The full cast and crew were brought onto FOX’s stage, which was ominously bathed in red light for the occasion. Brian Austin Green, Garret Dillahunt, Leven Rambin, Thomas Dekker, Lena Headey, and of course, the Terminatrix Summer Glau herself. I only wish they would have had gleaming Terminator exoskeletons with piercing laser stares lining the stage to really complete the illusion.
Lena was asked about the nasty things fans had been saying (are still saying?) about her portrayal of Sarah Connor. According to producer James Middleton, fans responded to the “fire she brought to the role.” Personally, I’m interested to see what she does in season two, because I don’t think she had enough time to really get into the role that still feels like it belongs to Linda Hamilton. I don’t love her, don’t hate her, but I’m willing to wait on it. A bit.
James Middleton was asked about the challenges about working on the Terminator TV show, and the new Christian Bale Terminator movie coming out next May, and said that they both take “cues” from the original films, but that they take the orignal idea and go in two different directions. Each franchise is meant to live alone, and they’re buffeted by the idea that “fate is what you make it” - i.e. these could be different alternate realities for the different characters from Terminator.
When your show opens with a mysterious plane on the verge of crashing, skin melting off passengers’ faces, not to mention a mystery that has you racing to the internet for clues — it’s safe to say you’re not watching your standard CBS procedural. In fact, odds are good that the show you’re watching involves none other than [TV Addict Favorite] J.J. Abrams, who was on hand at this morning’s Television Critics Press Tour alongside his entire creative team [and via satellite] stars Josh Jackson, Anna Torv and John Noble to talk about FOX’s highly anticipated new series FRINGE. Or as I like to call it, X-FILES with a bigger budget.
But shhhhh, let’s just keep that between us okay!
Turns out that J.J. Abrams, alongside co-executive producers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman visibly bristle whenever a member of the press compares the show to that other show about paranormal phenomena. Which makes for a heck of an akward question and answer period. Because (a) the comparison was made on more than one occasion and (b) one can’t help but compare the two shows to each other since they both feature male and female leads who just so happened to be FBI agents that coincidentally made their bread and butter by investigating the paranormal.
FRINGE, according to Abrams was inspired by ALTERED STATES, WESTWORLD, and even COMA. The creative team embraces David Cronenberg wholeheartedly and wanted a show that was similar to the X-FILES and NIGHT STALKER, but with an emphasis on brainy characters investigating strange occurrences. Again, nothing like the X-FILES.
FOX kicked off the start of the network side of the Television Critics Association Press Tour [TCAs] with a — wait for it — PRISON BREAKfast. Your chance to share hash-browns and bacon with the stars of the show’s fourth season: Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, and the shocking return of Sarah Wayne Callies, complete with her head still attached. There was an entire breakfast buffet laid out, complete with iced down buckets of Yoo-Hoo, and prison-orange tablecloths, but everything quickly devolved into the “corral the actors with your microphones” game. And luckily, we were able to nail down Wentworth Miller and Sarah Wayne Callies for some questions and a scant few secrets about what to expect for the show that will this season feature PRISON BREAK ins instead of outs.
Simply click play for the interview featuring Miller and Callies and be sure to check back later in the week for words with Dominic Purcell.
Well, it’s Friday night, and you know what that means. A fresh episode of MOONLIGHT! Sorry, was that a bit too cruel? It would have been a reality if bone-headed CBS hadn’t cancelled the show, which was pretty damned fang-tastic. But I know, I’m preaching to the choir here.
HBO is hoping that they can fill the gap left by the stake of cancellation with their new Alan Ball series TRUE BLOOD. Ball is moving deftly from working with the dead in SIX FEET UNDER to the undead in this adaptation of Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse / Southern Vampire novels. A psychic waitress, a 173 year-old vampire, lots of sex… what could go wrong?
Ball came across Harris’ books when he showed up early for a dental appointment and went to the Barnes & Noble to kill time. The tagline “Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend wasn’t such a good idea” caught his eye, and he couldn’t put the book down. Apparently when you’re Alan Ball and that happens, it means there’s a TV series in it.
Men dressed to the nines, mid-day drinks at the office, not to mention flirty secretaries like Joan Holloway. Oh how we’ve missed the wood-paneled, smoke filled halls of Sterling Cooper Advertising.
Which is why we are so thankful to take part in yesterday’s Television Critics Association (TCA) Press tour. Where MAD MEN mastermind Matthew Weiner along with cast members Jon Hamm, John Slattery, January Jones, Elisabeth Moss and Christina Hendricks were more than happy to get us ready for the upcoming second season premiere of the show, airing on AMC on July 27.
So fair warning readers. Unless you wish to know some of the upcoming second season plot twists, you’d better avert your eyes, do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars and head directly to iTunes, Netflix or Amazon to check out the phenomenal first season for yourself. Rest assured, you won’t be disappointed.
[TV Addict Note: Canadian subscribers to Rogers Digital Cable can watch the entire season On Demand, and in HD on Rogers Channel 300]
… At the 2008 Television Critics Association. Yup, much to Ray Richmond’s dismay, theTVaddict.com’s very own TCA correspondent Kevin Kelly will be providing readers with up-to-the-minute coverage, news and interviews over the course of the next two weeks. So be sure to check back regularly for all the news that fits to print. And perhaps even a few things that aren’t! Like this…
Spotted: What’s the first clue that MAD MEN actresses January Jones and Elisabeth Moss might be taking their roles on the critically acclaimed show a tiny bit too seriously? Because the moment yesterday’s MAD MEN panel ended, both Jones and Moss were seen darting off to the Beverly Hilton Courtyard for a quick smoke.
Which naturally begs this question. Would ex-First Lady and retired Doctor Abbey Bartlet be more upset to discover that her daughter Zoey was caught smoking? Or knocked up by a scum-bag like Pete Campbell?
[Kevin Kelly note: Thankfully, Christina Hendricks, who will always be Saffron from FIREFLY, didn’t join them!]
This just in — TV critics are smarter than they look!
Yesterday at the TCA Press tour, the Television Critics Association gave out their annual awards. And thankfully, in stark contrast to the recent Emmy nominations, TWO AND A HALF MEN was nowhere to be found.
NBC rookie FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS was awarded outstanding NEW program, while THE OFFICE took home the award for outstanding comedy. HEROES was named outstanding program of the year, while THE SOPRANOS was awarded most over-hyped finale outstanding achievement in a drama.
After being snubbed by Emmy voters, Michael C. Hall was recognized for his brilliant portrayal of Dexter Morgan by winning the individual achievement in a drama while Alec Baldwin was recognized for enduring Hollywood’s most talked about divorce individual achievement in a comedy.
All in all it’s nice to see that these so-called television critics may actually know a little something about television.
Does anyone else find it ironic that CBS — the least interesting network on screen — seems to be [at least as of late] the most interesting network off?
At this morning’s CBS executive session, MandyGate was in full swing as intrepid reporters tried numerous times to get CBS president Nina Tassler to comment on what really happened between Mandy Patinkin and the bosses at CRIMINAL MINDS. Needless to say, Tassler wasn’t talking and even went as far as to change the subject to another tabloid train-wreck — MINDS co-star Shemar Moore. Who recently found himself the subject of some very revealing photos! (Photos that you definitely should not be checking out at work.)
As the session continued, reporters hammered Tassler on more behind-the-scenes antics, this time focusing on the nasty backstage fighting between NCIS star Mark Harmon and showrunner, make that ex-showrunner Don Bellisario. Once again, Tassler skirted the issue, saying, “it’s the natural evolution of the show.” Translation: don’t mess with the talent.
In news this TV Addict genuinely cares about, Tassler revealed that there will be more clues with regards to the identity of the oft-mentioned ‘mother’ on CBS’ best show, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER.
Quickly followed by a plethora of news we couldn’t care less about. The season premiere of COLD CASE will be an all-Nirvana episode. Jake will enter junior high on TWO AND A HALF MEN (no word on when the show will start to be funny) and on GHOST WHISPERER, we’ll learn Jim and Melinda didn’t choose Grandview, Grandview chose Jim and Melinda. I think we speak for everyone when I say, “I have no idea what Grandview is!”
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
At yesterday’s TCA press tour, NBC’s chose an interesting strategy when it came to promoting their brilliant but little watched gem FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. That plan — reveal pretty much everything that’s going to happen at the start of season two. Odd choice I suppose, but hey, if it’s going to attract new viewers to the best show on TV that you’re not watching, well this TV Addict’s all for it. For a complete round-up of some serious FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS spoilers, check out Maureen Ryan’s latest blog entry.
LAW & ORDER
The success of the LAW & ORDER franchise is one of the worst things to ever happen to television. Never-ending LAW & ORDERS, three CSI’s, two STARGATES and now a GREY’S ANATOMY spin-off. If there’s one thing television doesn’t need, it’s more generic carbon copies of an already successful and proven formula.
That said, Dick Wolfe may have given us a reason to tune into LAW & ORDER this season. Turns out this TV Addict wasn’t the only one who fell in love with NBC’s short-lived-yet-brilliant series KIDNAPPED. ORDER mastermind Wolf admitted yesterday to a gaggle of reporters that he was a big admirerer of the show, resulting in the hiring of Jeremy Sisto and Linus Roache. Ladies and genteleman. LAW & ORDER may have finally gotten interesting. Stay Tuned…
BIONIC WOMAN
Step 1: Give Isaiah Washington his first post-GREY’S ANATOMY gig, ensuring maximum media coverage and interest.
Step 2: Replace the BIONIC sister with the far hotter Lucy Hale. (HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER fans may remember Hale as Robin’s sister).
Step 3: Watch as BIONIC WOMAN quickly soars to the most buzzed about show online.
That my friends is how you create a guaranteed break-out hit come fall 2007. Congratulations NBC. Too bad you didn’t figure this out last season. Isaiah Washington would have made a great addition to STUDIO 60!
EXTRAS
On Thursday, HBO announced that Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant will wrap up their brilliant follow-up to THE OFFICE — EXTRAS, with a one-hour special. Said president of HBO Entertainment Carolyn Strauss, “It’s been an honor to present this hilarious series on HBO and I can’t wait to see how Ricky and Stephen will wrap up the saga of Andy Millman.”
On a related note, this TV Addict will now wait with bated breath to discover which way NBC’s inevitable ‘Americanization’ of EXTRAS goes. Will fans get another success like THE OFFICE, or be subjected to the horror that was COUPLING? Stay Tuned.
DEADWOOD
Speaking of waiting, we’ve got some bad news for DEADWOOD fans. The pair of two-hour DEADWOOD TV movies that you were promised last year, well, don’t hold your breath. Word from the TCA’s is that creator David Milch is exhausted, having just finished up season one of JOHN FROM CINCINNATI. Apparently, Milch has had just as hard a time running the show as we’ve had figuring out what the frak is going on.
NIP/TUCK
Korbi and Jen [who are filling in for Kristin while she’s on her honeymoon] did such a fantastic job covering yesterday’s NIP/TUCK panel that we thought it best to simply link to their report. It goes without saying, that after devouring Bradley Cooper’s brilliant-but-cancelled series KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL, we’re counting down the days until NIP/TUCK’s October premiere.
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