Thanks to the recent WGA Strike, writers throughout Hollywood must now working feverishly to complete five or six new episodes by season’s end. With that in mind, this TV Addict thought he’d lend the proverbial hand and offer up some possible plot ideas for a handful of our favorite shows. You know, because there’s no such thing as a bad idea.
LOST
It’s time to face the facts. Claire must die. Not only can you count on one hand the amount of screen-time Emilie de Ravin has accumulated this season [two hands if you’re counting last season]. You know it’s time to go when your non-speaking infant offspring [Baby Aaron] generates more passionate debate, online speculation and fan reaction than you do.
HOUSE
Is it not time to put an end to the age-old question: Which HOUSE ‘team’ is better? In other words, how long until the good doctor pits Cameron, Chase and Foreman against this season’s team of next generation newbies? One baffling medical mystery, two teams, one cutthroat bitch just for the fun of it. Paging May Sweeps!
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You know why SAMANTHA WHO? is my household’s favorite new show? Because it isn’t trying to reinvent the long-rumored-to-be-dead comedy genre, it’s just — and this is pretty crucial — funny. Very, very funny. Every performance is spot on. Yes, yes, Melissa McCarthy is basically playing GILMORE GIRLS gal pal Sookie, but I loved that character (before she became a breeding machine) so big whoop. Best of all, SAMANTHA doesn’t settle for the typical sitcom set-up, punch line dialogue, instead offering such witty exchanges as when our heroine apologized for dragging Andrea (the deliciously wicked Jennifer Esposito) into her web of deceit, only to have the bad girl reply, “I’m a lawyer. Web of deceit is where I pick up my mail.” This week’s outing — in which Samantha’s car accident triggered a chain of lies leading to an unexpected twist involving mom Jean Smart — was another sparkling entry, although it would have been nice to see Sam’s in-progress story with Eddie Cibrian continue. Then again, no need to rush things… right?
I tried watching another episode of REAPER last night, and within the first five seconds, Tyler Labine — or rather his character, Sock — was once again ruining the show for me. The guy is a seriously talented actor, but I just can’t stand the walking slacker stereotype he’s playing.Not that his alter ego isn’t completely in keeping with the tone of this show, on which Ray Wise’s devil refers to his minion as a “wienie.” You don’t need to see the scene in which the lead’s two best friends easily convince his girlfriend to bare all in a hot tub to realize who the target audience is here. We’re in what was once Porky’s territory here, where authority figures are to be mocked, feminism is a dirty word and men will be boys.
There’s something kind of kharmicly pleasing when one of the annoying twosomes is eliminated from THE AMAZING RACE. This time around, it was bickering Shana and Jennifer. While they weren’t as bad as some previous contestants, their whiny, bitchy ways had me hoping that the next leg of the race would involve a bus which someone could then throw them under. And yet, such is the power of this show’s closing moments that when the two annoying blondes spoke of having learned so much during their journey and then were shown walking hand-in-hand into the sunset toward a gorgeous windmill, I couldn’t help thinking, “Aww… they’re not that bad!” Especially when compared to Nate and Jen. At various points in the evening, he called her a bitch and said “I just can’t believe what kind of person you’ve turned into. It’s the ugliest thing I’ve seen in my life.” Her response? “Same with you, Nate.” At this point, I’m totally rooting for Kynt and Vyxsin, the goth duo who seem not only genuinely nice and loving, but actually take the time to smell the roses. Far too few of the teams seem to do that.
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REAPER star Bret Harrison is tired. But you can’t really blame him.
At 25, he’s starring in his own hit CW show REAPER. Busy working six days a week, sixteen hours a day. Yet still gracious enough to take the time — on his one and only day off — to talk to this TV Addict about what it’s like to star in his very own hit CW show.
theTVaddict: I read somewhere [and by somewhere, I of course mean OregonLive.com] that you broke into acting at 17, deciding simply drive to LA and see what happens.
Bret Harrison: I just went after what I wanted. Ignorance is bliss. I didn’t think of all the variables. I just hopped in my car and drove.
And now you’re quite literally the face of a hit CW show. You’re everywhere!
It’s strange, because I’ve been asked that question a few times. I have an amazing cast, great people on the set, oddly enough I never look at it that way.
Speaking of odd, I find it odd that you starred as ‘Sam’ in THE LOOP [on FOX] and now as ‘Sam’ in REAPER – What’s the deal?
Actually, I believe this is the third ‘Sam’ I’ve played. The reason my name is ‘Sam’ — although I should probably confirm this with the show’s creators — is that they wrote the episode of LAW & ORDER: SVU that I guest starred on. And that character’s name was ‘Sam’. I guess they always thought of me as a ‘Sam’.
Sounds like a nice lesson for actors out there. No matter how small the role, you never know who’ll be watching and who’ll be inspired by your work.
Definitely. My guest spot on LAW & ORDER raised my awareness. A year later, GROUNDED FOR LIFE happened. They [REAPER creators Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas] saw I could do comedy, dramatic stuff and thought, this is our guy for REAPER.
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Do you lay awake wondering what it’s like to have your soul sold to the devil? Curious as to how it feels to star in your very own hit CW show? Did you love Tuesday’s REAPER series premiere as much as this TV Addict? If so, today is your lucky day.
The TV Addict himself will be talking to REAPER star Bret Harrison on Sunday. Please post away with your questions priot to Sunday at noon (eastern) and I’ll endeavour to get them answered.
Who’d have thought that a project called GOSSIP GIRL would quickly become the least talked about new series on the CW’s fall 2007 slate. While the show, from OC creator Josh Schwartz definitely looks to be a winner — after-all, who doesn’t love glitzy New York socialites and OC levels of melodrama — the real talked about shows were some of the CW’s more offbeat and original offerings.
Namely, ALIENS IN AMERICA. Now I know what you’re thinking — EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS aside, ‘funny’ and the CW are two words that don’t generally go together. Well, if the reaction from the UpFront audience was any indication, the CW may have its first bona-fide comedic hit on its hands (translation: people actually laughed).
ALIENS IN AMERICA tells the story of Justin Tolchuk, a sensitive 16-year-old just trying to make it through the social nightmare that is high school. Realizing that her son needs a friend, Justin’s mom signs the family up for the school’s international student exchange program. Needless to say, if BORAT taught us anything, it’s that America loves its foreigners. Come fall 2007, the next big CW star is going to be a 16-year-old Pakistani Muslin named Raja.
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