LOS ANGELES - Isaiah Washington's Dr. Preston Burke packed his bags on the season finale of "Grey's Anatomy" but that doesn't mean the actor is being dumped by the show, his publicist said Friday.
"We fully expect to be back in the fall," spokesman Howard Bragman said. "The deal's not done but we have no reason to believe he won't be putting on the scrubs."
A furor over Washington's use of an anti-gay slur had provoked speculation that his job might be in jeopardy. He said the word backstage at the Golden Globe Awards in January while denying he'd used it previously against castmate T.R. Knight.
Thursday's finale seemed to open the door for the departure of Washington's character. Burke was on the verge of marrying Dr. Cristina Yang ( Sandra Oh), but her doubts at first delayed and then derailed their splashy wedding.
"I'm up there waiting for you to come down the aisle and I know you don't want to come," Burke told a shocked Cristina. "If I loved you, I wouldn't be up there waiting for you. I would be letting you go."
Then he did just that. Later, Cristina found that Burke had cleared his favorite possessions out of their apartment.
ABC declined comment Friday on Washington's status.
But a source close to the production, speaking on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to comment publicly, said the finale doesn't indicate that Washington is a goner from "Grey's."
"A lot of character story lines were left in question. It's a cliffhanger finale," the source said. "T.R's character looks like he could be going. ... It doesn't necessarily mean anything."
Knight's character, George O'Malley, was the only intern to fail the end-of-year exam and he was seen in the finale cleaning out his locker after deciding against repeating his intern stint.
Washington will spend the summer working, his publicist said, not worrying about the show. The actor leaves next week to continue his charity work in Sierra Leone, which a DNA test showed to be his ancestral home.
Washington, who started a nonprofit foundation last year to improve the lives of people in the West African nation, plans to deliver mosquito netting and check on a school he helped found.
He'll also spend part of his summer break working on an independent film, "The Least of These," Bragman said. Washington expects to be back at work on "Grey's Anatomy" when production resumes in August, he said.
Washington filmed a public service announcement on behalf of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network after the flap. The spot is in post-production, a GLAAD spokesman said Friday.
By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer
Monday, May 21, 2007
Isaiah Washington's staying 'Grey'
Saturday, May 19, 2007
'Grey's Anatomy' Goes All Dark and Twisty
Cristina? She feels like she's losing herself in this wedding. And Mama takes her eyebrows. And she scrubs in for surgery but washed her self-written wedding vows off her hands. (Symbolism and foreshadowing much?) And indeed, Burke leaves her at the altar, telling her (in so many words) that he didn't really ever love her, only the woman he thought he could make her become. And he appears to have taken his most precious possessions and left their apartment too. And she has a breakdown designed to get Sandra Oh into Emmy contention again.
Meredith? She gets told by her lover that the highlight of his week was flirting with a stranger. She had her best friend's wedding fall apart and had to be the one to everyone. And although she's unaware, her half-sister is about to start as an intern (and is the woman who flirted with McDreamy.
The Chief? His wife has a miscarriage. She says it was his baby. And although it seems like his caring for her will lead to them getting back together, I'm not sure that's so much of a prize. Especially since I'm suspecting that Adele is totally lying about the kid being his. I mean, how many months have they been separated for? Plus, given the result of the chief race, they are right back to square one if they do get back together. He still will have the issue of making time for her, given the demands of the job he loves.
George? He has Callie go baby-crazy, has Izzie say that she'll support his marriage but is in love with him (nice support, bizatch!) and oh, yeah...fails the intern test. Even though he had access to Callie of the magical flash cards. So it looks like he's quitting.
Alex? He is too dense to give Ava/Rebecca the reason to stick around that she wants. And by the time Addy makes him realize he does want to stick around, she's gone and he's missed out.
Bailey? She has to deal with George failing and how it reflects on her, and she gets passed over for chief resident, a job she thought was in the bag.
Addison, McSteamy and Burke? They all get passed over for the chief of surgery position.
Burke has a sappy set of wedding vows that it turns out he totally didn't mean. "I am sure. I am steady." Indeed. Seriously, I don't really get the reasons for his sudden reversal. I'm thinking there must be something more below the surface. Was it just that he managed to wow a group of women with the proposal? Did Mama's constant work trying to break up the marriage have the desired effect? Is it that he blames Cristina for his not getting the chief of surgery job?
Izzie doesn't really suffer all that much, other than a minor amount of humiliation in professing her love and not having George drop everything for her. And y'all know I want her to suffer. I'd consider this episode a disappointment on the grounds that Callie only uses her words to hurt Izzie, not her fists. (And even then, I don't think it was intentional.)
Callie did have some good luck. But I'm afraid for her when she finds out about the adultery and about George's jobless self.
And then there's McDreamy, who's largely immune. He is, however, trying to compete with Izzie for the character I most despise. First he unnecessarily and maliciously tells Meredith about his flirtation. Then he gets the chief of surgery job but turns it down...because he's so noble. Then he turns the cops onto a possible murder...because he's so great. Yuck.
My wishlist for next season:
Burke gets written out. Because frankly, although I liked the character, I don't want to see him come back after what he did to Cristina. And I'm sure that the actor wore his welcome out with Slurgate.
Meredith turns more fun.
George's test results came back wrong and he really passed.
Cristina bounces back. Callie gets her vengeance (of course). McDreamy genuinely changes to be worthy of his nickname.
Rebecca/Ava makes a return. If Alex can't be with Addy, he deserves someone who wants to be with him.
- posted by Raoul
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
'Anatomy's' Walsh Engaged
Actress has a fiancee to go with her spinoff
The star of ABC's upcoming spinoff "Private Practice" recently got engaged to her boyfriend, Alex Young, report celebrity news sources.
Young, a production co-president at 20th Century Fox, proposed last week in San Francisco and presented her with a Neil Lane jubilee-cut diamond ring.
Walsh revealed the happy news during the ABC upfront presentation in New York on Tuesday.
Although Walsh has been seen with Young in the spring, they went public with their romance on April 28 at a Los Angeles fundraiser for Barack Obama.
Walsh, 39, will take her character Dr. Addison Montgomery-Sheperd to California for the spinoff "Private Practice," which will premiere this fall on Wednesday nights.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Joost Invitation( 5.13 update)
Joost is a magic Internet Television. Now I got several Joost Invitations, so anyone wants that, just reply this article with your email address, first name and last name.
I will send invitations by orders. If you don't receive the invitation, that means I have sent them all. But I'll send later as soon as I got the invitation right again.
So, just hurry up! :)
update: I have sent all the orders before 5.12, so just check your email box. :)
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
'Idol' producers pull out of Emmys
The surprise move prompted more than a few grumbles within TV circles.
"American Idol" executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick, who were enlisted to bring their hit-making pizazz to this year's Emmy Awards, abruptly pulled out of the show Friday, a surprise move that prompted more than a few grumbles within TV circles.
Veteran producer Ken Ehrlich, who has helmed several previous Emmy broadcasts, has been recruited to take over the live broadcast, which will air Sept. 16th on Fox.
Lythgoe and Warwick said in a statement that they felt they had too many projects, including the finale of "American Idol" and the return of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" to give sufficient attention to producing the Emmys.
Said the duo: "We looked at our upcoming slate of projects ... and the additional shows we will be involved in this summer, and realized that we could not devote the creative energy and time necessary to make the Emmys outstanding for the Academy and FOX."
Some insiders blasted the producers, saying they should have realized before taking on the Emmys that the show would require a huge commitment.
The announcement in February by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which sponsors the awards, that Lythgoe and Warwick would produce the 59th annual Emmys was greeted with much hoopla, due to their roles in running "Idol," television's most popular series. The two were expected to help juice the ceremony's recent lackluster ratings.
In an interview following that announcement, Lythgoe had boasted how he was looking forward to bringing some sparkle and excitement to the Emmys.
"How could you present the cast of 'Heroes'?" he wondered of NBC's pulpy hit drama. "Could they come flying in on wires? Could you stop time? Those are the things I want to look at ... I think we're gonna shock people."
Said Academy president Dick Askin of the departure of Lythgoe and Warwick: "We respect Nigel and Ken's decision and are fortunate that Ken Ehrlich has agreed to return to executive-produce his fourth primetime Emmy telecast. He did a terrific job with the Emmys last year, and we are glad to have him back."
The Emmys, like other televised awards shows, has seen a steady erosion in its viewership in recent years. Last year's Emmy broadcast on NBC, with an average viewership of 16.18 million, was the second least-watched Emmy telecast since 1991.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
ABC details final three "Lost" seasons
ABC has set an end date for "Lost."
The Emmy-winning adventure series will run for 48 more episodes over three seasons. Each season will consist of 16 episodes, which will air uninterrupted.
"Lost" executive producers/showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, who have been vocal about setting up an endgame for the show, have signed on to stay for the remainder of the series' run. Their separate new eight-figure deals with "Lost" producer ABC TV Studio include their services on the show as well as multiyear development pacts set to kick in when "Lost" bows out during the 2009-10 season.
"Due to the unique nature of 'Lost,' we knew it would require an end date to keep the integrity and strength of the show consistent throughout and to give the audience the payoff they deserve," ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson said.
Lindelof said having the end point in sight was "incredibly liberating. Like we've been running a marathon and we actually know where the finish line is for the first time."
Lindelof and Cuse said they've had "a road map for the series with all the major mythological milestones and the ending in place" for a while.
"What we didn't know was how long we had to play the story out," Cuse said. "By defining the endpoint we can now really map out the rest of the series in confidence."
There will be some puzzle play, too.
"We sort of view "Lost" as a mosaic," Cuse said. "Now there are only 48 more tiles that go into that mosaic, and we're figuring out, along with all the other writers, exactly where they all go."
In January, Lindelof and Cuse said that they envisioned the endpoint for "Lost" around episode 100. The agreement with ABC will bring the total number of episodes to 120.
Lindelof wrote the pilot for "Lost" with fellow executive producer J.J. Abrams, and Cuse joined the series in October 2004 shortly after the show debuted to big numbers.
In addition to its instant commercial success and large following, "Lost" has enjoyed strong critical acclaim, capped by a best drama series Emmy in 2005 and best drama series Golden Globe in 2006.
While the show's ratings have softened this season -- it is averaging 15.1 million viewers to date -- it is the most recorded show on TV, gaining 18% more viewers through DVR viewing. It is also a popular draw for streaming replays on ABC.com, iTunes downloads and DVDs.
Grey's Anatomy:Thanks for a good Season
At the final episode of this season filming place, the cast made a lovely cake.
Paris Hilton sentenced to 45 days in jail
Paris Hilton has been sentenced to 45 days in jail, and begins her sentence on June 5. Hilton, who arrived at least 20 minutes late, testified on her own behalf at her court date today (May 4, 2007) about why she was stopped twice for driving on the same suspended license.
The Los Angeles City Attorney prosecutors had wanted Paris Hilton to spend 45 days in jail for driving on a suspended license. The city attorney argued that since it was the second time she’d been stopped, it was a flagrant violation of law: she knew she was not supposed to be driving. They didn’t buy her argument that she was just following her attorney’s assumption that she had a right to drive. Hilton’s license had been suspended for a charge of alcohol-related (DUI) reckless driving. She was sentenced to 36 months probation, alcohol education and $1,500 in fines. She was stopped by CHP January 15 and by L.A. County Sheriff’s February 27.
Hilton was required to enroll in an alcohol education program within 21 days of a court-dictated order, but she didn’t do it. Prosecutors also requested that Hilton be monitored for alcohol consumption for 90 days, by “use of a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM) device at her expense" (30 Rock star Tracy Morgan is currently using a SCRAM.)
More on this story as it develops...
Finales Scoop: 24 Death! Heroes Bomb!
24
Heroes
Gilmore's Graham: Cancellation Is "Best " for Show
In a segment taped to air on Tuesday's The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Lauren Graham says she is not at all surprised by the recent events that led to the CW's Gilmore Girls not continuing on for another season. "It was a conversation that was going on for a long time," says Graham, who with TV daughter Alexis Bledel had been in long-running contract talks with the network. "I think it's really a good thing.... It's the best thing for the show, and I feel really good about it." As reported by the Miami Herald, Graham then toasts the series' end by throwing back a mojito delivered to her and a La-Z-Boy-ridden Ellen by a remote-controlled robot.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Saturday, May 5, 2007
‘Grey’s’ spinoff shows familiar potential
Despite clunky tie-in to main show, new series could become its own hit
“Anybody seen Addison?”
That’s what Mark “McSteamy” Sloan asked chief Richard Webber early in the special two-hour episode of “
“She’s gone. She took a leave of absence,” the chief said flatly, adding that the character first introduced in the final episode of the first season “didn’t give a reason.” McSteamy asked, “Did she tell you where she was going?”
“All she said was, she needed some time — to be happy and free, if I recall correctly,” the chief said, moving on.
That is how “Grey’s Anatomy” opened the door to get rid of one of its main characters: unconvincingly. The surprise was that despite this abrupt and thin explanation for both Addison’s disappearance and the parallel story, the new show actually worked.
To introduce “Grey’s Anatomy’s” audience to the new series, the show’s writers and producers decided to intertwine the two new shows, rather than send Addison off for her own hour-long adventure. What remained were two separate episodes that were fused together, with only occasional links between them.
The transitions between the two were sharp and abrupt, making both episodes seem longer than they actually were. And without establishing shots illustrating the shift in location from Seattle to Los Angeles, the two shows were simultaneously conflated and disconnected.
Only well into the story did the “Grey’s” half bother to offer a more substantive explanation for Addison’s absence, which apparently came as the result of a falling out with Alex and her continued detachment from her ex-lover. At one point McSteamy told Alex, “Whatever you didn’t do sent Addison running for the hills.”
Her excuse for running away and visiting her friends was different. “I want to have a baby,” Addison told Naomi, a friend from medical school who now runs the Oceanside Wellness Group with her ex-husband (Jackson, played by Taye Diggs) and a band of doctors with their own issues. But that was ultimately only an excuse; later, Naomi told Addison, “there is no fertility potential here.”
But there still was potential for the series, in part because “Private Practice” (the spin-off’s tentative name) isn’t entirely different from “Grey’s Anatomy.” It had the same moments of craziness and crisis; the same jaunty, light, happy, staccato music; the same locations, from stairways to elevators to hospital operating rooms; the same hook-ups and tragedies; and the same quirkiness that its parent demonstrates regularly.
The office that houses Oceanside appears to be more alive than Seattle Grace Hospital. Brighter colors fill the walls instead of flat grays, and the decor is more modern, mostly because they’re an office, not a hospital. In addition, the backdrop of Southern California offers more obviously warm exterior locations.
Yet the new series does not seem to have shifted much in tone, and since “Grey’s Anatomy” tends to combine (melo)drama with moments of comedy and tension, so did “Private Practice.”
Also like its parent, the new show also has a cast of strong actors, although unlike “Grey’s,” many aren’t starting the new series as relative unknowns. From Tim Daly to Amy Brenneman, “Alias”’ Merrin Dungey to “Prison Break’s” Paul Adelstein, they’re either show leads or character actors seeking refuge from other shows.
Even in their early moments together, they had strong chemistry, appearing to be likeable and engaging. None, however, have had the chance to grown into their characters and to explore their quirks and personalities. The characters that were the most developed, ironically enough, were the disposable, episode-specific ones, such as the surrogate mother — whose life Addison saved in an operating room, echoing “Grey’s Anatomy” — and the group of men who might have been the baby’s father.
Back in Seattle, Christina and Burke struggled over wedding plans; George, Izzie and Callie negotiated the awkwardness between them; and Meredith’s stepmother died unexpectedly. As it unfolded and came to life between these moments, “Private Practice” seemed at once desperate to differentiate itself and convince viewers that it is just like “Grey’s.”
Upon meeting Tim Daly’s character, Pete, in an elevator, Addison said, “Where I come from, elevators tend to be this kind of aphrodisiac, you know? People get on them and just get all horny. ... It’s a relief to be on a not-horny elevator.” Of course, instead of rejecting her old show’s conventions, Addison later made out with him in a stairwell, directly plagiarizing from “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Pilots that find life as the spawn of existing TV shows are strange creatures. They’re often episodes fans look back at and wonder why anyone thought certain choices lasted for even that one episode. If “Private Practice” gets picked up, cast members might be added or subtracted, sets may be rebuilt or reconfigured, and details could change. The final show may look substantially different than the one introduced in this two-hour episode.
Perhaps as an acknowledgment of that fact, characters on both shows regularly appeared to break down the fourth wall by speaking to each other and, indirectly, to viewers, reminding them to just ignore the awkwardness that this pilot and episode combination brought with it. “Now is not the time to give up on me, okay? That’s what I’m saying,” Meredith said at one point, practically begging viewers to stay tuned.
On her half of the show, Addison told another character who was questioning her, “Can we just let this go? I’ve been having some rough times lately.” In other words, don’t question how she got to Los Angeles; just go with it.
As the episode concluded, and Addison headed back to Seattle Grace (where she’ll wait to see if ABC picks up the new show), she again found herself in the elevator with Pete. He asked her, “Get what you came for?”
“I honestly don’t know,” she said. That truthful answer also offered insight into the new series. “Private Practice” doesn’t yet have what Addison left behind on “Grey’s Anatomy.” With time, though, it just might.
Handicapping ‘Lost’: Who will die next?
From Charlie (safe bet) to Kate (no way), we lay odds on who will be offed
Heading into the season-ending final stretch of “
That’s not to say this season has lacked its share of carnage to date. First, little-known Other, Colleen, fell to a gun-toting Sun. Then came the unfortunate business with Mr. Eko, who died in the smoky smog of the monster. Pickett, Colleen’s beau, didn’t have long to mourn before Juliet offed him. Adding to the Others’ death count, Ms. Klugh and Mikhail met their ends in back-to-back episodes. Only it didn’t keep Mikhail down for long. On the Oceanic side, Nikki and Paulo made their short stay worthwhile by taking a two-for-one dirt nap.
“Next week on ‘Lost’ …” is always more tempting when it’s followed by the promise of a shocking death. With a possible bounty of them just around the corner, there’s nothing left to do but wait for the mayhem to begin.
Odds-on favorites to bite the dust
Charlie: If Desmond’s fateful forecasts weren’t enough, Charlie’s going-nowhere story line seals the deal. A Charlie sans his smack addiction, Aaron obsession or church-quest with Eko has many fans cheering for his impending doom. Then again, with all signs pointing to it, don’t be disappointed if it’s a classic misdirection.
Death odds: 2:1
Anthony Cooper: Everybody loves to see a real villain get his in the end. What’s the point of having Locke’s father, Cooper, around if not for a well-relished demise? It’s like early Christmas for Locke and the audience.
Death odds: 2:1
Sun: Given the recent reveal about pestilent pregnancies on the island, Sun’s prognosis isn’t looking good. Bonus points: With a bun in the oven, Sun’s death could count for two of the five.
Death odds: 3:1
Mikhail: Who says you can’t die twice on “Lost”? Now that Mikhail is fully reanimated, he’s a prime target for finishing the job. Of course, it might take something more potent than security pylons this time.
Death odds: 3:1
Rousseau: It can’t be much longer until the long-anticipated Rousseau-Alex reunion takes place. But what’s left for the mad survivalist once that goes down? It’s not as though she’ll make a happy home with daughter Alex and Ben. Heck, it might just be a battle with Ben that does her in.
Death odds: 4:1
Dark horses
Jin: Now that it’s confirmed Sun’s life is in danger, Jin can sleep a little safer. They can’t both die. Right? Then again, with a pregnant wife to protect, he’s not beyond going out in a blaze of self-sacrificial glory if the situation calls for it.
Death odds: 6:1
Claire: With Charlie more worried about saving his own hide lately, Claire (and baby Aaron) should watch out. Lacking a dedicated protector, and with that chip Ben & Company implanted in her, the beach could be Claire-less at a moment’s notice.
Death odds: 7:1
Hurley: Axing Hurley would fill the need for a tear-jerking, fan-stunner of a death, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. The show still needs a well-placed “dude” to break the tension.
Death odds: 8½:1
Long shots
Desmond: It’s way too soon to say goodbye to Desmond, what with his powers of prophecy and true love, Penny, out there somewhere. Then again, if he keeps saving Charlie from certain death, he may find himself in the path of the Grim Reaper yet. Hey, another great argument for letting Charlie die.
Death odds: 9:1
Juliet: Juliet is camping beachside for now, but it won’t be long until everyone catches on that she’s in cahoots with her old nemesis, Ben. And those who didn’t trust her in the first place (Sayid, Sawyer, heck, everyone but Jack) will demand retribution.
Death odds: 9:1
Locke: As much a part of the island as that weird four-toed statue, Locke seems safe. But assuming the plot with his dad is coming to a close, the walking-wonder will have a rough go re-integrating with the beachcombers after his defection. While not a sure thing, Locke facing mortal danger in a showdown with either side isn’t out of the question.
Death odds: 10:1
Not even a case of the sniffles
Sayid: He’s not big on the whole torture thing anymore, but Sayid is still the man to see to ferret out a villain. And he’s the only one smart enough to ask “Why don’t we just kill him?” when there’s a known interloper in their ranks. If the rest of the Losties want to live, keeping Sayid around makes sense.
Death odds: 13:1
Ben: Despite viewer complaints about this season being too Others-heavy, Ben is still the creepy bright spot among the baddies. There are bound to be attempts on his life, but with his talent for survival, none will succeed.
Death odds: 14:1
Sawyer: Bringing the beefcake and the load-bearing side of the permanent love triangle, Sawyer and his powers of nicknaming (the ban on which should soon be lifted) will continue to irritate and entertain for at least one more year.
Death odds: 15:1
Jack: Though it’s not hard to think of several good reasons to put a fork in him, Jack’s the A-plus of the A-list and thoroughly secure. Even bringing traitor Juliet into camp and leading with his “because I said so” manner isn’t enough to stop him.
Death odds: 16:1
Kate: The safest female castaway, hands down. Kate can track, con and lead — she’s like Locke, Sawyer and Jack all rolled up in a rosy-cheeked package with freckles. Her main fault, being wishy-washy when it comes to men, will hardly be her downfall.
Death odds: 16:1
Even if rumors hold true and it’s the final curtain for five Losties, only one or two will be sadly missed. Remember, this is “Lost.” Scads of no-name redshirts running around at both camps await their big date with death.
And what about a twist? Well, the show has already brought someone previously thought dead back to life. If Mikhail doesn’t reprise his death scene, there’s still room for, say, Jack's dad, Christian Shephard, to fill the bill.
But if either Paulo or Nikki come crawling out of the grave, expect a viewer revolt.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Well-Known Secret: ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Spinoff for ABC
Like a doting parent trying to hide a child’s Christmas bike under the bed, ABC has been pretending to hope that no one notices what could be its biggest winner in next fall’s television season, a spinoff of its hit nighttime soap opera “Grey’s Anatomy.”
On Thursday night the network will broadcast a two-hour episode of “Grey’s” titled “The Other Side of This Life,” in which Addison Montgomery, the neonatologist played by Kate Walsh, will travel from Seattle Grace Hospital to Santa Monica, Calif., in search of a new life and, mostly likely, new loves.
If all goes according to plan, the episode will set the stage for a new series beginning in September that will feature Ms. Walsh and a new cast of kooky physicians — including the actors Amy Brenneman, Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, Merrin Dungey and Paul Adelstein — in private practice in the oceanside environs west of Los Angeles.
But despite the buzz being generated by a potential spinoff of its highest-rated scripted show, executives at the ABC network and its television studio have refused to talk publicly about the new venture. Actors in the new series, which has been called “Private Practice” in news reports, appear to be under strict orders of silence. And a publicist for “Grey’s” declined to comment on the show’s potential title or even to confirm reports of the new characters’ names.
“Until we know if the show is picked up” for the fall schedule, said Amy Astley, the chief publicist for “Grey’s Anatomy,” “we’re not talking about it.”
Except, of course, when they are talking about it. ABC has sent out a steady stream of news about casting and production of the show, including naming Marti Noxon, best known for overseeing the series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” for the WB and UPN networks, as the executive producer who will be in charge of day-to-day production of the new series.
Representatives of Ms. Walsh and Shonda Rhimes, the creator and executive producer of “Grey’s Anatomy” and the writer of Thursday’s special episode, declined requests for interviews to discuss the potential spinoff.
But the Internet is abuzz with speculation about the cast and the potential series, in which Ms. Walsh’s character goes to California to visit a couple, friends from medical school who she apparently believes have a blissful marriage.
In fact, the pair’s relationship has pronounced fissures. The wife, played by Ms. Dungey, is a fertility specialist, opening up myriad possibilities for Ms. Walsh’s aging yet childless character. The husband, played by Mr. Diggs, is a health guru, author and television personality, and the two have surrounded themselves with other doctors whose defining characteristics qualify them as much for group therapy as for a medical clinic.
Ms. Brenneman, for example, late of “Judging Amy” on CBS, portrays a self-doubting therapist, and Mr. Adelstein, who this season starred on Fox’s “Prison Break,” portrays a lovelorn gynecologist who, in production photographs from next week’s episode, is holding an ice pack to his face the morning after a date.
Like “Grey’s,” whose hunky male stars are regularly referred to by swooning nicknames like McDreamy and McSteamy, the new series offers its female fan base plenty of buff eye candy. Mr. Daly portrays what is said to be a bed-hopping widower and specialist in alternative medicine; he can be seen leering seductively at Ms. Walsh in production photographs.
And Chris Lowell, the 22-year-old heartthrob seen recently in CW’s “Veronica Mars,” plays a receptionist/surfer who commutes to the medical office directly from the beach, first showing up in the office shirtless and carrying his surfboard.
But the series will also have a distinct difference from “Grey’s Anatomy.” While that show began as a group of people who did not know one another well and who were thrown into a stressful situation and resorted to sex to ease the anxiety of professional life, the new series will be about a group of people who know one another intimately and who resort to sex to ease the anxiety of personal life.
For all the secrecy, few people in the television industry doubt that the new show will be given a prominent place on ABC’s fall schedule, largely because the network desperately needs a boost.
With a month to go before most prime-time series end their run of new episodes, ABC is mired in third place among the top four broadcast networks, according to Nielsen Media Research, behind Fox and CBS both in average total viewers so far this season and among adults age 18 to 49, the demographic group that attracts premium advertising dollars.
Except for “Ugly Betty” and “Brothers & Sisters,” most of the new scripted series introduced by ABC last fall are either far down in the ratings or have been canceled altogether. Among the flops were the dramas “Day Break,” which starred Mr. Diggs, and “The Nine,” and the comedies “The Knights of Prosperity” and “Help Me Help You.”
Even some of the network’s bigger hits, like “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost,” have slumped in the ratings this year, attracting far fewer viewers than in their first two seasons.
Yet “Grey’s” can seemingly do little wrong. Even after going so far as threatening to kill off its lead character, the medical intern Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, in one episode this winter, the series has ranked first or second among adult viewers for all scripted shows this season.
With Ms. Rhimes easily the brightest star at ABC, the only surprise would be if the “Grey’s” spinoff fails to keep viewers and advertisers entranced.
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'Gilmore Girls' Canceled!
CW, WBTV wrap production on show
Say goodbye to "Gilmore Girls."
After weeks of talks aimed at bringing the show back for a limited run next season, the CW and Warner Bros. TV have decided to wrap production on the quirky dramedy that focused on fast-talking femmes. Skein, now in its seventh season, will air its final episode May 15.
"Gilmore" was a holdover from the now-defunct WB network. Debuting in 2000, it quickly became one of the Frog's signature skeins, with crix eating up the witty banter between mom Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel). Series was set in the fictional hamlet of Stars Hollow, CT.
CW and WBTV released a joint statement noting the passing Thursday morning.
"Announcing the final season of 'Gilmore Girls' is truly a sad moment for everyone at The CW and Warner Bros. Television," statement read. "This series helped define a network and created a fantastic, storybook world featuring some of television's most memorable, lovable characters."
David Rosenthal exec produced and served as showrunner on the current season of "Gilmore," which was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino. WBTV and CW thanked the producers and cast for their work, as well as crix who supported the show with glowing reviews.
"(We) promise to give this series the send off it deserves," statement said.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Summer Programming Schedule
TV season is over, now what? Each summer, the networks bring us new programs to help keep us entertained until our favorite shows come back in the fall.
The following is the premiere schedule for summer programs:
Studio 60 - May 24 on NBC
Traveler - May 30 (May 10 preview) on ABC (New Series)
Standoff - June 8 on Fox
Kyle XY - June 11 on ABC Family
Rescue Me - June 12 on FX
Monk - July 13 on USA Network
Psych - July 13 on USA Network
Big Love - June 18 on HBO
The 4400 - June 17 on USA Network
The Dead Zone - June 17 on USA Network
The Closer - June 18 on TNT
Heartland - June 18 (New Series) on TNT
Saving Grace - July 18 (New Series) on TNT
Is '24' running out of time?
JACK BAUER, America's favorite counter-terrorism agent with the violent code of honor and the weird sadomasochistic bent, is squaring off against a stealthy and unforgiving new enemy.
His fans.
After peaking in the ratings last year, Fox's thriller "24" has been getting dumped on by seemingly everyone in this, its sixth season. Critics and fans alike are aiming tomatoes at the stage, carping about the soapy and repetitive plotlines that unspool Jack's unlikely familial past, tiresome romantic triangles in the security bureaucracy and endless bickering among Oval Office advisors.
Last week, with a fresh episode designed to lay the groundwork for what the creators promise will be a typically suspenseful finale next month, "24's" ratings in the key young-adult category swooned to their lowest level in more than three years, with a total audience of just 10.4 million, according to figures from Nielsen Media Research.
More than one-third of viewers have bailed since the special four-hour season premiere that aired over two consecutive nights back in January. And if that wasn't enough bad news for the series, last week "24" was one of the prime-time shows that the Federal Communications Commission singled out in urging Congress to curb TV violence.
The vox populi protests have not escaped the attention of the show's producers, who promise that some big changes are on the way for Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) and other regulars next season. There's also speculation that something else might be at work in accounting for viewers' tune-out this season, but more about that in a minute.
"It hurts to hear the criticism," said executive producer and writer Howard Gordon, who spoke with me last week by phone as the cast and crew crashed to finish shooting the season's final episode, set to air May 21.
"I don't dispute it's been a challenging season to write for us. But it's reinvigorated our determination to reinvent the show. This year could be seen to be the last iteration of it in its current state."
Oh, dear. Reinvention? That does sound ominous. But Gordon says not to worry, as Jack "won't be flipping burgers."
"It won't be a musical or a half-hour," he added. "I've got a couple ideas, none of which I could even begin to share responsibly."
So "24" — the TV institution, to say nothing of the show's ongoing narrative — has at last arrived at a crossroads, and what an odd trip it's been.
Premiering less than two months after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, "24" initially amounted to barely a blip on the pop-culture radar. The premise — each episode unfolding in real time over the course of a single day as Jack races to foil some dastardly conspiracy — sounded gimmicky. And given recent American history, Jack's missions against Middle Eastern bad guys could easily have struck too close to home. (As it is, the show has prompted plenty of complaints for propagating noxious ethnic and religious stereotypes; witness this season's major plot involving a diabolical terrorist overlord named Abu Fayed.)
But Fox stuck by the show, and, thanks in large part to the about-to-explode television DVD market, it steadily grew a fan base that finally made it blossom into true hit-level status sometime during the critically acclaimed and Emmy-winning fifth season.
I always loved "24's" willingness to work without a net, to go to crazy extremes in expanding the thriller format and somehow live to tell the tale — to outLudlum Robert Ludlum, as it were.
But two personal anecdotes brought the show's mass appeal home for me: My 70-something mother-in-law, a rock-ribbed Republican with narrow TV tastes outside of "The O'Reilly Factor," confessed that she never missed "24." And last year, while walking in downtown Burbank, I happened to observe a middle-age man take his female companion's hand and inquire, in a tone of voice at once soothing and conspiratorial, "What do you say we go home, build a fire and watch '24'?"
But the clock is ticking, for fans as well as for Jack Bauer. Longtime devotees are struggling to keep the faith during this trying season.
"The writers have recycled some plots this season that are glaringly obvious: a recording, an almost removed president, an assassination attempt on that president, an attack on a Middle Eastern country, an impending nuclear strike, a person close to Jack kidnapped, etc.," Victor Lana, a novelist who follows "24" for BlogCritics Magazine, wrote in an e-mail. But "the bottom line is that we still care about Jack Bauer."
Meanwhile, with apologies to my mother-in-law, "24's" audience is getting noticeably grayer, typically a sign that a show is losing its purchase on the windy crags of pop culture. According to Brad Adgate, senior vice president at the New York ad firm Horizon Media, the median age is 47.4 so far this season, compared with 45.1 last year and 42 in the 2003-04 season.
Those born with resistance to "24's" charms have noted that in the second and third seasons the show benefited from following "American Idol." Now, though, its scheduling is cutting the other way: In recent weeks the show's Monday lead-in was "Drive," a new cross-country caper that bombed and got yanked last week. (The network hastily replaced it with reruns of "House.")
"We had every hope that 'Drive' would be a good companion to '24' and successor to 'Prison Break.' We were wrong," Fox Entertainment President Peter Liguori told me, adding quickly that he nevertheless believed "24" would bounce back stronger next year.
But Gordon said he and his writing staff were wondering if something else was afoot besides the normal cycles of storytelling and network scheduling.
Could it be that the vague but gnawing post-9/11 fears that helped turn "24" into a hit are ebbing — the nightmares that envisioned great cities laid low by chemical weapons spilled into the water supply, say, or suitcase nukes wielded by shadowy assailants?
"It's something we talked about at the beginning of the season," Gordon said. "9/11 is becoming, quietly, a memory; the memory is starting to fade…. I do think that people are looking at the world differently, with less fear."
If so, that's probably good for America. And alas, that's probably bad for "24." Real-life political tension does wonders for creators of thriller fare. Look how kind the Cold War was to Ludlum and Tom Clancy.
Even so, Gordon sounds optimistic that "24" can recover from its annus horribilis and deliver the goods next season, no matter what changes are ultimately in store for the ever-suffering Jack Bauer.
"Certain tropes of the show will remain the same," Gordon said. "It'll keep its contract with the audience. We'll keep the adrenaline going."
