24 Is Returning

Paul Newman (born 1925) passed away 26 September.

FOX’s upcoming series, “Virtuality” [featuring Joy Bryant; Pablo Cantillo; Clea DuVall; and, Gene Farber], is being heralded as “Melrose Place” in space.

Miley v. Selena? Said Selena, “... completely blown out of proportion. ... There’s no feud.”

Jeanne Cooper of “The Young And The Restless” is now 80 years old and has signed a new contract with the daytime drama, keeping her working until 2011. Said the actress, “I still have twenty years to go before I hit one-hundred. I’ve lived a long time and seen a-lot – but I ain’t seen it all yet.”

Clint Eastwood’s “Changeling” featured Eddie Alderson of [ABC’s] “One Life To Live”.

ABC ready to rewrite storylines should any of the ‘Housewives’ become pregnant.

Minnie Driver gave birth to her son (Henry) 05 September. Baby’s first picture was proudly displayed on the actress’ ‘My Space’ page. She’s still mum about the father.

Jesse L. Martin (formerly of “Law & Order”) may soon sign for [NBC’s] “The Philanthropist”. And, Selma Hayek has joined the cast of [NBC’s] “30 Rock”, in a recurring role.

Perhaps Barbara Walters and company should rename their show “The Views” – or stick to a single point of view {as suggested by the present title of the ABC morning show}!

Tamara Braun has joined [ABC’s] “All My Children” for role poised to “make daytime TV history”.

Irene Dailey (‘Aunt Liz’ of “Another World”) died 24 September after a battle with cancer.

SOAPnet fans applaud the second season of “General Hospital: Night Shift”. And, like their daytime counterparts, herald the show as “indisputably superior” to it’s daytime sister.

Networks realize the significance of DVR viewership, creating new ratings competition and statistics. Overall, this season has been a ratings disappointment for most series. Even long-running series have had significant ratings decline. Networks have declared a production retooling during December, hoping to inject new life into their series after the December and year-end hoopla.

Jon Lindstrom [‘Kevin’ of “General Hospital”] has signed-on-to portray ‘Craig Montgomery’ for “As The World Turns”. He’s the fourth actor in three years to play the part!

Eileen Herlie, who played ‘Myrtle’ on [ABC’s] “All My Children” for {OMG!} 32 years [following stage and film work] was stricken with pneumonia and died 08 October.

Renowned daytime television writer [and series creator], James Reilly died 12 October following cardiac surgery.

Gillian Anderson gave birth to her second son 15 October.

Alyson Hannigan and [her husband] Alexis Denisof are expecting their first child Spring 2009.

Josh Henderson has departed [ABC’s] “Desperate Housewives” to portray ‘Sean’ on [CW’s] “90210".

Thomas Dekker was unable to accept the role of ‘Marco’ in the upcoming “Fame” [redux] after FOX renewed “[Terminator:] The Sarah Connor Chronicles” for a full 2009 season.

Fans and critics unite – all rave for Bruce Weitz as ‘Anthony Zacchara’ on [ABC’s] “General Hospital”!

Apparently, the much heralded return of “the real Greenlee” was not-so-much worth the effort. Rebecca Budig is leaving “All My Children” “in early 2009", poor writing for the role has been cited as the cause of the actress’ departure.

“Private Practice” renewed for 2009 but “Pushing Daisies” and “Dirty Sexy Money” are turned toward ABC’s chopping block. “Gossip Girl” and “90210" save The CW from impending doom. “House” and “Fringe” return FOX to Fall Season contender status [but it’s still the January champ]! The deal with Ford Motor Company may be the only reason [NBC’s] “Knight Rider” has been junked. But, disappointments like [the now canceled] “My Own Worst Enemy”; “Kath & Kim”; and, “Crusoe” have caused NBC to reconsider it’s decision not to produce pilots for prospective series.

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, Patrick Swayze is nevertheless working on the set of [A&E’s] “The Beast”. It’s been reported that he’s only missed “a day and a half or work”.

Described as “disgruntled”, Katherine Heigl is being “allowed to exit” [ABC’s] “Grey’s Anatomy” at the end of this season. But, come January, Tyne Daly is joining the cast, in what may become a recurring role!

The CW has confirmed they are “exploring development” of a new “Melrose Place” for 2009.

Christina Applegate – cancer free and back to work.

ABC, NBC, CBS and {!!} SOAPnet all declined to broadcast next year’s daytime Emmy Awards ceremony.

“True Blood” fans may clamor for the musical opening but there wish for “Bad Things” (by Jace Everett) may never be fulfilled. The album [of which the song is part] “tanked miserably” when released and is now “out of print”. Everett’s label dropped him shortly after the album’s release; however, [creator, producer] Alan Ball’s choice to use the song for the opening of [HBO’s] “True Blood” may give Jace Everett “a second chance”.

Cancelled by FOX, “King Of The Hill” is now of interest to ABC. In the meantime, [Cartoon Network’s] ‘Adult Swim’ will be lead by “King” beginning January 2009.

Michael Crichton (born 1942) [writer, producer, director], stricken with cancer, died 04 November.

Though not-yet-confirmed, word is that Noah Wyle, George Clooney and Eriq La Salle will return to [NBC’s] “ER” “at the end of the [season]”. Another word is, Noah Wyle’s successful TNT telefilm series (“The Librarian”) may become a major motion picture.

Miley [Cyrus] and Emily [Osment] due to hit the big screen April 2009 with “Hannah Montana: The Movie”.

In an effort to keep viewers tuned-in, FOX is spearheading a new advertising trail – fewer commercials (“about five minutes per hour”) at “premium” rates. I can tell you from experience, trying to skip the DVR ahead 60 seconds, is too fine a task for human fingers and modern electronics. You do find yourself watching one or two quick commercials!

Advertisers, desperate to have their ads seen {honestly, isn’t all this dang competition tiresome?!} are turning to new forms of message transmission: “Subsidized TV” [think Ford and “Knight Rider”]; “Product Placement” [like it’s done on the big-screen]; “On-line ads” [tracking, spying and SPAM].... {I find little use for commercials. I want something, need something, I go to the store and I buy it. Is it really worth the time and effort to compare prices store-to-store? And, how effective are quick innovations – is it necessary to have a new model or design every twelve months?!}

A milestone coming to [CBS’] “The Young And The Restless” – Twenty Years At The Top! It’s true. Since 1988 Y&R has been the most watched daytime drama! {Who knew?!} Following the writer’s strike [of 2007], the show’s producers [writer-producer] Lynn Marie Latham [who’d “decimated the show”] “was not allowed back”. To replace her, the network turned to Paul Rauch and Maria Arena Bell [daughter-in-law of series creators Bill and Lee Bell]. Since the pair took the reins, the mood on the set has been more “relaxed”. Bell and Rauch are determined to “get back disillusioned viewers” by restoring the romance, character and integrity they’ve demanded.

Drake Hogestyn (‘John’) and Deidre Hall (‘Marlena’) have been fired from “Days Of Our Lives” following NBC’s “budget slashing”. Peter Reckell (‘Bo’) and Kristian Alfonso (‘Hope’) have taken a pay cut rather than accept dismissal. “Messy management” and “overspending” threaten the life of the venerable NBC daytime drama. It is currently under contract for only eighteen months.

The Miser brothers from “The Year Without A Santa Claus” finally have a show of their own (13 December)!

Jack’s back! [FOX’s] “24" is returning 11 January 2009...!!

Screen Things

By Frank Jaymes

December 2008

With material from TV Guide Magazine