Category: Actresses (Page 161 of 258)

TCA Press Tour, Day 8: FX

First stop: the FX executive session, where we enjoyed a fireside chat by FX President and General Manager John Landgraf and learned a few things about what we can expect to see on the network in the future.

* “Nip/Tuck” has finished production on the final eight episodes of a 22-episode Season 5. The season will begin airing in January 2009. The network is also ordering an additional 19 episodes of “Nip/Tuck,” and which will be the final episodes of “Nip/Tuck.” The series will end its run on FX in early 2011, going out on the magic 100-episode mark.

* “Rescue Me” is currently in production on a 22-episode season, and will return in Spring 2009. Michael J. Fox will do a four-episode arc on the show, beginning in the Season 5 premiere. He will play Janet’s new boyfriend, who is confined to a wheelchair.

* Marcia Gay Harden will be joining Timothy Olyphant and William Hurt as series regulars for the second season of “Damages,” and – bonus! – Ted Danson will be back as Arthur Frobisher. (More on that when we get to the “Damages” panel.)

* Jay Karnes, a.k.a. Detective Wagenbach on “The Shield,” will be joining FX’s new series, “Sons of Anarchy,” for six episodes (and maybe more, depending on how things pan out), and Drea de Matteo will also pop up for three episodes.

* The network intends to produce 39 more episodes of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” in addition to the 13 that are
currently in production. Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton, who created it and star in it, will remain as stars and executive producers for all 52 of those episodes, and Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito will stay on as series regulars.

* They’ll also be ordering 13 episodes of a new original comedy series created by Kenny Hotz, the former “South Park” writer who went on to create the excruciating Comedy Central series, “Kenny vs. Spenny.” Currently titled “Testees,” the series is a scripted comedy which focuses on two friends in their early 30s who earn their living as medical guinea pigs. It will premiere on Thursday, October 9th, at 10:30 p.m. following a new original episode of “Sunny.” I will possibly not be watching when it does.

* “The Riches” may not be back for a third season. Said Landgraf, “We haven’t made a decision yet. We are really struggling with the decision. On the one hand, you know, it’s a show I have spilled blood, sweat, and tears on with (creator) Dmitry Lipkin and with the cast. I love the show. Tremendously proud of it. It was a very challenging tone to take on. I know, because you and I talked about it, that you felt it wobbled and some of you felt it wobbled a little bit in the beginning, but I think we really stuck the landing finally and it grew into something terrific. On the other hand, it fell 44 percent in ratings from Season 1 to Season 2. So that looks to me like the core audience is much smaller, that even though the show continued to grow creatively, there was a significant amount of rejection of the show from Season 1 to Season 2. It’s always a little bit of a question: do you hold onto the past or do you sprint toward the future? And we just haven’t made that decision yet on ‘The Riches.'”

So there you have it. And, now, on to…

Damages: I’ll gladly admit that I missed out on “Damages” during its initial run on FX (I also missed out on the “Damages” panel at the press tour last year, which might have something to do with why I wasn’t caught up in all the buzz), but once the first season of the series came out on DVD, I was addicted right from the first episode and was on the edge of my seat all the way until the closing credits rolled on the season finale. And, wow, what a finale, huh? Talk about a perfect set-up for Season 2! It’s been a long wait, but the show’s coming back – tentatively, anyway – in January 2009, and co-creator Daniel Zelman began the “Damages” panel by setting the stage for what we’ll be seeing.

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TCA Press Tour, Day 7: Fox, Pt. 2

We’re returning to Day 7 of the TCA Press Tour…and the second part of Fox’s first day of panels…with a moment or two of unabashed bitching.

The recipient of this bitchfest…? “24.”

See this picture of Kiefer Sutherland?

See all those microphones and tape recorders surrounding him? This was the only access any of us had to him or the other members of the “24” cast and production team who were in attendance at the press tour…and let me assure you that not pictured here are probably at least 47 other microphones and tape recorders that were just outside of the range of the camera. (As it is, I’m forced to wonder if the photographer was either standing on a chair or hanging from a chandelier to get this shot, since he couldn’t possibly have gotten close otherwise.) Instead of doing a proper panel for what’s ostensibly the most talked-about show returning to Fox’s line-up, the network opted to provide a casual affair, where we all mingled about the lobby of the ballroom during lunch together and struggled to get anywhere near Sutherland. They used the same methodology for “Prison Break” during the breakfast period (“Prison Break”-fast, get it?), and though it was a slightly less frantic affair, possibly due to the early hour, it was still less effective than a proper panel would have been, to be certain. I realize that Fox had a bit of a scheduling crunch due to the TCA swiping half of one of their two days for a luncheon with “The Bonnie Hunt Show” and a set visit to “Mad Men,” but I’d much rather have had a “So You Think You Can Lunch” function with Cat Deeley and company and gotten a proper “24” panel instead. Not getting proper time with the “24” folks after such a long time between seasons made for easily the biggest disappointment of the TCA tour to date.

Okay, moving on…

Secret Millionaire: I’m going to fall back on the press release again, lest I fall into snark mode while discussing this well-intentioned series, then I’ll speak more of it afterwards.

Here goes:

“‘Secret Millionaire’ is a dramatic unscripted series that takes America’s wealthiest individuals away from their lavish lifestyles, sprawling mansions and private planes and places them undercover into some of the most impoverished neighborhoods in America. The inspirational series reveals the dramatic personal return that the participating millionaires receive when they leave their fortunes to invest in those less fortunate. Challenged with living on minimum wage, the millionaires will immerse themselves in situations beyond their comprehension. They will work side-by-side with community members and befriend those in need to decide who should ultimately receive their extraordinary gifts of a lifetime. The millionaires will be touched by the people they meet. Some will inspire with their dedication to helping others, while others will relay stories of overcoming tremendous odds. On the final day, the Secret Millionaires meet with the chosen recipients and reveal their true identity and intention: to give them at least $100,000 of their own money and to change their lives forever.”

Okay, so the rich folks learn how the other side lives, right? Fair enough. The millionaires sounded like nice enough guys, aided in no small part by the fact that a couple of them were self-made millionaires, so they know at least a little bit about struggling through an ordinary life (as opposed to be handed everything on a silver platter). The cynic in me, though, can’t help but view this as Fox finally getting around to doing a well-intentioned reality show long after just about everyone else has gone this route. I’m probably wrong. But I also probably won’t watch even if I am.

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Heroes of the East

Cursed with a misleading English title and a narrative flaw or two, this remarkably little known 1979 Hong Kong comic action fest is nevertheless an absolute must for serious martial arts fans and a treat for the rest of us. The young Gordon Liu (cruel tutor Pei-Mei from “Kill Bill: Volume 2”) stars as Ah To, a young man in an arranged marriage with the pretty Kung Zi (Yuzo Mizuno), recently returned from her native Japan. After some initial fretting, the two prove more than compatible. Actually, it turns out they may have a little too much in common — they are both martial arts experts and excessively proud proponents of their respective nation’s martial arts styles. Though frequently compared to “The Taming of the Shrew,” the first hour plays more like an early sixties sex comedy, only with comic physical jabs replacing the verbal sparring.

Early on, the action is nearly dominated by the spunky, hyper-talented Yuzo Mizuno — think a young Shirley MacLaine as a comically destructive martial arts virtuoso. Still, “Heroes” ultimately turns out to be Gordon Liu’s show, and quite a show it is as the reluctant Ah To must face a herd of angry Japanese martial artists who have come to defend their nation’s honor. Martial arts trained director Lau Kar-Leung’s good natured action rom-com – something of a (biased) plea for mutual respect between the Chinese and Japanese peoples – turns into a more traditional series of increasingly stunning action set pieces that concludes with a real bang as Ah To at last faces his romantic rival, a treacherous ninja (Kurata Yasuaki) who throws the ninjitsu book at our hero. It’s a stunning conclusion to a real whiz-bang of a late period Shaw Brothers martial arts extravaganza. Also, with relatively little in the way of anything like serious violence (for the most part the characters aren’t really trying to hurt each other) and only some very mild sexual innuendo, “Heroes of the East” is also appropriate for younger martial arts fans.

Click to buy “Heroes of the East”

TCA Press Tour, Day 7: Fox, Pt. 1

Okay, now that the Executive Session is out of the way, let’s get into the show-specific panels.

So You Think You Can Dance: Proving yet again that I’m not the target demographic for reality shows, I don’t think I’ve ever watched a full episode of this series…or, if I have, it was almost certainly one of the first episodes of a season, solely so that I could get a laugh out of the auditions by the various not-ready-for-prime-time dancers from around the country. Those of you who are fans, however, will probably be impressed by the fact that we were gifted with performances by Matt and Kourtni as well as Thayne. Heck, I’m not even a fan, and I was impressed by their moves.

As to the comments made during the panel, the only one that really caught my ear occurred when Nigel Lythgoe was asked if he thought that America ever got it wrong when voting off contestants.

“From my point of view, the public often gets it wrong…on this program and ‘American Idol,'” he said. “At the end of the day, they sort of put things right; it’s along the way they get things wrong. It’s like losing Tamyra Gray or something. But at the end of the day, Kelly Clarkson justly deserved to win. With dancers, it’s the same. I think we’ve lost some really good dancers along the way, but at the end of the day, when you look at Benji and you look at Travis and you think one’s a brilliant dancer and one’s a brilliant performer, the brilliant performer won. Last year, brilliant performer in Sabra and her whole story. Brilliant dancer in Danny. Sabra won. I have never seen the best dancers necessarily win ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ Personalities have got so much to do with it, as in any form of competition on television. It’s about your charisma. What’s the difference between a brilliant actor and a star? Charisma.”

True enough.

Well, I’ll just close with the comment I made in a Facebook update I posted during the panel: I don’t really care anything about “So You Think You Can Dance,” but I could watch and listen to Cat Deeley all day…and while I can’t readily provide you with a soundbite, I can at least provide a picture:

Fringe: J.J. Abrams, creator of “Lost,” comes to Fox with his mysterious new show which – you may or may not be pleased to know – is nowhere near as impenetrable as the series for which he’s most recognized. Bill Harris and I were discussing it, and I was considering approaching Abrams and saying, “Hi, I watched ‘Fringe,’ and…I was able to follow it. Are things okay at home?” Bill’s plan, meanwhile, was to indicate to Abrams that he wasn’t at all confused while watching the pilot, then ask, “Is this a problem with me or with you?” In the end, neither of us asked our questions, mostly because Abrams tackled head-on the issue of his shows being problematic for casual viewers.

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Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Season One, Ep. 5

The halfway point of “Call Girl’s” first season sees the concept stretching its wings even further, while also providing viewers with what is allegedly the ultimate straight man fantasy: A threesome with two incredibly hot, wanting women seemingly willing to do just about anything. Hannah (Billie Piper) tells viewers in the precredits sequence, “It’s not that I don’t like going down on girls, it’s just that I never really enjoy going out with ‘em.” Before the episode is over, she’ll do both.

The installment begins with Hannah in a bridal shop trying on a wedding dress. Why? Is this some kink dress up thing for a client? She receives a call from Stephanie (Cherie Lunghi) asking her if she’d be game for a threesome. She doesn’t rule it out, but wants to know who the client is. It’s Ashok (Ace Bhatti), last seen in the third episode, and Belle’s regular. She seems immediately put off. Why after all this time does Ash want two women instead of just Belle? Why didn’t he ask her about it first? She takes the job, but does so more out of curiosity than anything else. There’s no way she’s going to let two strangers get their lascivious paws all over her beloved, trustworthy Ash.

Then we find out why she’s in the shop in the first place. She’s there shopping with Ben (Iddo Goldberg) for his wedding tux. The shop assistant mistakes Hannah for Ben’s bride to be, and he indignantly points out that she’s not his bride, she’s “just here to help out.” They haven’t yet spoken about the e-mail she sent him in last week’s episode – the one that gave the address to her website. But apparently it’s not such a huge a deal to Ben that they go out shopping. Afterwards they go out for a drink and the ice is finally broken. His biggest question – which also answers something we’ve been asking ourselves since the series began – is, “Were you doing it when we were still seeing each other?” Hannah answers no. So Hannah and Ben were an item once upon a time! Perhaps not a huge revelation, but it does explain quite a bit about their friendship, as well as beg for further exploration. He presses her further, “Why do you do it?” She replies, “Would you believe me if I said I enjoyed it?” He asks what she’s doing tonight and she tells him of the threesome and Ashok and that “he’s lovely and he’s my oldest client – he’s like a friend.”

We then get a brief flashback showing how Belle got into the biz. It was almost like an accident. She met a man and went home with him for the night. The next morning her gives her cab fare to get home, but when she looked at the amount, it was well over what a cab ride would cost. Thus began her journey. Back in the present, Belle goes to the hotel room to meet Naomi (Beth Cordingly), her partner for the night. They prepare for Ash’s arrival and when Naomi asks what Ash is like, Belle gives a vaguely romantic sort of reply about the man, to which Naomi replies, “What I meant was is he into vanilla or anal?” Once he arrives there’s an extensive montage of the three of them in all sorts of positions and situations throughout the evening, and it’s really sexy stuff and shows more skin than I think has been shown thus far on the show. Afterwards, the trio lounge in bed and Ash thanks Belle for the book he recently gave her, and admits it really moved him.

After he leaves, Belle awkwardly asks Naomi if she’d like to hang out some time as friends. She agrees, which leads to the real meat of the story. They become fast friends, going out for Chinese and comparing work stories. They’ve got a lot in common, clearly, and they can talk about stuff back and forth that they can’t speak about with anyone else. One afternoon Belle gets a call from Stephanie asking if she’s got room for a new client on Wednesday. But Wednesday is Ashok’s day? “He’s with Naomi this week.” Boom! Not what she wanted to hear. She’s not interested in the new client, and she feels betrayed by her new friend, although it’s been clear since the beginning that Naomi’s approach to business is a little more businesslike than Belle’s. She’s crushed, and tells the viewer, “The end of the affair was written from the beginning. He’s a man who pays women for sex. I’m the whore. At some point his tastes were bound to change.” She then deletes Naomi’s info from her cell phone. It’s really a very sad scene, and shows how much we’ve come to care for Belle/Hannah in a short amount of time. In reality, we probably wouldn’t have sympathy for such a situation, but this isn’t reality, it’s TV.

She, of course, turns to the only friend she’s got, Ben. He comes to her place and they make some amends. He admits that much of his problem stems from her work being such a huge part of her life that he just didn’t know about. He says, “You’re the only girl I’ve shagged who still likes me.” She replies, “Except Vanessa.” The episode ends with Ben asking Hannah to be his best man. Really this was an episode about friendship and what exactly cements that institution, with the point being an understanding of the friends involved in the relationship. Ben understands Hannah and vice versa. Hannah and Naomi didn’t understand one another, of course they never really had a chance. Ben and Hannah continue giving each other chances, despite the fumbles.

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