Question: Thanks to a Fox marketing push, I was able to see the premiere episodes of many Fox shows. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Justice. I was initially interested in it only because of Victor Garber, but I ended up liking the show overall. But here's my concern: Is there really room for yet another crime/law drama like this? I know people have been asking about CSI and Law & Order oversaturation for years. But can a new show that isn't part of a franchise, and that doesn't air on CBS, make it?
Answer: I would be more worried about Justice's chances if shows like House and Bones hadn't caught on earlier. There is clearly an audience on Fox, no doubt primed by the breakthrough success of 24, for more grown-up shows in the legal/crime (or in House's case, medical) arenas. The fact that Hugh Laurie is a Fox superstar is also a sign that a more mature actor (say, Victor Garber) can find a happy home on this network. There's no question there are too many crime and courtroom shows
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Question: What scoops do you have on the House premiere?
Answer: House asks Cam out on a date! It's true! I watched the first episode (airing Sept. 5) over the weekend and I had to rewind that particular scene to make sure I wasn't hallucinating, and, well, I wasn't. He definitely offers to take her out for dinner and drinks. (Of course, there's a twist. There always is with those two.) Speaking of Cam, it looks like the flirty little minx sprouted bangs over the hiatus, not to mention a new, sexier wardrobe and a few extra layers of makeup. Oh, and in the opening seconds, we're going to see House do something he's never done before. Well, at least we've never seen him do it before.
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Question: You recently mentioned that this season is likely The O.C.'s "last hurrah." Why do you think that is? When the show premiered, everyone was comparing it to Beverly Hills, 90210, a comparison I still think is valid. That show ran for 10 years and almost 300 episodes. If The O.C. ends this year it will be after only four years and likely not even 100 episodes. So why did it peter out so quickly? Do you think it was because of bad scheduling, or did poor story-line choices drive viewers away? Even if the show isn't the phenomenon it was when it started (and how could it be, given how overhyped and overexposed that first season was?), I still think it's successful enough that Fox's decision to cast it aside so quickly is surprising.
Answer: I'm struggling with how to answer this one. A cynic would just say, "The show sucks now," and be done with it, but that's neither fair nor relevant; 90210's long run can hardly be attributed to its quality. It may be the fact that Fox and the
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Question: I just watched the Friday Night Lights pilot, and I have to say that, from the eight or nine new dramas that I've seen, it is by far the best of the bunch. I definitely feel Friday Night Lights fills most of the gap left by the late, great American Dreams. I was wondering how you think it will do in its time slot. It has some pretty formidable competition, all established shows in Fox's House, CBS' NCIS, ABC's Dancing with the Stars and CW's Gilmore Girls. I believe Friday Night Lights is definitely worthy of breaking out. NBC is on a roll this season with its new shows.
Answer: Without getting into how you've seen this already (I can't keep track of what's out there for download or from Netflix), I absolutely agree that Friday Night Lights is "worthy" of breaking out. It's one of my favorite fall pilots, and I love that it's not about crime-solving or courtrooms or kidnappings. It's that rarity about real people in an authentic place and time, not nostalgic like American
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Question: I don't want Cameron to be with House or Chase. Bring on Cameron and Wilson! Any chance of that happening?
Answer: I think a House-Wilson pairing is more likely. Speaking of House, did you see my exclusive scoop on David Morse joining the cast? He's playing a cop who's out to get Hugh Laurie's ornery alter ego. "House is going to piss off the wrong guy, and that guy just happens to be a cop," explains exec producer Katie Jacobs. "[He's] really going to hold House accountable."
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