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« Roush Dispatch
Nip/Tuck: A Fresh Start in L.A.
Julian McMahon and Dylan Walsh by Prashant Gupta/FX
Just when you thought you'd had your fill of those over-the-top plastic surgeons on FX's Nip/Tuck, they've shaken things up and moved those hot docs Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) and Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) to the world capital of face-lifts and body augmentation, Los Angeles, for the fifth season. (The first of 22 new episodes will premiere in October; it hasn't yet been determined how this season will be broken up.)
Series creator Ryan Murphy took the stage Thursday at a Television Critics Association panel in Beverly Hills to describe the new season, and he and the rest of the cast certainly sold me — including Joely Richardson, back after taking a personal hiatus for part of last season; John Hensley and Kelly Carlson as newlyweds Matt and Kimber; and Roma Maffia as nurse Liz, whose character travels West after being offered double her previous salary. (The core cast will be reassembled in L.A. over the first three or four episodes, Murphy says.)
Guest stars will include Lauren Hutton, Jennifer Coolidge, Portia de Rossi (as an acupuncturist), the return of Rosie O’Donnell for several episodes as Dawn Budge, and, in what sounds like a much more promising development, Bradley Cooper and Oliver Platt as part of a "show-within-a-show" subplot that finds Christian and Sean being hired as medical consultants for a TV series about, what else, plastic surgeons.
Murphy describes the fictional "Hearts & Scalpels" as "the worst medical show that has ever been made. It is run by Oliver Platt, who plays me — in a weird way." Alias' Cooper plays the show's lead, "the world's biggest cad/plastic surgeon." (Sound familiar?) Murphy says the fictional show "is kind of like Nip/Tuck, and not. What happens is that it's so bad that they hire our guys to be the medical advisers, which is fun" and it allows Nip/Tuck to satirize itself. "The show has always been a satire, and I think moving it to L.A. [is] even more so."
Richardson describes the new season as "a whole fresh start. Certainly with me and Dylan, we were done with that kitchen. There was nothing left we could do in that kitchen. Thank god we don’t have to go there anymore."
Murphy says the look of the show will be "shinier and bigger," and in the greater thematic scheme of things, Season 5 will explore how these doctors, who were such big fishes in the smaller pond of Miami, will readjust in their forties to swimming in a much bigger pool of professional sharks. As with so many who go to Hollywood to pursue their dreams, it's all about reinvention this season.
In for the biggest sea change is Christian, who will "switch parts in an interesting way" with Sean, says Murphy. "Dylan’s character becomes much more competent and instantly successful, and Christian has to work a little harder at it and is in Sean's shadow for a while."
The Nip/Tuck panel was followed by a session introducing FX's next big thing, the terrific legal thriller Damages (premiering July 24 for 13 episodes), starring Glenn Close as a ruthless, enigmatic trial superstar, Ted Danson as a tycoon she's pursuing in court and Australian ingenue Rose Byrne as Close's initially naive protégé. We've seen the first two episodes, and they're dark and dazzling.
I'm glad to see FX back in top form with a new drama, after having been repulsed by Dirt and disappointed by The Riches (both of which have been renewed for a second season, so you have to think it will be a slam dunk to keep Damages around for a while). If Nip/Tuck's new change of venue results in a re-energized show, that's even better news for what has long been one of my favorite, and certainly one of cable's most daring, networks.
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Jul 12, 2007 5:29 PM
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I haven't been particularly looking forward to Nip/Tuck: LA since I think the show is pretty out of ideas no matter where it's set. But I guess I'll at least give it a chance.
I am REALLY looking forward to Damages, though. (And FYI: Rose Byrne is actually Australian, not British.)
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Jul 12, 2007 6:10 PM
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Thanks for the great review Matt.
I have been anxious to see where Nip/Tuck would take us as it journey'd west, and it all sounds good!
I too have been waiting patiently for the show Damages and the return of Glenn Close to FX!
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Jul 12, 2007 6:11 PM
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Good news about Nip/Tuck (other than the return of Kimber and Matt, 2 of the most annoying characters on the show).
Matt: Do you know if Glenn Close is locked up for a second season of Damages if it's renewed? Or will she have an option to walk at the end of the first season, like she did on The Shield? Since (as I believe) Damages was filmed in the NYC area, and she lives in the NYC vicinity, she might be more likely to stay for a second season.
I can't wait for Damages to start next week (and for Nip/Tuck to start in October).
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Jul 12, 2007 6:30 PM
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Damages revolves around Close and is a designed starring vehicle for her, unlike The Shield. She won't be leaving the show.
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Jul 12, 2007 7:25 PM
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Can't wait for Nip's new season. It needed a kick in the pants after a so so 4th season. I wish Matt and Kimber were AWOL as well.
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Jul 12, 2007 9:33 PM
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Thanks, Matt! Can't wait to see either show!
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Jul 12, 2007 11:35 PM
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I so can't wait for damages!! Glenn Close is just an all time favorite and I'm sure she'll shine.
I almost always agree with you on shows Matt, and lord knows I found "Dirt" to be over the top and trashy and not in a good way but "The Riches" I've thoroughly enjoyed. I hope you warm to it eventually. I don't think it's nearly as bad as you think it is, and at least I'm not alone out there as your fellow critics seemed to like it. I could just watch minnie driver and eddie izzard play these demented characters forever. It's over the top, but it's compelling and exciting tv for me.
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Jul 13, 2007 1:34 AM
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I'm interested in seeing if this new format for Nip/Tuck is succesful. I was really disappointed with last season. It seemed repetitive and the character of Matt was on my last nerve. The boy is so annoying that he was ruining the show for me. Please let this fresh start help the show go back to the glory of their first 2 seasons, I really don't want to stop watching because of recycling plot twists.
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Jul 13, 2007 9:53 AM
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God bless FX...somethimes they are the ONLY network, cable or otherwise with ANYTHING worth watching!
I cannot WAIT for my favorite docs to heat it up on the screen! And Damages previews look great!
THANK YOU FX!
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Jul 13, 2007 1:50 PM
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I was thrilled to hear that Bradley Cooper would be turning up on Nip/Tuck, and the premise sounds fabulous! I suspect we've all had our issues with N/T, but just when I'm about to check out for good, they come up with a Christian-Sean moment (or terrific guest star) that pulls me back in 
Thanks for the scoop on Damages. I had planned to give it a try, but I'm happy to hear that it has the Roush Stamp of Approval
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Jul 13, 2007 4:33 PM
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It's actually pretty great if Sean is the one to reap the most success and have a great time at first. He's the one with the talent after all...and Christian will have to establish himself against all the other "Christian Troy's" out there in the first place. The supremely superficial L.A. clientele will absolutely worship Sean. Seems fun to me.
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Jul 13, 2007 10:06 PM
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I can't wait for the new Nip/Tuck. It is sooooooooooo delicious!
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Jul 14, 2007 3:31 AM
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I've always been a big fan of N/T. Moving to LA will give the show the shake-up that it needs. Very happy to hear Richardson is coming back!
I thought the Riches was a brilliant show - one of the best on TV. Dirt was somewhat of a disappointment, but I enjoyed watching it and I'm glad it's coming back.
Any new show on F/X is definitely worth giving an extended test-drive. They consistently produce excellent television!!! I can't wait to check out Damages.
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Jul 15, 2007 2:10 AM
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Glenn Close in Depends. Aunt Esmerelda in the backless bra.Esther Rolle Lives!
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Jul 15, 2007 2:41 AM
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