Entertainment News from Eye On Weho

Eye on Entertainment
Nathaniel Grey
Entertainment Editor
June 15, 2011

Keeping Abreast of the Boob Tube

With the Television Up Fronts finished, we now know your Fall TV viewing options. Over at NBC, Former That 70s Show star Wilmer Valderaama (Party Monster) has joined the cast of Awake. The series stars Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows) as a man who awakes from a car crash caused coma, to learn his son survived but his wife died. But quickly he finds himself in an alternate world in which the opposite is true. Helping him cope with this unusual lifestyle are psychiatrists, one in each world, played by Cherry Jones (24) and B.D. Wong (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit). Also in the cast are Michaela McManus (The Vampire Diaries), and Steve Harris (Friday Night Lights). *** Sasha Roiz, Esai Morales' gay brother on the series Caprica is on Grimm. This supernatural thriller comes from the creative minds behind Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Executive Producers, Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt. Also with Executive Producer title is former Will & Grace star, Sean Hayes. Influenced by Grimms Fairy Tales, the plot introduces the Grimms, a group of "hunters' whose descendants must us their powers to protect the world from evil. ***

Another Peacock network addition is the American version of Prime Suspect starring Maria Bello (E.R.) as Detective Jane Timoney, a role originated by Helen Mirren. Set in New York City, the gritty homicide drama also features Aidan Quinn (An Early Frost), Kirk Acevedo (Oz), and Joe Nieves (How I Met Your Mother). Though the pilot also featured British actor Toby Stephens (Orlando), he has since left the project and his role as Jane's live-in boyfriend is being recast. *** Ordinarily, a show titled The Playboy Club, would have no interest for me but when I learned that it's cast features Wes Ramsey of the film Latter Days,. my taste buds were wet. The series is set in Chicago during the 1960s at the famous club of the series title. In the pilot, new bunny, Maureen, accidentally kills a member of a Windy City crime family, which in Chicago in the 60s, you could do just by throw a rock into a crowd. To her rescue comes famous attorney and playboy, Nick Dalton, played by Eddie Cibrian, who helps her hide the body and cover up the crime. Recently a TV station in Salt Lake City, announced that they will not air the show as it conflicts with their concept of quality family focused programing. And yes, the station is indeed owned by the Church of Latter Day Saints. ***

The one series that received a standing ovation and reportedly tears from execs is the midseason planned Smash. Smash IS the name and it follows the experiences actors, writers and producers putting on a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe. Inevitably the Glee comparisons will flow but it's really quite different and might be better compared to Fame. The original film not the crappy remake. Under the reigns of Executive Producers Steven Spielberg and David Marshall Grant (Brothers & Sisters), it's no surprise the amount of talent involved with this series. The cast includes Katharine McPhee (American Idol), Debra Messing (Will & Grace), Jack Davenport (Flashforward), and Angelica Huston. When it was previewed before those attending the NBC fall season unveiling, the audience not only gave it a standing ovation but many had tears in their eyes. I must say, what I have seen of Smash, convinced me that such a rumored reaction is not so far fetched. But you will have to be patient as it's not scheduled until mid-season. ***

The CBS show A Gifted Man introduces Patrick Wilson (Angels in America) as a brilliant surgeon who learns the meaning of life from the spirit of his deceased wife. The show features Julie Benz (No Ordinary Family), Jennifer Ehle (The King's Speech), James McCaffrey (Rescue Me), Jian (Ugly Betty), and that wonderful character actress Margo Martindale (Justified). This brings something of a Dexter reunion as Martindale and Benz were both featured on that series. *** Also joining the Eye network is a Robert DeNiro production called The 2-2 and focuses on six Manhattan rookie cops as they discover the dangerous world that lies beneath the peal of the big apple. It's cast includes Leelee Sobieski (Public Enemies), Adam Goldberg (The Unusuals), Terry Kinney (Oz) and Stark Sands (Die Mommie, Die!). ***

ABC has decided to play safe and is reviving Charlie's Angels. The hair flipping, gun toting, beauty queens will consist of Minka Kelly (Parenthood), Rachael Taylor (Transformers), and Annie IIonzeh (General Hosptial), with Ramon Rodriquez (The Wire) as Bosley and Robert Wagner as the voice of Charlie. This should be a successful updating as the series is written and Executive produced by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Smallville). *** As they bring back Charlies Angels, I'm sure many of you are thinking the same thing. Can't they revive Bosom Buddies while they're at it? We'll, in the words of President Bill Clinton "close but no cigar." Prepare yourselves for Work It, a mid-season comedy with two unemployed guys posing in drag in order to get good paying pharmaceutical rep jobs. The cross-dressing duo consists of Ben Koldyke (How I Met Your Mother) and Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break). Some will hate and some will like it, Hot. ***

Almost every season there is a set of similar series on opposing network and this year will be no exception. While CBS has the supernatural legends of Grimm, ABC taps into the well of fairy tales for Once Upon A Time, created and executive produced by Lost veterans Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis. The premise finds a woman in a small Maine village where fairy tale characters are alive and living well. As well as can be for a community where comatose princesses are awakened by a kiss, wooden puppets are real boys and 7 dwarfs aren't as bashful or dopey as you'd expect. For in the town of Storybook, nobody remembers their fairytale heritage. Much like the tradition used in the series Lost, the origination of these characters will be told in flashbacks. Baring cast changes for the series, the pilot featured Ginnifer Goodwin (Big Love), Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) as Rumplestiltskin, Josh Dallas (Thor) as Prince Charming, and Jennifer Morrison (Star Trek). *** Good Christian Bitches was it's original title. Then it changed to Good Christian Belles and now ABC is simply using the initials GCB. It comes from Sex and the City creator Darren Starr and has been described as a wicked new drama about scheming women in Dallas. Among the lone star state beauties are Kristen Chenoweth (Glee), Annie Potts (Designing Women), Leslie Bibb (Iron Man), Brad Beyer (Trick), Miriam Shor (Hedwig and the Angry Inch). ***

Overjoyed with the success of The Vampire Diaries, the CW has returned to it's well of creation and tapped Kevin Williamson for yet one more supernatural drama. The Secret Circle, comes from the book series by L.J. Smith about a group of teenage witches and warlocks in a small town. A concept which naturally brings the question, do teenage witches use twitter accounts? The cast consists of Thomas Dekker (The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Brittany Robertson (Life Unexpected), Shelley Hennig (Days of Our Lives). and Adam Harrington (Dexter). Sure, no real biggies but maybe this will help. Also in the cast is Queer as Folk veteran (Brian Kinny himself) Gale Harold as a character so evil he makes Dick Cheney look like Debbie Reynolds. *** For Die-hard Gale Harold fans who can't wait for the fall premiere of the show, you can check him out in the June 23rd independent release of Rehab. Don't get your hopes up, this is not the biography of Lindsay Lohan. The thriller features Harold as a controversial psychiatrist who organizes a retreat for his patients who struggle with dissociative personality disorders. Quickly the patients discover that their often violent episodes are nothing compared to the actual intentions of Dr. Daniel Brody. Among those found in this cuckoo's next are Josh Stewart (No Ordinairy Family), Christopher Judge (Stargate SG-1), Danay Garcia (Prison Break), and Michelle Hicks (The Shield). ***

Apparently witches are the new black, with the previously mentioned series there is also the June 26 fourth season debut of True Blood which also features a story about witches. All the regular cast members return plus a few new ones including Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter and the You name it, movies) as Marnie, a witch with ulterior motives that threaten the vampires. The L Word veteran, Janina Gavankar will play a shape shifter love interest for Sam while Gary Cole will appear as Jason and Sookie's grandfather. You can also look forward to return appearances by the characters of Godrick (previously mentioned in this column) and Russell Edington, played by Denis O'Hare. Which reminds me on an interesting note. If you catch the film Milk on cable or dvd, take note that O'Hare isn't only known for playing the evil Russell on True Blood as he also plays the evil Senator John Briggs in Milk. ***

Until next time, I'm Nathaniel Grey and I was born this way.

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