BROTHERS, WAREHOUSE 13 and Jim Cameron’s upcoming Avatar. I suppose this would be one of those situations where when it rains, it pours?
CCH Pounder: Yes indeed, but I think that the one thing that connects them all is different shades of rather powerful woman. A woman who has a great sense of who she is. Each of those roles, although they are completely different is showing not sexy, bumbling, vampy woman, but WOMAN. One is a mother [BROTHERS], one you can relate to as a boss [WAREHOUSE 13] and one who you can relate to as a Queen {Avatar]. And it just so happens that they’re all coming out — because AVATAR took two years to film a very short role — at the same time.

How much more do you know about Mrs. Fredrickson than the audience?
Nothing. I know absolutely nothing and that’s the way they [the writers] keep it. In fact, when we first started WAREHOUSE 13, everybody on our show was given a packet revealing “this is where you came from, this is your history.” For Mrs. Fredrickson all I got was from the writers is, “we are not disclosing anything!” We don’t even know what quality of life is in her, whether she’s real, whether she’s a hologram (which by the way, is my theory), whether she’s lived 100 years or a 1000 years, they won’t tell me anything. Which for this story, works. There’s something kind of fantastic about keeping the mystery of her. Mrs. Fredrickson is an absolutely mysterious woman when she appears and that part is fine, for any other role it would be difficult to not have some kind of backstory.

Would it be safe to assume you know more about your character in James Cameron’s equally mysterious Avatar?
Although I think fans have seen more of the finished product that I have, I know a great deal more about Avatar because Jim has created a an entirely new world And because I have to inhabit that world you’re learning everything from the first seed just so it makes it normal for you, it’s huge. In this world, your vessel doesn’t look like the vessel you’re accustom to, it’s the most amazing film I’ve been apart of. You’re acting in no makeup, in a grey box, and you’re creating a world. It’s so much fun.

Have you ever worked with Jim before?
Nearly, I nearly got there in The Abyss, but you had to be able to swim to do that film! That’s when I first met him. But the person that I met in The Abyss to me is a completely different person to me that I met in Avatar. In The Abyss, I was just talking with him, being interviewed, where as in Avatar, I’m working with him, we’re partnering, creating something so it was much more fascinating.

BROTHERS is such a change of pace for you, what attracted you to the world of situation comedy?
I had done seventeen years of drama, i came from the theatre where you could do anything, comedy, drama, musical, whatever. But in this town [Hollywood], if you do something fabulous and you do it well, they say “No, no, no that’s what she does.” BROTHERS is my opportunity to break the spell and challenge myself and challenge the way people see me. I’ve gone from crime victims to authoritative woman and now to comedy. Let’s see how it goes.

After 13 seasons on the brink of cancellation, one of television’s most underappreciated family comedies comes to a close with an hour-long finale (Sunday 8PM on FOX). The first half of which is actually just a new episode — the real goodbye is the second half, where Hank and his son finally bond over (in what only seems appropriate for KOTH) their shared love of beef when Bobby joins a meet-inspection team. If you’ve never seen this hilarious, often incisive telling of family issues and red state America, you’ve been missing a series that had more fully-realized characters, sense of storytelling, and things to say (and funny ways to say it) than half of the live-action comedies in the last decade, and you should definitely start catching the re-runs. The final scene is touching, bringing together the Hills and all the characters that made the fictional town of Arlen, Texas a destination long overlooked. Grade: A

BROTHERS’ CCH Pounder and Carl Weather; FRINGE’s Lance Reddick and Blair Brown; LIE TO ME’s Kelli Williams, Monica Raymund and Mekhi Phifer; THE WANDA SYKES SHOW Wanda Sykes; FAMILY GUY’s Seth MacFarlane; BONES’ Tamara Taylor, Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz; THE CLEVELAND SHOW’s Mike Henry and Rich Appel; HOUSE’s Peter Jacobson; DOLLHOUSE’s Eliza Dushku, Enver Gjokaj, Dichen Lahman and Tahmoh Penikett; GLEE’s Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not suggesting that anyone should thank FOX for cancelling [insert your own missed, mourned and lamented series here], but rather that they should be applauding for taking some incredible risks (such as putting SEINFELD alum Patrick Warburton into a giant blue bug suit and giving us the quirktastic comedy THE TICK).

Unlike other networks who shall not be named (CBS, ABC, NBC) who pat themselves on the back for having the “cajones” to launch such creative endeavors as CSI: NY, NCIS: LOS ANGELES or yet another medical drama (Quick… which’ll be cancelled first: TRAUMA or MERCY?), FOX has taken risks, for better (ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE) or worse (OSBOURNES: RELOADED).

In other words, FOX’s gambles may not always pay off, but at least they’re willing to take the chance on shows that occasionally change the way we look at television, such as 24 or even AMERICAN IDOL. And while folks love to take FOX to task for the cancellation of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, it’s worth noting that the network gave the show three season in which to try and find an audience. Think NBC would have been so patient?

As anyone who isn’t blind, deaf or dumb (in either sense of the word) no doubt knows, this fall FOX will be rolling out another high-risk show with the launch of GLEE, a genre-bending series with something for everyone… that could, in fact, prove to be not enough of anything for a mass audience. That seems unlikely given the initial response to the pilot, but it wouldn’t be the first time that a critical darling found a cult following but didn’t catch on with the formula-loving, originality-fearing, mind-numbed masses.

After all, those folks are gonna have a pretty full schedule, what with three CSI’s and two NCIS’ to keep up with.

The Observer crashes the party

BONES’ David Boreanaz and LIE TO ME’s Mekhi Phifer

The cast of LIE TO ME Kelli Williams, Exec. Producer David Nevins, Brendan Hines, Monica Raymund and Chairman Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Co. Peter Rice

Kevin Reilly, with HOUSE cast member Hugh Laurie, HOUSE creator and executive producer David Shore and executive producer Katie Jacobs

DOLLHOUSE cast member Dichen Lachman

HOUSE’s Lisa Edelstein and Peter Jacobson

Photo Credits: CR: Frank Micelotta/FOX

Suffering from a severe case of the Mondays? Lucky for you, theTVaddict.com has the cure. Step #1: Watch this new promo for GLEE that we guarantee will put a smile on your face. Step #2: Come to grips that the new Fall Season is just around the corner thanks to the release of FOX’s fall schedule (which you can see after the jump). Step #3: See Step #1. Trust the TV Addict, it never gets old.

Wednesday September 16
8PM: SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
9PM: GLEE

Thursday September 17
8PM: BONES
9PM: FRINGE

Friday September 18
8PM: BROTHERS
8:30PM: ‘TIL DEATH
9PM: DOLLHOUSE

Monday September 21
8PM: HOUSE (2-hours)

Sunday September 27
8PM: THE SIMPSONS
8:30PM: THE CLEVELAND SHOW
9PM: FAMILY GUY
9:30PM: AMERICAN DAD

Monday September 28
8PM: LIE TO ME

Saturday November 7
11PM: THE WANDA SYKES SHOW

In a surprising move, FOX has quietly pushed up the premiere of VIRTUALITY, Ronald D. Moore’s two-hour movie (read: failed pilot) from July 4th to June 26. More peculiar still is that to coincide with said under-the-radar movie, an email found its way into theTVaddict.com’s inbox this morning asking if we’d be interested in interviewing any of the show’s producers/ writers/ and stars (yes please!) Begging the question: Does the one-two combo of FOX moving VIRTUALITY off of what is traditionally one of the least watched night’s of television of the year (July 4th, America’s Birthday), and the networks sudden/ unexpected need to promote the movie lend credence to the incessant rumors that VIRTUALITY is not nearly as dead as we all initially thought? Discuss.

GLEE, FOX’s musical dramedy hybrid about a high school glee club, seemed at first everything that ratings-hungry advertisers and networks love: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL meets AMERICAN IDOL, complete with a pretty young cast, catchy song ditties, and the sarcasm-laced script that the 18-49 demographic has shown to eat up in droves – something more earnest than it was worth.

And then I watched it: mea /freakin’/ cupla.

Having enjoyed his previous foray into the teenage quest for social identity (POPULAR), and having fallen in and out of love with his dark, brooding plastic surgery satire NIP/TUCK, I should have known creator Ryan Murphy, with all his tendencies towards over indulgence and writing his plots into corners, can’t help but put on a fabulous show. And I would expect that those who trumpet their skepticism for dance, music, or any combination of the two, would be just as surprised by GLEE’s infectious sense of humor, spirit, and brains. It’s the musical comedy for people who hate musical comedies.

Set in a fictional Ohio high school, it follows Spanish teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), who takes up the down-on-its-luck glee club to recapture the youthful passion he had when he and his baby-frenzied wife (Jessalyn Gilsig) first met. Faced with a tiny pool of talent beyond prima donna Rachel (Lea Michele, donning Reese Witherspoon’s Tracy Flick from Election), he recruits quarterback-cum-secret-shower-singer Finn (Cory Monteith) into joining, setting the two up as the leads.

New Directions, the aptly devised new name for the chorus group, is marching through an uphill battle: overshadowed (and by associated underfunded, leaving Will to pay for the program out of pocket) by the cheerleaders – the “Cheerios” – and their caustic leader Sue (the perfectly snappy Jane Lynch, whom without the character would never work), they have to work, song-by-song, to be taken seriously. Musical numbers as elaborate and explosive as a Broadway production from their main rival notwithstanding.

FOX is banking on GLEE to takeoff – it has positioned tonight’s premiere after the AMERICAN IDOL finale thinking we’ll love it so much that we’ll wait all summer to see another episode. This is risky, though I think it might pay off, but not for the reasons the brass thinks it will: GLEE is the anti-AMERICAN IDOL, filled with inspiring moments of remarkable talent, it embraces the lust for fame from Idol while turning it on its head, creating a parody that can perform Journey’s all-too-corny “Don’t Stop Believin’” without a hint of kitsch. Grade: A-

GLEE
According to the official FOX description: After a special preview event airing tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19, GLEE, the distinctive new comedy from Ryan Murphy (NIP/TUCK) starring Jane Lynch (The 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN) and newcomers Matthew Morrison (Broadway’s “Hairspray”), Lea Michele (“Spring Awakening”) and Cory Monteith (KYLE XY), will enter its freshman year this fall. Combining biting humor with a soundtrack of hit music from past to present, the inventive series follows an optimistic high school teacher who – against all odds – attempts to restore McKinley High’s fading Glee Club to its former glory, while helping a group of underdogs realize their true star potential.

According to the TV Addict: We’re GLEE-ful in anticipation. So much so that you’ll definitely want to return to theTVaddict.com tomorrow… trust us.

BROTHERS
According to the official FOX description: Starring Michael Strahan (FOX NFL SUNDAY) and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell (ED, VERONICA’S CLOSET), BROTHERS is a new half-hour comedy about a former NFL hot shot who learns that even though you can always go home again, the trip back might be tougher than you think….

According to the TV Addict: And a whole lot less funny that we were hoping. Which is a shame because not only are we rooting for Daryl “Chill” Mitchell from his ED and VERONICA’S CLOSET days, it’s awfully refreshing to see a comedy on network television that doesn’t revolve around a bunch of skinny white people.

HUMAN TARGET
According to the official FOX description: HUMAN TARGET is a full-throttle, action-packed thrill ride from executive producers McG (TERMINATOR: SALVATION) and Simon West (CON AIR, TOMB RAIDER). Based on the popular DC Comics graphic novel and starring Mark Valley (FRINGE), Chi McBride (PUSHING DAISIES) and Academy Award nominee Jackie Earle Haley (“Watchmen”), the series follows CHRISTOPHER CHANCE (Valley), a unique private contractor who will stop at nothing – even if it means becoming a human target – to keep his clients alive.

According to the TV Addict: We’ve already marked our calendar for the January 17 (2010!) premiere, thanks to FOX’s choice of human targets. Mark Valley, Chi McBride, Jackie Earle Haley and Tricia Helfer (Who does a bang-up job of guesting in the series premiere). Talk about your casting call, mission accomplished.

THE CLEVELAND SHOW
According to the official FOX description: THE CLEVELAND SHOW is a new animated series that follows everyone’s favorite soft-spoken neighbor, CLEVELAND BROWN (Mike Henry), to his hometown in Virginia as he settles down with his high school sweetheart, her unruly kids and his own 14-year-old son, CLEVELAND JR. (Kevin Michael Richardson).

According to this TV Addict: Considering we pause our PVR/DVR to watch Seth MacFarlane shill for hulu.com, the chances that we’ll be missing THE CLEVELAND SHOW are about as good as Meg’s chances of being voted prom queen.

SONS OF TUCSUN
According to the official FOX description: In the tradition of MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE and THE BERNIE MAC SHOW, SONS OF TUCSON is a family comedy about three brothers who hire a charming, wayward schemer to stand in as their father when their real one goes to prison. What begins as a business relationship evolves into something more complex and compelling: a family unlike any we’ve ever seen….

According to this TV Addict: … Unless of course you’ve seen MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, which let’s face it, TUSCAN bares an eery similarity to. Luckily for FOX, we kinda dug MALCOLM and so did America. Which is why we’re not about to crown Tyler Labine the new “show-killer” just yet (RIP: REAPER and INVASION)

PAST LIFE
According to the official FOX description: Have you ever experienced déjà vu or met someone you thought seemed familiar? Do you believe in karma, fate or love at first sight? From writer David Hudgins (“Friday Night Lights”), and inspired by the book “The Reincarnationist” by M.J. Rose, comes PAST LIFE, a new drama series about an unlikely pair of past-life detectives who investigate whether what is happening to you today is the result of who you were before.

According to this TV Addict: This show belongs on CBS. ‘Nuff said.

THE WANDA SYKES SHOW
According to the official FOX description: On Saturday, Nov. 7 (11:00 PM-Midnight ET/PT), late night will never be the same when Emmy Award winner Wanda Sykes returns to FOX to host THE WANDA SYKES SHOW (working title). The irreverent Saturday late-night series will feature Sykes’ outspoken comedic perspective on current events along with topical, high-energy roundtable discussions.

According to this TV Addict: Where Wanda goes, we will follow.