By Diane Werts,Variety
January 29,2009
Imagine a blend of TV heroes Dr. Kildare, Ironside and Gil Grissom. Now throw in Monty Python and Mick Jagger.
"You can't always get what you want," runs the Rolling Stones riff heard in the pilot of "House," but in this mad mix of a medical mystery series, Fox executives got more than they needed or even dreamed. One hundred episodes later, "House" remains a network mainstay.
"This is one of our crown jewels," says Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly. "It's the fall linchpin that I'm building the schedule around" until "American Idol" relaunches each winter.
Not only did "House" finish the 2007-08 season as one of primetime's most-watched dramas, but its ascendance since its November 2004 debut sped Fox's evolution from insurgent youth to steady maturity.
"'House,' along with '24,' really established (Fox Broadcasting Co.) as a place for high-quality dramas," says Peter Liguori, who rose alongside "House" from his position as programming president 2004-2007 to Fox Entertainment chairman. "It allowed us to become a home for the creative community to come to for episodic character-driven shows."
And all Fox wanted back in 2004 was a reliable procedural, recalls series creator and executive producer David Shore.
Fox's medical marvel stays on top
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Monday, February 2, 2009
Fox's medical marvel stays on top: 'House' reaches its 100th episode
Friday, January 9, 2009
Boston Legal 5x12/5x13 'Made In China/Last Call' (Series Finale) Review
SPOILER WARNING
Sadly,one month has passed since Boston Legal ended.A little late,but i decided to post my comments on the finale,because i watched it for the first time last week.I delayed that,because i wanted to think that the show was not over,but..Anyway,i watched the episodes again today.While my initial opinion has not changed,i have to say that i liked the finale more after the second viewing.I expected a bittersweet finale.It was good,but it was also a letdown.This may sound strange,but in my opinion it's not.While i did not expect all the loose ends from all these years to be resolved (and you could argue that the loose ends of the last few episodes were resolved ),i expected that the episode would follow the general tone of the season,and i am mainly referring to the development of Alan Shore.
The first part was very good and the second had nice moments.Generally,the finale had many highlights,moving moments,funny moments,clever remarks about how ABC handled the show.The idea of the acquisition by the Chinese was good and the reaction was interesting (with some moving moments-Shirley worried about her life's work,Paul defending Denny and Alan).There was also a happy ending for Jerry and Katie and the return of Paul was welcome (although i hoped that more old cast members would appear).Another major part of the finale was the return to the Supreme Court,with nice and moving arguments(although it could be argued that it could be better,but a counter argument would be that because it was the finale and it was not the Court Supreme,the scenes at the SC served their purpose).
Another part was the marriage of Denny and Alan,which is one of the things that i didn't like.I disagree with the choice of the writers,although i have to admit that there's some logic that justifies that choice and some of the previous comments gave some answers on that subject.I can understand all the arguments that support the marriage,but in my opinion,it did not fit with all the character development throughout the season.Denny wanted to marry again before he died,they have a strong friendship,Alan didn't have any luck in his recent relationships,there's also the subject of the decisions if Denny got worse and the financial benefits but i think that it was a wrong choice,as far the writers are concerned.Alan says in the finale,when Denny mentions this idea,that it's "beyond ridiculous,even for us",Denny justifies his proposal and Alan says that they will win and Denny would get the experimental drug.They should have ended the whole thing there.
There was also the fact that Denny got worse in the episode (disorientation,confusion,etc).Boston Legal was always a bittersweet show,with its successful mix of drama and smart humor,and the finale was bittersweet but after some point it became too over-the-top.In the final balcony scene,Denny mentions the thought of Alan being his son and that has some logic.They are best friends,they have a strong emotional bond and it could be said they are also father and son,because Alan learns from Denny and Denny learns from Alan.It's an exchange of experience,an exchange of wisdom,an exchange of love.
In another scene (one of the best moments of the finale),Alan is alone looking at Denny and Shirley,Carl and the judge dancing.There's a symbolism in that scene,which fits better with development of the character.
The Wire and The Shield also ended in 2008 and you could argue that they are different shows from BL,they were in cable,they ended in different conditions.There's one more difference.After i watched the finale of these shows,i felt really satisfied.I can't say that the finale was bad,it was a decent,good finale,but it could be better.There was potential,which,to some level,was wasted.
It was a good final season (with few not so good episodes)and it would be better if it was a full one or if BL was renewed for a sixth season.I will miss one of my favourite shows...It's sad,especially when you think that there wasn't actually a reason that justifies the decision of ABC.At least,i have to watch the eighth season of the Practice (which i haven't watched yet) and of course the seasons of BL.
Farewell,Boston Legal...
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Saturday, December 20, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Nip/Tuck Season 5 Part 2,Damages Season 2:An early look
Recently,Tv Squad posted an early look on the new seasons of Damages and Nip/Tuck.
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Nip/Tuck returns to FX to wrap up its fifth season on Tuesday, January 6th.
Season two of Damages premieres on FX on Wednesday, January 7th.
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Monday, December 15, 2008
Dennis Leary reveals major Rescue Me plot
By Jonathan Toomey,Tv Squad
December 3,2008
It's been over a year since the last new episode of Rescue Me - a full episode. As enjoyable as those 10 minisodes were, let's be honest - they just didn't cut it. Once again, the writer's strike screwed everything up. Season four ended, we found out that season five got a 22 episode order... and we've been waiting ever since.
With Nip/Tuck and Damages returning in January, it's safe to assume that Tommy and the 62 Truck boys will be back in April and when I spoke with Leary over the phone earlier this year, he said that the first six episodes of the new season are some of the best written stuff the show has ever had. Leary was mute at the time when it came to plots, except to say that the premiere has a pretty amazing fire scene.
Well, he's talking now. At a book signing in LA earlier this week, Leary got candid with a few fans and divulged a huge plot for the first ten season five installments:
September 11th.
Huh? Isn't the whole show about that? Firefighters dealing with life, work and love in a post-9/11 world? Remember the great 9/11 speech Tommy gave in the pilot? Or the time he peed all over the 9/11 cookies that guy was selling?
True, the September 11th terrorist attacks have always played a role in the FX drama, but it's about to get much more serious it seems. Leary said that "conspiracy and reinvestigation into 9/11" will play a major role in the first half of the new season.
[via LA Weekly] Read more!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Boston Legal S05 E12-13 "Made In China"/"Last Call" Trailer (Series Finale)
Provided by Boston-Legal.org
Boston Legal ends (sadly) next Monday with a two-hour finale.
3 DAYS LEFT
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Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Lost Season 5 Premiere Date and Michelle Dessler joins the cast
By Mat Mitovich,Tv Guide
November 7,2008
Cue our favorite creepy whooshing sound, because ABC has confirmed the premiere date for the fifth season of Lost, and it's Jan. 21.
Yep, that's a Wednesday, and it's where Lost — which last season aired Thursdays at 10 pm/ET, following Grey's Anatomy — will stay.
More specifically, Lost's regular time slot will be Wednesdays at 9 pm, though the new cycle will kick off with a three-hour event — a clip show followed by the first two episodes.
Last season, Lost saw its best-laid plans to air all of its episodes uninterrupted, à la 24, waylaid by the WGA strike. At this time, sources are unable to confirm if the 17-episode Season 5 will in fact pull off the straight-through feat.
And what of Private Practice, some of you may ask? It's a keeper, of course, having secured a full-season pick-up a while ago. ABC will announce its plans for the Grey's spin-off, as well as the rest of its midseason lineup, sometime next week.
Reiko Aylesworth joins the cast of Lost
By Matt Fowler,IGN
November 7,2008
Spoiler Warning: While there is nothing that extensive in the way of plot information here, if you want to remain completely and utterly untainted by advance knowledge of the next season of Lost - stop reading now.
"Reiko Aylesworth is in negotiations for a major recurring role on ABC's Lost," says The Hollywood Reporter.
Having played CTU's Chief of staff Michelle Dessler on 24, Aylesworth will now play Amy, "a smart and successful professional woman with a love for the outdoors who is looking for the right man."
The character will appear in four episodes next season, but it is not known whether or not she will be a new member of the island community, or someone from the normal non-"black smoke monster" infested world.
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