The TV Addict 

In the fourth installment of Advertising Anarchy [theTVaddict.com's take on how networks might wish to consider promoting some of our favorite new and returning shows come Fall 2008] we offer up a first look at the new John Connor. Who both star Thomas Dekker and showrunner Josh Friedman promise will, for lack of a better phrase, kick some serious Terminator butt this season.

Related Posts:
Advertising Anarchy: SMALLVILLE
Advertising Anarchy: HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
Advertising Anarchy: FRINGE

Hoping to give fans a second chance to jump on the bandwagon, FOX has made the savvy decision to re-run the entire first season of TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CHRONICLES this week.

And to celebrate two words that rarely find their way into a sentence together. You know, ‘FOX’ and ‘Savvy’ [seriously, will the bitterness over FIREFLY's cancellation ever end?], this TV Addict thought today would be the perfect opportunity to run our recent conversation with TERMINATOR stars Thomas Dekker and Summer Glau. Who took a few minutes following their panel at the recent San Diego Comic Con to talk to the media.

Thomas Dekker: Hey, I love theTVAddict.com, how are you?

The TV Addict: I’m great thanks. You know, it would really help me out if you repeated “I love theTVaddict.com” [as I record it for posterity!]

Thomas Dekker: I love the TV addict. No really. You’ve given me some great coverage.

The TV Addict: I guess that’s what happens when I actually put your words in context and don’t make stuff up.

Thomas Dekker: It’s amazing. Usually I’ll say something and say ‘just kidding’ only to discover later on that whomever is interviewing me miraculously left out the ‘just kidding’ part. [See Milo/HaydenGate 2008]

Even though let’s face it, I could talk about your love for theTVaddict.com all day, we probably should get down to business [as I sense that some of my fellow journalists sitting across the table actually want to talk about the show!] Talk about John Connor growing some cajones this season?
Thomas Dekker: Thank the Lord finally. Last season I purposely wanted to play the role weak. Have John hide behind his hair like a weak kid, even though we [and by 'we' Dekker refers to himself and showrunner Josh Friedman] knew it would frustrate people who wanted to see this savior. So in the second season we’re going to see him emerge.

John doesn’t want to feel anymore. Especially after going through this huge ‘thing’ that I cannot disclose. Pretty much, a bunch of things will happen at the beginning of the season that completely change him. John’s a different person who learns that in a way, he will have to be a machine of himself.

Read the rest of this entry »

Shirley Manson, pictured second from the left.

Following Saturday’s TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES panel at the 2008 San Diego Comic Con, the TV Addict [alongside a few other fellow media types] were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to interview some of the cast and creative team from the show.

First up, Shirley Manson, who joins the cast this season as Catherine Weaver. A high-powered CEO of a major technology company that we’re pretty sure has something to do with the rise of the machines and that little future war Sarah Connor and Co. seem so intent on stopping.

The first question, a no-brainer. How on earth does the lead singer of GARBAGE end up on TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES?
Shirley Manson: While I wasn’t looking to officially get into acting, it’s something I have always wanted to do. Then one day, Josh Friedman [TERMINATOR'S Executive Producer] called me up and asked if I’d be interested in auditioning for the show. I got the part before I understood the full implications of what I had gotten myself into! I feel very fortunate though, because this role came at a really great time in my life, when I really felt that I needed to shake things up.

What can you tell us about the character you’re playing.
Her name is Catherine Weaver and she’s the CEO of a corporation that develops certain technologies. She’s very self-empowered, assured, singular. It’s a very cool character to play.

Should fans expect any Sarah Connor/Catherine Weaver girl fights?
Not that I know of, unless you know something I don’t. They send you the scripts in little installments, so really, I have no idea where the arc of the character goes at all. Which is very exciting I think.

Read the rest of this entry »

The TV Addict has some bad news for Brian Austin Green. He can run, but he can’t hide.

In other-words, as much he’d love to cast off the shackles that was ten years of playing David Silver, on what we’ll now be referring to as the ‘original’ BEVERLY HILLS 90210, it ain’t gonna happen.

Well, at least in the mind of this TV Addict. Whose formative teenage years [for better or for worse] coincided with the gang from Beverly Hills.

Which is why, during this weekend’s press event that followed the fantastic TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES panel at Comic Con, there was no way I was letting the artist formerly known as the Notorious B.A.G. off the hook.

Read the rest of this entry »

WINNER: The TV Addict! Not only was this TV Addict the only reporter in the TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES press room with the cajones to ask Brian Austin Green about 90210, theTVaddict.com got a very nice shout out from star Thomas Dekker [audio coming soon!]

LOSER: The TV Addict! Who apparently isn’t quite the Hollywood Power Player he wishes he were. How else to explain not being able to bypass around one thousand or so attendees to make it into the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA panel? But on the plus side, Ronald D. Moore [see picture above] and HEROES star Zachary Quinto did walk by whilst I waited in line. Oh the glamour of Comic Con!

WINNER: Showtime’s critically acclaimed series DEXTER played to a packed crowd of almost five thousand strong.

LOSER: Anyone who doesn’t own an iPhone or an iPod Touch. Since it was revealed, much to the disappointment of fans in the audience, that the upcoming DEXTER video game will only be available on the popular Apple devices.

Read the rest of this entry »

11:40AM: The TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES panel started off with a seriously fraktastic trailer for the new season. Spoiler Alert, Summer Glau’s Cameron is alive — and did we mention awesome.

But on a more serious note, we’re pretty sure that the Connor Family, with the help of Derek Reese will build some sort of time-traveling device that will allow them jump to different time periods in their fight against SkyNet.

11:42AM: Josh Friedman, who’s moderating the panel starts by thanking the fans for their support. You’re welcome Josh.

11:46AM: By audience demand, the first question of the panel goes to Summer Glau. Friedman who isn’t surprised, asks, “Who’s better looking, me or Joss Whedon?”

11:50AM: Lena Headey on what Sarah would do with a day off? “She’d get some over the counter valium and track down Agent Ellison and have a good night in.”

11:53AM: Josh Friedman to actor Richard T. Jones, “Agent Ellison you made a really bold decision with your character to play him black.” Hilarious.

Read the rest of this entry »

I think it was my generations Plato, Homer Simpson who said it best. When he summed up his feelings in one succinctly brilliant word. “D’OH!”

Can someone tell me why exactly your very own TV Addict didn’t throw caution/responsibility/financial security to the wind and shell out the bucks to head to Los Angeles for last night’s FOX SUMMER TCA PARTY? I mean talk about your hindsight is 20/20. A mortgage payment would have been a small price to pay to spend the night hobnobbing with the likes of J.J. Abrams, Joss Whedon, Lena Heady, Thomas Dekker, Summer Glau, Hugh Laurie, Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Wentworth Miller, Brian Austin Green, Olivia Wilde… well you get the idea.

So a quick heads up friends. If you notice anything ‘wonky’ on theTVaddict.com throughout the day. And by ‘wonky’ I mean spelling and grammar mistakes above the usual levels. Please keep in mind that they’re simply a bi-product of the incredibly large amount of tears that are pouring down on my keyboard at this very moment.

Seriously, how did I NOT attend this party. I mean click the link below for more of what I missed.

Read the rest of this entry »

By: Kevin Kelly, Special TCA Correspondent

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Even though there may not be that much to talk about on screen — behind-the-scenes — network execs, actors and agents have never been busier. And keeping track of it all is your very own TV Addict, with the latest news on which actors and actresses will soon be popping up on your favorite shows come the Fall 2008.

The News: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA’S Paul Campbell [Billy] will be joining the cast of KNIGHT RIDER as the head research tech at Knight Industries.
The Lowdown: Finally giving us a reason to tune in after February’s uber-disappointing two-hour car commercial.
[Source]

The News: Ex-FRIEND Matthew Perry has signed on to headline Peter Tolan’s [RESCUE ME] Showtime pilot THE END OF STEVE. A dark comedy revolving around Perry, who will play a local TV anchor who’s real-life personality is somewhat different than his cheery on-camera one.
The Lowdown: Could we BE anymore excited for the return of Matthew Perry to television? Umm… no.
[Source]

The News: Madchen Amick is returning to Central Park West, or more accurately, the Upper East Side to play a possible MILF for Nate [Chace Crawford].
The Lowdown: Already spoiling May’s finale tease that ‘S’ and ‘N’ might have lived happily ever after, at least for a little while. Way to go EW.
[Source]

The News: ALL MY CHILDREN’s Leven Rambin will join TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES this season as Riley, a new school friend of John Connor.
The Lowdown: And by friend, we naturally assume love interest. So place your bets now, Riley is (a) an undercover Terminator sent from the future, or (b) Terminated by a Terminator, thus kick-starting John’s transformation from brooding teenager to leader of the revolution!
[Source]

The News: Television icon Mary Tyler Moore will be joining NBC’s LIPSTICK JUNGLE for a multi-episode arc next season, playing Brooke Shields’ mother.
The Lowdown: Casting coup yes. But in all seriousness, how many fans in the younger demographic NBC so dearly covets really has an attachment to 70’s TV icon Mary Tyler Moore?
[Source]

Read the rest of this entry »

Remember the good old days. Or as Rachel Green used to call them, “the times of yore.” That magical time when you had to record your favorite shows on a crazy contraption called a VCR? Simpler times, before DVDs, illegal downloads, youtube, BitTorrent and iTunes. When the only way you could catch up on the shows you missed was to watch them during the summer rerun season.

Well FOX is bringing reruns back. Or to be more specific, TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES. With a mini-marathon of the fantastic first season running this August 10-24. So don’t forget to set your new-fangled PVR to record on the following days:

Sunday, Aug. 10: “Pilot”
Monday, Aug. 11: “Gnothi Seauton”
Tuesday, Aug. 12: “The Turk”
Wednesday, Aug. 13: “Heavy Metal”
Sunday, Aug. 17: “Queen’s Gambit”
Monday, Aug. 18: “Dungeons and Dragons”
Tuesday, Aug. 19: “The Demon Hand”
Wednesday, Aug. 20: “Vick’s Chip”
Sunday, Aug. 24: “What He Beheld”

Thanks to TVGuide for the Tip and Matt (What happened to the Webb?) Mitovitch for the handy schedule!