One of the more high profile new dramas of the new season is Fox’s “Fringe,” which premieres next Tuesday.  “Fringe” focuses on a trio that gets pulled into the world of fringe science, which deals with sciences outside the norm.  It’s not long before our characters uncover that corporate culture has a bigger hand in science than anyone could have imagined.  One of the reasons “Fringe” has created such buzz amidst the many other new series debuting in the coming weeks is that it is created by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and busy TV producer J.J. Abrams, who has created such TV fan favorites as “Lost,” “Alias” and “Felicity.”  Abrams and “Fringe” star Joshua Jackson (”Dawson’s Creek”) took time out from shooting an upcoming episode to talk with me about this new series.  (Photo:  Jackson, John Noble, Anna Torv) 

Abrams first drew parallels between the lurking evil that will be a part of “Fringe” as much as it is on “Lost.”  “The truth is that when we did the pilot for ‘Lost’,” Abrams explained, “we had the monster appear at the end of the first act and we did that very consciously because we wanted to say to the audience we’re jumping the shark now.  We’re doing crazy shit from the beginning…On ‘Fringe’, we very consciously did what is, in many ways, a preposterous, out-there, far fetched scientific story point in order to say to the audience this is what you’re going to be getting on the show.  Now, it may be more extreme in some cases, less so in others.”  Abrams is quick to point out, however, that even if there is a slower build in “Fringe,” it definitely doesn’t mean they’re going to be playing it safe.  “Some shows as we’re writing scripts will deal with science very much as it exists but I think for the most part, the fun about - for me - movies and TV especially in the genre of either horror and sci-fi is pushing the envelope   and going further than you might otherwise.  And so I think the show will definitely be pushing the edge of the envelope but I don’t think it’s going to be about that.  I don’t think we’re going to try to top ourselves every week because then we’ll just be in a race against ourselves and there’s no way to win that one.  So I feel like the key is to tell stories that are as compelling, as emotional, as funny and certainly as weird and out there as possible but not to try to have it be exploiting that aspect of the show.  I would rather be delving into who these people are and what makes them tick than doing something for shock value.”

Speaking of character, it’s been five years since “Dawson’s Creek” ended and Joshua Jackson (who will probably always have to live with being called Pacey, his character on the teen soap) returns as Peter Bishop, who reluctantly gets pulled into the action on the series.  Jackson explained that, “It was this project specifically that drew me back to TV.  Frankly, first it was the quality of the script, which is now our pilot.  The density of it and the fact that even while it was a fully satisfying story unto itself you could see that there was laid in there potential for a whole world, a whole universe of other stories.”  Jackson also admitted that working with Abrams was another draw thanks to Abrams’s “ability with the group of people that he keeps around him to tell these stories well over a long period of time.  That was my hope if I ever came back to television was to be a part of a group of people who had a track record of being able to keep shows at a high level of quality over a long period of time and I think [JJ] is the best on TV at that right now.”

Like his other talent finds (Keri Russell, Jennifer Garner and Evangeline Lily from “Lost”) Abrams’s keen eye has picked another potential star in Aussie Anna Torv (right w/Jackson), who leads the series as FBI agent Olivia Dunham.  When asked how he found Torv, Abrams revealed, “we were trying to see as many people as we could and I saw this [video] audition and it was just that feeling that you have where you just immediately know that’s the person.”  However, Abrams points out that he doesn’t have casting down to a science.  “I wish there was some really cool, clever technique that we use to do this but the truth is whether its Keri Russell walking through the door or Jennifer Garner, who I’d gotten to work with on Felicity and who my wife was insistent was going to be a star or Evangeline Lily’s video of her audition or now Anna it’s simply the fact that when you see the right person the first thing you’re concerned about is oh my god can we actually get her?  Is she really available?  It’s no longer about giving her the part its just we have to make this work.  When I saw Anna I just knew that she had a quality that was very unique and smart and she was beautiful but not in a way that felt like she was phony and she seemed tough and sophisticated and I just felt like she was the right one.

Pairing Torv with Jackson of course brought questions about their characters getting involved with each other in a more personal way.  There’s no romance between the two characters in the pilot for specific reason, which made Josh laugh and share, “What I said at the premiere was that it would be inappropriate in the pilot…it’s awkward hitting on someone when her boyfriend is dying in front of her eyes.”  But, for future development, Abrams promises, “there is no doubt going to be a slow burn relationship that develops between [Olivia and Peter].  I don’t think it will happen exactly as you might think but there obviously will be a dynamic that we’ll play up but like Josh said it has to be earned and it needs to be done right.  There’s a lot going on in their lives on the show - more urgent issues - but there’s definitely going to be over time a relationship between the Peter and Olivia characters. 

Breaking down Peter even more, Jackson talked about his experience with this new character.  “There’s a lot of stuff going on with Peter Bishop but I’m finding is a lot of the fun of playing him is…the relationship - which boils down to sometimes being a translator more often than not - between [Peter’s father] Walter, who is brilliant but sort of half-cracked and then Olivia, who is an intensely no-nonsense type person.  She’s not the type of character that you would sit down and have a lyrical philosophical conversation with. She’s very much a just-the-facts-ma’am type of person.”  The dynamics of the mixing up of these characters find a surprising place that most viewers probably have some experience with.  Jackson explains, “You bring this other character - this Peter character into that world who has to try to be a go-between - and initially the very reluctant go-between whose really only brought in by happenstance and then can’t get himself out.  And that’s an interesting dynamic because ultimately what that boils down to in my mind is a very typical dysfunctional family and you put that dynamic, something that’s relatable and understandable to everybody and you put it in this outrageous, fantastically outrageous world of fringe and it makes for an interesting day’s work.

As far as how Jackson came to land the role on the highly anticipated drama, Abrams offered that he fit the mold of a lot of the other actors he’s worked with.  “I’ve known Josh…for a long time back in the days of the “Dawson’s Creek” when I was doing “Felicity” so we were in the same universe.  I’ve always been a fan and loved his sense of humor and also the gravity that I thought that he could bring to something even as something as soap operatic as the stuff we were doing on the WB and I felt the same way when I worked with Keri Russell.  You find there are actors you go okay, they are really good.  They elevate the material, they make it better.  And as a director/writer/producer all you ever want is to work with actors who make you look better.  Who make the work you do seem as good as it can be and even better than it is and I always thought that Josh had that ability.  I’m thrilled that we finally have the chance to work together.

Getting back to the storyline of “Fringe,” Abrams talked more about the storyline threads that will be woven throughout this first season.  “The show doesn’t quite hit on the sort of corporate conspiracy as the pilot might suggest but there definitely is an ambiguous role that is played by Blair Brown. It’s much more important the relationship between her boss, who we have yet to meet, and Walter, John Noble’s character.  Their back story-how they ended up where they are.  These are things that are much more about the characters than are about the clichéd cynical look at corporate culture.  Having said, I don’t trust corporate culture at all.”  The obvious question is who will play the big corporate boss who obviously will play a big part in the action.  Abrams said, “I can’t tell you that yet but I can tell you that you will definitely meet him.  He’ll definitely be a featured part of the show and we want to make sure that when we meet him it’s something you’re hungry for as opposed to something you’re just experiencing.  So the way it’s going to happen, which will happen over time but by the end of the first season you will meet William Bell.”

Finally, when a show gets a healthy amount of heat before it premieres, does it create a large dose of expectations?  Abrams humbly says, “My expectations are sort of irrelevant because I never really know what to expect and you can never guess or assume what anyone is going to think.  I can say that its one of those shows that if I had nothing to do with it and saw it coming out I’d want to kill myself.  I’d be so miserable because it is so the show that I’d want to watch.  That doesn’t mean that anyone else will.  It doesn’t mean that it’s good or bad.  It just means that it’s so the show that I am excited to see.” 

But, with obvious comparisons to his previous hit series, Abrams offers his thoughts.  “I don’t like to compare them because ‘Fringe’ is a very different show but I would say that one of the experiments that we’re doing on ‘Fringe’ is writing the show so that it’s not as overtly serialized as certainly ‘Alias’ and ‘Lost’ are…or were.  How that translates I don’t know. What it will mean I’m not sure but because I’m so drawn to over-arcing into long term stories there will still be the mythology, the evolution of character, the revelation of their story and what the pattern means and what they’re doing and how they connect to that.  So there’s all this stuff that’s happening but we’re doing it in a way that is much less sort of week-to-week installments of that story which then requires you to reset things every time you do an episode that is a mythology episode which makes it, I hope, something you can watch and without feeling like you’re not in the club if you miss an episode.”

Check back to “Progressive Television” on Tuesday for my review of “Fringe.”  I’ve already seen the pilot and I definitely have a lot to say about it.  “Fringe” premieres on Tuesday with a special 2-hour episode at 8pm EST.

One long running series that returns for a new season this Sunday is HBO’s “Entourage.”  Once a series gets to this point in its run, there’s usually either some kind of big storyline and new direction to shake things up or producers choose to stay the course and stick with what the show does best.  After seeing the first two episodes of the new season, the latter option is obviously the one that “Entourage” is taking and, unfortunately, I suspect it’s the wrong choice.  I’m not saying that the new season starts off as good or bad but “Entourage” is starting to feel like its treading familiar water.  (Photo:  Grenier, Lee, Ferrara, Connolly, Debi Mazar, Piven, Dillon)

When we last left the guys, Vince’s passion project “Medellin” was tanking at the Cannes Film Festival and doom was in the air.  We’re now 6 months later and Vince (Adrian Grenier) has been hiding out in Mexico with Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) but it’s not long before Eric (Kevin Connolly) and agent Ari (Jeremy Piven) arrive along with Read the rest of this entry »

Quick note:  Due to computer issues, I’m posting a day late but since there are more and more series to review and tell you about, I’ll be doing a special Friday blog this week so make sure to check back on Friday.  But, maybe someone was holding me up yesterday so I could get my two cents in about last night’s premiere of the new “90210.” 

Like I said last week, the decision by the CW to not send out screeners to critics was a move filled with suspicion on my behalf.  Sure, the hype was already there and the hopes were high that we’d all get a piece of nostalgia mixed with the “Gossip Girl” spices.  Well, until the show proves me wrong, I dub it 9021-oh-where’s-the-remote.  Storylines were unoriginal and failed to create any excitement or desire to keep watching this lame.  The only actor I thought stood out was the always fabulous Jessica Walter doing what she does best-shoot out one-liners with cocktail in hand.  Even the Jennie/Shannen scenes lacked any oomph.  Having watched “Gossip Girl” (with Blake Lively and Chace Crawford, left) the night before, I couldn’t help but think that this is a show that has earned its audience and its reputation.  In true soap fashion, it’s fun, bitchy, full of secrets and lies and everyone in the cast has his/her own distinct flair.  Keep “Gossip Girl” and send “90210″ to the re-tooling house quick.  Now that I have that off my chest…

There has always been something exciting for me when watching the first episode of a new series.  Not only is it the unveiling of a new world with characters you aren’t familiar with and storylines that you hope will suck you in, but, for me, it’s also the excitement of seeing that from the first episode, the creators know what they’re doing and have such a clear sense of what the show is.  In recent years, JJ Abrams always seems to get it right with his pilots for “Alias” and “Lost” (I’ll be talking to Abrams as well as reviewing “Fringe” for Friday’s blog) while other pilots of note include “Big Love,” “30 Rock” and, now, HBO’s new series, “True Blood.”  (”90210″ is the antithesis of what I’m talking about here.)

In “True Blood,” HBO has a buzz-worthy show on its hand that ranks right up there with gone-but-not-forgotten HBO hits like “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City.”  Created by Alan Ball, who also created one of the best family dramas of all time, “Six Feet Under,” his new series premieres this Sunday at 9pm EST and should make for a lot of water cooler talk come Monday morning.

“True Blood” is truly a series that feels unique and, yet, completely accessible.  With a pitch-perfect cast and the compelling way that Ball weaves the stories in the first few episodes, be prepared to be sucked in (oops-the vampire puns are just too easy!) from the first moments.

“True Blood” is set in the sleepy Louisiana town where telepath Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin pictured above with Stephen Moyer) works as a waitress and, when she’s trying not listen to her customer’s annoying and often offensive thoughts, she’s trying to figure out why she’s so drawn to Bill Compton (Moyer), the 173-year old vampire who wanders into the restaurant one day.  In this world that Ball adapted from Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse novels, vampires live among us thanks to True Blood, a mass-produced synthetic blood that supposedly keeps hungry vamps from wanting to eat humans.  (I’m guessing if this were true, there wouldn’t be much need for a drama surrounding it, right?) 

In the many parallels with our own society, though, there are those people who are overtly skeptical - even afraid - of what they don’t understand while others are drawn to the mystique of the vampires like moths to the flame.  And, strongly evident in the first few episodes, there’s a deep undercurrent of simmering danger, violence and death that runs through this town and whets the viewer’s appetite to uncover exactly what is going on.

Anytime you venture into the world of vampires, werewolves and demons, there’s the risk of the world more laughable than compelling.  “True Blood” is truly the latter and a lot of that comes from not only the writing and direction (Ball wrote and directed the pilot) but also the skilled actors.  Anna Paquin (from the X-Men films) effortlessly inhabits the character of Sookie so well from her very first scene that she immediately owns the role.  While Sookie’s telepathic abilities and Louisiana accent could make her seem too quirky to relate to, Paquin brings the right amount of humanity to the table.  And, the real hook, as Sookie’s curiosity grows in regards to Bill and his world of vamps, we’re right there with her to go on the journey, which is exactly what every series should strive for. 

As for Moyer, his personifying of the morose, uber-calm Bill initially left me feeling somewhat detached but it soon became evident that his 173-year existence clearly has made him weary of making too many attachments but the thing that made him “human” was the fact that he’s just as drawn to Sookie as she is to him.  The way the two of them look at each other is not purely sexual but also a kinship since they are both people who know loneliness all too well.  And when he asks her repeatedly “What are you?” its not only ironic in that it’s a vampire asking that of a human but it also smartly turns some of the mystery and curiosity back on Sookie.  Why does she have telepathic powers?  Is there more too Sookie than even she realizes in the beginning?  No matter the answer, I’m sticking around to find out.

Another standout in this solid cast includes Ryan Kwanten as Sookie’s horn dog of a brother, Jason.  It would be easy to write Jason off as only a piece of beefcake (Kwanten’s body is beyond fit) but his own curiosity into the Vampire world gives him a depth that tells us that there’s more to him than a negative percentage of body fat.  In fact, watching a video of one of his tricks having sex with a vampire is not only erotic but it shows how the animalistic elements of sex is not as far removed from our own as we’d like to believe.  Kwanten also provides some of the comic relief but, trust me, he’s going to prove to be much more than the butt of the joke as the series progresses. 

Rutina Wesley is terrific as Tara, who says what everyone else would like to be saying and shows in her first scene that she has a knack for telling people the harsh truths as well as not being able to hold a job because of it.  Tara is best friends with Sookie and has eyes for Jason so there’s also the possibility of a lot of relationship testing to be had as stories evolves.  Wesley is exactly what every show needs in terms of a supporting cast that can (and probably will) steal scenes at every turn.

Ranking right up there with Wesley is Nelsan Ellis, who brings a spark to the series as Lafayette, the short order cook at Merlotte’s, the restaurant where much of the action takes place.  Like Tara, Lafayette says what he wants to say and, with his flair for form fitting clothes and makeup while he flips burgers and makes sass with the clientele, he’s the kind of character who is going to help stir the pot over and over again. 

And I’d regret not mentioning the great Lois Smith, who plays Sookie’s Grandmother (and pictured here with Paquin and Kwanten).  Smith is one of those actors whose name may not be familiar but you will know her face immediately.  As with the character of Jason, I suspect there is much more to this cheery, doting woman than meets the eye.  Just watch the way her eyes light up in the pilot when Sookie tells her about meeting a real vampire during her shift at the restaurant.  Priceless. 

Finally, the opening credits of the series perfectly display the range of emotions, drama and fear that are the threads of “True Blood.”  And Jace Everett’s theme song is haunting as he repeats the intoxicating lyrics, “I want to do bad things to you.”  Count me in!

“True Blood” is like nothing else you’ll see on your television this fall so check out the premiere on Sunday at 9pm EST on HBO.

I wish I had the same enthusiasm for FX’s new drama entry, “Sons of Anarchy.”  While not a miss, it’s not exactly a hit either.  And, with “The Shield” coming to an end of its critically acclaimed run with this last round of episodes (make sure to check back next week for my exclusive interview with the writer of episode 2, Gary Lennon), it’s hard not to realize that this new entry falls a little bit short.  That said, there is hope…

The FX press release tells us that, “FX’s new original drama series, ‘Sons of Anarchy,’ is an adrenalized drama with darkly comedic undertones that explores a notorious outlaw motorcycle club’s (MC) desire to protect its livelihood while ensuring that their simple, sheltered town of Charming, California remains exactly that: Charming.  The MC must confront threats from drug dealers, corporate developers and overzealous law officers.  Behind the MC’s familiar lifestyle and legally thriving automotive shop is a ruthless and illegally thriving arms business.  The seduction of money, power and blood.”

In true FX fashion, our regulars are anti-heroes.  A legendary motorcycle gang with personal stakes mixed in with their “business” while providing us a glimpse into the unique world of motorcycle gangs.  However, after watching two episodes, one thing the show has going for it is Read the rest of this entry »

Tokenism (Quota Politics):  The Democratic Convention is now past and McCain has responded with the most desperate act of “tokenism” since Harriet Myers by picking Sarah Quayle, er, I mean Sarah Palin as his choice for Vice-President.  Here’s the point:  Hillary Clinton’s supporters are not stupid people.  They are people who passionately supported Hillary and were thrilled that as a bonus she was a woman.  The point was and is that she was Hillary not simply that she was a she!  How insulting to the intelligence of Hillary’s supporters to suggest that they will simply move over to McCain/Palin despite her wanting to make abortion illegal and criminal, that she is against stem cell research, that she wants teachers to teach creationism in schools and her allegience to big oil.  She ain’t Hillary Clinton.  Period.  DUMB MOVE, McCain.

Historic:  This week the Democratic Convention blew the socks off of Denver, the Delegates and all who watched (including 38 Million people who watched Barack’s speech–which is more than the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics)!  Yesterday was a day in American history that will not ever be forgotten.  On the anniversary of Dr. King’s Dream Speech, the simple fact of Obama’s nomination and his insistence on “post-racial” policies fulfilled the dream, our dream.  Obama gave one of the finest convention speeches ever and it was a “call to arms” and showed he was willing to “kick ass” but needs us to all “kick ass” with him.  I have never left a place more energized.  I can’t wait to help Obama any way I can.  He is our generation’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt and this is our 1932.  It is time for a New Deal.  Let’s win and win Congress too so that Obama can tear up the micro script of Washington (which includes the timidity of many Dems in Congress) and create a New Deal for the 21st Century.  He can do it.  His words are not mere words–his action is expressed in words but they present a roadmap for deeds.

Best moment of the Convention:  Despite the brilliance and poetry of Obama, the powerful artistry of Bill Clinton, the emotion of Hillary Clinton’s support for Obama, the humility and touching family story explicated beautifully by Michelle Obama, the “one of us” simplicity of Joe Biden who taught us of family and “getting back up,” the star turn by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer (petro-dictators is still my favorite “word” from the Convention), the compelling speaches by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, the Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, the humor and depth of Al Gore and Bill Richardson and the red-meat of, who’d have guessed it, John Kerry, the single most compelling moment of the Convention was the roll call vote on Wednesday where New Mexico would have put Obama over the top so they passed to Illinois which is the likely choice to put its favorite son since Lincoln over the top but then Illinois passed to New York leading to Hillary’s march into the Hall to vote for Obama!  It was one of the most dramatic things I have ever experienced and moves me to tears even today.  The Obama campaign (and the Clinton’s) sure know something of stagecraft.  This is not the ticket to fail to meet expectations.

Every day there is more…will send more tidbits from Colorado over the weekend.

The Democratic Convention is in full swing and I have had barely a breath over the past 4 days here in Denver.  Here are the highlights and some thoughts:

Women Superstars:  The superstars of this Convention, so far, are all women:  Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, the Obama Daughters.  Wow to all of them!  Michelle Obama gave what I think was a pitch perfect speech–both in terms of its prose as well as the poetry of its stagecraft.  She provided the inside scoop on Barack Obama which so many in this country seem to need so as to cross the threshold (race, age, experience, elitism, whatever the kitchen sink GOP is throwing) and vote for him.  The speech, the elegance of it and the speaker, was awesome and I watched it both at the Convention and then later on TV.  It really was beautiful.  Hillary was also moving and awe-inspiring.  Some bloviators (the pundit press) have argued that Hillary wasn’t strong enough about Barack’s experience and leadership–but I didn’t see that as her “job” yesterday.  Hers was to unify the Party.  It really falls to Bill today to make the case for Obama’s Presidential readiness.  The Obama daughters, Malia and Sasha, added a human family touch that was honest and sincere.  This is a First Family to be admired and loved and one perfect for the 21st Century!

LGBT Presence:  After California’s delegation and New York’s the largest group of Delegates are LGBT.  And gay people complain about Howard Dean and the DNC.  Folks, this wouldn’t be the case but for Howard Dean and the DNC.  This is a welcome space for gay people–and to top it off the LGBT Delegate and Friends lunch (hosted by Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin) was made more special by a visit and speech by Michelle Obama which was not originally in the plans.  Elegant and prosaic as always, Michelle Obama gave further truth to the notion that an Obama Administration will be inclusive and they will walk the walk.  Her best line (though there were many) was “There is no place for Discrimination in a Country Founded on Equality.”  Bingo–dead on right.  House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer, was also there as was Vermont’s tremendous Congressman Peter Welch and many others.  The “welcome mat” is out and not simply for political convenience or nicety.  This Party gets it that ALL Americans need be part of the Nation’s tapestry.

Most Tears:  Ted Kennedy’s spectacular presence and powerful message delivered powerfully.

Best Speakers (other than Michelle and Hillary):  Brian Schweitzer was amazing and powerful; Ted Strickland laid into McCain/Bush; Deval Patrick was poetic.

A bit Flat:  Kansas Governor Sebelius and Former Governor/Senate Candidate/Keynoter Mark Warner.  Both great people but not soaring oration.

Most interesting tidbit:  Yours truly’s room is immediately next to the Clintons!!!  Yes, Secret Service and all.  And, yes, they Order Room Service, had a bit of a party post Hillary’s speech, and are wonderful neighbors.  Pretty wild!

More to come….

One of the pleasures of being a critic/blogger is that you get to watch a little of everything.  At times, however, you realize the wide polarities between one show and another.  And what could be more different than having to have a marathon of Oxygen’s “The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency” and Fox’s “Prison Break?”   I started to imagine seeing “Prison Break” characters arguing with Janice Dickinson (left, with her male models), who wouldn’t put up with any of their tense dialogue and promising, “Don’t worry.  Just trust us.”  Janice would use the “F” word a few times (making even T-Bag squirm) and spin so fast on her stiletto heels that poor Wentworth Miller would soon realize this was a new kind of danger.  As much as I’d love to throw certain shows together and experience the hybrid (can you imagine Michael from “The Office” suddenly swimming up on the shore at “Lost?”  He’d make Jack jump off a cliff pulling out his hair in no time), my job is to watch what is out there, right? 

Janice Dickinson is a lot of things but one thing you have to admire her for is that she owns up to just about every thing she might be called.  In the fourth season premiere of her popular Oxygen reality series, “The Janice Dickinson’s Modeling Agency,” Janice even says to a deaf model, “You can’t hear and I’m a bitch!  We’ll get along fine!”  But is the show worth taking time to view?  To be honest, yes and no. 

Personally, I can only take Janice’s deafening screeching, dramatic reactions to the models and over-the-top confessional moments for so long.  In fact, I’ve always thought the show might work better as a 30 minutes series but the ratings actually rose last season so I guess there are people out there who want a full hour.  And, honestly, Janice does grow on you.  Her self-deprecating manner makes you realize that this is a smart lady who knows what she’s doing, plays to her strengths and knows the more outrageous, the better.  She doesn’t care if she pisses people off (like Tyra, who, according to Janice, looted her books on her experiences in the modeling world and created the challenges on “America’s Top Model” before booting Janice off the judge’s panel) and you can’t deny she’s passionate about what she does.  After 32 years in the business (which I happen to know because she loooooves touting that fact to everyone and anyone), she’s still here.

The biggest problem I have with the show is the collection of models themselves.  They consistently come across as immature, shallow brats who make the kids on “The Hills” appear to have emotional depth.  The new crop of models that appear in the season premiere could change that, especially with the addition of the aforementioned Martin, who is hearing impaired and should bring a bit of humanity to the house.  Also, in reading his interview on the Oxygen website (http://www.oxygen.com/janice/), he actually seems sweet, which is the antithesis of one of the returning models, Kehoe, who displays his insecure brattiness when the newbies are introduced.  But, I suppose if everyone was angelic and played nice, the show would get pretty boring. 

One final addition which didn’t see a lot of play in the first episode was the surveillance cameras Janice has planted around the Model House, where a select group of models will live with Janice 24/7.  The models don’t know they are being taped and Janice revealed that she found out more than a few secrets while monitoring her charges.  To see what else she found, tune into “The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency” tonight at 10pm EST on Oxygen.

Over at Fox, the intensity comes from “Prison Break” where the forever-on-the-run Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller, left with Sarah Wayne Callies) and his crew kick off its fourth season like an out-of-control rollercoaster.  Changes this year include a few new cast members including Michael Rapaport (”My Name Is Earl,” “The War At Home”) who becomes the boss as the guys land in Los Angeles and attempt to finally take down “The Company” once and for all.  Cress Williams (”Grey’s Anatomy”) also turns up as a deadly assassin with his own avenging to do with the Scofield brothers. 

Fans are also loudly cheering that the formerly decapitated Sara (Sarah Wayne Callies) returns with a head Read the rest of this entry »

Thanks to the intrepid advice of super progressive webmaster Steve V. Rodriguez, I was introduced to an amazing Bar/Restaurant right here in Downtown Los Angeles.  It is mere steps away from where I go to work (day job) every day.  The great time I had reminds me that you don’t always have to fly somewhere to travel.  Travel is all about the experience and my experience last night more than provided the sentient satisfaction that one normally gets exploring a new place.

The new place was my work neighbor–the Redwood Bar and Grille, www.theredwoodbar.com. 

The spot is cool and fun and reminds me of why it was fun to go bar-ring in one’s twenties.  The place is hip and retro with pirate gear (but not stupidly) and ropes abounding.  The flat screens showed beautiful underwater reef photos when not showing the Olympics.  We only went to have a drink or three and watch the most amazing Quetzal Guerrero and his spectacular band perform (more on this below).  So, we didn’t eat–but I wish we had.  The food (ok, it is bar food) smelled and looked fantastic.  I haven’t wanted a burger that bad in years!  Wow.  Very cool.

The bar itself is well lit and well stocked.  This is not simply a beer bar like in College.  The place was full (mostly 20/30 somethings but at 47 I didn’t think I stood out).  The scene was a multicultural one slanted maybe a hair Latin but nobody stands out or feels left out or too in.  It was, in a word too oft used, cool.  Cool as hell in fact.  I can’t wait to head back there when I get back from Denver and the nomination of the next President of the United States!

Now a comment or two need be made about the performer, Quetzal Guerrero (www.qviolin.com).  If you know of him, you just smiled and cursed the fact that I am letting out this secret (and you will see and hear much more of him right hear on www.progressive pulse.com–stay tuned, this guy is going to be a superstar–bet on it).  If you don’t know him, get your butts out to the Redwood on a Thursday and take a look and listen.  Guerrero is a phen-om.  He is classically trained on violin and guitar and has a voice that is gutturally poetic and sexy.  He sings a mix of English, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese and melds each to the other just as he melds Brazilian 2000 to Hip Hop to jazz.  Mark it down and see him now.  Especially when you can do so in a place with hip charm like the Redwood which reminds you of all those times you used to go out in your 20’s (if you are older) or are going out now (if you aren’t).  It’s a throwback and a retro-go forward all in one.  Don’t miss it if you are in LA.  And try the food and let me know how it is.

By the way Quetzal is playing at the Native American caucus gathering for the DNC and I will be in Denver all week checking things out for you and letting you know about the Mile High City and the Convention.

Go Obama!

The punditocracy is in full bloom.  Everyone is speculating off the charts about who Obama will select as his running mate (when they aren’t trying to count the many homes of John McCain) and everyone is relying on a “short list” that exists without basis.  The “short list” has never really been sourced properly and yet every news organization treats it like the Holy Grail. 

Today, we are told that the “short list” might have a surprise name or two on it.  How shocking!  I guess that means the “short list” is a made up concept by the preening press which has apparently lost the ability or will to investigate anything serious any longer.  So we are left with Biden, Bayh and Kaine and some other people who are surprises–though I bet they aren’t a surprise to Obama?

The winner in this whole saga is Barack Obama and his campaign which, for the first time in history, has really kept a lid on what is happening and who is being vetted.  Anyone who hears x is or is not being vetted (including the “oft-identified” “Democratic official” who swears Hillary was never vetted in today’s Politico) is full of it.  No one knows anything and that is a huge credit to the Obama team.  And a good indicator of how well an Obama White House would work. 

I said in a blog about 10 days ago that the only tea leaf I could see is that Bill Clinton speaking on Wednesday obviates in favor of a Hillary Clinton selection.  Nothing has changed that in my head.  But, I could just as easily be wrong as I don’t have a “short list.”  And, neither does anyone else which means we are all planning to be right tomorrow when the text actually arrives!!!

The new fall season is right around the corner and I’m ready!  My favorites are all coming back and I’m starting to get screeners of the new fall shows so I can steer my faithful viewers to the good and at least warn them about the not-so-good.  In an effort to thwart my good intentions, However, the CW network just announced yesterday that they will NOT be giving screeners to critics for their highly touted September 2nd return to “90210.”  (pictured left, Anna Lynne McCord, Dustin Milligan, Shenae Grimes, Tristan Wilds, Jessica Stroup and Michael Steger)  I’m more than curious about the reviving of this classic series since I was one of the writers during its original run so I want to know how the new version is going to fare.  Now, when a movie or TV series is not made available for preview, the powers that be will swear it’s NOT because of poor quality but how often does it turn out to be exactly that?  The CW says, “We’re not hiding anything…simply keeping a lid on 90210 until 9/02, riding the curiosity and anticipation into premiere night, and letting our constituents see it at the same time.”  I think the news that original cast members are coming (or, in the supposed under-payment of Tori Spelling, going) is already brewing enough interest.  What do you think?  I definitely smell something fishy…or maybe that’s coming from TNT where Steven Bocho is returning to television with a new legal drama with a good cast.  Should smell like success, right?  Unfortunately, it actually smells more like recycled genre material.  “Raising The Bar” (premiering September 1st) is TNT’s latest foray into dramatic series looks good on paper but you can’t help but feel as though you are watching actors play out a tired formula.Featuring both the lawyers in the public defender’s and district attorney’s office, “Raising The Bar” follows the lives of young lawyers as well as those who sit in judgment on their cases.  Bocho, who shares story credit on the pilot with lawyer/writer David Feige, explained that the series “is not geared specifically toward the public defenders or the prosecutors.  We try to give equal time to both points of view, with an eye toward revealing the extent to which the system doesn’t work very well.  It certainly doesn’t have all that much to do with justice.”   Sounds good on paper, right?

After watching a few episodes, I couldn’t help but feel like the series was really a predictable jigsaw puzzle with a few pieces forced into place.  First, Mark-Paul Gosselaar (right, “NYPD Blue” and forever Zack from “Saved By The Bell”) stars as idealistic public defender Jerry Kellerman, who, the press release says, “will stop at nothing to help those who cannot help themselves.”  I guess from Gosselaar’s long, scraggly locks and soured expression that he’s supposed to be scrappy and rebellious, fighting for justice and, in doing so, never having time to get to the barber, though it does look like he’s doing just fine with moisturizer on his cute, young face.  Gosselaar is a fine actor but even he couldn’t sell me on his grandstanding in defiance of the resident bullish judge, played by “Malcolm In The Middle” star Jane Kaczmarek.  I suppose there’s supposed to be a fiery spark between these two as Gosselaar’s Jerry fights for justice against a tired system while Kaczmarek’s Judge Trudy Kesslar who aspires to run for the office of District Attorney.  Instead, all I felt was contrived characters bumping heads in a failed attempt to create high, passionate drama.  How about just writing good stories and creating something that feels fresh?  For example, when Jerry talks to his imprisoned client about getting him out of jail, both men leak tears and vow to beat the system that imprisoned him.  I guess, like his hair, Jerry’s tears are supposed to convince us of his commitment to his profession and those he is defending.  How many times have I used the word contrived? 

The rest of the cast doesn’t do much to elevate the series to a more watchable level.  See Jerry spar with the attorney from the DA’s office (Melissa Sagemiller) who just happens to also be sleeping with Jerry.  I don’t know if this was supposed to be a shocker but, well, it was anything but.  Pretty rich boy Richard (Teddy Sears), who is slumming in the public defender’s office when he could be working at Daddy’s cushy firm, has the hots for Gloria Reuben’s Rosalind, who is in charge of the public defenders and, of course, is passionate and protective of her crew.  (Reuben, who I’ve loved ever since Read the rest of this entry »

More political thoughts to ponder but none worthy of a full blog:

Who’s the Veep (Dems):  I still say my gut and assessment of the facts is Hillary.  But, everyone is playing the guessing game too and the best odds seem to be Biden with Bayh and Kaine still on the unknown and unknowable short list. I still think Richardson is on any list and probably think that the selection order is:  Hillary Clinton; Bill Richardson; Evan Bayh; Joe Biden; Claire McCaskill; Jack Reed;  Tim Kaine; Jim Webb (hiding in plain sight?), Kathleen Sebelius or a reach like  Robert Rubin (money) or Tom Daschle (Washington).

Who’s the Veep (Repugs):  My gut says that the GOP mantra is focus on the runner up so think Romney is in first position.  Beyond him, the cast is the same gray (or shall I say white and male)  with Tim Pawlenty (staying up); Charlie Crist (heading down); John Kasich (moving up); Rob Portman (heading down); John Thune (neutral); Mark Sanford (down but not out) or a reach out to Lie-berman or Lind-say Graham.  Though the gutsy choice is still Kay Bailey Hutchinson especially if Obama foregoes Hillary Clinton.

Which Thuggish Dictator:  McCain picks thug number one–the “President” who clings to office by swatting at Russia–Saakshivili in Georgia; Bush tries to temper it a bit between thug number one and thug number two–Putin; Obama tries diplomacy and tries not to favor any thug but to press both into behaving themselves.  If this was a test of Presidential cool, calm and courage, Obama won without breaking a sweat. Georgia (not the state with Atlanta Dome) has been violating Russian boundries for years and acting every bit the guerilla terrorist.  Russia responds by bullying terrorism.  Who’s right? I go with neither and I don’t care that Georgia was part of Iraq Coalition of the willing (do we enter the Solomon Islands beef against,….well whomever the Solomon Islands would have a beef with–probably no one ever because they are cool) or has an oil pipeline.  It is time to stop siding with or catering to thuggish dictators.  And to have Bush complain about someone violating another State’s sovreignty??? What ba–s!  Let Diplomacy reign and pray that we don’t see any more dust ups until after 1/20/09.

Clinton v. Obama (Convention Watch):  Kabuki drama maybe to hide the fact that she will be the VP choice.  I kind of think so.  Also, and if not, I am pretty sure that the Clinton and Obama folks have this roll call thing wired such that this will turn into a no heartburn event that actually feels good.

Congress Watch:  Alaska gets trickier for the Repugs; My man Tom Allen is catching up to Susan “Pretend to be Moderate” Collins; and there is a great candidate who I will be blogging about soon in South Carolina…Also, congrats to openly gay Democratic nominee Jared Polis in Colorado who is almost a sure thing to be the first openly gay man (Tammy Baldwin was the first gay person and a hint about South Carolina is that Cong. Baldwin may be joined by another proud out Lesbian…) to win a seat in Congress.  Thank you Jared!

Now back to the Olympics where I swear Michael Phelps is swimming his 800th race and winning them all–Go Phelps!  Go USA!!

First of all, apologies for this blog being a day late but aside from traveling from West to East Coasts, I was also checking out the slew of new series coming our way in the next 6 weeks.  Be prepared!  Be very prepared!  AND, of course, keep checking back to Progressive Television every Tuesday for reviews of as many shows as I can humanly cover! 

So, during my recent travels, I was talking with some friends about the television shows we’re excited to have return in the next month or two as the fall season gets underway.  “Heroes” was mentioned a lot as was “Grey’s Anatomy” and everyone seems happy that “Weeds” and “Mad Men” are back and better than ever.  The reality shows were brushed on with “Project Runway” clearly being the favorite.  We even talked about “24” and “Lost,” which won’t air until January but are still highly anticipated.  Then, one of my friends mentioned something that confused and bewildered me—they actually know someone who doesn’t own a television.   

Huh? 

Now, I’ve taken my share of beatings for being a TV head and, as a child, I always preferred to watch endless reruns of “Gilligan’s Island” and “The Brady Bunch” instead of becoming more socialized by playing with the neighborhood kids on 28^th Street.  Nothing changed as I got older except, perhaps, my taste.  There’s nothing like a good drama to get me excited or a sharply written sitcom episode.  But knowing that there’s probably more than this one acquaintance that doesn’t watch TV—they actually choose to not watch television—unsettled me.  I also have to mention that I have a close friend here in NYC that, again, chose to give back his cable box w/DVR.  Our friendship survives for a lot of reasons but I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t make a mental note that at least he still has a television that works and picks up the local stations.  He keeps talking about spending his time with something called NPR but I am too embarrassed to ask what that means. 

So, I understand there are other things besides television.  Sports, theater, spending time with your children and loved ones, reading, practicing yoga and going to the movies are all acceptable alternatives.  Instead of pointing fingers at those who don’t incorporate “Mad Men” into their lives (DVR or no DVR), however, I decided to take the high road and look at why I love television.  And, because we all have our reasons for watching what we watch, please feel free to leave a comment with your own reasons.  I’ve taken the liberty of breaking my reasons down for your reading pleasure.

The Olympics:  If there’s no reason to watch TV these days it’s to see the XXXIII Olympics in Beijing.  Not only is NBC providing round the clock coverage on every one of their outlets, but the network is also providing coverage as heroes are born over and over.  By the end of the Olympics, the amazing Michael Phelps (left) surely won’t be the only household name.   

The Cookie Factor:  We like things to be familiar, yet feel different.  The only reason there are so many doctor/lawyer/cop shows is because those formats are ones we’ve known for decades and, as long as it feels fresh, audiences will still come.  “ER may be regarded as an old warhorse that is still struggling for breath but the NBC drama actually does pretty well in the ratings but “Grey’s Anatomy” is such a hit because it brought a fresh air of humor and sex to the genre…oh, and they also had that whole McDreamy thing, which even I cannot deny—have you seen that guy’s head of hair?)  Turning to crime shows, there’s a reason there are so many “Law & Order” and “CSI” variations.  And cable channels like TNT and USA, to name a few, realize that they can have a piece of the pie by tweaking the genres by, in TNT’s case, focus on edgy women (”The Closer” and “Saving Grace”) or reworking a tried and true formula such as USA’s “Burn Notice,” which feels like a welcome return to “Magnum, PI” with Jeffrey Donovan (right, with costar Gabrielle Anwar) fitting into the Tom Selleck mold perfectly, sans moustache.  The true lesson, though, is finding the limits of stretching the genre too far.  There’s a reason people still bring up “Cop Rock.”

The Shallow Nation:  Everything we see in print ads, commercials, film and television sends teh same message–pretty people are HOT so we need to watch them.  We may deny it and only speak of wanting quality and highbrow entertainment but we love looking at attractive people.  For example, Kyra Sedgwick can be smart as hell as Brenda on “The Closer” but we also cannot help but notice her amazing legs and svelte body.  Same with Holly Hunter.  Or Marg Helgenberger.  And, to be fair, lets not forget the dudes.  Waiting for Josh Holloway to emerge from the water in only a pair of body-hugging blue jeans is just as much a reason to watch “Lost” as to find out if Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) really died in the explosion in last seaon’s finale.  I’m not making judgments here because I am just a guilty as everyone else.  And, for those of you who think that being attractive doesn’t matter, how else do you explain Mario Lopez’s “career?”

The Interrogation Room  I’ve always loved a good interrogation scene on a crime drama.  While it’s great to see the aforementioned Kyra Sedgwick gets the bad guy to confess to their crimes in the room, what I really love is the one-way mirror.  The way someone can watch what’s going on in the other room without being seen?  Essentially, that is television.  We’re all voyeurs who want to hear a good story, see pretty people and just be entertained to escape our lives a little bit.  However, while we may think that the lives being lived out on the other side of the flat screen are captivating because it’s not us is really misleading because our favorite shows also reflect back on us. One of the kicks of watching “Mad Men,” as I mentioned in a recent blog, is how it not only shows us a period of time when the 60s were just beginning but it says just as much about 2008.  The 60s were a time when things went zooming away from the past in record time.  A young president, the Fab Four, assassinations, “Laugh-In” and burning bras made for a compelling decade that brought the US quickly to the present.  “Mad Men” unapologetically shows a confusing time where change is the biggest thing going on.  Remind you of anything more, um, present?   And let’s not forget reality TV.  Clearly a genre that is here to stay, Read the rest of this entry »