Two Tivos To Paradise 8.24.07
Posted by Al Norton on 08.24.2007
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Hello Friends. I am back from an incredibly relaxing long weekend in Cape Cod, batteries fully charged for the upcoming fall season. The John Hiatt show was solid if unremarkable, although I discovered the true meaning of the word blessed when I held Mrs. Tivo's hand during Have A Little Faith In Me. One of the other highlights of the weekend came via XM Radio, which airs the old American Top 40 countdowns on Sunday afternoons; listening to Casey Kasem count them down on the drive home brought back a ton of memories.
If the news fits, wear it.
This Just In...Right as Two Tivos was going to press, Fox announced that is was canceling its new reality series Anchorwoman after only one airing. The premiere on Wednesday drew roughly 2.7 million viewers, barely one third of what the finale of So You Think You Can Dance pulled in the week before.
I Feel Charming, Oh So Charming, It's Alarming How Charming I Feel
Looking to avoid a sophomore slump, the producers of Ugly Betty are pulling out all the stops for the upcoming season, including bringing in Broadway heavyweight Marc Shaiman to write and direct a musical episode. Six Feet Under's Jeremy Rodriguez is a new cast member, and James Van Der Beek is expected to do multiple episodes as well. As Two Tivos was going to press, rumors were flying that Victoria Beckham would also do a gust spot.
The musical episode thing is becoming almost passé but bringing in Shaiman, hot off the success of Hairspray, and having Vanessa Williams in the cast, mean that this has some serious potential. There are also reports that a new group of comedy writers have been brought in to make the show's wit even sharper than before, so look for season two to be heavy on the laughs. UB was that rarest of rarities – a show that lives up to the hype – and I am looking forward to new episodes next month.
Holly Came From Miami, Fla, Hitchhiked Her Way Across The USA
FX and Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy have teamed up for 4 oz, a new dramatic pilot about a man with a family who decides to undergo a sex change operation. Brad Falchuck (Nip/Tuck) is a co-creator and will direct the pilot, and Brad Pitt is one of the executive producers.
Now that Big Love is a hit, transexuality is one of the last remaining television taboos, except when played for comic relief or as a brief sub plot, so this is sure to draw the kind of publicity that a cable network dreams of when launching a new series, especially with Pitt involved. Not that it's not the case with every show, but casting here will be of major importance, and I bet some serious talent will be interested in sinking their teeth into what I am sure will be a number of meaty roles (not just the lead character but also his family, who have to deal with this new reality).
So Gather Up Your Jackets, Moving To The Exits, I Hope You Have Found A Friend
While there has been no official announcement, rumors persist that the upcoming season of ER, it's 14th, will be it's last, and executive producer David Zabel is on record that he would like to bring back as many former cast members as possible. Noah Wyle is already confirmed for a multiple episode run, and they are trying to line up Thandie Newton to reprise her role as his wife. Zabel said they had already talked with Gloria Reuben and Julianna Margulies about returning, and the wish list includes Eriq La Salle and William H Macy as well as more recent alums like Laura Innes and Shane West.
I haven't watched ER in years - if I think your show is too depressing than that is really saying something – but could see how this could lead to the showing going out with a ratings bang. Last year started strong with the Nielsen's but by the end of the season it was losing to Shark in both total audience AND demographics. The big question is could they ever get Clooney to come back; while it would be a major coup, I wouldn't be shocked if he did a cameo, much like the surprise scene a few years back when he showed up to give Margulies' Carol Hathaway a proper farewell.
I, I Will Be King. And You, You Will Be Queen
Just one week after rumors of her joining the cast of Lost proved false, Kristen Bell confirmed that she has signed to appear on at least 13 episodes of the upcoming season of Heroes. In an interview with TV Guide she hinted that her character could be this season's main villain and also stated her interest in working with former Veronica Mars executive producer Rob Thomas, including a possible big screen version of the former CW private detective.
So let's see…Bell starred in Veronica Mars, which did multiple episodes including Battlestar Galactica references, almost did a stint on Lost, and now is on Heroes. The only way her Fanboy popularity could get any stronger is if she had a three-way with Kevin Smith and Joss Whedon on the main stage at Comic-Con. Wait, would that joke be better if I used Tricia Helfer and Evangeline Lily in the punch line? Since this news broke on Monday I am sure most of you are already aware but it's still a pretty major casting coup and a way to guarantee the Heroes keeps its mojo going into its second season.
I'm Taking What They're Giving ‘Cause I'm Working For A Livin'
The upcoming season of The Apprentice is a celebrity edition, with the following "stars" confirmed to participate: Joan Rivers, George Foreman, Carmen Electra, Jim Cramer, Pete Rose, Omarosa, Tony Hawk, Dana Patrick, Jeff Gordon, and Naomi Judd. The Donald told the NY Post's Page Six that negotiations were ongoing with Brittney Spears, that he and the show's producers were considering Paris Hilton (he said she, "wants to be on, and we're thinking about it, but I don't know if we will do it), and that he would be reaching out to Lindsay Lohan this week to gage her interest.
We all know there is NO WAY Brittney or Lindsay will do The Apprentice but The Donald does love the sound of his own voice and the truth is that mentioning them got this list of participants more coverage than it would have otherwise. It's a decent is uninspiring mix of celebs from all walks of life, and NBC is covering the various demographics but they definitely need a few contestants under the age of 30 to make this show a ratings winner.
Sailors Fighting In The Dance Hall, Oh Man, Look At That Caveman Go
Lenny Clarke (Rescue Me) and veteran character actor Colm Meany have been cast in Life On Mars, an upcoming ABC drama scheduled for a mid-season run. Adapted from an international Emmy winning BBC series of the same name, Life tells the story of Sam Tyler, a modern day police detective who gets in a car accident on the way to save his girlfriend from a serial killer and wakes up in 1973 David E Kelley, the man behind The Practice, Boston Legal, and Ally McBeal is the executive producer and writer of the US version, and the pilot is directed by 9 time Emmy winner Thomas Schlamme (The West Wing, Sports Night). Jason O'Mara (Men In Trees, In Justice) stars as Sam, with What About Brian's Rachelle Lefevre as the girl in 1973 who has to decide whether or not the new man in her life is crazy or really from the future. Clarke has been cast as a fellow cop, with Meaney as their boss.
Why is this news? Because Life On Mars is one of the most highly anticipated shows of the new season, at least by us here at Two Tivos. The pedigree of those involved is incredibly impressive, but it's the plot description that should sell you. No cell phones, no computers, no DNA evidence, and no pesky things like "political correctness" to get in the way of breaking a case. Sam Tyler finds himself having to go work as a cop (somehow they are expecting him at his new precinct as a transferred detective) in what feels like the dark ages, all along trying to find his way out of the madness and back to 2007. One of the things that added an edge to the original was the remote possibility that Sam was not from the future at all but simply insane. While I am fan of the original Life, many of the British pop culture reference were lost on me, so the idea of bringing it stateside has me giddy with excitement. Think of the possibilities with a show like this; the soundtrack alone will be worth tuning in for. Will Sam end up committed to a sanitarium because of his delusional rantings? Will he use his knowledge of the future to change history, stopping the serial killer before he can ever get to his girlfriend decades later? Maybe he could call up Don Zimmer and ask him to pitch around Bucky Bleepin' Dent?!?!?
But You Were Up To Your Old Tricks In Chapters Four Five And Six
All you need to know about the Nielsen's for the last week…How big was High School Musical 2? Try this on for size – Friday's premiere was the highest rated basic cable program of ALL TIME, and it was also the most watched show by 6-11 year olds in the HISTORY OF TELEVISION. Overall it pulled in over 17 million viewers, and when you add in how many people tuned into the re-airings on Saturday (8.4 million) and Sunday (7.5 million), well lets just say that HSM is well on it's way to world domination…What should not be lost in the HSM hubbub is that the episode of Hannah Montana that followed it on Friday night averaged 10.7 million, making it the top rated airing of a cable series in TELEVISION HISTORY…Big Brother drew 7.7 million viewers on Sunday, a season high for that time slot…CBS is continuing a strong summer, with 13 of the week's top 20 shows…
All The Young Dudes Carry The News
Industry Notes, Pilot Updates, & Casting News…While some may decry this as one of the signs of the apocalypse, noted Hollywood liberal Janine Garofalo will be a regular on the upcoming season of Fox's 24. Also joining the cast is Entourage's Rhys Coiro…Speaking of signs of the apocalypse, Ryan Seacrest will be hosting The Emmys for Fox this September…It's never a good sign when a show changes show runners before the premiere, but CBS bumped Bob Lowry from his position at the helm of Viva Laughlin. Finding the right tone is key for a Las Vegas drama-slash-musical, so they need to have everything aligned perfectly for this show to have shot…Ken Leung, who had a truly brilliant turn on The Sopranos last season as Uncle Junior's partner in crime at the mental hospital, will play a recurring role on Lost...The Wire's Lance Reddick is also Hawaii bound, signed to a recurring role of his own on Lost…NBC bought Mark Burnett's new game show Amne$ia as a mid-season replacement…ABC Family has picked up two new comedies, Happy Campers (a family packed in an RV and traveling the country) and Roomies (a group of friends living together). No truth to the rumor that Roomies is a remake of the classic Corey Haim – Burt Young series of the same name…Speaking of ABC Family, they also ordered a pilot for Samurai Girl, an adaptation of the popular young adult book series…The Food Network renewed Simply Delicioso for a second season…Larry King guests as himself on the season finale of The Closer…NBC is letting viewers watch the premieres of Chuck, Life, Bionic Woman, and Journeyman via on-demand starting on September 10th…Two Tivos reader Brian Mazmanian will be thrilled to learn that HBO has picked up a second season of Flight Of The Conchords…Kevin Federline will do a multi-episode arc on the upcoming season of One Tree Hill…In more OTH news, Daphne Zuniga is a new cast addition, as is her former Beautiful People co-star Torrey Devitto…It was a busy week for Jack Carpenter as he signed to star in the Comedy Central pilot Held Up as well as taking a recurring role on Fox's The Return Of Jezebel James. Now I just need to figure out who Jack Carpenter is…Aidan Quinn has been cast as Julianna Margulies husband on Fox's new Canterbury's Law, replacing Linus Roache, who left to become the new ADA on Law And Order…Emily Rose is not suffering from the cancellation of John From Cincinnati – she's doing eight episodes of Brothers And Sisters as well as a run on Jericho…
Turns Out Not Where But Who You're With That Really Matters
The top thing I watched since the last column went to press AKA The Best Of What's Around…If you aren't watching Flipping Out you are missing out on the best new reality show on TV. This week's rant about 50 Cent being left on the CD player was even better than his drink order from the premiere. What makes Jeff Lewis' various compulsion disorders so endearing is how genuine he is; he never, ever means anything other than exactly what he is saying, and I don't think he is one iota different because he is on camera. Maybe that's why I like the show so much – as crazy as it seems, what we are seeing is actually his reality, and that's incredibly rare on TV these days.
People Say I'm Crazy Doing What I'm Doing. Well, They Give Me All Kinds Of Warnings To Save Me From Ruin
What's flashed before my eyes the last seven days…Very little this week since the arrival of my new TV threw all my existing saved programs into limbo…Entourage had it's best episode of the season, and it's no coincidence that it was the one with the least amount of the misogyny the show has been filled with as of late. Anna Ferris has been more charming and likeable in her two episodes than in any of her movie roles…Surprise, surprise – Will won On The Lot!...Words can not do justice to how much I hate Ogi Ogas. In spite of his success, I am still loving Grand Slam and keeping my fingers crossed that he will eventually fall to Ken Jennings…Since Doug Benson war ROBBED of his clear cut victory on last week's Last Comic Standing, I have much less interest in seeing who wins, although I think Amy is pretty damn funny…
TV Pick Of The Week
The hands down biggest hit of the summer has been Lifetime's Army Wives – aside from being the top rated show with women 18-49, it single handedly transformed the network into a player in the original series game – and the season one finale is this Sunday at 10. With strong performances, material not already covered on primetime, and an excellent mix of well drawn female AND male characters, the show is reminiscent of the first year of Grey's Anatomy, as in not quite yet a great show but all the elements are in place. That comparison makes more sense when you learn that Mark Gordon executive produces both shows. My favorite two things about the show are the natural chemistry between Roxy and Trevor (Sally Pressman and Drew Fuller), who are fast becoming my favorite TV couple, and the dignified intensity that Sterling K Brown bring to his role as he struggles to find his identity as a man and husband in a world of women and wives. Don't miss the season finale of Army Wives this Sunday on Lifetime.
Two Tivos To Paradise, Weekly Update 30 Days, The 4400, After The Catch, Antique Roadshow, The Apprentice, Battlestar Galactica, Best Week Ever, Big Love, Bones, Boston Legal, Brothers And Sisters, Burn Notice, The Closer, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Dead Zone, The Deadliest Catch, Desperate Housewives, Destination Truth, Entourage, Extras, Eureka, Everybody Hates Chris, Flipping Out, Ghost Hunters, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, The Hills, House, How I Met Your Mother, Jericho, King Of Cars, Laguna Beach, Last Comic Standing, Law And Order, Law And Order: Criminal Intent, Law And Order: Special Victims Unit, Lost, Mad Men, Medium, My Name Is Earl, Monk, The New Adventures Of Old Christine, Next Food Network Star, The Office, On The Lot, One Tree Hill, Painkiller Jane, Project Runway, Psych, Real Time With Bill Maher, Rescue Me, The Riches, Rules Of Engagement, Saturday Night Live, Scrubs, Shark, Shear Genius, The Soup, Supernatural, Top Chef, Top Design, Ugly Betty, Welcome To The Parker
Additions :None Deletions :None
Here ends another edition of Two Tivos To Paradise. I am off to Hot Stove Cool Music at Fenway tonight, a charity concert headlined by John Legend. Hopefully by the time we meet again next week my a/v equipment will be fully functional and there will be a much larger "What I've Been Watching" section. Until then, check back with 411mania for all the latest, in particular Ben Piper's TV News Report than runs on Tuesdays. See you next Friday!
Feedback is encouraged at twotivostoparadise@yahoo.com.
Sources for this week's column include Daily Variety, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide, and Hollywood Reporter (as well as the web sites for those publications) as well as Aintit.cool.com.
