlikely confidant, her brother-in-law (Chris Parnell, NBC's "Saturday Night Live"), the company's "leotard-ed" spokesperson named "Captain Chlorine." When a cringe-worthy misstep lands her in bed with her ex, she realizes that getting thin was less about pleasing others -- and more about being comfortable in her own skin. Emmy Award winner Paula Pell ("Saturday Night Live") is the series' creator and writer of the pilot. The executive producers are Lorne Michaels (NBC's "Saturday Night Live") and JoAnn Alfano ("The Tracy Morgan Show"). Gail Mancuso ("Roseanne") directed the pilot. "Thick and Thin" is from by Broadway Video Television in association with NBC Universal Television Studio.

New Dramas
"E-RING" -- Executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("CSI" franchise), Oscar-nominated director/producer Taylor Hackford ("Ray") and stars Benjamin Bratt ("Traffic," "Law & Order") and Dennis Hopper ("Easy Rider," "Speed") join forces in this pulsating drama set inside the nation's ultimate fortress: the Pentagon. It's a hub of highly explosive conflicts between American military heroes and the civilians to whom they report -- a world where crises can escalate into life-and-death climaxes, for individuals or entire nations. Viewers witness critical decisions by intelligence officers in the war room and the execution of these decisions by covert special ops on the battlefield. The number-one mission is survival of the state - an often-delicate balance between protecting the homeland and protecting either all of mankind or the life of a lone soldier. Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television produces "E-Ring." Thirty-time Emmy nominee Bruckheimer serves as executive producer along with Jonathan Littman ("The Amazing Race," "CSI: NY") and David McKenna ("S.W.A.T.," "Blow"). McKenna also wrote the pilot, which was directed by Hackford.

"FATHOM" -- Ever wonder what life would be like if a new form of sea life began to appear in locales all over the earth? In this expansive drama, those who are about to find out include some naval officers in the South Antarctic Sea, a family in San Diego, scientists from the Oceanographic Institute in Monterey, and fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico. The seemingly innocent creatures they find are beautiful and kids may even want to play with them -- but is there something more to them? One thing's for sure - they're full of surprises as viewers can embark on this unfathomable journey to discover what might be lurking in the sea. Lake Bell ("Boston Legal") stars as Daughtery Carstarphen, along with Jay R. Ferguson ("Judging Amy") as Richard Owen, Rade Serbedzija ("Snatch") as Dr. Aleksander Cirko, and Carter Jenkins ("CSI: NY") as Miles. "Fathom" is from NBC Universal Television Studio and was created by Josh and Jonas Pate ("Dragnet"), who also serve as executive producers.

"INCONCEIVABLE" -- Come inside the world of the doctors of the Family Options Fertility Clinic in this ensemble drama, where one of the most complicated questions is to conceive -- or not to conceive. Assuredly, theirs is a noble quest as they help desperate couples give birth; however, clinic co-founders Dr. Malcolm Bower (Jonathan Cake, "Fallen") and Rachael Lew (Ming-Na, NBC's Emmy-winning "ER") and their staff, including psychologist Lydia Crawford (guest-starring Alfre Woodard, "Beauty Shop"), Nurse Patrice (Joelle Carter, "American Pie 2"), office manager Marrissa (Mary Catherine Garrison, "How to Deal") and attorney Scott (David Norona, "Mr. Sterling") are not above their own occasional adventures involving sex, deception and secrets. As viewers navigate through the ultrasound and super-egos, the missing frozen embryos and impending malpractice suits, it's positively clear that life inside this clinic is anything but sterile. "Inconceivable" is a Tollin-Robbins production in association with Touchstone Television. Mike Tollin ("Smallville"), Brian Robbins ("Smallville"), Joe Davola ("Smallville"), Oliver Goldstick ("Desperate Housewives") and Marco Pennette ("What I Like About You") serve as executive producers.

New Unscripted Series
"THE APPRENTICE: MARTHA STEWART" -- "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" will retain the general format of the original alternative series, including weekly eliminations; however, the style and feel of this new show will be tailored to Martha Stewart's personality and brand identity. The tasks will be centered around Stewart's areas of expertise: media, home renovation, entertaining, design, merchandising, technology and style. Stewart will bring her own sensibilities and creativity to the elimination process which will feature two of her most trusted colleagues who help her make the decision each week. Mark Burnett is creator and executive producer of "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart." Donald J. Trump and Jay Bienstock are also executive producers. Conrad Riggs and Kevin Harris are co-executive producers.

"THREE WISHES" -- Five-time Grammy-winning recording artist Amy Grant ("Rock of Ages...Hymns & Faith") stars in this hour-long, unscripted series in which she leads a team of experts to a small town to "grant" wishes to help make the hopes and unbelievable dreams of deserving people come true. Viewers will follow some of the town folks' deeply personal and heartwarming stories as Grant and her team transform these hopes into a life-changing reality. The full spectrum of wishes ranges from paying tribute to an unsung hero to helping a despairing family in the grip of a loved one's life-threatening medical crisis. Additional "wish" examples include: tearful reunions with long-lost relatives; living out a mind-blowing sports fantasy, and helping to save a dedicated teacher's job. Carpenter Carter Oosterhouse ("Trading Spaces"), contractor Eric Stromer ("Clean Sweep") and architect Amanda Miller ("Knock First") comprise Grant's team of experts. Andrew Glassman (NBC's "Average Joe 1-4") and Jason Raff (NBC's "Average Joe 1-4") are the executive producers, and Tony Croll (NBC's "Average Joe") is the director of this pilot from Glassman Media and NBC Universal Television Studio.

Big week on the small screen

2005-05-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

Monday begins what's known in the TV world as the "upfronts," when the networks announce their new fall programming and schedules in New York.

The term upfront is used because it's when the advertisers pay money "up front" in the spring, for shows that they plan on advertising on. And the network often gives them better rates now before they hit the air.

It's a bit of a gamble -- for both the advertiser and network. For example, if General Motors wants to advertise on a new ABC show at a rate of $50,000 for a one-minute spot, they can do that ... but the catch is nobody knows if that show will be a hit. They could be getting a bargain if the show turns into "Desperate Housewives" and any unclaimed commercial time goes for $200,000 in October, after the show has premiered.

On the other hand, if the show becomes "Threat Matrix" -- what, you don't remember that one? -- and nobody's watching, then you might've been better off waiting til the fall to see how the show performs ratings-wise.

So what will be this season's "Desperate Housewives" and which will be "Threat Matrix"? As the lineups are announced, I'll share what I think may be ones to keep an eye on and will give a more thorough report and after watching the pilots during the summer.

And the winner is....

2005-05-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

Going to see "Cinderella Man" tonight and I'll go out on a limb now and say, without even seeing the movie, Paul Giamatti will win the Oscar for best supporting actor. He's been passed over two years in a row -- "American Splendor" and "Sideways" -- and the Academy is just itching to give him his due.

With the Acad's love for boxing movies and underdog stories, mark your ballot now.

Party at the Pantages

2005-05-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

It would be hard to imagine how an acoustic show could have so much energy, but that was the case last night when Bruce tore the roof off the Pantages. Two and a half hours of lyrical genius.

11 of the 12 Devils and Dust songs were played, as were a few gems that Bruce fans get tingly all over about, specifically "Incident on 57th Street," from one of his early albums. Bruce played it from the piano, which is always reason to get excited.

The album continues to amaze me. Lyrically, it would be in his top 3. Since many of the songs are stripped down -- and offer a country twinge, which I happen to like -- it may not be as universally popular others among the Bruce community, but if they dismiss it cuz there's no E Street Band accompaniment, I think they're making a big mistake.

Today is actually a sad day. After seeing a 100-something live Springsteen shows — from San Diego to San Francisco, from New Jersey to Worcester, and a few places in between — today marks the first time since 1984 that Bruce has played in L.A. and I haven't been there as he offers up night No. 2 at the Pantages.

I could hang out in front of the Pantages and hope for the miracle ticket — as my friends Dave and Robert landed last night by some good fortune — but I'll head home and relish last night's show. All good things must come to an end.

Bruuuuuuuuuce

2005-05-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'm heading to the Pantages tonight to see Springsteen's show, in support of his last disc, "Devils and Dust." I'll give a full review of both the concert and CD in my next post.

Bad b.o.

2005-04-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

Taking a look at the current top 10 box office leaders reminds me how it's possible for a bad movies to make a lot of money.

The Amityville Horror is No. 1 while Sahara is No. 2. Nuff said there. At No. 3 is Fever Pitch, which I liked a lot. No. 4 is Sin City, which got pretty favorable reviews. After that, though, it's Guess Who, Beauty Shop, soon followed by Miss Congeniality and The Pacifier.

OK, I get that there can't be a Million Dollar Baby or Aviator released every weekend and studios make movies to make money and couldn't really care about quality as long as their pics turn a profit, but it can be awfullly depressing to see bad movies make lots of money only because it perpetuates the belief that consumers will go see anything if it's marketed enough.

A good friend of mine calls me a movie snob, in a playful way, because I refuse to see films that are nothing more than attempts to milk $10 out of the movie fan. Maybe if moviegoers were more discriminating we'd get higher-quality films, but I know that's just a fantasy.

Cirque-le of life

2005-04-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

I was in Vegas earlier this week for some work meetings and caught the latest Cirque du Soleil show, "Ka," at the newly redone MGM Grand. Goodbye Dorothy, hello poker room!

Now having seen three Cirque shows -- "Mystere," "O" and "Ka" — it's fair to see that all three are very different from each other. "Ka" is very much about the incredible set design and production design. There's a huge stage that not only rotates but becomes completely vertical at one point in the show and the performers climb from the bottom to the top.

"Ka" is also more linear in its storytelling than the other two as well. If I was to suggest to first-time Cirque-goer which production to see of the four currently playing on the Strip (there's also "Zumanity" at New York-New York, which has received mixed reviews and in 2006 there will be another Cirque show opening that's based on the music of the Beatles), I'd recommend "Mystere" because it showcases the incredible acrobatic skills of its performers better than the others. You'll definitely be wowed.

That being said, the Cirque shows are not cheap. Top seats go from anywhere between $100-$150 depending on which show you see, so while it might be an event that comes with a high price tag, it's worth saving up for.

Idol chatter

2005-04-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

I took Zoe to the "American Idol" taping on Tuesday and we had a ball.

We waited outside for about an hour. Sitting nearby was Scott Savol's parents, the Bo Bice chicks and someone with a "Kiss Me Constantine" sign. There were only a couple hundred of us hanging out til the doors opened and I kept thinking that it's hard to imagine that the show so few of us would be seeing in a small soundstage in the back of the CBS lot would soon be seen by 21 million people around the country. Or, as I like to say, the number of drivers on the Santa Monica Freeway at any given time.

The studio is smaller than what it seems on TV — isn't that always the case — and we got our seats at about 4:15. At about 4:40, the warmup host comes out and jazzes up the crowd. Pandemonium soon erupts when Simon, Paula and Randy and introduced and run out from behind the bleachers to their seats.

We're told by the exec producer to give a standing ovation to everyone, as to not make anyone feel bad and that we should be very silent when the show first opens and then burst into spontaneous applauase after Ryan makes his opening remarks.

Overall, the music sounds better in person than on TV. With a bunch of really loud speakers and a live band, most of the performances are impressive, though I think Scott was pretty bad and Zoe's favorite, Carrie, seemed to have a hard time hitting the high notes from "Love Is a Battlefield."

During commercials, the judges banter a little with the audience or go to their dressing room. The contestants are always backstage until they come out to give their performances. I can't imagine how nervous they must be but they seem like cool customers when they get out on stage.

I've never watched the series before but now Zoe has me hooked. Before yesterday I would've have predicted a Bo-Carrie final but now Constantine, who rocked the house with "Bohemian Rhapsody," is looking like he may be the one to beat.

So I saved $10 on Sunday

2005-04-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

Every year I bet $10 on one or two players to win the Masters but for several reasons — one of which was just being too lazy - I didn't this year. And I always bet on Chris DiMarco, who plays extraordinarily well there. DiMarco went off at 50-1!

This year, he was phenomenal. He got off to his usual great start and collapsed at the end of round three before battling Tiger over the entire fourth round before going down in the playoff.

I've said it before and this year proves it once again, the final round of the Masters -- specifically the back 9 -- is the greatest sporting event, if not the greatest TV event -- of the year.

Tiger's chip on 16 might be one of the greatest shots I've ever seen. And the drama of the ball hanging on the rim of the cup...and...then...slowly...falling...in...with...the...Nike... logo...in...perfect....placement was one for the ages.

Every year for the final round I go to my friend Joe's house and we eat pizza, chips and analyze every shot by every golfer. It's great fun and something I look forward to every year. One of these days, Joe and I will go to Augusta to watch in person but until that happens, we have a blast just watching on TV.

A tradition like no other... indeed!!

I've got the Fever

2005-04-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

Saw Fever Pitch the other night and besides the fact that this Yankee fans doesn't hide his distaste for the Red Sox, it was terrifically fun.

Jimmy Fallon, who's not much a baseball guy, really captured the fanaticism of Red Sox Nation and the boyish enthusiasm for baseball, that some of us try to maintain but it's almost impossible as we get older.

And what's with Drew Barrymore? She can be awfully likeable in stuff like this, "The Wedding Singer" and "Never Been Kissed" but so grating in the "Charlies Angels" nonsense.

Anyway, this one will go down as one of great baseball films that doesn't take itself too seriously. Kind of like the Caddyshack of baseball.

Go Yankees!

Randy Newman was right

2005-04-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

We do love L.A. I realized it again this morning as I took out my bike and rode down to the ocean in Santa Monica on a breathtakingly beautiful day.

About 78 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, the coastline was the place to be Friday morning. I headed north on the oceanfront bike path for a little while before turning around biking toward Marina del Rey. While I enjoy going to the gym a couple of times a week and riding the bike there, it's no substitute for the real thing.

For anyone who'd like to join me on an hourlong bike journey at the beach one morning, please let me know and we'll peddle to the metal.

The Grey matter

2005-03-29T10:37:00.000-08:00

ABC is on a hot streak. After a couple of season where they couldn't pay someone to watch their shows, their latest launch, "Grey's Anatomy," on Sunday nights after "Desperate Housewives" is a winner.

After only one episode, it's easy to tell that the writing is good, the characters are strong and the actors -- Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo and Isaiah Washington -- are all quite solid here.

Certainly, the world doesn't need another medical drama but "Grey" on ABC and "House" on Fox are proving there's always room for quality.

The Apple bites back

2005-03-26T12:44:00.000-08:00

Back from a week in New York. Had a great time doing all the tourist-stuff: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tours, a pastrami sandwich at the Carnegie Deli, the Broadway show "Wicked," a Knicks game and about 1,001 slices of pizza and half-dozen pretzels from street vendors.

If you're looking for some exercise and don't want to join a gym, all you need to do is hit the streets of Manhattan. For dinner one night we walked 45 blocks and on Sunday afternoon we trudged from NYU down to Ground Zero. The distances may be far but it never seems a difficult trek as you're constantly beseiged by all the visual stimulation and not worried about how far you're going.

Our hotel was the Roosevelt and it was a real coup. On the corner of Madison and 45th, it was just around the corner from Grand Central and a perfect location as a starting point for any excursion. Catching a subway at Grand Central was easy amid the chaos there. Rush hour at Grand Central is something that shouldn't be missed. Thousands of people all in a hurry to get somewhere, all laser-like in their focus to make their train back home.

March is a great time to spend in the city as you can catch the beauty of both winter and spring in a matter of hours. On Tuesday, it was a glorious 55 degrees and blue skies. The next day it was raining in the morning and by 5 p.m. the snow was falling hard.

New York's a great town. Not sure I'd want to live in the city but living in the burbs and coming to Gotham by train wouldn't be the worst way to spend your working life.

Looking a little Paley

2005-03-17T10:54:00.000-08:00

For TV fans in the L.A. area, the William Paley Festival -- sponsored by the Museum of TV and Radio -- has for the past 22 years a great way to meet and greet the people behind your favorite shows.

For 2 weeks every March, the casts and crews of current TV shows and past great ones have come to the festival, held at the Directors Guild on Sunset, and talk about the process behind the show.

I went to two this year, which were actually the opening and closing night. The opener was NYPD Blue and last night's was Deadwood, which, I don't have to tell you, is the best show on TV.

Unfortunately, I'm preaching to the choir on Deadwood for those of you who already watch. You know how great it is. And for those who don't, you're either not watching because the language offends you or you can't get into it mid-stream. Both understandable but don't let the language throw you. It's almost poetic that way those curses come off their tongues. Many have called the David Milch's writing Shakespearean and I think that's accurate.

Anyway, I digress from the fest. The place was sold out with hardcore Deadwood supporters and the biggest cheers for Robin Weigert, and her portrayal of foul-mouthed Calamity Jane, and Ian McShane as Gem Saloon owner Al Swearengen. Variety's own Brian Lowry did a marvelous job as moderator.

Watch for McShane to pick up the Emmy this September for best drama actor. You heard it here first.

Cold as ice

2005-03-14T14:32:00.000-08:00

Went to see the Disney movie "Ice Princess" and I have to say I dug it, even though the cliches were flying a mile a minute and you could've seen the ending coming from 3,000 miles away. No originality, per se, but these movies often tend to connect with me -- a grizzled, sarcastic movie watcher -- more than they should.

Anyway, as I was watching I was thinking that while the Miracle on Ice game of 1980 -- when the U.S. beat the Russians -- is generally considered the gold standard of Olympic moments, it's not that all emotional. Sure, the U.S. was a huge underdog and it made a big dent in the Cold War but nobody wells up and starts bawling when we win.

I couldn't care less about figure skating but every time I see Sarah Hughes' flawless gold medal performance from the 2000 (?) Games I get choked up. It's when she starts smiling at the end and her coach starts smiling and the audience and announcers are cheering that gets me every time.

Hostage

2005-03-11T11:41:00.000-08:00

Hostage opens this weekend and the commercials don't do it justice. It's a well-done thriller that's reminsicent of Bruce Willis's best stuff.

For all the drek that Willis makes these days -- The Whole Nine Yards and it's awful sequel, The Last Ten Yards, Hart's War -- he still can make some good stuff and this one was, for the most part, pretty entertaining.

Sad state of sitcoms

2005-03-11T11:29:00.000-08:00

Jake in Progress premieres this weekend and the results aren't half bad. Jake, aka Full House star and recently separated John Stamos, is a New York City publicist with a list of demanding clients taking up too much of his time. He's also trying to be a buddy to his male friends and find a girlfriend. Some people may call it a male equivalent of Sex and the City. I think that might be a stretch -- especially considering Sex and the City was on HBO and this is ABC.

Stamos has a certain charm that should go a long way. In TV, casting is about 80%-90% of a show's success, so having the right person in the right part can make all the difference. If you think of your favorite shows and can't imagine another person in that role, than you realize the importance of good casting.

Anyway, the reason I mention that Jake may be a success is that sitcoms -- in the traditional sense -- are in a bad way right now. Everybody Loves Raymond, one of my favorites is leaving in May, and the funniest shows out there right now are HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and Fox's Arrested Development, both of which aren't shot in front of an audience.

Jake also isn't show in front of an audience and, with Raymond departing -- and Friends and Frasier leaving last year -- the traditional 3-camera, studio audience sitcom may be coming to an end.

And maybe that's a good thing. TV, like everything else, changes with the times. It'll be interesting to see if another Friends, Frasier or Raymond ever comes around again.

Baseball in D.C.

2005-03-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

No, it's got nothing to do with the Nationals playing in the Washington again after a long absence. It's the hardball being played on Capitol Hill, where a bunch of politicians with nothing better to do are gonna ask present and former major leaguer whether they've taken steroids or not.

As a fan, I'm curious to what McGwire and others are going to say when they're pressed on the issue but... as an American... don't our politicians have enough to do with making our country a better place to live than deal with this? Could there be any other reason — besides wanting to have their face on SportsCenter — to do this?

A game of chicken

2005-03-05T19:01:00.000-08:00

Now I know what's it like to be in the center of an angry mob.

Went to Costco to pick up a few things -- and I really did it. Costco is usually a $100 store. Walk in for some grapes and walk out $100 later with 200 razors and 6 lbs. of cooking oil.

But I was only going in for four items and I walked out with four indeed. Not a single one more.

Anyway, went to pick up the famous $4.99 whole chicken that could feed a family of 6. Problem was, they were out, and cooking furiously in the back to get more birds out there.

Shoppers started to gather round, waiting for the chickens to come flying out the window, like they were $20 from an ATM. The mile-wide shopping carts started blocking the aisles, people started shoving each other and it seemed only a matter of moments until the fire marshal came and closed the whole store.

Before bedlam officially set in, the chickens appeared, customers were happy and the normal Costco experience ensued.

Now back to the 10-lb. crate of oranges and 80 water bottles...

HBO night

2005-03-04T13:49:00.000-08:00

Went to the premiere for the second season of HBO's finest show "Deadwood" last night at the Chinese. (I'll pontificate on the greatness of "Deadwood" in another blog. But, needless to say, if you're not watching, you should be. First episode of season 2 begins Sunday, March 6 and will repeated several times during the week.)

Party was fun, with chock full of the cast from the show -- Tim Olyphant, Ian McShane, etc. -- and a surprise appearance by Jimmy Smits and his longtime girlfriend Wanda DeJesus. Smits was there by way of "Deadwood" creator David Milch, who was a co-creator of "NYPD Blue," which starred... Jimmy Smits. Hollywood is so incestual.

Anyway, since there's lots of gambling that takes place in Deadwood, HBO brought in a faux casino to bring some authenticity to the party and I won $230 shooting craps. Of course, if I was playing for real money and not tickets, I would've dropped $50 but it was a fun time indeed.

Went with my friend Jay, aka the Angry Driver, who is friendly with Milch. He gave raves to the mini-cheeseburgers and the roast beef. And he especially liked the girl in the really, really short skirt.

Sir Lance-alot

2005-03-02T17:28:00.000-08:00

Attended a function in support of the Women's Cancer Research Fund, where they honored 6-time Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong for his support and courage.

I don't know much about the guy -- except that he could probably outpedal me on the bike path between Venice and Marina del Rey -- but he came off as very genuine and sincere. I hope all the allegations about his taking steroids isn't true.

Tom Hanks hosted the event and, at one point, started an auction for a non-descript bike that Lance would sign and -- this is the fun part -- you get to ride bikes with Lance and Robin Williams around town. My $100 bid didn't quite cover it as the winner's bid was an astounding $70,000.

Lance's current flame Sheryl Crow played a few numbers for the crowd before we left and picked up our goodie bags on the way out. Priscilla tells me there was some good stuff in there -- Tiffany pin, Bulova clock, perfumes, hand cream and a couple of shirts.

End of NYPD Blue

2005-03-01T10:18:00.000-08:00

Tonight's the last episode. Here's what I wrote in today's Variety about the finale:

By STUART LEVINE
As it turns out, I’ve spent 15,840 minutes over the past 12 years watching "NYPD Blue."
It was time probably better spent bonding with the family, or maybe even cleaning around the house — as I’m sure my wife would attest — but I’m not so sure.

I have the Rev. Donald Wildmon to thank. When "Blue" launched, Wildmon — speaking on behalf of those around the country who supposedly weren’t prepared to hear some of the coarsest language on broadcast TV at that time or view David Caruso’s backside — said it was the beginning of the end of television. Which immediately attracted me to the show, just like millions of others.

But, truth be told, I was tuning in on Sept. 21, 1993, no matter who was telling me what I should or shouldn’t watch. Like a moviegoer who’ll see a Woody Allen or Martin Scorsese movie no matter the reviews, I’ve always been a dedicated Steven Bochco viewer and there was no way I’d miss out on "Blue" — especially as a follow-up to the Emmy-winning "Hill Street Blues."

Thursdays was "Hill Street" night (the beginning of NBC’s Must See TV era) and I was riveted every week. Maybe it was the mixed-race pairing and offbeat conversations between Michael Warren and Charles Haid that engaged me, or possibly Bruce Weitz’s Mick Belker, who would suddenly tune out his job at hand as a perp would wait at his desk while Belker would tell Mom on the phone that, yes, it was important that she make her doctor’s appointment even though she was feeling better now.

And it was on "Hill Street" where we met Dennis Franz as slimy Lt. Norman Buntz, cantering around the precinct as though he owned the joint.

Even the Bochco failures intrigued me. The ill-fated "Beverly Hills Buntz" and minor league baseball saga "Bay City Blues" both tried to use "Hill Street" as a template — complex ensembles where characters were flawed and morally strong men and women had their weaknesses. Few watched besides me, but even catching a handful of those episodes was worth much more than a whole season spent with "Remington Steele" or "Jake and the Fatman."

There was one minor aspect about "Hill Street" that bothered me, though. It was purposely never set in a real-life city. Certain scenes were reminiscent of L.A., others Chicago and New York but Bochco specifically wanted the show to be more about the people and not the place. In this case, location was not a defining character.

Maybe that’s what intrigued me so much about "Blue." It was all about New York, my hometown. Growing up in suburban Long Island, I rarely headed to the city — except maybe to catch a Rangers game at the Garden or spend a day with Dad at the office — but venturing on the Long Island Rail Road and being deposited at Penn Station was always a treat.

Never mind the good guys, I wanted to see the dark side of Gotham. Staying out of trouble and being a straight-laced kid throughout my teens years — my parents would say my darkest moment was playing football on Yom Kippur — I was always intrigued by the hoods, felons and good cops gone bad, all people who never crossed my path.

So right from the start of "NYPD Blue," I knew I’d be sticking around a long time.

That first episode was a doozy. Det. Andy Sipowicz was a drunken, womanizing mess on the edge of self-destruction who gets himself shot point blank (good thing his heart was as resolute as his stubbornness) and then, slowly over the 261 episodes, realizes he had more reasons to live than he could ever imagined at that point.

At a recent Q&A with the cast, Franz said the high point for him in the series was the five-episode arc that painstakingly drew out the tragic end of Jimmy Smits’ Bobby Simone. I realize he’s right, not only through recalling that remarkable "Hearts and Souls" episode and remembering those fateful last hours of Simone, but by seeing Smits back in the 15th Precinct again this season in a dream sequence that immediately brought chills to any serious "Blue" watcher.

Not that I need to watch any more TV than I already am, but there’s certainly enough storylines for season 13. Currie Graham’s Lt. Thomas Bale may be short on words but his mysterious personal side — which the writers hinted at halfway through this year — seems ripe for exploration.

But, understandably, it might be time to move on. If that’s true, however, how come every time I have nearly a dozen items to choose from in my Now Showing menu on Tivo, the first program I consistently find myself wanting to watch first is "Blue."

Not sure what I’ll do with that extra hour every week. Figure out better ways to save for my daughter’s college education, perhaps. Maybe even take a few handyman lessons at Home Depot.

Whatever it is, I’m not sure it’ll be as fulfilling.

Stuart Levine, a senior editor of Special Reports at Variety, watched every episode of "NYPD Blue" over its 12-season run.