The TV Addict 

With the exception of the AMERICAN IDOL results show [which let’s face it, can be watched in about fifteen minutes courtesy of my trusty PVR], there’s slim pickings on TV tonight. Which means it’s time for another installment of May We Suggest: TV on DVD. [How many hours until HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER returns?]

Tonight’s theme is “Brilliant But Cancelled” and features an eclectic mix shows we wish were still on the air.

Our evening kicks off at 8PM with FOX’s ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL, followed by our behind-the-scenes Hollywood hour at 9PM courtesy of Jay Mohr’s ACTION and Darren Star’s GROSSE POINTE. 10PM brings us a double helping of Aaron Sorkin. As we press play on the under-appreciated gem that was SPORTS NIGHT, finishing off the hour with a condensed version of STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP. All the Sorkin greatness minus the parts where he gets too preachy and condescending.

Thanks to high profile gigs on FRIENDS, THE OC and KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL, actress Bonnie Somerville hasn’t left this TV Addict’s radar since arriving on the scene with the brilliant-but-cancelled Darren Star laugher GROSSE POINTE.

Not one for the unemployment line, Somerville can now be seen playing Caitlin Dowd on ABC’s Wednesday night guilty pleasure CASHMERE MAFIA. And recently, was kind enough to take some time from her schedule to chat with reporters about her her role on MAFIA, being Darren Star’s unlucky charm and the inevitable comparisons to that other show about four beautiful New York women.

GROSSE POINTE and KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL were two of my favorite shows ever. It quite literally pains me to think that they had such short runs! What happened?
Bonnie Somerville: I’m still not over GROSSE POINTE. The show has such a fanatical fanbase. People just love that show. I’ll never be over it. It was one of the greatest written shows, but clearly ahead of it’s time. Before MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE and SCRUBS single camera half hour comedies were rare. And the WB which aired it, didn’t believe in it.

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL was also a blast. FOX only aired three episodes. No one got to see it, it was really hard. The cast was so close.

CASHMERE MAFIA is your third Darren Star show. Where are you hiding the incriminating photos?
I don’t know why he keeps hiring me. All of the shows keep getting cancelled! But he’s been very good to me. Most people in Hollywood say they like you, but he puts his money where his mouth is. I’m very lucky.

Read the rest of this entry »

Introducing a TV Addict First — VIDEO! No not that kind of video, please people, get your head out of the gutter. This video is actually the first two minutes from one one of television’s one season wonders — Darren Star’s short-lived WB gem GROSSE POINTE. GROSSE POINTE is a phenomenal behind-the-scenes-satire that chronicles the on-screen and off-screen drama of five attractive ‘teens’ as they deal with all the trappings of being on a hit show. There’s dumb stud Johnny (ex-model Al Santos), terminally insecure Marcy (Lindsay Sloane, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch), fresh-faced Courtney (Bonnie Somerville, NYPD Blue), scheming Hunter (Irene Molloy, Andy Richter Controls the Universe), and 30-year-old teen Quentin (Kohl Sudduth channeling Luke Perry).

The series is currently available exclusively at Amazon.com for a mere $21.36 and is the perfect holiday gift for the TV Addict in your life.