The TV Addict 

Are you unable to make it tonight’s Paley Festival Panel featuring the cast and creative team of GOSSIP GIRL? Don’t have the financial wherewithal of a Serena Van Der Woodsen or a Blair Waldorf? Is your private jet ‘in the shop’? Well no worries. The Paley Center for Media has finally stepped into the twenty-first century.

For the first time ever, fans will be able to watch the event as it happens live and online. Simply click here at 7PM pacific (10PM eastern) to check it out.

xoxo, The TV Addict

Thanks to this crazy thing called the internet, one apparently no longer needs to sell their soul, house or iphone to scrape together the dough to make it this year’s Paley Festival. Simply click on any of these great links below to get all the buzz from Saturday’s fantastic PUSHING DAISIES panel. The only link that’s missing; the support group for those of us who are still utterly depressed that they can’t make it to this year’s fest! Facebook group anyone?

Courtesy of the Official Paley Festival Blog, click here to enjoy this highlight from the Panel. [Warning, it will most definitely add to the bitterness that you weren’t there in person!]

Pushing Daisies at Paley Fest ‘08 [ThePieMaker.com]

The Pushing Daisies LJ Community [The Pie Hole]

Paley Fest “Pushing Daisies” Panel [The Televisionary Blog]

Daisies Pushing For a “More Aggressive” Season 2 [Ausiello Report]

Rather than remain incredibly bitter and resentful that virtually the entire world seems to be attending this weeks 25th Annual Paley Festival [and yes, I’m talking to you GMMR and DUCKY!] This TV Addict will yet again take the high road in an effort to ensure my fellow TV Addicts and Paley Fest attendees have the time of their life.

As a two time Paley Festival veteran, one of the highlights of the event is the audience Q&A, where fans can ask questions to their favorite show’s stars and show-runners. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. Thus, the TV Addict proudly presents: 5 Questions NOT to ask* should you get the opportunity.

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Like all good things do, the 2007 Paley Festival has come to an end. The TV addict had a fantastic week in Los Angeles, enjoying the sun, the food (In-N-Out Burger, Pinks Famous Hot Dogs — Yum!) and of course the TV. In case you missed them, click the links below to check out our Paley Festival Recaps.

DEXTER
NIP/TUCK
PRISON BREAK
HEROES
UGLY BETTY

“Ugly is the new pretty,” wrote the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, rightfully predicting that viewers and critics alike would fall in love with the charm and humanity of UGLY BETTY. Not surprisingly, the entire cast of UGLY BETTY were just as likable and charming as their on-screen personas. What follows is some of the highlights of theTVaddict’s final Paley Festival event of 2007.

UGLY BETTY came to America via Ben Silverman, then an agent at William Morris. “At the time, I was scanning the globe for different ideas and concepts for television show. An agent friend of mine called me up and told me about a telenovela that was taking Columbia by storm called YO SOY BETTY, LA FEA.” Continues Silverman, “My friend sent me an image of the Columbian actress that played Betty and the ratings information — I immediately said I’m beyond interested. It’s the perfect vehicle for television.”

What follows is the traditional pre-requisite for a Hollywood success story. Showrunner Silvio Horta was just about to give up on Hollywood having recently failed to get his comedy pilot off the ground and deciding to flee to Europe for a vacation. But not before grabbing a script that had been floating around ABC/Touchstone. “I said I’m done with TV, but before I left I took the UGLY BETTTY script. I was in Switzerland when Ben [Silverman] and Teri [Weinberg] called me up to talk about the show.”

His first idea for BETTY came as a surprise to the producers. Explains Horta, “I was on the phone with Ben and Teri and I said I’ve figured it out — I know exactly how to do this — Betty is an FBI agent!” Thankfully for fans everywhere (as much fun as it might have been to watch Betty go Sydney Bristow on Amanda) Horta’s first idea didn’t come to fruition. But luckily, an early idea did get pushed ahead. Bring on Salma Hayek as producer. Right away Salma knew who she wanted for her Betty. As star America Ferrera explains.

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In hindsight, the NIP/TUCK panel was perhaps the week’s most disappointing panel at this years Paley Festival. In fact, the word panel is a giant misnomer — as the night was pretty much dominated by two voices — creator Ryan Murphy and star Julian McMahon (Dr. Christian Troy). While Murphy offered up some interesting anecdotes and insight with regards to the show, star Julian McMahon dominated the conversation a little too much for this TV addict’s liking. Who knew Julian McMahon had so much in common with the centre-of-attention doctor he plays on NIP/TUCK?

That said, here’s what creator Ryan Murphy had to say with regards to the origins of NIP/TUCK, on casting the show, the infamous story-lines, stunt casting and of course, the carver controversy.

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Short of spending the day with J.J. Abrams, today really was one of the greatest days in LA for this TV addict. At 11:30am I got to spend almost a half an hour on the phone with none other than America's Sweetheart (or perhaps just mine) Emily VanCamp (EVERWOOD, BROTHER & SISTERS). Followed by an evening with the entire cast of UGLY BETTY.

The UGLY BETTY panel was not surprisingly hilarious thanks to the most likeable cast in the history of television. Above is my photo with the Becki Newton — and if you’re wondering why it’s so ‘artsy’, well Becki took the photo herself (without being able to see the screen). Yes, Becki Newton touched my camera (it’s being cast in gold as we speak). Among the interesting tidbits we learned from tonight’s panel:

The original concept for UGLY BETTY’S fish out of water story was for Betty to be an FBI agent. An idea quickly rejected by executive producer Benjamin Silverman.

Eric Mabius (Daniel Meade) almost turned down UGLY BETTY in favour of becoming a HERO on NBC’S HEROES.

Ashley Jensen (EXTRAS) Scottish designer Christina McKinney was originally conceived as a straight talking New Yorker. That is until Ashley Jensen auditioned for the roll.

Alan Dale was not the first choice for the character of Bradford Meade. He in fact was only cast when a big name star was ‘let go’ for being too difficult.

Michael Urie and Becki Newton are as funny and adorable in person as they are on television.

For theTVaddict.com’s full and detailed recap, please check back tomorrow.

After attending last night’s HEROES panel at the 2007 Paley Festival, it’s quite clear that Tim Kring secretly gave each of our favourite HEROES a hidden secondary ability — the power of comedic timing. The audience of hundreds was puddy in the panels hand, laughing at every word that came out of Greg Grunberg’s (Matt Parkman) mouth and even more surprisingly Leonard Roberts (Seriously, who knew D.L. Hawkins was so funny? The guy was on fire). The following is theTVaddict’s best attempt to capture the energy and excitement of the event.

I’ll begin by saying that the night got off to a rocky start thanks to moderator Tony Potts (ACCESS HOLLYWOOD), Potts started off the evening with a pointless anecdote about losing his wedding ring on a recent trip to the Bahamas with his family. Someone needed to tell Tony — and fast — that even though he’s on TV, nobody was there to watch him talk. Thankfully, after screening the episode entitled “Homecoming” and watching a sneak peak at episode 19 Tony realized who we were all here to see an introduced the panel. The panel included creator Tim Kring, Santiago Cabrera (Isaac Mendez), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Mohinder Suresh), Jack Coleman (H.R.G), Greg Grunberg (Matt Parkman), Hayden Panettiere (Claire Bennet), Masi Oka (Hiro Nakamura), Milo Ventimiglia (Peter Petrelli), Adrian Pasdar (Nathan Petrelli), Ali Larter (Niki Sanders), Noah Gray-Cabey (Micah Sanders) and Leonard Roberts (D.L. Hawkins). Here’s what they had to say.

Tony Potts: The fans are obviously all dying to know what happens next after Monday’s fantastic episode. Are you all really nervous about what happens in the next script? Is it scary knowing Tim [KRING] holds the keys to your fate?

Tim Kring: As we speak we’re finishing writing the season finale, I know everyone’s fate.
Greg Grunberg: Tim survives.
Tim Kring: Yes, I’m doing nicely.

How hard is it not to know, people are dying, things happen?

Greg Grunberg: It’s exciting. I just read episode 22, which absolutely blew me away. I can honestly say that it’s going to blow everyone here away as well.

[Everyone looks at Milo….. (laughter)]

Greg Grunberg: It’s the nature of the show to know we’re all vulnerable, it’s exciting.

Jack Coleman: Unlike the rest of showbusiness which is so secure.
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Just got back from tonight’s Paley Festival Event starring yours (and my) favourite HEROES. Aside from screening the episode “Homecoming” the audience was also treated to a really interesting new scene between Mr. Linderman and Nathan Petrelli from episode 19 (airing April 23). For some mild (but really cool spoilers) click the link below. And make sure to return tomorrow to theTVaddict.com for a complete (and incredibly detailed) recap from tonight’s fantastic panel.

Needless to say, the entire panel is thrilled with the fan’s reception to the show and Greg Grunberg is not surprisingly the most likeable (and funniest) actor in Hollywood.

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The Museum of Radio and Television managed to do what America’s Law Enforcement couldn’t accomplish in almost two years — get the Fox River Boys in a room together. Guards… Guards! Unfortunately, two stars still managed to allude capture, namely Wentworth Miller (Michael Scofield) and William Fichtner (FBI Special Agent Alexander Mahone) who had prior shooting commitments.

Yet any disappointment PRISON BREAK fans may have felt due to the absence of stars Miller and Fichtner were quickly forgotten thanks to an overall fantastic panel at the 2007 Paley Festival. The cast that did make an appearance — including Dominic Purcell (Lincoln Burrows), a very pregnant Sarah Wayne Callies (Sara Tancredi), Robert Knepper (T-Bag), Wade Williams (Captain Brad Bellick), Rockmond Dunbar (C-Note), Amaury Nolasco (Sucre) along with executive producers Marty Adelstein, Dawn Parouse and Paul Scheuring more than made up for the lack of everybody’s favourite tattooed inmate. Here’s what the panel had to share with regards to the evolution of the series, being cast as an inmate and the somewhat violent nature of the show. Be sure to read down to the end for some season three spoilers.

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