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'Death Valley': Get a Sneak Peek & Hints for the Future (Video)

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Today's cuppa: Gevalia Signature Crema coffee

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Last week, I shared a bit more of my interview with the hilarious Bryan Callen of the new MTV horror-comedy series "Death Valley," which premiered on Monday. Aug. 29. He plays Capt. Frank Dashell, the head of the UTF (Undead Task Force), a division of the LAPD assigned to deal with the sudden appearance of zombies, vampires and werewolves in Southern California's San Fernando Valley.

The show did well, premiering as the number-one cable show in its 10:30 p.m. ET time slot.

The good folks at MTV were kind enough to share some video clips of the second episode, airing Sept. 5, with HCTV, but first, here are a few comments on what's coming from David Janollari, the channel's head of programming.

On whether the San Fernando Valley are of Los Angeles is relatable enough to the rest of America: "In so many ways, the Valley is typical Anywhere U.S.A. It really is a suburban feel, with doughnut shops and restaurants and schools and tree-lined streets. You don't need to specifically know the Valley; it's like you're dropped into the middle of any suburban small city."

On whether the monsters ever invade the fabled Hollywood Hills: "We do go up in the Hills in one episode. They respond to a call that there is a werewolf run amok on a porn set."

On whether a werewolf will ever go to the iconic In-N-Out Burger chain and order a double-double protein style (double meat and cheese, served in a lettuce wrap): "I have not seen that in any episode yet, but it is entirely possible in the future."

On the possibility of a graphic novel: "Maybe next year at Comic-Con. This is a natural for us to move in that direction."

And now, the clips (NOT SUITABLE FOR WORK OR TENDER YOUNG EARS):



Today's cuppa: cappuccino from the Tassimo

Bryan-Callen-Death-Valley-1.jpgIf you read my syndicated feature story on MTV's new horror/comedy "Death Valley," which premiered on Monday, you know that actor Bryan Callen is really into his part as Capt. Frank Dashell of the LAPD's Undead Task Force (UTF).

The unit -- dedicated to killing a sudden influx of vampires, werewolves and zombies into the San Fernando Valley are of Los Angeles -- is also the subject of reality-TV cameras, a la "Cops."

Understand when you read the following comments that Callen is speaking as Dashell (or at least we're pretty sure he was):

On vampires:
"My concern isn't so much the werewolves; my concern is more with the vampires. I happen to think the vampires are hell-bent on world hegemony. It's in their nature. They are a coercive, expansive force, like any virus, and a very destructive one, so my biggest concern is really about the vampires.

"Control the vampires, and the werewolves and zombies go away. What you don't realize is the vampires get the zombies and werewolves to do their dirty work, so really, the big danger here is people thinking all we need to do is contain.

"I think the vampires will use any means at their disposal to wreak havoc and gain control. They're not just about destroying things; it's about control. It's about turning civilians, and it's about gaining as much power as they can.

"So, if they have to use a drug cartel, they will, and they do, by the way. They use the criminal element all the time. So, once again, the only good vampire is not an undead vampire but a dead vampire. They're very hard to kill, you know, but that's how it is.

"The problem is, they're a very sneaky group. They're very seductive. Vamps are very, very seductive.

"I would say that I never feel as alive as I do when I'm taking out a vampire. To watch them sizzle under my stake or to blast them with my ray gun, my UV gun, that's a pretty good feeling."

On killing humans bitten by zombies (which happened to an unfortunate sound man in the first episode): "The most challenging aspect of the job is to break ties very quickly with a human being that's been bitten by a zombie. It could be your mother; it could be your best Thumbnail image for Death-Valley.jpgfriend; it could be your child.

"But the fact of the matter is, they gotta go. We don't have a cure for it, and the virus acts very, very quickly, and you turn into raging, dangerous zombie very quickly. So, the only answer there is to blow their head off.

"That can be tough; you gotta break quick."

On silver bullets: "Um, that's a myth. We don't have silver bullets. We don't kill werewolves unless it's absolutely necessary. Werewolves are to be tranquilized and just confined. We have a pretty good and strong program. Werewolves have to turn themselves in when the full moon comes out.

"We have a lockdown program. We have a registrar, and we make sure the werewolves are incarcerated during the full moon, which is usually a two-day period."

On comparing the simulated peril faced by the mockumentary cameramen of "Death Valley" to the real peril faced by the documentary cameramen of Discovery's "Deadliest Catch": That's a fair assessment; that's a good comparison. You're right about that. I will say, you've only seen the pilot, and you're in for a helluva ride, because it just gets better from there."

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