March 2009 Archives

Today's cuppa: raspberry ceylon tea

Just dropping in with a quick link to an edited version of my feature story on ABC's remake of the short-lived but critically acclaimed romantic comedy-drama "Cupid," starring Bobby Cannavale and Sarah Paulson.

And while we're at it, here's a little more from Cannavale, courtesy of my own syndicated "Inside TV" column for this week:

JUST A HARD-WORKING GUY WITH WINGS ... Bobby Cannavale is not exactly a TV novice. He had short stints in several TV series -- even winning an Emmy Award for his recurring role on "Will & Grace," and was a regular on the NBC police drama "Third Watch."

But he recently finished filming eight episodes of the new ABC comedy-drama "Cupid," premiering March 31, and it wiped him out.

"If we're lucky enough to come back," Cannavale says, "it's a real double-edged sword. I've never quite done this kind of a schedule before, ever. I've always been involved in ensembles. This is the first time I've been in anything resembling a part this big. You're pretty much there every day, 15-hour days.

"I can say I had a great time doing it. I was really never tired. I was really energized by playing this part, but again, it was only seven episodes.

"I don't know how the hell we'll do 22. I wouldn't be complaining -- we'll do it -- but at the end of seven, it felt like a lot more than that.

"But to come in every day and do a one-hour comedy is really a lot of fun, so I'm glad that I'm not on a procedural, and I'm on a show like this."

In "Cupid" -- writer Rob Thomas' remake of his short-lived 1998 ABC series by the same name -- Cannavale plays Trevor Pierce, who announces that he is really the Roman god Cupid. And, if he doesn't unite 100 couples, he can't return to his home on Mount Olympus.

Of course, he's thought to be crazy, but judged harmless and released into the care of a psychiatrist (Sarah Paulson) who has a rather more pragmatic view of romance than Trevor, who relies on instant chemistry.

Apparently, Cannavale didn't even have to go through the normal process to get the part.

"Rob found out that we had a mutual friend. I love when things happen like that, when it doesn't come through an agent. My friend called me and said, 'My friend Rob Thomas wants to talk to you.' I said, 'OK.' That's how it happened.

"And Rob loved (my movie) 'The Station Agent.' He said he wanted to do the same sort of quality. I said, 'Yeah, I can do that.'"

Cannavale also found more to love about "Cupid" than just working with a fan of "The Station Agent."

"This show has an element to it that I very much responded to," Cannavale says. "It was less about matching those hundred couples than it was about Trevor and Claire. I really love how that relationship tracks through the series.

"The writers can write really clever ways of matching up people and matching up opposites, doing things like a jewel thief and his probation officer. We do different, fun things like that.

"But a mature relationship, like the one between Trevor and Claire, it's complicated. I think Rob is real adept at parsing that out, little by little, the way a relationship really is. It needs to build."

Asked if he is romantic or a cynic about love, Cannavale says, "I'm just not set in my ways. I tend not to be set in stone about anything. I've got to remain open.

"Not to get corny about it, but it's what Trevor says about taking a step into the great unknown. That's what acting is for me. I wanted to be an actor ever since I was a little kid.

"It was always about doing something that I was afraid of doing, that I didn't know if I could do."

He has one wish for Trevor that may or may not be fulfilled.

"I want one moment, where Trevor really does have his back to the wall, and he's caught in a compromising position.

"He makes a really strained face, and these two little wings pop out of his back, but they're not quite big enough to fly him away. If the show goes long enough, anything can happen."

Today's cuppa: it looks like coffee, but it's a cup of sadness

Took a look at my Facebook page earlier today and was stunned to see an update from one of my Facebook pals, writer/producer Tim Minear, saying that actor/singer Andy Hallett had died from heart failure at the far-too-young age of 33.

Click here for Zap2it's story.

For several seasons, Hallett played the green-skinned, singing demon Lorne on The WB's "Angel," the spin-off from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Plucked from obscurity by show executive producer Joss Whedon, the tall guy from Cape Cod wound up with a life far beyond his dreams.

He had an impact on my life, as well. If memory serves, I did the first interview that Hallett had ever done, and he was more than a little nervous, but charming and funny. Unfortunately, it's so many years and moves and computers ago, I no longer have a copy of the story.

I do have a copy of another story, from early 2003, but first, an Andy Hallett story of my own.

In January 2004, I was attending the winter edition of the biannual Television Critics Association Press Tour, held in this instance at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood. I believe it was a Tuesday -- days tend to run together at this thing -- and The WB had a morning press conference for the cast of "Angel."

Stacey Levin, then the show's publicist from 20th Century Fox Studios (which produced "Buffy" and "Angel"), came to me at my seat about halfway back in the ballroom and asked if I would mind sitting in the front row. It seems Hallett was going to perform for the TV critics in full makeup and was nervous about it, so she felt it would be helpful if he saw a familiar face (I had done, and continued to do, lots of "Buffy" and "Angel" stories).

All unknowing what lay in store, I agreed. Hallett came out, singing his signature tune, "Lady Marmalade." Then he tried to get the TV critics to sing along.

No dice.

Finally he came to me, a pleading look in his eyes, singing away, and stuck the microphone in my face.

I took a deep breath, and belted out, "Creole Lady Marmalaaaaaade!" And you know what? I didn't sound half bad (which doesn't mean I'm not happy there probably isn't a recording in existence).

That marks the first and only time I have ever sung in front of my fellow TV journalists (along with an odd number of publicists, WB executives and the entire cast of "Angel").

On Twitter today, I received a tweet from Keith Marder (a k a @keithmarder), a former TV critic who later on did publicity for The WB, saying, "I was there for your rendition of 'Lady Marmalade.' It was awesome."

Thanks, Keith!

Also got an email from Paul McGuire, a current PR exec for The CW who was also a PR exec for The WB -- and present at the great event -- saying, "Andy Hallett in full regalia wailing 'Lady Marmalade' as he walked the aisles of the TCA was one of the most surreal moments in Press Tour history. Sad news about a very sweet, talented guy who will be missed."

So, farewell Andy, you will never be forgotten, and you are missed.

Here's the interview from 2003:

The Regular Guy
Fri, Feb 28, 2003

by Kate O'Hare
Zap2it

A few years ago, Andy Hallett of The WB's "Angel" was just a kid from Cape Cod, Mass., struggling to make it as a singer in Los Angeles, with zero acting experience.

Now, he's schmoozing with reporters and fellow thespians at the network's biannual press party -- even if not everybody there recognizes him. In case you unknowingly passed by, he was the very tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed guy in the tan hound's-tooth coat -- and there's not a lot of hound's-tooth in your average WB star's wardrobe.

Stepping outside the party onto a balcony to talk, Hallett can't wait to share word of recent good fortune.

"I got good news the other day," he says. "They made me a series regular. I was thrilled."

Although Hallett went from unknown to primetime series regular in two-and-a-half seasons, it doesn't mean he hasn't suffered for his art.

"Talk to my makeup artist about that!" he says.

"This is his first real job ever," says co-star Charisma Carpenter. "Isn't it sad, how long it takes some of us to get into it, and he's there, and it's like he's been there for 10 years. Hallelujah! He's the bomb."

On "Angel," currently in its fourth season and airing Wednesdays, Hallett plays Lorne (short for Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan), a green-skinned, red-eyed, horned demon from another dimension, with a sharp wit and pipes made for belting out lounge standards.

He used to run a demon-karaoke bar called Caritas, where otherworldly creatures could come in, hum a few bars and have Lorne (who was then referred to as The Host) read their destinies. After that place was blown up twice -- and after a brief, disastrous stint in musical servitude in Las Vegas -- Lorne took up residence in the old hotel that serves as the home base for Angel (David Boreanaz) and his evil-stomping cohorts.

Hallett officially joins the opening credits of "Angel" in an episode called "Release," scheduled to air March 12. This, of course, means many more lengthy sessions in the makeup chair, being transformed into his demonic alter ego.

"The makeup artist makes it so comfortable," says Hallett. "This year, he even bought a 13-inch, flat-screen TV and a DVD player, so I can watch movies when I'm in there. Before, it was three hours staring at the mirror. He and I talk, but there are a lot of times I can't talk because he's working on me.

"He keeps the air conditioning on for me. It's so pleasant. I couldn't ask for anything more. I used to have a lot of difficulty with it, but now it's cool."

Any future discomfort no doubt will be offset by employment security, which came in a surprise phone call from "Angel" executive producer Joss Whedon.

"I was in my trailer, and one of the girls knocked on the door and said, 'You've got a call from Joss Whedon's office. I think it's kind of important.'

"I'm like, 'No, tell him I'm busy! Tell him I have a towel on my head, and I won't take the call.' No, seriously, I get on the phone with him, and he says, 'How are you?' 'Fine.'  'What are you doing?' 'Nothing.' 'I have some good news. I wanted to let you know that, for the back nine, we are making you a series regular.'

"I was shocked, stunned. I called my agent. I was totally numb."

So far in his run on "Angel," Lorne has been beaten up, beheaded (it's OK, it was reattached) and knocked out with ridiculous frequency. Oh, and this year, he had a hole drilled in his head so the evil lawyers from the demon-run firm of Wolfram & Hart could extract information on a marauding creature.

"The other day," Hallett recalls," I went into work, and I have another scene in episode 14 where, of course, I'm unconscious. I said when I walked in, 'What the hell is going on here? Are we trying to find out how many times I can be knocked out, wounded, shot, grilled -- all these unbelievable wild things?' Every single thing you can possibly imagine has been done to me. If that's not a hint, right?

"But it's great. Now that I know the series-regular stuff, I'm 100 percent committed to them."

Every now and then, Hallett gets to sing on the show, most recently performing a Vegas version of a personal favorite, Patti LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade." Fans keep wondering when Hallett is going to put out a CD. Hallett wonders, as well.

"We talked about it a little while ago," he says, "and yes, we have a couple of companies that have approached us. My dear friend Mark Lutz -- he played the Groosalugg on 'Angel' -- he said, 'What the hell is your problem? Why won't you get off your butt and do something?' I don't have an answer. I really don't know why. I want to do it. It's something I've wanted to do my entire life."

"The first company that called asked to do something like 'Lorne's Favorite Standards,' something like that -- favorite songs I've done on the show. We'll see what happens."

Asked what Lorne is up to for the rest of the season, Hallett says, " Lorne is doing his normal lounging around the hotel, trying to get spells right, getting visions, getting them wrong and finding out way too late in the game, after something terrible has happened ... getting shot, beaten up, stabbed, tranquilized."

"The other day, I spent the whole day on the ground with my eyes shut. It was like, 'That was very relaxing.' I had a relaxing day on the floor at Paramount Studios."

As for celebrity perks, Hallett is just happy to have met a favorite singer of his at the WB party. "I like Reba McEntire," he says. "She was the only one I was excited meeting, and she was so sweet to me."

Serendipity Sunday concludes, as I finish up a day looking at shows that I have either never seen or wouldn't ordinarily watch. Last up, Current TV's weekly media-roundup show "InfoMania."

The youth-oriented news channel -- co-founded by self-proclaimed climate czar Al Gore -- features a quick, snappy (some might say, ADD) style and a lot of user-generated content. I may not be in their core demographic, but I like a little zip in my giddyup, so here goes...

The impression: Way funnier than "Fox News Watch" (but then, so is dental surgery), very similar to but probably made for a smaller budget than VH1's "Best Week Ever" (which appears to have some actual physical components to its set, rather than full-on green screen), but not quite the lunacy -- sometimes inspired, occasionally unhinged -- of Fox News' nightly "RedEye w/Greg Gutfeld," "InfoMania" is clever, well-edited and entertaining.

I especially liked the Tech Report bit about the Facebook redesign.

But I will never forgive the show for making me watch Barbara Walters do sparkle fingers after singing the praises of her vibrator -- just one of the myriad reasons I don't watch "The View."

But, because of "InfoMania," I now know there is a President Obama Chia Pet. So, if bankers won't take a haircut on mortgages, you can still give one to the POTUS.

The verdict, on a scale of stone cold to tepid to piping hot: Hot, but not quite piping.

Will I watch it again? Not making promises, but maybe.

Serendipity Sunday continues, with the next in a selection of shows I either haven't seen before or probably wouldn't ordinarily watch. Up now is Food Network's "Down Home With the Neelys," featuring a couple that owns a barbecue restaurant in the South, and the episode randomly tossed on the DVR is "Blissful BBQ."

In the interests of full disclosure, I must confess that I do not -- for reasons that have nothing to do with whether it tastes good -- eat barbeque (so don't go hating on me, BBQ lovers!), which goes a long way to explaining why I've never watched this show. That being said, here we go...

The impression: Pat and Gina Neely are just the cutest lovebirds ever, and their obvious natural chemistry comes through on screen. They're cooking -- wearing ordinary clothes, not chef's jackets -- in a home kitchen or a set made to look like one. I like that.

In this episode, they're giving a barbecue twist to salmon -- and those of you who read about my trip to "Hell's Kitchen" know how I feel about fish. (So happy I don't have Smell-O-Vision.)

On the other hand, Pat is grilling up some vegetables -- including red onions, peppers and, yum, asparagus -- for a salad with goat cheese. Oooh, I'll take a double helping of that! I can almost take grilled and/or roasted veggies intravenously.

And Gina is making mini brownie bites with orange cream cheese frosting, and you know there can't be anything wrong with that.

Oh, and Gina's also making a lobster salad martini thing. 'Nuff said about that.

The verdict, on a scale of stone cold to tepid to piping hot: Piping hot!

Would I watch again? Not if they're cooking fish, and I do have that barbecue issue, but I'm heading off to Trader Joe's as soon as I finish this show, and I think that grilled veg salad could be in my future (I might swap the goat cheese for feta). So my path just may cross with the Neelys again.

Serendipity Sunday continues, with the next in a selection of shows I either haven't seen before or probably wouldn't ordinarily watch. Up now is Bravo's reality-competition show "Make Me a Supermodel," and the season-two episode randomly tossed on the DVR today is "Eye Candy," which originally aired March 11.

Strike a pose...

The impression: After seeing a few episodes of The CW's "America's Next Top Model," I knew that modeling involves bizarre makeup and hair and posing in all sorts of strange and frequently uncomfortable situations. Thankfully, this show did not include the critical mass of sobbing usually featured in "ANTM." In this installment, the models were made up to look like candy -- sort of, anyway.

Was happy to see guest star and Bravo celebrity hairstylist Tabatha Coffey. I did a sit-down interview with her at a press event, and she turned out to be quite different than I expected -- charming and very down-to-earth.

Anyhoo, as I said, the models are blessedly not weepy, but also not all that interesting as people (with the exception of Brit Jonathan, who seems to have a good sense of humor about himself and the whole thing). There's the usual reality-show compliment of whining and crabbing and backstabbing, immunity and eliminations -- blah blah blah.

The verdict, on the scale of stone cold to tepid to piping hot: On the warm side of tepid.

Would I watch again? Probably not. But I might watch a show about Jonathan.

Today's cuppa: raspberry ceylon tea -- yum, like drinking raspberry cheesecake

Serendipity Sunday is underway, and first up on the list of TV shows I've either never seen or would probably not watch ordinarily is HGTV's "Property Shop," a reality show about Montreal real-estate agent Tatiana Londono.

Open house starting now, back in a few...

The impression: This show premiered on Jan. 1 (with episodes that premiered in early 2008 in Canada), and already it's an artifact of a bygone era, an era in which high-powered real-estate agents who sold for high prices and got high commissions were heroes to the public.

I'm sure they're still heroes to their clients -- as they should be -- but considering the havoc wrought by escalating mortgage amounts and resulting defaults, there's an ick factor now.

As to the show, Londono is certainly no Jeff Lewis from "Flipping Out." Her hair may be huge, along with her ego, but she's just not fun to watch. Lewis, with his OCD and eccentric staff, may be an oddball, but he's an amusing and compelling one.

Here, I wound up more interested in Londono's young underlings (even though one of them didn't seem to understand the concept of call-forwarding) than I was in the high-energy blond bombshell. The only upside -- lots of shots of lovely Montreal, which seems to have some very nice houses.

The verdict, on a scale of stone cold to tepid to piping hot: Tepid.

Would I watch again? Nope.

Tonight's cuppa: Newhall Coffee Patriot Blend (with a little cinnamon added to the grounds)

One unintended consequence of our increasingly on-demand world is a downturn in serendipity -- that little thrill of the unexpected that happens when you run across something cool or interesting totally by accident, often when you were searching for something else entirely.

After a certain point, when our Season Passes and series recordings are all filled up on the DVR, and the DVD shelf is loaded with our favorites, the odds of winding up watching a show just because it's there go down dramatically. We can plan our viewing day, but what are we missing?

Remember those days of flipping channels late at night, landing on bass fishing or a Korean soap opera or bull riding or a rerun of "Seven Days," watching for a few minutes and getting sucked into something that you might never have watched intentionally?

It happened to me with the first season of Animal Planet's "Groomer Has It" (season two starts Saturday, April 11, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and yes, I''ll be there). Click here for the proof.

In the interests of science, I've decided to inaugurate "Serendipity Sunday," a day in which I check out a bunch of shows I either haven't seen before or wouldn't normally watch. It could be a big success, or it could be the worst day of my life.

Click here, here , here and here for updates.

Today's cuppa: Breakfast blend coffee

Yesterday afternoon, I made my usual appearance on the TVTalk show on blogtalkradio.com, and talked with host Shaun Daily about the conference I attended on Tuesday (click here for the original post) and the future of television. Really, who do I think I am? Marshall McLuhan or somebody like that?

I'm just a TV watcher like you guys, trying to make sense of it all. TV's not going away, that's for sure, but it's going to look different. Unfortunately, right now, nobody knows how fast that's going to happen or what it's all going to look like when we're done.

But, the only constant -- aside from death and taxes -- is change. I come in at roughly the 20-25 minute mark. Click here to listen.

Right now, I'm playing with my audio of the keynote speech from Fox entertainment chief Kevin Reilly from conference to see if it's good enough quality to post. Stay tuned...

Today's cuppa: morning Viennese roast and an afternoon cappuccino from the studio coffee cart

Before packing it in for the night, here's a note to catch you Cuppers up on what I've been doing the last couple of days (aside from cheering on Steve "Woz" Wozniak on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," as he survived elimination despite the judges' disparaging remarks about his samba. He puts the tap in my toes, a smile on my face and a song in my heart! Go, Woz!)

Tuesday, I spent the afternoon at the lovely Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood -- in a ballroom that I was told has been restored to the way it looked during the first Academy Awards presentation -- at the first day of the two-day Digital Media Wire Future of Television Conference West.

I haven't had the chance to digest everything I heard (some of which is available on my Twitter feed, including a running livetweet of the keynote speaker, Fox Broadcasting entertainment chief Kevin Reilly), but here are a few of my takeaways in brief:

• TV is thriving, what's not thriving is linear TV, a k a the traditional network schedule. People are consuming lots of TV, but rather than watching it in its broadcast time slot, it's increasingly on DVRs and online.
• But, because people actively choose shows for the DVR and to watch online, they tend to be more engaged with them that shows they watch just because it's 9 p.m., and they're on.
• Because of the Internet, viewers have never been more fully engaged in their TV shows. On the other hand, the digital revolution is throwing the TV industry into a financial and, in some ways, existential crisis (and that goes for advertisers as well, who are scrambling just as hard to figure it all out).
• This trend is highly unlikely to slow down or reverse, and the pace of change may accelerate exponentially as new hardware and software products are released -- forcing studios and networks to run even harder to keep up.
• While there is an increasing amount of original online video content (professionally produced, not just amateur YouTube videos), the Web is still dependent on traditional studio, network and production-company sources both for original content and for subject matter for blogs and fan-oriented websites.
• Some folks, especially (but not exclusively) students and young people just entering the workforce, don't bother with a TV at all, preferring to watch on laptops or flat-screen computer monitors. Easier connectivity between HDTVs and PCs will improve on this viewing experience, making it a viable choice for those who want to watch their shows on a large TV screen.
• Whomever figures out how to make product advertising really pay on the Internet may become as rich as Bill Gates.

I'll be reviewing my recording of Reilly's keynote, so look for some highlights from that soon.

In other news, spent Wednesday afternoon across downtown Los Angeles at the sets of CBS' Friday-night math-oriented crime procedural "Numb3rs," which was celebrating its 100th episode, "Disturbed," airing on May 1.

According to remarks by CBS entertainment chief Nina Tassler, the show is up 18 percent in its fifth season, an unusual trend also seen in another CBS drama, "NCIS" (most shows decline over time, very few go up in maturity).

Also among the speakers was Tony Scott, whose Scott Free Productions -- in which he's partnered with  brother Ridley Scott -- produces the show for Paramount and CBS (and who stated repeatedly that he's much more comfortable behind the camera than making speeches -- but he did just fine).

There was a multitiered white cake with white-and-silver icing decorated with the show's logo -- very tasty and created by, I was told, a bakery full of big "Numb3rs" fans -- along with nonalcoholic sparkling beverages for toasting (it was a workday, after all).

Star David Krumholtz also presented producers and crew with jackets commemorating the 100th episode and embroidered with each recipient's name.

Also on hand for the festivities --even though he wasn't in the episode -- was Bill Nye the Science Guy, who has a recurring role as Professor Bill Waldie.

I've been visiting the "Numb3rs" set since before the show premiered and have to say, it's hard to find a nicer bunch of folks, who also happen to make a critically overlooked but consistently excellent, smart and engaging show (and, according to Tassler, on time and on budget). Even a math eejit like me can follow along.

Fans may want to keep an eye out for the episode, since star Dylan Bruno said there are a few inside jokes and references to keep things fun for the dedicated viewer.

Did some cast and producer interviews, so I'll let you know where you might see some of that.

Lastly, came across this YouTube clip from the animated movie, "Bolt." Don't want to spoil it, but suffice to say it might sound very familiar to Hollywood types.

I sent it to one writer/producer pal, who emailed back, saying, "Holy Crap," and then stating that he and his writing/producing partner "must never talk to anyone together again."

Today's cuppa: Nothing but dreams of the coffee I'll get when I'm done with this post. ;)

I'm just a girl with a dream, a dream that one day -- if I hope and pray and pester the right people long enough -- I will see crab-boat Capt. Sig Hansen of Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" (returning for season five on Tuesday, April 14) tripping the light fantastic on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" (airing tonight).

About a year ago, I was talking to Hansen, and asked about his TV-watching habits.

"'Dancing With the Stars,'" he said, "that's fun to watch. I get a kick out of that."

Encouraged to be the first Norwegian-American ship's captain on the show, Hansen said at the time, "If they ask me, I'd probably do it just for the hell of it, but I don't think I'd pass the first test or whatever, as a star. It'd be fun to do. But those guys, they train for a month or two. They set their lives aside for a long time to do that. That would be hard to do."

Earlier this month, I revisited the subject with Hansen, who apparently has finally realized that he just may be  enough of a TV star after all to give the idea serious consideration.

"You know what, that came up again," he said. "Somebody mentioned it to my wife, some one at  Helly Hansen. We were talking about it, because we were watching the show last week, and there  was a cowboy or something on there."

(HCTV: He's referring to a current competitor, rodeo star Ty Murray. He's pictured at right. Below is Scott Hillstrand, a junior member of the family that runs the fishing vessel Time Bandit.)

Hansen continued, "And some of our friends at Helly -- because that's who we do our clothing line with -- they're like, 'Dude, you should get on there.' That's what my wife was saying, and we're like, 'Yeah, it's been brought up a time or two.

"Come on, the cowboy was really bad. I saw that -- ah, maybe we should do it, put the name in the hat. Why not go ahead and humiliate yourself in front of 20 million people? It's not too far out there to think about doing it, because they're looking for unique people, I think.

"That makes sense. Why not? Get out of your element, so they say."

Would Hansen then be a crab out of water?

"That's it," he said. "I don't think I'll lose my day job."

So, what do you think?

Today's cuppa: Barry's Irish Breakfast tea

Melissa Rycroft may not have won her "Bachelor," but she just may win one ugly glitter-ball trophy -- along with the admiration of professional ballroom dancer Tony Dovolani and the judges and fans of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

Dumped on-camera by "The Bachelor's" Jason Mesnick in favor of another woman, Rycroft was dropped into the competition reality show only 48 hours before the premiere on March 9, after Dovolani's original partner, Nancy O'Dell, suffered a knee injury.

Under pressure, the childhood ballet student and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader pulled off a waltz that wowed the crowd.

"The response that we got, I was stunned," Dovolani says. "We were on the crash course, and we didn't know if we were going to be able to get through it, but when she got done with the waltz, she had tears in her eyes. It was a very joyful experience. The whole thing was just fantastic.

"I have to say, it was one of the most touching experiences I've had on 'Dancing With the Stars.' This was a pretty big highlight."

But that's not to say it was easy.

"I used all my tricks on that," says Dovolani. "I used any elements she might have remembered as a child from ballet, and I put a whole bunch of waltz around it, when I could. I don't know if you noticed, but I was talking to her the entire time.

"Yeah, go back on YouTube and watch it" -- click here for that -- "and you'll see that I was talking to her through the whole thing. I was trying to hide it, but there was one point where I just started talking."

But in week two, Dovolani and Rycroft pulled out a salsa that got two 9s and an 8 and left the pair in 
second place on the judges' leaderboard. So, Dovolani went from thinking he was out of the competition to having to ramp up a celebrity at the last minute to having a serious chance to win.

"We have things to work on, still," he says. "That's why we've been hitting the floor hard every single day. She has blisters and bruises all over her legs. We've been really pushing ourselves to make sure we please Len (head judge Len Goodman) and please everybody.

"'That's one of the things that's our goal for the season, to always leave it on the dance floor. We want everybody at home and in the audience to always feel we gave it our all. We're not taking anything for granted."

Dovolani says his "heart dropped," for Rycroft when he saw her public humiliation on "The Bachelor."

"She didn't want anybody to feel sorry for her," he says. "That's the last thing she ever wanted. The reason why she is where she is today is because she went through that experience."

Among reality shows, "Dancing With the Stars" is particularly known for injuries -- both during performance and in rehearsal. At present, injuries have raised questions about the continued participation of both Apple Computers co-founder Steve Wozniak and "Jackass" star Steve-O.

"Melissa comes to the rehearsal looking like a mummy," Dovolani says. "She tapes up every single joint. We joke about that. 'There's my mummy.'"

Tonight, Dovolani and Rycroft are dancing the foxtrot.

Asked what his plan is, Dovolani says, "We're trying to channel Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I was watching some old movies, and I was trying to get influenced by some old musicals of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, like 'Top Hat.' I tried to make it as cute as that."

As to whom he considers his biggest female competition, Dovolani says, "I actually believe Shawn (Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson) and Melissa are going to be battling it out. At least I hope so, because I think Shawn is very talented. She's got a lot to offer."

Every performer harbors a fantasy, and if Dovolani had to pick a dancing partner from the past, he knows just who it would be.

"Cyd Charisse, hands down," he says. "That's not even a question. Cyd Charisse is by far the greatest dancer that's ever lived. She was so beautiful as a dancer -- those legs were just unreal.

Today's cuppa: Darjeeling tea, then English afternoon tea (been up for a while)

Click here for a link to the podcast version of my appearance yesterday on the TV Talk show at BlogTalkRadio.com, with the estimable Shaun Daily. We talked, among other things, "Battlestar Galactica" (I share a story that dates before the show even premiered), the traffic snarls caused by the president's visit to L.A. and the future of media.

For those who want me and only me (hi, Mom!), I start about 25ish minutes into the broadcast.

Today's cuppa: Chai spice black tea

Tahmoh Penikett has come a long way for a boy from Whitehorse in Canada's Yukon Territory.

"Not bad at all for a little boy from the Yukon," Penikett says. "Where my mother was born is the coldest recorded temperature in North America, so I know about cold."

This Friday, March 20, his character on Fox's "Dollhouse," FBI Agent Paul Ballard, has a big episode -- coming face to face with "doll" Echo (Eliza Dushku) for the first time -- but Penikett is also competing with himself, as Sci Fi Channel airs the final two hours of the critically acclaimed "Battlestar Galactica."

In the series' conclusion, "Daybreak, Part II" (Part 1 aired last week and repeats at 8 p.m. EST, right before the finale), members of the Galactica crew embark on a mission to rescue Hera, the half-human/half-Cylon daughter of human pilot Karl "Helo" Agathon and Cylon Sharon "Athena" Agathon (Grace Park), who has been kidnapped and taken to the Cylon colony, which perches on the edge of a black hole.

"It's an excellent show," Penikett says. "I'm so proud to be a part of that. It's sad to see it go, but all good things come to an end, and it ended at the right point. Ron (executive producer Ronald D. Moore) was smart, ending it at that point."

Asked if he's pleased with how it all turns out, Penikett says, "I was. I was really happy. There was some discussion about taking it in a different direction, and I gave my two bits. There was talk with me and (director) Michael Rymer, and I think Michael Rymer was talking to the executive producers, in particular about the storyline.

"We all came to the conclusion. We were going to go in a different direction than I originally thought, which was great, and I was pretty happy about it."

Penikett, though, will not be in the two-hour "Galactica" prequel movie, directed by series star Edward James Olmos.

"I'm not," says Penikett. "I was shooting 'Dollhouse' at the time. I hope I'm not giving away the premise, but just the way the storyline's set, and the time that it's set in relation to 'Battlestar,' I'm not really in the story, so there wasn't an opportunity for me to be there."

On "Dollhouse," Penikett has a front-row seat to star Eliza Dushku's considerable talents as an action heroine, but it's nothing new, since he's been watching Grace Park play different iterations of Cylon Number Eight for several seasons now.

"I've said it many times," Penikett says, "but Grace Park, what they gave her in those five years -- I know many a film actress who have never been able to tackle or even attempt some of the stuff that she's been able to do. She's done it all.

"The girl's been raped, murdered, multiple times, had multiple personalities, played different versions of herself.

"She's betrayed; she's loved; she's killed; she's done it all. She's a dear friend of mine."

As to saying goodbye to "Battlestar Galactica," which turned him from an unknown Canadian actor into the star of a primetime American network series, Penikett says, "I don't know how to say goodbye to it. I hope, and I know with confidence, that the show is going to go down in history as an important piece of art that's never going to be forgotten. It's a groundbreaking series.

'I'm really hoping that the fan reaction will be just incredible. I don't doubt that it will be, but I hope the fans are as thankful and happy with this fourth season as they've ever been, and even more so.

"This is the end, and it's going to be a beautiful finish."

Today's cuppa: Darjeeling tea, chased with Dublin Morning tea (have to go the dentist, need maximum fortification)

After failing to realize early dreams of being either a heavy-metal guitar god or a physicist, writer/producer Hart Hanson decided to take up writing, and many years later, "Bones" fans are happy he did.

Currently in its fourth season, "Bones," which airs Thursdays on Fox, stars David Boreanaz as FBI Agent Seeley Booth, a man of action who finds himself partnered with cerebral forensic anthropologist -- and successful mystery author -- Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel).

He does people; she does bones; together -- with the help of Brennan's team of scientific "Squints" back at the lab at the fictional Jeffersonian Institution -- they solve crimes.

Their partnership is platonic, but is there sexual tension? Please, this is TV.

Hanson took a few minutes off from working on the season finale script to answer a few questions from yours truly.

Q: We hear that the big consummation moment for Booth and Brennan is coming in the season finale, and perhaps reproduction. I could see Brennan being clinical about it, but Booth? What was your thinking leading up to this?

A: Well, that's totally and completely the story engine driving this entire moment. Brennan is clinical, and Booth is anything but clinical. Merry mix-ups ensue.

But if I tell you the thinking that led to it, I might as well tell you the story, which means I'd be smarter to wait and have you watch it on television.

Can I tell you we thought about it a lot and a lot? That we had buckets and buckets of network and studio input and, despite that, we still got to a story that worked for us?

The general idea is an adage that TV writers and producers ignore at their peril: Give the audience what they expect, in a way they don't expect it.

Q: For such a bright woman, Brennan doesn't seem to be evolving much in her social skills. It is a source of comedy, but will she ever get significantly better?

A: What, you want to end the series? If you do, just say so.

Q: Is there an undercover scenario for Bones and Booth in the back of your mind that's still waiting for the right plot?

A: There are about six. "The World's Strongest Man" competition. Everybody here (but me) is fascinated by reality cooking and fashion shows, so when I die or move on, they can do that. Same with musicals. We want to go to an architectural dig and onto an Indian reservation...

Q: Might romance ever flare up again among the Squints?

A: Definitely. And perhaps even lust.

Q: How has your philosophy of the show changed over four seasons -- or has it?

A: It has not, alas. Find the balance between cases and personal stories, character and humor, and stay interested. The question is, are we successful at it enough of the time to keep our loyal audience?

Q: Will the economic downturn have an effect in the future on the budget at the Jeffersonian?

A: Definitely. I don't know how yet.

Q: Will Angela's dad (played by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top) reappear?

A: Definitely.

Q: Are there other celebrities who'd like to be on the show,just waiting for the right script?

A: Yes, we've actually gotten to the point where people are asking to be on the show, who love the show and think it would be cool to come aboard. Perhaps because of Billy Gibbons, these include a number of rock stars. We will find ways to use the ones we like and dodge the ones we don't.

Q: How'd you manage to get the peripatetic Stephen Fry -- a prolific Twitterer and blogger -- to stand still long enough to do another "Bones"? What's he doing, and when should that air?

A: Stephen Fry loves doing "Bones." We found his availability months ago, within a four-day window, and confirmed with him that he'd be in the episode then. At that time, we had no idea what the story would be, but we knew it would be intermingled with a Sweets story. He did not disappoint.

He remains one of our favourite ([sic] Hart's from Canada.)  recurring guest stars, and we (and he) hope to see more of him in the future. The episode he shot for us is called "Mayhem on the Cross" and should air in April. (HCTV: Perhaps April 2) All of England is on alert.

Q: Now that your dad has been on the show -- he played the cranky vending-machine man in last Thursday's episode, from whom Booth (Boreanaz also directed the episode) snatched a free snack -- are there any other Hansons out there that we might see soon?

A: No more Hansons. Dad was enough, thank you, and he's old and fairly easy to handle compared to the rest.

Q: Without giving away the farm, what's up in the season finale?

A: Sorry, if I give you a hint (and I know you), you'll guess the whole thing. Tune in.

Thanks, Hart. Now get back to work.

Today's cuppa: Dublin Morning tea in the travel mug (I'm a freeway commuter now)

Fans of the Los Angeles Lakers may want to check out tonight's episode of the CBS math-flavored (yum, does it taste minty fresh?) crime procedural "Numb3rs," called "12:01 AM."

According to the network press release, "The team has only hours to investigate a last-minute tip that could exonerate a dangerous mob boss on the eve of his execution. Meanwhile, Charlie's attempt to help the CalSci basketball team break their incredible losing streak leads to some interesting outside help."

That help comes from Paul Gasol and Jordan Farmar of the Lakers, who appear as themselves to render assistance to math genius Charlie (David Krumholtz), his girlfriend and fellow math whiz Amita (Navi Rawat) -- who demonstrated the superiority of the granny-style free throw in a previous episode --  and astrophysicist Larry (Peter MacNicol, with the players in the photo) in their efforts to improve the dismal playing skills of CalSci's very smart but athletically challenged team.

Says, co-executive producer Robert Port, who wrote the episode, "Jordan Farmar and Paul Gasol are true gentlemen both on and off the court. Their professionalism extended well beyond what we could have asked for, making a memorable day for the entire cast and crew of 'Numb3rs.'

"Jordan and Paul can now add 'acting' to their repertoire of skills on the basketball court. Both were natural and funny -- their gregarious personalities shone through.

"Most of our cast and crew are Laker fans -- to work with two stars like Jordan and Paul was a thrill. And after seeing what great guys they both are, that made the experience even more special."

Today's cuppa: instant coffee (sacrificing taste to get this post up quickly!)

Since moving on from the role of the witch Tara Maclay on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Amber Benson has added playwright, screenwriter, film director and film producer (and blogger) to her resume ... along with author, having co-written novels and comics.

But now Benson is a a full-fledged solo author, with the February release of her mass-market paperback novel from Penguin USA, called "Death's Daughter." The first of a planned series, it follows the adventures of Calliope Reaper-Jones, who juggles shoe-shopping and online dating with a boring work life.

But when Callie's dad -- who happens to be Death himself -- is kidnapped, and the Devil's Protege decides to begin a hostile takeover of the company, Callie returns to take over as CEO and soon discovers that the family business is harder -- and more dangerous -- than she expected.

Benson grabbed a few minutes from publicizing the book to employ her writing skills to answer some email questions. Enjoy:

Q: What's the biggest difference between writing a screenplay and a novel?

A: Writing a novel is harder for me, because not only are you writing dialogue and plot, you are also creating the sensorial world that your reader (and characters) live in for the duration of the book. You have to do this by using words alone, without help from actors, cinematographers and production designers. It's a huge undertaking, and I am only just beginning to understand and use the medium properly.

Q: What's your writing day like?

A: I get up and go sit in a coffee house or cafe for two or three hours each day. I try and write two thousand words a day -- even if I end up rewriting a bunch of it later. Just getting it down on the page is what's important. I usually sit there, headphones stuffed in my ears, giggling to myself about what I'm writing. I probably embarrass myself a lot.

Q: Is there anything from your years as an actress that is particularly useful in novel-writing?

A: As an actor, you learn what works and what doesn't as far as dialogue is concerned. I think that the years I spent saying other people's bad dialogue for cash helped me write better dialogue myself.

Q: You've chosen subject matter that should appeal to 'Buffy' fans. Was that a conscious choice, or are you naturally attracted to this kind of subject material?

A: I enjoy reading urban fantasy, especially the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. (HCTV: These novels inspired the HBO series, "True Blood.") They were definitely impetus for creating "Death's Daughter." In the end, I wanted to try my hand at creating an urban fantasy book that was fun and easy to read, but that the other things I'm interested in, like mythology and religion.

Q: Which novelists inspire you?

A: Neil Stephenson, Dostoyevsky, Neil Gaiman, Chris Golden, Charlaine Harris, Jane Austen.

Q: What's the promotional plan for this novel?

A: I am basically using the social networks Facebook and Twitter to get the word out. I am also blogging and doing a series of book signings in Southern and Northern California.

Q: Will your focus in the future be more on writing projects or acting?

A: I want to continue to do both. Hopefully, I will learn to be a better writer and a better actor and director, the more projects I undertake. I'm striving to do things that interest me, as well as fulfill me from a creative standpoint.

Q: "Death's Daughter" is your first solo flight as an author. What are the joys and challenges of going   it alone?

A: I miss writing with Chris Golden! Literally, it was like being at Chris Golden U, because I learned so much about the craft of writing during the process of conceiving and creating the Willow/Tara "Buffy" comics and "The Ghosts of Albion" books and web series. It was really nice to have someone to call if I got stuck on a plot point or was having trouble with a character or scene.

During "Death's Daughter," I didn't have that luxury, so it was a little tough at times to figure out the best way to fix a problem. On the flip side, writing something on your own is pretty gratifying. I know that, for better or worse, every word of the book came from my own imagination -- and that's pretty darn thrilling.

Q: On the tech side, are e-readers like Amazon.com's Kindle the future of books, or, will paper never die?

A: I hope that paper never dies. I love cracking a book's spine, folding over its pages and disappearing into its innards. I get lost in books. I can be anywhere, and if I'm reading, forget about it, I could have a Mack truck barreling down on me, and I'd miss it because I was so engrossed in the book.

On the other hand, I think that Kindle will open up the written word to a whole new audience, so it can't really be the end of the world. Things change, no matter how much we don't want them to, and if we don't embrace the new stuff, well, I think we'll just get left behind. It's as simple as that.

Q: What's the strangest thing someone has asked you at a book-signing? And keep it clean!

A: I signed a girl's arm once ... and she went and got my signature tattooed there permanently. But by far the strangest thing I've ever encountered at a signing was the marriage proposal I got from a very cute young girl at Comic Con one year.

Today's cuppa: Newhall Coffee Patriot Blend

Edward James Olmos, who plays Admiral William Adama on Sci Fi Channel's space epic "Battlestar Galactica," which has its big finale (That is, if you don't count an upcoming TV-movie, directed by Olmos, the "Caprica" prequel or rumors of a possible feature film, but why quibble?) on Friday, March 20, has seen the end.

And he liked it.

"I've been privileged enough to be able to see it," Olmos says, "and I've got to tell you, I'm very, very happy with what it ends up doing for the show and for the viewers who've given it five years of their lives, watching the story unfold.

"This is the best usage of episodic television that I've ever seen in my life. I don't even think anything gets close."

The only parallel Olmos can come up with is another project he starred in, proving that either Edward James Olmos is one of the luckiest actors ever or simply has incredibly good taste in science-fiction projects (and, considering he did "Miami Vice," he's not too shabby at picking cop series, either).

"What ('Battlestar') has done for television is really wonderful," Olmos says, "and for feature films. 'Blade Runner,' I can only compare it to that. It's the only thing that's on the level of the show.

"They are both moments of usage of the medium, one being film, and the other being television, but both being storytelling. That's remarkable. But I don't think that even 'Blade Runner' can encompass what 80-plus hours of this story unfolding in your face leads you to understand. It's magnificent.

"This is the gift of a career so far, in working on storytelling. I'm very grateful."

Asked how he felt when he read the finale script, Olmos says, 'I was hurt. Yeah, it hurts. When you get there, you'll see. There's no way you can take the journey and really do all that you've experienced and not come out the other side and say to yourself, 'Wow, this was a tragic story.'

"It doesn't stop here. It's going to resonate stronger in ten years or 20 years, just like 'Blade Runner.' That's what happens. You start to realize what you're watching and what has happened and how much more prolific it becomes as the years go on -- it's like great wine. It gets better as it ages.

"How will it resonate? I think the planet will probably grasp at it more and realize how poignant it is."

Regarding his on-screen interplay with Mary McDonnell, who plays President Laura Roslin, Olmos says, "She's such a consummate artist. It's beautiful to watch her work. That's really the beauty of this whole five-year period, working with her and Michael Hogan" -- who plays Col. Saul Tigh -- "who's a really fantastic human being. He's really funny, but he's also very pragmatic with his humor, so it becomes really, really intense.

"We both have a really good time with it. It's fun."

That's good to hear, since there doesn't seem to be a lot of fun on-screen.

"No," says Olmos, "there is not. That's why it's such an extraordinary journey. Adama's arc is really quite different than anything I've ever seen done in this kind of an environment, where he's supposed to be a hero, and he's turned into an alcoholic.

"No one ever calls him on it."

Does Olmos consider Adama to be ultimately an heroic figure?

"I think that, basically, yeah," he says. "But also, he's been given a really one-handed deck. There are not enough cards to play the fame. He's kind of stuck. You want to be able to find a way, but there's just no way.

"He was lucky in being able to live a full life (before the Cylon attack), but how many kids were born during that five-year experience? How many of the young people were on their first journey? There are a lot of rookies on the ship.

"So they really didn't have a basic idea of how to deal with any of this. They had to grow up real quick. That was really fantastic for the young artists who came on board (as actors). They were just as novice and green."

And, as to what he plans to do the night of the big finale, Olmos says, "I probably will be able to do down to either Ron's (executive producer Ronald D. Moore) house or somebody's house. Somebody's showing it."

He may have to attend two parties, since the three-hour finale stretches over two weeks, with the first hour airing in the show's regular 10 p.m. Eastern time slot on March 13, with the final two hours starting at 9 p.m. Eastern on March 20 (preceded by a rerun of the March 13 episode at 8 p.m. Eastern).

Today's cuppa: Mayan cocoa spice tea (better than I thought it would be)

Financial analyst Eric Bolling knows a lot about money, starting with his 20 years of experience on Wall Street, his former job as "The Admiral" on CNBC's "Fast Money," and now his position as one of the hosts of the Fox Business Network weekday show "Happy Hour" (with Rebecca Diamond and the subject of yesterday's post, Cody Willard).

Bolling is also a panelist on Fox News Channel's Saturday-morning business show "Bulls & Bears," and host of the business hour on Foxnews.com's "Strategy Room." (In addition, he played pro baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but that's a story for another day.)

So when he gives his top five tax tips, it just might pay to listen:

1) If you were ever considering starting your own business, do it now. There are incentive loans available through the SBA (Small Business Administration) that are in place now, but with rising budgets and rising deficits, you never know how long they will be around.

2) In the new $787 billion stimulus bill, there are provisions for student loans. Although not a tax issue, understand that getting a new student loan will become easier and more affordable. The bill provides for the U.S. government to make loans directly to students, bypassing private lenders and their fees.

3) Take advantage of all matching 401k money offered. If your employer offers the program, take it to the full extent.

4) Pay on time! Penalties and interest on money owed to the IRS are insane! Even if you need more time, file an extension, but pay what you owe. If you overpay, you will get that balance back. Underpay or pay later ... look out for massive penalties and interest due later.

5): Times are rough right now. If you are working, be happy you have a job, and pay the man. Millions out there would trade places with you in a New York minute!

And lastly, a little poll ...

Today's cuppa: medium roast from the coffeeshop

While many folks would be very happy to get a job on TV, former hedge-fund manager and current Fox Business Network commentator Cody Willard is especially pleased with the timing of his career change.

I recently spoke to Willard, who has landed in the televised epicenter of a financial firestorm.

"This is the craziest time ever to be doing what I'm doing for a living, it seems," he said. "But I tell you, it's the luckiest thing in the world.

"I walked away and closed a hedge fund when the Dow was at 14,000, two weeks before I started this job. It's much better to be doing TV than hedge funding in this environment."

Currently, the long-haired, 36-year-old Willard is co-host -- with Rebecca Diamond and former CNBC star Eric Bolling (who will share his top tax tips with Cuppers in the next post) -- of FBN's "Happy Hour," which originates weekdays at 5 p.m. Eastern from the Bull & Bear Bar in New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

As fans of the show know -- because he's not shy about expressing his opinions, on TV or online -- Willard isn't happy in the least about bailouts and stimulus packages and mortgage rescue programs and all of the other schemes emanating out of Washington, D.C., as the White House and Congress shovel in billions and even trillions of borrowed money in hopes of keeping the nation's economic engine running.

In particular, Willard objects to efforts to keep homeowners in homes they can no longer afford (and, in many cases, couldn't afford in the first place).

"The thing that blows my mind as much as anything," he said, "is Republicans and Democrats from both sides of the regime say that they are all for affordable houses, and we need to get interest rates lower and that we need to keep housing prices high. I thought you were for affordable housing!

"I, as a renter and a saver, have been saving for 13 years, since I've come to New York, waiting for the price to come down, and it hasn't. I don't want four-percent interest rate. I want them to let the real-estate market crash, so I can come through and pick up some stuff really cheap, so I can sell it in 10 years and make a huge gain.

"Now what do they do at the end of the day? They come to you and I, the renter and the saver, and say, 'Hey, we're going to figure out all kinds of ways to punish you guys, because those housing prices and the ownership class has to be propped up off your back.'

"Best-case scenario -- you took risks, and you would have been able to keep the gains if the house had sold for more than you bought it for. As a matter of fact, since you can't pay back the money, I'm not sure what the problem is. Did you sign the contract? Let's carry out the law."

Of course, the renter may ask, if homeowners don't have to pay the full amount of their mortgages, can't a similar case be made for the government mandating the renegotiation of rental amounts? Sounds crazy, but hey, housing is housing, right?

"That's the slippery slope of anarchy that I've been freaking out about since day one," Willard said, "since they started us down the slippery slope of bailouts.

"It's corporate welfare on overdrive, and overt corporate welfare. We've always had these targeted tax tricks of corporate welfare, but the overt and disgusting magnitude of this direct corporate welfare that we're experiencing in this environment has really tipped us over.

"And that's what's inexcusable, and that's why the market's doing what it's doing."

And, by the way, Willard said he actually read the recent stimulus package that Congress passed in great haste.

"They didn't even bother reading it," he said. "I actually read it. I've had umpteen different representatives on the show, and I asked them if they read it, and none of them has. How does that work out?

"We gotta step up and fight it, and that is one thing that's happening. I do think that the Democrat-Republican regime and those incumbents are doomed."

Ironically, Willard did this interview on Friday, Feb. 27, the same day that protesters objecting to government fiscal policies and mortgage bailouts turned out in cities across the country, participating in "tea parties" inspired by this hit viral video.

The events were meant to recall another famous tax protest, the 1773 Boston Tea Party.

Asked about the "tea party" events, Willard said, "I'm all for them."

Organizers are currently working on more "tea parties" centered on tax day, April 15, but Willard told me has plans of his own.

"I've even started a social network called SpokeUp.com. We're organizing April Fool's Day marches. What we want is for everybody to march on their local town hall on April Fool's Day against the Republican-Democrat socialist regime.

"You get as much local coverage as you can -- your newspaper, your radio, TV, whatever. Just  get as much coverage as you can at your town hall and fight this stuff. We've got to start somewhere. It's going to be on the individual, grassroots level, as always."

Willard doesn't see this as a partisan issue, but something that cuts across political ideologies.

"I think most people are freaking out," he said, "going, 'Hey, this ain't what my country's all about, and we're going to change it.' We gotta. We have no choice."

BTW, if you don't understand how we got into the mortgage mess and subsequent credit crisis, check out this neat little animated video that 'splains it all.

Today's cuppa: Irish breakfast tea

Just a quick note to relate my experiences at a taping of Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" late yesterday afternoon, most of which I'm not allowed to talk about (I signed stuff, lots of stuff. Chef Gordon Ramsay has knives. 'Nuff said).

Unfortunately, the episode being shot when I was there won't be seen for a year or more (we're in cycle five; my episode was for cycle seven), by which time either the economy will be vastly improved, or we'll have a whole new Congress.

So anyone salivating at the idea of seeing me go hungry on TV will have to wait a very long time.

And even if you're willing to wait, you will still be disappointed. The only thing I can talk about was the food, and luckily, we actually got food (as fans know, this doesn't always happen, at least not for everybody in the restaurant).

My only complaint is that there were too many fish dishes among the appetizer selections -- don't really do the fish, unless it's deep-fried and served with chips -- and the only non-fish choice had bleu cheese dressing, also not a fave.

So I ordered something with scallops, gave them and anything that touched them to my dinner companions, who happily shared their red and yellow beets back with me. Yum! Had a lively conversation about which local eatery serves the best beets with our waiter, who was charming.

Then I had a very tasty side dish of mozzarella and tomatoes and an equally tasty entree of hand-cut pappardelle with grilled vegetables and peas in a cream sauce (no, I'm not a vegetarian, but I do love veggies and was in the mood for pasta).

Alas, there was no dessert -- I had high hopes of berry pudding, and my dinner companions were anticipating chocolate -- because of something that happened in the kitchen which, A, I didn't see, and B, if I did, I wouldn't tell you anyway.

But I did have a very nice cuppa coffee.

Bon appetit!

PS: I spent my morning at a table read of an upcoming "Family Guy" episode, a parody of "Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi." More to come...

Today's cuppa: Dublin morning tea (having been woken up early by hovering traffic helicopters, I'm on my second big mug)

If you haven't seen last night's two-hour "24," go away now. Seriously. If you keep reading, I will not be responsible for the consequences. I believe in personal responsibility, and so should you.

In hours 11 and 12 of the action-drama, the "to torture or not to torture" debate continued as Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) took on a senator's traitorous aide -- but President Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) stopped him just short of him getting the vital info -- and then had to deal with African terrorists that had stormed the White House.

The bad guys got into the presidential residence by jumping off boats in the Potomac River, swimming to some sort of underwater pipe, drilling a hole and then sneaking somehow into the White House basement. Really not sure that can actually happen, but hey, it's TV!

Frankly, if you're sitting around wondering if anything on TV is real then, well, I don't even know what to say to that. You want real, look out the window.

Anyhoo, last Friday, I was on a conference call with "24" executive producer Howard Gordon. As promised in the previous post, here's some of what he had to say about last night's festivities.

On attacking the White House:

One thing about the two-hour was that, obviously, the White House and attacking it credibly was something that we had some big internal debates about, and we feared, "Could it be done credibly?" I do think we pulled it off, but I know it was a big concern on the part of a lot of the crew and cast. The writers were the forward-bearers on that, and I hope it worked credibly.

On forcing Taylor to choose between her own safety and the life of her hostage daughter (Sprague Grayden, "Jericho"):

To me, the story is really about a mother and daughter reconciling after this estrangement, and in the context of her having lost her son, in many ways, because of her office. This is a woman who's really pressed to the edge of something, and if you look at this incredibly dramatic hostage situation, or siege situation, at the end, she gives herself up for her daughter.

As a mother, to us (that) was a really, really powerful crux to put her against. It's her office or her daughter, and the mother in her won out; at least that's what you think at the end of episode 12.

No, the show wasn't shot on the old sets of "The West Wing":

We have a built set. We built the White House and, in fact, there was a small, little external set that you saw, which is a West Wing -- not "West Wing" from the show, but the actual West Wing entrance. It's fashioned after that. We needed some depth and some interior and exterior spaces, so we built a fairly inexpensive exterior set, which we wound up using for the rest of the year. All of it was shot on Stage B, which is our adjacent soundstage.

On whether you can swim your way to the White House:

Washington essentially is wetland; it's swamp land. So I have this fantasy that maybe there were ... I've done really no research on this -- but I've heard that there are sealed-off tunnels from various construction phases, so I just sort of said, "What if..." I'm sure these tunnels don't exist. And in fact, what we wound up shooting was different than what you saw, different from what we scripted.

We scripted a much...imagine a very large, ceramic, abandoned sewage pipe that was half-filled with muck, and Brad (director Brad Turner) shot something a little more James Bond-y, which was obviously with the scuba gear and stuff.

...So, anyway, it's not based on anything.

On having his terrorists come in on boats, as did the terrorists that attacked Mumbai, India, in late November, 2008 (of course, "24" was written and shot long before that, so it's just another one of the show's weird current-events coincidences):

The terrorists, us -- the writers and the people who are putting together a show -- our imaginations are living in the same world as the real-life terrorists and the real-life counter-terrorists and the real-life Homeland Security people. So ... you'd expect that scenarios are going to play out dramatically on the show as they do in real life. There's only so many ways.

Had the Mumbai terrorists come in by helicopter, you could point to any number of other episodes where our terrorists came in by helicopter. There's only so many ways you can mount an attack. But it is eerie when headlines coincide with this week's episode, that's for sure. It's been a very odd dance between reality and "24."

People have asked if we think this show is predictive somehow, and "Is this what's going to happen two years from now?" I think they're giving us a little more credit than we deserve.