MSN TV Blog: Drama

Rosie Perez Is Headed To the 'Jungle'

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:11:21 GMT

"Lipstick Jungle" sure is racking up the guest stars! First we get Mary Tyler Moore and now Rosie Perez! Perez will play Dahlia, Victory's publicist. It looks like Victory's line is about to take off, eh?

I might as well tell you guys that "Lipstick Jungle" is filming in my neighborhood pretty much all the time lately. I've been taking my camera with me when I go out, hoping I'll see something cool...but it's not happening.

I see the usual catering trucks, limos, and once a surly pack of extras. I'll keep trying, though.

- Posted by Kate

Generation Buzzkill

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:50:15 GMT

I can't be alone in watching HBO's "Generation Kill" and thinking to myself, "What the heck is going on here?" Right?

I really was looking forward to the miniseries, since it's from the team that brought us "The Wire," and it had the potential to shine a light on how things were going in the early stages of the most recent Iraq War.

But with two installments down out of seven, I really am getting pretty tired of the macho, racist attitudes the characters seem to have.

I'm kind of sick of people being called "hajis."

I feel pretty much in the dark as to what the company we're following is supposed to be doing.

The complexity that served "The Wire" well doesn't seem to work for me here. At a minimum, in "The Wire," you knew the base objective: to put away drug dealers, or to expand territory, or what have you. And you could get the basics of how the characters were doing that, and when they messed up and so forth. Here, not so much.

It seems more like a bunch of random statements by soldiers sewn together, like in last night's episode where a Marine says that CNN would pay good money for footage another marine shot because "that s--- was extreme."

Maybe those are realistic portrayals of our fighting men. Maybe it's the point that you really don't know what is going on.

Maybe I should be patient and let things continue to unfold. Or maybe the mini deserves the "John From Cincinnati" bailout before I spend too much of my precious time.

- posted by Raoul

L Yes: 'L Word' to Have a Spinoff

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:18:28 GMT

One of the bits of info out of the TCAs is that after the upcoming final season of "The L Word" one of the characters will spin off into her own show.

The idea is so new, not even the actress who may get the spinoff knows.

So it's too soon to do anything but guess whether this new show will be any good, or who will be starring.

But why let that stop us from a little idle speculation?

Here's a few thoughts on who might get the nod:

"Shane's World": I could definitely see a show based on Shane's hooking up with half the lesbian population of L.A. (or wherever the show gets set up). It would kind of have a "Californication" vibe to it.

"Go Ask Alice": Another person who could carry a show would be Alice, the show's leading lipstick. She had just gotten a high-profile job with a "View" clone, and that plus her being one step away from crazy could generate some plots.

"Bette": While I love me some Jennifer Beals, "The L Word" showcases her a heckuva lot already.

"Tina Time": Nope. Tina's boring, boring, boring. I also think her sexuality flipflop wouldn't win an audience for her.

"Jenny": God, I hate her character. I really, really hope this isn't a possibility. But Mia Kirschner is one of the more high-profile actresses on the show.

Any thoughts on who you'd like to see?

- posted by Raoul

'Grey's Anatomy' Is Reviving Denny

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:10:16 GMT

OK, maybe not literally reviving him, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan will be back for at least one episode. So, what can we extrapolate from this news? Well, we could get another near-death vision. We could get a flashback. We could get a - sigh - twin brother. Somehow I don't see "Grey's" going any of these places, though. I don't know what to expect.

In other news, Shonda Rhimes says there's no bad blood between her and Katherine Heigl. Buzz Sugar has the details:

"'In the back half of the season, Katherine asked me personally to write her light so that she could do her movie,' Rhimes told critics during a panel for ABC showrunners at the TCA press tour. She also noted that the way Heigl's storyline with TR Knight, who plays George, played out ended up being lighter than many of Izzie's previous stories.

"Rhimes said she did find it "surprising" when that news hit the press. 'I actually have a really wonderful working relationship with Katherine, and I love and respect her as an actress," she said. 'Izzie is one of my favorite characters.'

"'It was kind of surprising, but Katie is an outspoken person,' Rhimes added. 'I think we all kind of know that already.'"

Good for her! Shonda Rhimes is obviously smart enough to recognize she's on top of her game and she isn't letting herself get too bothered by this tempest in a teapot.

- Posted by Kate

Tonight: 'Saving Grace' and 'The Closer' Are Back

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:46:36 GMT

It feels like forever since we've seen a new episode of "The Closer," eh? Well, Brenda is back. Tonight's episode has her tracking an arsonist. "Saving Grace" picks up right where it left off with Grace's confrontation of the priest who molested her as a child.

"The Closer" airs at 9:00 and "Saving Grace" airs at 10:00 on TNT.

- Posted by Kate

Did Katherine Heigl Condemn Izzie Stevens to Death?

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:24:13 GMT

Mark Malkin over at E! is wondering whether "Grey's Anatomy" producers and writers have decided to kill off Izzie Stevens:

"'It's not good there,' a source tells me of the Grey's Anatomy set. 'Shonda is pissed. They're thinking of killing her off. They want Izzie dead.'"

In case you didn't hear, Heigl took herself out of the running for the Best Supporting Actress Emmy because she felt the writers didn't give her much to work with last season. Let's not forget Isaiah Washington was written out of the show after he made some homophobic remarks, so there's a precedent here.

What do you guys think - will the "Grey's" brass swallow their pride and keep Izzie around or is Katherine Heigl about to get a chance to make lots more blockbuster rom-coms? (Such a terrible fate, I know!)

- Posted by Kate

Enrico Colatoni Reaches His 'Flashpoint'

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:30:40 GMT

Tonight marks the premiere of CBS's "Flashpoint," a drama about a SWAT team based in Toronto. It stars Enrico Colatoni of "Just Shoot Me" and "Veronica Mars" fame as the leader of the band of cops.

I'll be straight up: I watched the pilot and thought it was very middle-of-the road. It wasn't half-bad, but it wasn't great. I'm willing to give it time to see how it develops, however.

I got the chance to chat with Enrico a week or so back, and here's what he had to say:

MSN: So, Enrico, let's talk about your new project. What is "Flashpoint" all about?

Enrico: It's an action-police drama about a SWAT team. But it takes place in a Canadian city, specifically Toronto. It's based on the Emergency Task Force, which is Toronto's version of SWAT up here. It's an exciting police drama.

MSN: What attracted you to this show?

Enrico: One, that it was exciting. Two, that it takes place in Toronto and that's my home town. The biggest reason was my brother had been a policeman here for 30 years. I always grew up romanticizing -- not so much romanticizing his life, but I'd meet a lot of his friends. The life of a cop just seemed sort of cool to me. When my brother read the pilot, he was so intrigued with its authenticity. I just got excited about it. It was a chance to pay homage to him and all the people that I met through him.

MSN: So what sort of preparation did you do for the role?

Enrico: We got to train a bit with the real ETF officers. We got to go through some scenarios and training sessions, gun training and stuff like that. And I went back to the gym after four years and started losing weight and started getting healthy again. That took up a lot of time. And picking my brother's brain and talking to some of his friends. Stuff like that.

MSN: What were some of the inside scoops they gave you about being a Toronto cop?

Enrico: The most remarkable thing is we got an opportunity to portray these people not just as cyborgs or fearless warriors. There's a humanity to these characters which is probably the most authentic thing. Policemen, they have humor. They have vulnerabilities and all that stuff. Everybody I knew growing up had a great sense of humor. They loved life. They had fun. We wanted to portray that.

MSN: Tell me more about your own character, Greg Parker.

Enrico: He's an emotional leader. He leads with his gut. He's a warrior, like the rest of them are, but at the same time, he's fascinated with human behavior, which makes him an excellent negotiator. His approach to a situation is usually a less lethal approach. He really wants to make a human connection with people as opposed to just eliminating them.

MSN: How is the role similar and how is it different from the one that I personally know you best as, Keith Mars.

Enrico: The fact that I'm the actor means there's going to be a lot of similarities. But Keith had a warmth to him. You didn't really see the warrior in Keith because he was always dealing with Veronica. He was always putting out fires in a gentle way, you know. He was much more of the heart. With Greg, you get to see him being a leader. You get to see him strong. You get to see him in situations where he's not dealing with an 18-year-old girl. He's dealing with people who are getting ready to kill people. That brings out a certain masculinity, I suppose. Not that Keith wasn't, but he had to play mom a lot of times too, you know.

MSN: Oh, definitely. One of the things I was wondering was that TV has had a couple SWAT-type shows that haven't done so well. "Standoff" and "K-Ville" come to mind. What do you think will set your show apart from those?

Enrico: The first thing you realize about our show is it has an epic-looking quality. It looks like a movie. We film in 35 mm, so everything is just crisp and beautiful. It's shot beautifully. People are going to be attracted to that kind of stuff. After that, once we get through the critical incidents, what's going on, which are very real and very exciting, we fall back into the actual players. It's not just going in and storming the castle. There are consequences. It's smart on an emotional level. It's smart on a technical, "CSI"-kind of level. It's just all-around beautiful to watch.

MSN: So what are some of the situations you and the other characters find yourself in?

Enrico: Every week, we're going to deal with some sort of incident that propels us into action. Running parallel to those stories, we get a sense of history of these people. Greg Parker realizes his marriage was broken up because of who he was before and now he's a better man, but it's too late for him. He hasn't seen his son in many years. We find out all that stuff. ... We watch their lives unfold as these things happen every week.

MSN: What do you think American audiences will think about a show set in Toronto.

Enrico: I hope they don't mind it. [Laughs] I hope it doesn't turn them off, because a lot of Americans don't even know where Canada is. That's sad to me. But at the same time, it's a police drama. It's an action show. Once you realize Toronto is a beautiful city -- and we don't really reference it directly, we just see it's not an American city. It has a European quality. It's beautiful. It's sexy. It's vibrant. I think people will be attracted to, like I said, how it's shot, how beautiful it looks. They're going to get to know Toronto pretty fast, and they're going to learn, you know what? It's a city like any other city in America, and that's the simple truth.

MSN: What's it like being in your hometown to do this show?

Enrico: That's the biggest reason why I wanted to do it. I haven't been back in some 25 years and I started longing to come back. It's a great way to come back and hang out for the whole summer. My kids get to hang out with me. I run into people I haven't seen in 20 years.

MSN: Just a few "Veronica Mars" questions if I could, I really miss the show. I remember a year or two back there was some talk about doing a movie or maybe some sort of extension in books. Have you heard any followup on either of those fronts?

Enrico: When I talk to Rob [Thomas, "VM" creator], I sort of tease him about it. But I'm not sure what his plans are. I love the idea of doing a movie. I hope that somehow in his brain he's actually figuring something out. But I'm not surprised at the following "Veronica Mars" has garnered. Just through the DVDs, there's probably a bigger following now than there was when we were on the air. It just makes sense to make a movie. Why not?

MSN: How much have you kept in touch with your fellow cast-mates from the show?

Enrico: When I'm in L.A., I see Jason quite a bit. Kristin is very busy, so we see each other less frequently, but there's always text messaging. Dan Estridge the producer, who was Rob Thomas's right hand man, I see a lot, and Rob I see a lot. They're just wonderful people to know and hang out with.

MSN: It was announced that Francis Capra was going to have a guest-starring role on "Heroes," which obviously Kristin has been on. Is that's something you could see yourself doing?

Enrico: Yeah, why not? I like watching that show when I've seen it. Why not?

- posted by Raoul

Get Ready to 'Burn!'

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:37:21 GMT

Tonight, USA's "Burn Notice" returns to pick up where last year's cliffhanger left off: Michael Westen has driven into a truck at the behest of someone connected to his getting fired.

Apparently, that someone is being played by Tricia Helfer of "Battlestar Galactica" fame.

A few weeks back, Jeffrey Donovan and Bruce Campbell chatted about what to expect from this season. Here are some highlights:

On how Jeffrey's emulating Michael:

I’m following all my friends now. ... And boy do I have dirt. Wait until it comes out.

On Michael's mom:

Jeffrey: Actually she’s in a lot this second season. The writers have brought her more into a personal connection with Michael Westen. So I think you’re going to see more of a true mother-son relationship, less antagonistic as you saw in the first season and more of she’s becoming a bit of an ally.

But I think more as the season goes on, you’ll see him actually care more about her and the life that they used to have. I think it’s going to get deeper, actually.

On the love-hate-lust relationship between Michael and Fiona:

Jeffrey: That’s a crazy relationship that’s going to have its ups and downs. And it’s going to go left, right and all around, and it’ll be exciting.

Some of the episodes I actually don’t read until I get on the day just so I can see what crazy thing she’s going to do to me that day.

On adjusting to Miami life:

Jeffrey: I’m wearing a lot more Speedos.

Bruc: And I’m sweating more. That’s my change. That’s what I’ve changed. I stopped shivering in Oregon and starting sweating in Miami.

On Tricia Helfer's character:

Jeffrey: She’s behind a lot of things that held Michael back and you realize she’s actually controlling his life. And so...

Bruce: She’s very, very evil.

Jeffrey: Yeah, she’s very evil and sexy at the same time.

Bruce: That’s evexy.

On the possibility of a sophomore slump, creatively or commercially:

Jeffrey: Love the second season scripts. I think they’re even better than the first season and I think the first season was pretty darn good in and of itself. You know, the ratings are not up to me. They’re up to the general public and if they go up and down, we’re still going to do the same thing we did last year which was make the show we'd watch. And that’s what we’re doing this year again. And if people follow, great. If they don’t, well we’re going to be - we’ll still be proud of what we did.

Bruce: Ain’t going to be no slumpin’. Ain’t going to be no sophomore slump, my friend. People are still finding the show and I’ve had the weirdest batch of emails from people from very odd demographics who are following the show.

The DVD is coming out. USA knows that it’s a hit now so that they’re going to promote it more. We’re all behind it. So I don’t know. I think there’s - we’re doing 16 episodes instead of 10 or 11. So, you know, every - there’s every reason to believe in my opinion - in my ignorant opinion that we’re going to do even better this year.

On yogurt:

Jeffrey: You know, it was just something that was put in my fridge by [creator] Matt [Nix]. It’s Matt’s crazy, insane mind. And for some reason, every time I open the fridge in the script it said all there is, is yogurt. And then when Sam joins me it’s beer. So all I’m living on is yogurt and beer. And that’s how I stay so thin. ... I prescribe the yogurt and beer diet. It’s like the South Beach Diet, but for Michael Westen.

Bruce: There are some things that have been added to the fridge. I’m going to say that because Sam hangs out there a lot. So pickles have been added and there may be hard boiled eggs coming up sometime later this year.

On juggling action and relationships:

Jeffrey: I think we fight for that every day. We fight for a balance that you are drawn to maybe the action sequences and the kind of spy stuff, but you get hooked on really becoming involved with Fi and Sam, and Michael and mom. I mean, you know, if you care about them I think that brings you back. But I think the initial interest might be that you’re watching a spy and he gets to, you know, beat up bad guys and stuff like that, and create bombs out of toasters.

On their favorite things about their characters:

Bruce: Well I have to say I’ve always been a fan of (squad) characters and I think Burn Notice is a big bag of damaged goods, but we’re doing - we’re helping the little person now that you have all these people who have had these strange and intense backgrounds and now we’re back into civilization and trying to assimilate. And hopefully that’s kind of the fun of the show, but I appreciate that we get a little bit of latitude. The writers have been really good with us and I think they’ve studied what our strengths and weaknesses are. And so it’s been a really - for the grind of television, it’s been a very enjoyable experience.

Jeffrey: And I just love that I get to play a spy. I’m like James Bond in America and, you know, I could never be this cool in real life so that’s got to be my favorite part.

On their best sales pitch for newcomers:

Jeffrey: Watch the show, I don’t know, give it a try. It’s a summer show. There’s nothing else on and there’s, you know, action and some pretty hot women on the show.

Bruce: My feeling is the show is gaining popularity because of what it is not. I think it is a very unique show that can basically not be compared to anything on television. And I think that’s so refreshing and not to disparage any of the cop, doctor, lawyer shows, but enough is enough. So hopefully we can be a bit of fresh air out there.

On Sam's role in the show:

Bruce: Oh well Sam is, of course, integral to Burn Notice. He was, I don’t know - because of how he holds the social fabric together. And I got some swampland in Tennessee, too. No, I think it’s always good to have buddies. If you don’t have a second person, it’s hard to have dialogue. So Sam is handy for explaining missions and, you know, chewing the fat with Michael and kicking ideas around. And hopefully the loyalty issue is solved now. Sam’s in to win.

On the split between episodes about being burned and plots about helping the little guy:

Jeffrey Donovan: I think that I will always be saving, you know, the small, you know, small guppy in the big pond. He’s got to do that because I think that’s kind of the heart of the show.

And then I think the other plots are always going to be about who was behind the burn notice and what they can do to me. And then what I think probably though - what most people are interested in is what goes on between him and his buddy, Sam, and his ex-girlfriend, Fiona. I think those relationships are going to be really integral, at least in Season Two. I’m not sure with Bruce in Season Three.

On the spy tips contained in the voiceovers:

Jeffrey: You know, it’s a nice little bonus to be able to learn a new skill every week. Some of them you can use in everyday life and some of them can’t, you know. The ones that I’ve been able to use is how to bug my co-star’s dressing room...

Bruce: Awkward.

Jeffrey: And the other that I don’t really use that much is how to make a bomb out of a toaster, you know. But, you know, it’s a lot of fun to be able to learn those little skills.

On who Michael is:

Jeffrey: I think that how I viewed Michael in the beginning has not changed at all. He’s still an incredibly introverted character who lives this parallel life vicariously through his alter egos, these undercover characters that he has to create to kind of get his job back.

But that’s kind of what I thought in the beginning and he’s still going to continue to do that. But the slight new dimension that I think I’m trying to bring to him this season is that - like what Bruce said, is bring more of a humanity to him, see that there’s a real guy underneath all those layers that have been trained to kind of not feel anything.

On the obstacles playing Michael:

Jeffrey: He’s good at everything. That’s been a challenge because a part of this show is that you actually see me doing those things. It’s not a stuntman doing the fight and some other guy, you know, doing - fixing all the bombs together, it’s - and knowing how to slip under a certain door or a laser beam. You know, that I get to do that and that I want to do that is a big challenge because I actually have to look like I can actually do it. So that’s a challenge which I kind of relish actually.

On whether the premise has a limited shelf life:

Jeffrey: You know, I don’t know. Ask the cast of "Gilligan’s Island" or ask the cast of "Lost." I mean, how lost can they be? I mean, you know, serious - I mean, it’s a television show where the conceit is I’ve been burned and it’s kind of fun to watch me being burned, you know. I mean, the only sequel to this would be not burned anymore.

On another guest star beside Tricia:

Jeffrey: Method Man. Yeah, he’s on this episode - well I think it’s Episode 6. He’s awesome, dude. He’s such a good actor and I’m a big Wu-Tang Clan fan. And, you know, back in my hip-hop hooray days, you know. It’s - I’m really excited about him on the show.

On the mood on the set:

Bruce: Very dark.

Jeffrey: Like a prison. No, it’s - we - you know, it’s so free. Everyone’s input is welcomed and it’s an amazing ensemble. It - though you may think that this show is about Michael Westen, it may be but in its execution, it is truly an ensemble, including the, you know, the director, the writers and the crew.

I mean, even - I’ve had a camera guy suggest something to me which I did, which I thought was really good.

On Bruce's scene-stealing ability:

Jeffrey: Let me set the record straight. You want Bruce Campbell stealing scenes on your show. I mean, you want that. You know, I need that and, you know, I’m the straight man, and you need someone like Bruce Campbell because he never does it so far that it detracts from the show or the scene, or the characters, you know. It’s a blessing that Bruce has stolen scenes in the past because it lends him an ability to come in here and do the same thing here. You know, it’s awesome.

- posted by Raoul

Two Get Benched on 'Friday Night Lights'

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:38:15 GMT

Mike Ausiello, now at EW, reports that two characters from "Friday Night Lights" are getting bumped down to recurring status for financial and creative reasons.

We'll be seeing less of Jason Street and "Smash" Williams. While I realize you can't hold on to everyone or everything, I think both will be pretty big losses.

Both characters added something different to the mix.

Street represented the downside to all the glory that's showered on football players, the nightmare that they might face that one day they're on top of the heap and the next their dreams of being the best, of even having a normal life, are shattered.

Smash gave the show the chance to deal with the unfortunate prejudice that still lingers around high school sports, and indeed, in the broader society. Not to mention his mom was a very cool character in her own right.

At the same time, it seems incumbent to add some new characters. Smash and some of these other characters were seniors. Freshmen and sophomores should be added to the mix to keep things fresh.

- posted by Raoul

Will 'Swingtown' Soon Be Dead As Disco?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:04:23 GMT

I had warm feelings toward "Swingtown" when the CBS series premiered and generally, I feel like the series is building up and becoming something more substantial.

So I was sad to read that the show may well be having advertising trouble. The story from Ad Age points to ads that have run for a Time-Life music compilation, among other things, as signs that some of the bigger advertisers may be getting scared away from the racy-by-CBS-standards show.

More potentially troubling is that the show has gone from 8.5 million viewers to 5.6 million.

I don't want to sound too alarmist, but it seems like the writing may be forming on the wall for this one.

If CBS does drop it, I hope a network that's a little looser and less dependent on advertising dollars will give it a shot.

- posted by Raoul

'Gossip Girl:' Watch Out, There's a New Blog in Town

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:28:45 GMT

Spotted: one of Blair Waldorf's loyal handmaidens stepping out of line! She's in Israel for the summer, and she's blogging about it!

Who is it? Isabel. (She's the one on the right." Is Goes to Israel is a tell-all blog about...hanging out Blair-less in Israel and shopping for earrings and guys:

"Kati and I sat at one cafe for what I think was hours discussing boy issues. She is having some major ones. Ari, the boy she was kind of seeing this spring, keeps giving her mixed signals. They decided to end things for good in May yet he keeps calling her like everyday wanting to hang up. I keep telling her he's a foolish idiot unworthy of her time, but poor Kati still has feelings for him. Ugh, I haven't even met this Ari kid yet and I already know I hate him. I told Kati to dump this loser and move on. I wish she could just erase him from her head and let herself have some fun (like me!). Being single is incredible, especially in Israel where the guys are so freaking hot that I find myself constantly drooling (sick, I know but it's seriously true!)"

Hmm. That's quite the adventure she's having! Will Isabel be soooo over her sidekick status when she gets back to Constance Billard in the fall?

P.S. Gossip Girl is still blogging, so head over to The CW if you want to speculate about Blair's mysterious new suitor.

- XOXO, Kate

OMFG! Shannen Doherty Might Be Headed Back to Her Old Zip Code

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:17:04 GMT

Who, I ask you, was the heart and soul of "Beverly Hills, 90210"? Brenda! Once she left the show went way downhill. Well TV Guide's Mike Ausiello says Shannen Doherty is in talks to reprise the role of Brenda Walsh on "90210 Redux:"

"Multiple sources confirm to me exclusively that Doherty is currently engaged in formal talks to -- wait for it, wait for it -- reprise her role of Brenda Walsh on The CW's breathlessly anticipated 90210 update!"

Wow! If this deal goes through the show will have it made. It's not the greatest news for Tori Spelling, though. If Shannen's in, she's out. At least "Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood" is doing great ratings-wise.

- Posted by Kate

Did '24' Clear the Way for Obama?

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:35:27 GMT

Dennis Haysbert seems to think so, anyway. He reckons his portrayal of David Palmer might have made it a little easier for the voting public to accept a black commander-in chief.

I'm guessing that it had not much at all to do with it at all.

But I kind of like the irony that the conservatives behind "24" might have inadvertently contributed to the possibility of a liberal president. Tasty, isn't it?

Also, if people somehow are conflating Barack Obama and David Palmer, does that mean that they are equating Michelle Obama and Sherry "Lady MacPalmer" Palmer?

If so, that could explain some of the intense reaction she's generated.

- posted by Raoul

Another Way For Us 'Lost' Fans to Get Our Geek On

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:18:06 GMT

We all know it'll be a long, long time until we see the next new episode of "Lost." In the meantime, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse - I still refuse to refer to them collectively as "Darlton" - want you to read books. More specifically? Books that have come up on "Lost:"

"We hope you'll join our informal Lost Book Club. To paraphrase one of our heroes, Stephen King, to be a writer one must first be a reader. We find ourselves constantly striving for even a small measure of the accomplishment of what all these authors have achieved in their books. Pick up any of them and experience the richness of storytelling, character, and theme, and then allow your imagination to connect all that back into our show."

ABC.com added a "Lost" Book Club portal where you can view and buy all of the books and - eventually - discuss them with other "Lost" fans. I checked it out and was surprised to find that I had read slightly over half of the books. I'm sure not planning on reading all of them, though. Does anyone who got all the way through An ECG Workout: Exercises in Arrhythmia Interpretation want to tell me how it ends?

- Posted by Kate

Friday Confession: I Watched Every Episode of 'Veronica Mars' Ever Made Over the Space of 9 Days

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:13:52 GMT

I've had the first two seasons of "Veronica Mars" on DVD pretty much since they came out, but I hadn't planned on buying season three. Thing is, I had an Amazon gift certificate left over from my birthday. Plus the DVD set was only $25. I bought it and it arrived last week along with some, you know, books. What did I do? I watched the whole third season in a weekend and completely ignored the books.

Season three really wasn't as bad as I remember it being, though I could have done without just about every scene with Parker. (Sorry, Julie Gonzalo - it's not you, it's the character.) I was sad when I got to the last episode around noon on Sunday. By one o'clock I was watching the first episode ever made. "I'm never getting married," Veronica says, sitting in her LeBaron outside The Camelot. I've probably watched that first episode five or six times now, but it never gets old.

So, last Sunday I watched season one episodes pretty much until bedtime and then picked up right where I'd left off Monday after work. And Tuesday. And...well, you get it. I promised myself I wouldn't skip any episodes. Not "Donut Run," not the episode where Veronica tracks down kidnapped dogs, or the one where she goes to Pan High to recover Polly the Parrot. I even watched "One Angry Veronica."

My experiment came to an end around five pm last Sunday night when 'ol Beaver walked off the roof of the Neptune Grand and Keith went off into the desert with Kendall. Was I sick of "Veronica Mars" by then? To be honest, I wasn't. You know what? "Veronica Mars" is seriously the greatest show ever. I love the one liners. I love the Logan/Veronica drama! Pretty much any scene with Weevil is amazing. I just wish I could get that Dandy Warhols song out of my head.

- Posted by Kate

Shawn Spencer Is a Serial Killer? PSYCH!

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:12:00 GMT

Tonight's "Fear Itself" promises to be a good one. It's directed by John Landis and stars James Roday and Maggie Lawson of "Psych."

They're a couple engaged to get married, only someone slips Maggie a note saying James's character is a serial killer.

In a conference call the other day, James said he plays "a poor man's Jack Nicholoson."

Unfortunately, my TiVo's looking to record "Swingtown" and "Hopkins" so I'm going to have to watch "Fear" through the magic of the Interwebs, or on the DVD set.

As for the rest of the conference call stuff, I'll try to get that posted by tomorrow.

- posted by Raoul

'Moonlight' Is Over. For Good This Time

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:27:40 GMT

Moonlight got canceled a couple months back, but there were always rumors of its return on another network. Well, The Hollywood Reporter tells us to stop holding our collective breath...it's over:

"Sorry, fans. Sources close to the show said Monday that all those last-ditch efforts to bring 'Moonlight' back from its final resting place have now concluded. The sets have been dismantled. The stage is being taken over by CBS' upcoming drama 'The Mentalist.' The billowy shirts are packed up. It's done. "

Not the billowy shirts!

- Posted by Kate

Friday Confession: I Love 'Matlock'

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:12:54 GMT

Things can get a little slow in the TV blogosphere over the summer, so I've come up with the idea of Friday Confessions. I don't see what could be more embarrassing than my first one, but believe me, I'll keep trying for you guys.

Anyway, I love "Matlock." I love the 80s power suits with awesome shoulder pads that Julie and Michelle wear. I love Ben's trademark white suit, too. And the perms! And the dramatic music! Yup, it's totally formulaic and cheesy, but it speaks to me.

- Posted by Kate

Octagon Global Recruiting Wants You

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:58:07 GMT

Remember that weird ad for Octagon Global Recruiting that aired during the "Lost" season finale? Well, nerd that I am, I went over to the web site the next day and signed up to receive e-mail updates. Yesterday I finally heard back from them, and it looks like we have another "Lost" online game coming our way next month:

"The Dharma Initiative hopes you will be able to join us to find out more about their ground-breaking new research project. We will contact you closer to the date with more information.

"For those not able to join us in San Diego, Dharma's full recruitment program will be made available online to registered recruits after July 27th."

I'm not going to Comic Con (sigh) so I'm glad I'll get to play at home. You can still sign up to receive updates, so don't hesitate.

- Posted by Kate

Madchen Amick Gets the 'Gossip'

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:20:15 GMT

"Twin Peaks" alum Madchen Amick is going to be a guest star on "Gossip Girl," EW.com reports.

Will she play a teacher? A new "love interest" for 'ol Rufus? Nope, she's playing a cougar. Zeitgeist! Apparently she'll have a thing for Nate.

I have to say, Nate gets all of the bummer storylines on "Gossip Girl." Dad on drugs? Check. Thrown over by Jenny for secretly gay guy? Check. I wonder if this new development means we'll never find out exactly what happened to his relationship with Vanessa.

- Posted by Kate

Mary Tyler Moore Gets Her 'Lipstick' On

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:03:05 GMT

NBC has announced that TV legend Mary Tyler Moore will guest star on several episodes of "Lipstick Jungle" next season. She'll play Joyce, a retired businesswoman...and Wendy Healy's mom:

"Having blazed a trail for working women back in the 1970s and 1980s, Joyce challenges Wendy's idealistic notion of "having it all" -- leaving her overachieving daughter in a tailspin."

Oh goody! I hope the role will be just a little bit more like Mary Tyler Moore's scary mom from Ordinary People than her sweet as peaches Mary Richards.

- Posted by Kate

'Secret Diary of a Call Girl' Leaves Lots to the Imagination

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:10:04 GMT

Based only on last night's premiere of Showtime's "Secret Diary of a Call Girl," I have to say I'm somewhat ambivalent toward the series.

Maybe I'm being unfair, but it wasn't nearly as sexy as I would have expected. Certainly, Billie Piper, the actress who plays Hannah/Belle is an attractive woman (although I kept saying to myself, "We lost Rose Tyler from 'Doctor Who' for this?"). But somehow, I expected things to be a little bit racier.

I also expected her to be more naked in the emotional sense. I couldn't tell if Hannah/Belle is being honest when she says she likes being a high-class hooker, or if she's just lying to herself.

I think the pilot didn't really do that great a job of establishing Hannah's world, or Belle's. Apparently, though, Hannah has one of her exes as one of her closest friends and hangs out with him a lot. She's careful to separate her real life from that of Belle, where she's really good at figuring out what clients want and giving it to them. But then she gets involved with a client who basically wants someone like Hannah. And there's a sense that Hannah wants him back.

I'll keep watching to see what develops with the show, but I'm not exactly bowled over.

- posted by Raoul

'Weeds' Is Headed for the Border

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:35:58 GMT

At long, long last "Weeds" returns tonight at 10:00, and we'll finally get to learn what happens after Agrestic goes up in smoke.

Nancy is driving down to Ren Mar, where her kids' grandpa lives. (He'll be played by Albert Brooks!) What about Doug and Andy? Well, hopefully they'll be able to evade the DEA and join her. I'm sure we'll find out what Celia's up to as well.

- Posted by Kate

Katherine Heigl Puts Her Foot In Her Mouth

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:13:42 GMT

I really respect Katherine Heigl for generally speaking her mind instead of saying whatever her publicist tells her to say...but she might have gone too far this time.

After winning an Emmy last year for her portrayal of Izzie Stevens, Heigl was obviously on a very short list of contenders for this year's award. Well, she withdrew her name from consideration. Why? The L.A. Times' Gold Derby blog has the lowdown:

"'I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention,' she tells Gold Derby. 'In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials.'"

Holy crap! Did she really just...totally insult the writers of "Grey's Anatomy"? Apart from being just plain mean, it doesn't seem very smart. I'm sure Shonda & Co. can come up with something even worse than Gizzie if they put their minds to it.

- Posted by Kate

Jamie Kennedy Heads to 'Ghost Whisperer'

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:56:01 GMT

The very funny Jamie Kennedy is about to take on a more serious role: he'll be a regular next season on "Ghost Whisperer." Kennedy is slated to play a graduate student in paranormal studies who helps Melinda out with her work. Presumably he'll also be there to look cute and confuse Melinda. (Don't make me say "love interest.")

Series regular Jay Mohr is leaving the show to move on to bigger and better things.

- Posted by Kate

'Men In Trees' Finale: What Are You Hoping to See?

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:05:08 GMT

I'm sad to see "Men In Trees" go. It's not my favorite show, but it's up there. Well, tonight's the last episode. How would I like the show to end?

The talent show is mostly ridiculous and funny, but Jerome plays the piano and wows everyone.
Marin and Jack "end up together." Married, engaged, whatever. I think this is probably the one thing we can count on.
Annie chooses Ivan over Patrick. I can't help it - I love Annie and Ivan together.
Jane lightens up even more - I'm not knocking the progress she's made - and she and Sam continue to live happily ever after.
It looks like Mai and Buzz are back together already. I'd still like to see Mai get her Florida Room.
Theresa gets pregnant. Celebration all around.

It looks like I'm going for the "mega-happy" ending. How about you guys?

- Posted by Kate

Is There Anything to Fear in 'Fear Itself'?

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:57:31 GMT

So "Fear Itself," NBC's new horror anthology series, kicked off last night. Like all compilations, there's no easy way to judge the whole based on any one of its parts.

But the initial outlook seemed to me not all that impressive.

Our first story involved a group of four criminals who are taking backroads to evade the cops as they flee from some unidentified crime. Two are brothers, one's injured and one's non-descript. Suddenly, they run over something in the road and their ride's no longer operable. Unbeknownst to them, their difficulties are caused by a woman with a rifle. They drag their injured comrade to a walled complex that seems open, only to find out three sisters live there. Sexy sisters. In a sheltered, Old-World sort of way. Gradually, they get whittled down and find out that this isn't a simple complex. The humans who live there have an agreement with a vampire to provide him fresh victims if he'll stay on the compound. The last surviving criminal has to kill his little brother after he's been turned and helps the last of the sisters kill the vamp by pushing it into a pit, covering it up and setting it on fire. The two are relieved and are about to leave the complex when they notice the last criminal has been bitten. She shuts the door, and we're left to wonder if she manages to kill the crook before he turns or vice versa.

It was a decent diversion in its own way, but there wasn't anything to really make you jittery. And I can be a straight-up punk when it comes to horror, no lie.

Also, as you can probably tell from the description above, the plot doesn't really hold together all too well if you think about it. For instance, why doesn't the vampire just turn all the villagers and then lead a pack of vampires out into the real world? How is it that the last criminal doesn't realize he's been bitten til at the very end? Why don't the authorities realize that there are a bunch of missing people in the area, and for that matter, how would a nearly abandoned road provide enough food for the vampire?

One of the fun things about anthologies is that you get to see familiar stars in unfamiliar settings. So it was kinda cool to see Jesse Plemons, Landry from "Friday Night Lights" in another context. I'm also looking forward to seeing Colin Ferguson from "Eureka" and James Roday from "Psych."

I'm sure some of the future outings will be better than last night's episode. Unfortunately, some of them will also probably be worse.

- posted by Raoul

'Swingtown': A Second Take

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:31:12 GMT

Kate had her say about "Swingtown," but I have a slightly more favorable take.

First, let me state upfront my biases: A series set in the Chicago area, like "Swingtown," generally makes me a little warmer to it as a Chicago native. I would probably want a few more Chicago touches in the future than referring to A&P, but what can you do? Also, it stars Grant Show as the alpha-male swinger, and I have to give it up for a "Melrose Place" alum.

But second, I saw a little more depth in the characters than Kate did. For instance, I think Trina has some regrets about living the swingers' lifestyle but feels like she needs to keep appearances up to please Tom. I'm looking forward to the series exploring how they got aboard the open-marriage train. I find myself caring a little about most of the characters even after this limited exposure.

I did find it odd that a series about sex, essentially, did so little to entice, at least this time around. But maybe that's supposed to be a theme: that there's a real emptiness behind sex. Maybe that's how the show got accepted by CBS. I was amused by the show's playing with sexual innuendo, in places like the opening scene, which seemed like a stewardess was performing oral sex on Tom when she was just helping him with a coffee burn, and when uptight Janet furiously is rubbing her arm back and forth after leaving the swingers' party in a nod to her sexual frustration.

The show also doesn't skimp on the drugs and the rock n' roll. It even boasts that you can go and hear all the music from the episode, which included songs from the Commodores, David Bowie and others.

Overall, the show reminded me a lot of HBO's "Big Love," which I guess shouldn't come as a surprise because it's from one of the directors of that show. I kind of wish the show had been on a cable network to allow it greater freedom, but I'm still interested in seeing how it develops.

- posted by Raoul

'Swingtown:' I Didn't Love It, But I'll Probably Watch It Again

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:38:35 GMT

The first thing I've got to say about CBS's "Swingtown" is that it's trying too hard. Way too hard. The clothes, the music and the (icky, icky) sex all feel forced to me. "Whee! Look at us! It's the 70s! We're wearing poly-es-ter!"

If you didn't watch, here's the basic idea. Bruce and Susan Miller are movin' on up to the subdivision on the lake. They got married right out of high school, so are (conveniently) relatively young and hot even though they have a daughter in high school and a son in middle school. The Millers' new neighborhood is a hotbed of sexual activity. They're invited to a swingers' party by new neighbors Tom and Trina Decker on their very first night in their new house. They go, and they take their old friends The Thompsons with them. It's quite the party what with all the quaaludes, cocaine, orgies, and literal fireworks. But hey, it's the Fourth of July!

Tom Decker, mustachioed airline pilot and all-around cool swingin' dude, is such a cliche that he might as well be a cardboard cut-out. His wife, ex-stewardess Trina, is little better. Yes, these people are supposed to be swingers, but couldn't they have some depth? Just a little? The clean-cut but curious Millers aren't quite as flat, but they could use a little more fleshing out. For me, the only real standout among the cast was Miriam Shor, who played The Millers' neurotic former neighbor Janet Thompson. The scene where she walks in on an orgy and is addressed as "Mom" had some genuine oomph. All in all, though, the show is a marriage of "That 70s Show" and Boogie Nights that manages to be neither sexy nor funny. And yet, I'll probably watch it again.

Why? I've got a couple reasons. First, the pilot felt really overproduced and heavy-handed. I don't think it's impossible that the next few episodes will tone down the lights, cocaine and action and actually let us get to know the characters. Second, there's not much else on. I fill up on reality TV very quickly and I'll take a bad drama over an arguably good show about the next model who will create an award winning video to end poverty and beat out the competition to win $500,000 and a Prius.

What did you guys think?

- Posted by Kate

I Don't Think TV Is Making Me Dumber, But It Might Be Making Me Less Articulate

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:24:22 GMT

Let me tell you a little story. On Tuesday I was headed out to the laundromat with my bag of dirty clothes slung over my shoulder when I saw a cockroach crawling around by my front door. What did I do? I dropped my laundry and picked up a magazine, but before that I said "Gods d-- it!" Yup, Gods plural, as in "Battlestar Galactica." Not ten hours later I caught myself saying "frak" on the phone. Twice, I think. Sadly, this is not a new affectation but rather the natural result of watching every episode of "BSG" ever made in the space of about three weeks. (Love the "BSG"!)

I also seem to have picked up some stuff from "Gossip Girl." Certain friends who will be relieved to remain nameless have been referred to as T and J (repeatedly). Certain e-mails have been signed "XOXO" - but I was being ironic! Really! I know I'm not a spoiled sixteen year old! Everything will be okay as long as I don't start scheming to break up my friends or painting pictures on my walls to lead me to Earth, right?

- Posted by Kate

Scaring Up Answers about 'Fear Itself'

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:39:26 GMT

I'm a huge fan of "Twilight Zone," "Tales from the Crypt," all of those anthology shows. So I'm very curious to see "Fear Itself," which premieres Thursday. On Monday, NBC arranged a conference call with stars and execs behind the show, and here are the highlights.

Executive Producer Keith Addis on what sets "Fear" apart from "Twilight Zone" and other anthologies:

One of the cool things about an anthology is that every one of these films is completely separate and unique from all the others. And that's something we enjoy the most about this form. Some of the episodes have more of a "Twilight Zone"-feel and dwell in the realm of psychological thrillers. Others are at the very opposite end of the spectrum of the genre and are much more down the center, down the bull’s eye of what the genre offers most frequently. So I really think you’ll see an incredibly broad cross section of different kinds of storytelling and its own over this life of the 13 episodes.

Keith Addis on the wonders of horror:

This has always been always been, since I remember going to the movies in the late 50s a genre that’s been entertaining, delighting, frightening audiences, providing a catharsis during challenging times, and we’ve obviously watched the different spikes that have taken place in interest in the genre over the years, and it seems to us in a non-scientific way that there is a correlation between audience interests in these shows and the kind of general unease in the zeitgeist culturally and to the extent that this provides a safe escape from some of the challenges and anxieties of modern-day society, we hope it's a great entertainment and a little refuge from the storm in a way.

Keith Addis on the decision to not go with a narrator:

Of course it was discussed particularly because of the tradition that exists in anthology with some of the iconic posts that we've seen in the past including Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock and the extent to which the Outer Limited main title sequence really served that function.

I think we decided that it was a fresher approach to use the time to dive right into the story telling itself. But it was discussed and everyone agreed that this was the right approach under these circumstances. There are only 43 and odd minutes to tell these stories in a network hour, and we wanted to make sure that that directors had as much of that time as we could possibly give them.

Keith Addis on doing horror at a broadcast network standard:

We were anxious in the transition from the show we had done at Showtime ["Masters of Horror"] to the commercially - the commercial environment of NBC and the impact that would have on the filmmakers and the writers in the process of telling these stories. But we were totally surprised when we began talking to the writers and the directors, how intrigued they were about this challenge. It was a really great unintended consequence of the switch from the show we had done at Showtime to this different but related show we’re doing for NBC.

And I think there was a consensus, certainly it wasn't unanimous but there was a strong consensus that most of the elements that caused these episodes of Masters of Horror to be what you would call R-rated, basically the graphic gore and a lot of the sexual violence had been played out as far as they could be in the movies, on cable shows, and that these restrictions, these guidelines that obviously exist in the commercial broadcast environment really motivated the writers and directors to think much more imaginatively and much more creatively about the devices they’d use to get audiences pushed just as far but in more imaginative ways.

One of the things that Andrew has said before that I think is very smart and may be obvious to you guys too, is it’s so often much scarier not to see than to see graphically what's going on, and that's a great advantage of telling these stories in television. And frankly for the audience that expects more, there will be more to see on the home video version of these shows than there will be on the broadcast version, and I think that will satisfy that different kind of audience.

Keith Addis on the anthology format:

I grew up in the 50s and remember the great anthologies and particularly one of the great things about an anthology is, you don't have to get locked in to every episode the way you do in the serialized television show. If you liked one of the episodes, there’s a really good chance you will like others. And frankly, if one wasn't for you, there’s still a really good chance that others will be. So I think we have a really broad spectrum of people that we think we can draw to the show and enjoy it.

Jesse Plemons and Eric Roberts on the challenge of acting in the horror genre:

Jesse: I guess for me the most challenging thing was just the endurance of it all, I mean, for most of the show, well at least the last, you know, 20, 30 minutes of it, it’s all really, really high intensity, high emotion, like, you know, he’s scared out of his mind. So it was - that was something that was kind of challenging was just keeping that same intensity throughout, you know, throughout the show. So that was something that was a challenge, but, yeah.

Eric: The biggest challenge for me as an actor and a person was this story peaked in about ten minutes, and that peak maintains itself up to the very, very end. And it doesn’t ever come down from that peak level.

And as an actor if I didn’t have a truly great, great director, I would have been panicked. I would have come across as cheating and being repetitive as were Brad Anderson, you know, kept it interesting and every scene was a different level of peaked hysteria. But I was actually frightened of the fact that if I hit this this early can I maintain this, and if I do maintain it, is it going to come across as just - as repetition? And, but, I was in a great director’s hands. I know I sound repetitive, but I just can’t say that enough.

Jesse and Eric on what got them excited about "Fear":

Jesse: This is actually my first horror project that I’ve done and it was something that I always wanted to do. I mean, I’ve read a lot of scripts, but honestly this was a well written story which really got me excited.

And, I don’t know, I think the main thing that I kind of took out of it was just how, I don’t know, I got a new-found respect for actors and, well, just everyone involved in horror because there’s just so much that goes into it - time, energy. It’s just - it’s not an easy process, you know, I mean, and this was eight days. I can’t imagine doing a movie where you’re screaming and being freaked out the whole time, but it was a lot of fun though.

Eric: My interest was piqued because of Mr. Addis and Mr. Anderson, my commitment came through because of the script itself. It was just juicy. And I get offered a lot of pointlessly crazy people to play, and this guy was kind of a normal a-hole who becomes possessed basically by this experience. And I knew I had a really great, great director behind me because of his past work I was aware of. So I knew I could put myself in his lap and he would steer me correctly because it’s hard to cry and die in almost every scene of a project and not get boring. And - but Mr. Anderson, you know, really took good care of that and kept it interesting.

- posted by Raoul

Was 'Sight' Too Plain?

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:37:34 GMT

Last night marked the premiere of USA Network's new dramedy "In Plain Sight." It focuses on Mary Shannon, a federal marshal responsible for safeguarding people in witness protection. It's the latest incarnation of a show featuring people super-skilled at their job but can't handle their personal life. At some point, Hollywood will give us the story of someone who's super-skilled at their personal life but can't handle his career. But I digress.

It's been a while since USA Network has had a series that I didn't love at first sight. Sadly, "IPS" breaks that successful streak.

Not that it's bad. It's a fine way to pass the time, and really, I'm not seeing a whole host of better summer options right about now.

But compare "IPS" to such shows as "The Closer" or "Burn Notice" and it just comes up short. Judging by the pilot at least, it just needed something more.

There were the occasional laughs, like when Mary gave a guy phone sex in an effort to figure out where he is. It endeared itself to me a little when she chose the name "Nomi" after the lead in "Showgirls" for her little act.

It may have suffered from Pilotitis when it tried to establish Mary as a tough chick who disdains froufrou stuff like high heels and perfume, things her hapless boss was thinking of getting her for her birthday. (Eventually he settled on a $50. Hasn't the man heard of gift cards?) Then there's her partner, Marshall, who she treats like a doormat and who apparently loves her for it. There's a guy Raphael she's having casual sex with but who also apparently wants more. The show also features a hovering mom, Jinx, and a crazy sister, Brandi.

I'm willing to give the show more time to breathe and find a voice. I am a little worried though. Rumor was that the next two episodes aren't as good as the pilot.

- posted by Raoul