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« Today's News: Our Take
Mega Buzz on Lost, Law & Order: CI, Sex & More!
Harold Perrineau by Bob D'Amico/ABC, Chris Noth by Eric Ogden/USA Network Photo, Grant Show by Cliff Lipson/CBS
Was Lost hasty in giving Michael the hook? Which of the Law & Orders has bid adieu to some fans' favorite? Is ABC's Life on Mars already on a shaky mission? In this launch of Mega Buzz, a new weekly column, I'll field your questions about your favorite shows. If there is a topic you want to see covered or a question you'd like to ask, this e-mail is the place to do it.
Since we're just starting out here, I'll have to settle for answering my own questions. Hope I'm not a smart-ass to myself.
Question: What's your take on Harold Perrineau's Lost exit Q&A?
Mitovich: It's an incendiary topic, but I hear where Perrineau is coming from, on Michael's too-short return. Sure, it (partially) explained what became of the Dawson men after their Season 2 sail-away. But to leave Walt fatherless — and in doing so rob the series of its second barely-used African American character (Mr. Eko, we barely knew ye) — was a questionable move. This country now has its first for-real African-American contender for the White House, and yet TV features few people of color in key roles. I'm not suggesting "affirmative action" in the writers' room. I'm just saying, Where are TV's leading men of color?
Question: Your news story on Law & Order: CI being picked up for an eighth season made no mention of Alicia Witt being in talks to continue on. Is she a goner?
Mitovich: Previously rumored, but now official, Witt (aka Det. Nola Falacci) will not be featured in any of the 12 new CI episodes launching this Sunday. What’s more, she definitely is not among the cast members currently hammering out deals for Season 8. Why? Because Julianne Nicholson's maternity leave is over, and Wheeler returns to Logan's side on June 15. In the meantime, CI is still operating sans a show runner — Warren Leight has moved on to seize the reins at HBO's In Treatment.
Question: Loved your exclusive on Cress Williams joining Prison Break. But what about the show's existing Williams, Wade? Is Bellick being left behind at Sona?
Mitovich: The big splashy Prison Break news, of course, has had to do with you-know-who's return. And at last month's Fox upfront, it was that person, Went, Dominic and Amaury representing the series. That, plus the way Season 3 left off, could point to us having seen the last of Bellick. Well-placed sources assure me, however, that Wade will be back this fall — and hopefully dressed in far more generous prison garb.
Question: Is CBS' Swingtown as saucy as we've heard? And is it true that CBS has thrown cold water on the show's swinging sex content?
Mitovich: Swingtown premieres this Thursday, after what seems like (because it, well, was) an eternity since CBS first gave it a green light. Yes, the first episode serves up much swinging, as well as pot use and the dropping of a Quaalude or two. As for reports that the Eye ordered a tone-down of the sex, series stars Grant Show and Molly Parker assured me just this morning that no such travesty has come to pass. The meaningless, casual sex lives.
Question: Is ABC's Life on Mars in trouble already? I've "heard things"....
Mitovich: Not only has ABC's adaptation of the BBC series lost David E. Kelley as a show runner, it's going through other premiering pains. "Some" recasting is already underway, I hear — shades of Moonlight circa summer 2007? — and the show's production is moving from L.A. to... no, not Vancouver, but New York City. (Whew.) Still, a source tells me not to read too much into the changes, and notes that while many of you scoffed at DEK being replaced by a triad from October Road, two of those incoming show runners (Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec) also have Alias on their resumes, indicating that they can bring the edge.
This Week's Mini Rant!
Thank you, CBS, for taking a quiet, cozy little game show like Password and tricking it out with overly dramatic music and a Millionaire-like light show. Hey, Allen Ludden just contacted me via séance to say: "The password is... tacky."
This Week's Mega Rave!
Props to TPTB at Lost for speaking rather plainly about a big twist — but without us even knowing it. Team Darlton revealed a while back that this season's finale jaw-dropper was being referred to as "The Frozen Donkey Wheel." Usually their nicknames for the game-changer is pure non sequitur (and always a form of bread), but this time around they spelled it out for us. Ben literally pushed a frozen donkey wheel to "move" the island. A separate round of kudos to co-executive producer Jean Higgins, who told me weeks ago that the set piece for the big move would be cool. Again, transparent scoop!
Got scoop to share... or scoop you want me to track down and share with you? E-mail me at entertainmentnews@tvguide.com.
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Jun 4, 2008 2:59 PM
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(My apologies to Ranger, Rascal et al, who had commented on the Mega Buzz earlier. I had to relocate this posting.)
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Jun 4, 2008 3:07 PM
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Ben literally pushed a frozen donkey wheel to "move" the island.
I've already commented in several blogs on what an "AHA"!! moment that was- really made me laugh.
Good buzz- looking forward to checking out Swingtown.
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Jun 4, 2008 3:12 PM
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Matt - Congratulations on the new column! I am confused about the reference to In Treatment. I thought nothing had been decided about a second season and that given the new regime at HBO it was a longshot. Did I miss something? Thanks, Jennifer
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Jun 4, 2008 3:22 PM
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Is the setting of Life on Mars being changed from LA to NY? It was one thing when Ugly Betty announced the move, but this might be the first time a show set in LA will film in NY. No wonder everyone in Hollywood is pissed!
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Jun 4, 2008 3:25 PM
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I posted before, but will say again, I really like the new blog! I especially like the rant and rave pieces!
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Jun 4, 2008 3:26 PM
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Haha that is funny.. frozen donkey wheel.. in all honesty, I was expecting some crazy thing to move the island.. but the donkey wheel worked.
I am disapointed Alicia Whitt isn't coming back to L&O CI. I liked her alot better then the previous partner. 
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Jun 4, 2008 3:27 PM
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on the lost topic, i understand the under use of ethnics issues, but this is lost and no one is ever really gone for good. that being said, i think it's premature to bemoan lost scene opportunities such as walt and michael working it out. funny, i was more with walt on why none of the o-6 contacted him. and for the love of all that is mysterious on the island, isn't anybody feeling robbed that we still don't know what they do with the kids? the others still have the tailee kids they stole. what were walt's special abilities and does he still have them off island? i didn't waste any time lamenting his lack of scenes w/michael because i figure it will be dealt with before it's all over and done.
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Jun 4, 2008 3:29 PM
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needs more kimbo slice
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Jun 4, 2008 3:30 PM
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indy: " am disapointed Alicia Whitt isn't coming back to L&O CI. I liked her alot better then the previous partner."
Same here, indy. But I figured she wouldn't be back as she'd been brought in to fill in while Julianne Nicholson was out on maternity leave.
I wish they'd someone, anyone, to replace Bogasian. I don't think they can get Jamey Sheridan back because he wanted to stay in CA (I think?)
I've tried to forget Bogosian's past appearances as an over-the-top, obnoxious defense attorney from the mothership show, but I just can't. Why? Because his Captain acts the same freakin', bloody, way!
I'm just happy that Mike's still there, as well as Goren.
~Sangeeta
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Jun 4, 2008 3:41 PM
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Please move on from the colors of TV.
We have had Fresh Prince of Bel Aire (no other color allowed) The Jefferson's,
Good Times, In Living Color, The Jamie Fox Show, House of Payne, Girlfriends, For Love of the Game, Everybody Hates Chris, etc..Most of these people went on to build movie careers. There are shows with all black people, all mexican, but people always bitch about the shows were people are mostly white. Why are you not as outraged at these shows for not having white actors? I think actors try out for the part and the best ones are cast. Isn't that how it should be. I personally watch a show due to it's witting, and stories. I don't give a hoot what color or culture they are. I just want good TV. The color card just gets old. Give it a rest. The guy from Lost has issues, and leave it at that.
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Jun 4, 2008 3:58 PM
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Matt, when you said "Where are TV's leading men of color?" AND you talk about Prison Break in the same blog, are you forgetting that the main character of Prison Break is ethnic? Wentworth Miller is half. I also believe that Taye Diggs has had his fair share of TV screen time in lead roles. Just because the shows he was on didn't get picked up doesn't mean they didn't use an African American man as their main character. Daybreak anyone??
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Jun 4, 2008 4:05 PM
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Hey, lets not forget about these wonderful (and hot) "leading men of color" that grace our tv screens every week:
Blair Underwood of Dirty Sexy Money
Shemar Moore of Criminal Minds
Mekhi Phifer of ER
Taye Diggs of Private Practice
Gary Dourdan of CSI
And those are only from the TV shows I actually watch. There are likely many more I don't know about.
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Jun 4, 2008 4:58 PM
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Kudos Matt on getting the new column. I already posted I thought you were the logical and best choice for the self-proclaimed smurt-god! You did really well. And I like that you stated these were your questions and not made up ones by supposed readers, which were all too obviously fake! I look forward to seeing your name on the sidebar link replacing a certain traitor! I gather you are going to keep up the tradition of the column being every Wednesday? If you spread the spoilers around your column will be great. There are more than a half dozen shows out there and it would be nice to get scoop on them too! Best of luck! Long live Matt!
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Jun 4, 2008 5:03 PM
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I thought I had imagined this, because when I tried to refresh it I got an error message. I like the thought of a new column, since Ausiello's will be no more. I think that you should get your own page, Matt, like Ausiello and Matt Roush had/have.
As for men of color--how about Pushing Daisies' Emerson Cod, Chi McBride? Or Chuck's sidekick, Joshua Gomez? On Lost, Sayid and Hurley are very much still in the mix (or is that not the "color" you were talking about?) When I watch a show, I don't think about the ethnicity of a character, I think about whether he or she is interesting, well-written, and how much (or little) I enjoy watching him or her. I was disappointed that Michael came back for such a short time, and never got to fully redeem himself in the eyes of either the Losties or his son. However, Lost being what it is, it could still happen.
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Jun 4, 2008 5:14 PM
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