The TV Addict 

While the focus of this site is predominantly on American television, every so often this proud-to-be-Canadian TV Addict likes to take a moment to highlight some of the must see TV that makes its way North of the 49th parallel.

When it comes to tonight’s series premiere of DAMAGES, one thing is for certain. You may inititally tune into the show for Glenn Close’s Golden Globe winning performance as morally ambiguous legal beagle Patty Hewes. But you’ll stick around thanks to a stellar supporting cast (or more specifically to watch Ted Danson prove there’s life after CHEERS) and enough twists and turns that you’ll soon be scratching your head and wondering whether you’re watching LOST in a courtroom. (DAMAGES airs on Mondays at 10PM on Showcase)\

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After one week of endless strike news, TV fans finally have something to cheer about.

FX has renewed DAMAGES for not one, but two seasons. Which equals 26 episodes of suspense filled, head-scratching fun.

“FX is proud of our status as a leader in fostering bold, high-quality scripted programming,” said FX Networks President John Landgraf. “We commend [creators] Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, Daniel Zelman and their magnificent cast, headed by Glenn Close, with pulling off this hugely ambitious series and establishing ‘Damages’ as one of the best dramas on American television.”

Season 2 of DAMAGES will begin filming early next year in New York with Glenn Close, Tate Donovan and Rose Byrne all signed on for the ride. Giving fans one more reason to hope this strike ends soon.

While I realize this is a week late, the TV Addict finally found the time to watch the incredible first season finale of DAMAGES. Emphasis on ‘first season,’ because I’m fully expecting FX….

[Commence shameless sucking up]

… the world’s coolest cable netlet. The network famous for shepherding little watched, yet critically acclaimed dramas like DAMAGES and THE RICHES….

[End shameless sucking up]

… to renew DAMAGES for a second season.

That said, the season finale has left my head spinning with questions. And if I have any hope of getting to bed in order to wake up for my [shameless plug] 8AM TV Addict radio spot on Flow 93.5 in Toronto, I’m enlisting the help from YOU, my far smarter and better looking readers. So here they are, a few questions with regards to first season finale of DAMAGES.

1] Is Arthur Frobisher really dead? If BATTLESTAR GALACTICA’S William Adama and 24’s Tony Almeida can survive, we have a feeling Frobisher can.

2] What’s the deal with Patty’s deceased child? Does she have any connection to Frobisher? The accident in Arlington?

3] What was the unexplained mystery surrounding Patty’s son. Clearly he’s up to no good.

4] Why is Patty being investigated by the FBI?

5] Lastly, when will FX end the suspense and officially pick-up DAMAGES for a second season? Lord knows if DIRT received a second season, surely there’s room for Patty Hewes.

By: Amrie Cunningham, My Take On TV

The season finale of DAMAGES airs tonight on FX and I have to tell you, I cannot wait. You know who else is excited about the finale, and this amazing show? The one and only Glenn Close, who, as the star of the show, blows me away on a weekly basis. We had the privilege of talking to Glenn as part of a conference call FX set up to gear up for what I hear is an amazing finale and she had such wonderful things to say. I could have stayed on the phone for hours!

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule. I have so been enjoying Patty Hewes and your wonderful series on FX. I’m curious to know after the Frobisher case wraps and Ted Danson is essentially done, what actors are on your short list that you would like to invite on your series to play opposite with?

Glenn: I’m totally unprepared to answer that question, because we’ve just been so concentrated on finishing up. I have not given it any thought. There are tons of actors I would love to work with, but I’d be just randomly throwing names out at this time. I think what is exciting about Damages is that the writing is such high quality that it will attract, hopefully, a lot of really, really good top actors. That’s what makes it fun for all of us.

My question for you is, you had a very critically acclaimed turn with 13 episodes on The Shield. And I’m wondering what lured you back to TV, given your success as a feature and stage actor?

Well, when I finished The Shield, I loved working on FX a lot. I really had a lot of respect for Peter Liguori, who was the head of FX at the time and John Landgraf, who is the head right now. I like the way they take risks and they give really gifted writers a lot of creative leeway. So I kind of casually said to John, “If you ever can think of anything in New York, just let me know.” And lo and behold, I guess it was about a year later, I was told that these three guys wanted to pitch me an idea. It would be shot in New York, which was imperative for me, because I can’t go to California, because of my family.

So we sat down and talked about it and I said, “It sounds really intriguing; I’ll wait to read the pilot.” I read the pilot and I said, “Wow, this is really good.” So on the strength of that one script and the fact that I’d be working in my backyard close to my family, I said, “I think this has become a no-brainer.” I was teamed up with FX again and a really incredible cast and crew and writers.

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Welcome to THE TV ADDICT’S WEEK IN REWIND A look back at last week’s good/bad/ugly in the world of television. Oh, and speaking of good. Did you hear? TheTVaddict.com was in the LA TIMES?

BEST EPISODE OF THE WEEK: ALIENS IN AMERICA
Monday’s ALIENS IN AMERICA taught this TV Addict a lot. Namely, that Justin is brilliant. Creating a fake Rocket Club as an excuse to escape his overprotective mom [Franny thought the Canadian Flag was a giant red pot leaf!] and chill in a friend’s basement, eat cupcakes and watch movies — why didn’t I think of that in high school?

More math for you — one really funny plot [local police think Raja’s a terrorist because he’s buying rocket supplies at the local hardware store] plus some terrific one liners [Cheerleader philosophy: “What you’re actually saying is that in this country, there’s absolutely nothing a boy can do that a girl won’t cheer for.”] equals one explosive ending, and the funniest half hour of comedy this week.

LAUGH OUT LOUD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: DEXTER
Sure the words ’serial killer’ and ‘funny’ don’t exactly go hand in hand, but we have a feeling anyone who’s ever bought a car couldn’t help but laugh when Dexter’s latest victim just so happened to be a car salesman. Memo to Dexter: Having recently gone through the ordeal of purchasing my first car, if you’re ever in the Toronto area, I’ve got a few car salesman who are most definitely worthy of your special brand of justice.

BIGGEST SHOCKER OF THE WEEK: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Dumbledore was gay! Oh wait, this is theTVaddict.com. Mamma Taylor slapped Julie! Landry and Tyra did it! Riggins attended Church! Coach Taylor’s coming back to Dillon! Two questions for FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHT fanatics. One, can FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS get any better? And two, how long until next week’s episode?

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Who is watching DAMAGES and completely obsessing over everything that they see, like I am? I can’t wait for the next two episodes, to see what everyone thinks, and to get to talk to fellow viewers about how the mystery turned out. I got the chance to be in on a conference call with the charming Tate Donovan, once again, to discuss the final episodes of the year. He covered a lot of the same things we talked about last time, but I got the chance to ask him a few new questions, and wanted to share it will all of you guys!

Amrie: Hi. How are you? Good to talk to you again!

Tate Donovan: Good to talk to you.

First things first, you know, the show is a big mystery; the whole season has been a mystery and everybody is watching it and trying to figure it out. Were you as a cast as on edge and trying to figure it out? Were you as involved in trying to figure out the mystery as we are?

I would say more involved. Yeah. I mean, you know, we’re all like, you know, “Is it me?”, like we all want to know what, you know, we were heavily involved. Absolutely and, you know, it’s always sort of like you want to ask the producers a lot of questions. But you also like don’t want to bother them all the time….So, it’s always like trying to find the right time or like, “What’s going on with this? And why is that happening, you know?” And so, it’s always sort of like because those guys are just – they just work so hard. You know, you don’t want to like annoy them with questions. But trust me, yeah, we were deeply involved of what’s happening.

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Anybody else wildly disappointed by the always-anticipated makeover episode of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL? The only girl who even teared up a little bit about her new look was Bianca — who traded her purple weave for a nearly-shaved head — and she actually looked fierce! When Mr. Jay said that Victoria over-analyzed every pose, it was obvious why she had to go: Smart girls can’t model! See, some stereotypes actually are true!

I’ve decided to save a whole heck of a lot of time where THE BACHELOR is concerned by fast-forwarding through the show to only watch the overheated “coming up!” segments they do before each commercial break. I mean, if it’s worth seeing, it’s obviously going to be included, right? Then again, it is kinda fun to watch the more ridiculous moments, like Hillary telling the camera that she wants to be the first girl to get a kiss from Brad so she can rub it in the face of her rivals… completely unaware that Jenni napped that honor last week. But the best moment was when Mccarten explained her philosophy: “I’m I’m myself, whether it’s with me and you or whether it’s me by myself, at least I know I was myself, and at least I know that that’s what you saw was me.” Making it super-duper funny was the fact that she made this speech to Bachelor Brad’s twin brother, Chad… who isn’t so much a double as a kinda-looks-like-but-hotter version of the man of the hour. Most of the girls seemed not to notice the switch, but it was DeAnna who summed the situation up best (and blew about a billion soap opera plots out of the water) by saying, “I think when you’re dating someone and their twin brother walks in, you should notice that you’re not sitting next to the person that you think you have a great connection with!”

Only two episodes remain in the first season of DAMAGES, and as much as I’d love to tell everyone who’s not watching that they should make sure to tune in, I’m not going to. Why? Because this show is too damn good to try and jump into midstream. When this show hits DVD, run, don’t walk, to the nearest outlet selling it and get yourself a copy. This has proven to be, hands down, the best show of this or any recent television season. Of course, I could be speaking prematurely, because the past episode or two have led me to believe that one of the big plots is about to go in a direction I don’t love. I won’t say anything more, because I’d love nothing more than for people who watch this in reruns or buy the DVD to go in as blind as I did. I refuse to even watch scenes for next week, because I enjoy letting even the beautifully executed little moments catch me off guard.

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With DAMAGES inching closer and closer to what will undoubtedly be a surprising climax. This TV Addict can’t help but wonder, how is it going to end?

Because in all seriousness — at this point — I have no idea. Every character we’ve met thus far is morally ambiguous. Every episode ends with a surprise. And just when I think I’ve got things figured out, DAMAGES turns the tables.

Take last week’s ending for instance. Patty Hewes breaking down to tears at her beach house. Who knew this brilliant legal mastermind possessed such emotional and vulnerable characteristics?

Think you know who’s behind everything? Prove your Hewes-level intellect by posting your theory below and be sure to tune into what will yet again be another fantastic episode of DAMAGES tonight at 10PM on FX.

It’s been three days since episode seven of DAMAGES aired, yet as of Friday morning at 9AM the episode has to make an appearance on iTunes. What’s the deal? Here I am, patiently waiting to find out what happens next, ready and willing to hand over my hard earned cash, yet nobody seems to care. Would FX and Apple prefer I download the episode via more sinister methods? If not — get your act together and start releasing episodes immediately after they air.

Going bonkers planning your EMMY party for Sunday? Why not alleviate some of the stress by downloading theTVaddict.com’s official Emmy Ballot! Click here for the version with theTVaddict.com’s picks, or here for the spoiler free version!

Love free stuff! Why not enter theTVaddict.com’s two fantastic DVD contests. Obsessed with HEROES, click here to enter and win the first season on DVD. Prefer your ‘heroes’ a touch darker? Enter our DEXTER DVD contest by clicking here.

Still scratching your head as to when your favorite show returns this fall? Click here for theTVaddict.com’s Definitive Guide to Fall Premieres. Witty commentary at no extra charge.

And finally, just in case Ryan Seacrest bombs this Sunday — all is not lost. TheTVaddict.com will be LIVE BLOGGING THE EMMYS. So be sure to drop by and say ‘Hi!’

In a press conference Monday promoting the FX legal thriller DAMAGES, actor Tate Donovan [Jimmy Cooper] blamed the quick decline of THE OC on the ego’s of his young co-stars. “The kids became incredibly difficult to work with,” said Donovan, adding that, “the actors were unhappy, and they all wanted movie careers and did not want to be on television, all four of them. They were, like, ‘This show is killing my career.”

There’s nothing this TV Addict detests more than ungrateful actors. Killing their career? How about MAKING them? Who on earth were Benjamin Mackenzie, Misha Barton, Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson prior to THE OC? Since you asked, they were anonymous actors who happened to catch one really big break. A break they apparently took completely for granted. Thank-God THE OC ended so these kids can kick start their movie careers! By the way, can somone please be sure to let this TV Addict know when these kids get a movie ‘career.’

Thanks to TVTATTLE for the Tip!