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RSSTV Gal Character Relocation Program
After watching the season premiere of "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," TV Gal reader Lisa contacted me and declared that she wanted to rescue Amy and transport her over to "Glee." Although I feared Ben would definitely track Amy down (the boy is focused) I thought it is a great idea to take her away from bad writing, terrible storylines and endless conversations about her breasts.
So I thought it was time to revisit the TV Gal Character Relocation Program. Here are the characters on the top of my priority list for immediate relocation.
Cooper on "Private Practice" to "24:" You know Coop is my favorite character on "Private Practice" (I remain loyal to Paul Adelstein) and he's floundering at Oceanside Wellness Group where he has the same argument with Charlotte every week and I think may still be hung up on Violet. Yes I realize I'm risking his life by sending him to the world of "24," but, damnit sweetheart, don't you think Cooper could work at some sort of medical facility that helps Jack diagnose the latest biological threat?
Akani (Grace Park) on "The Cleaner" to "Leverage:" As I discussed on Monday, "The Cleaner" won't be using its supporting cast as much this season and I think Akani's skills of deception would be a perfect addition to the caper crew over on "Leverage."
Detective Eric Delahoy (Adam Goldberg) on "The Unusuals" to "The Closer:" I need to know that he's okay and that he's seeking treatment for his brain tumor. Plus compared to Brenda, he's not that quirky at all.
Jinx (Lesley Ann Warren) on "In Plain Sight" to "Brothers & Sisters:" Nobody does dysfunctional family like the Walkers. They would take good care of Jinx and I think Mary does need a little time out from her mom.
Adrianna (Jessica Lowndes) on "90210" to "Greek:" We all know Adrianna is the best character on "90210." Let's put her on a show worthy of her talent.
Which characters would you relocate to a different TV series? Talk about it below.
The Philanthropist
Sometimes the road to an average TV pilot is paved with good intentions.
That's definitely what happened with "The Philanthropist," which premieres tonight at 10 p.m. on NBC. James Purefoy (Mark Antony on "Rome") stars a suave billionaire Teddy Rist. In the pilot, Teddy realizes he wants to do more with his money than simply make more money.
I'm happy to have a show that's different than anything we have on TV right now. And I'm thrilled NBC is airing something besides the show that dare not speak its name (you know who you are).
My big problem with tonight's pilot is the story telling structure. The set up has Teddy telling a bartender about his adventures and then flashing back to the scenes that led Teddy to change his ways. The device is clunky and unnecessary. Sometimes I wonder what ever happened to just telling the story from start to finish. Not every show has to be like "Lost" or "Damages." "The Philanthropist" would have been better served by more straight forward story telling.
The show also tries a little too hard to not make Teddy your stereotypical do-gooder and in the process makes him a stereotypical womanizer. But the ever-so-charming Purefoy pulls off the character that has him vacillating between threesomes and getting a much need vaccine to a village.
The show has some good stuff going on here. Starting with the supporting cast. Michael Kenneth Williams (Omar on "The Wire") is way too underused tonight but he's an exciting actor to watch and I want to tune in next week to make sure he gets more screen time. Jesse L. Martin is Phillip, Teddy's business partner and Neve Campbell is in charge of Teddy's charitable foundation and also Phillip's wife.
I think the tone of this show is very difficult to hit just right. Tonight's episode, which was filmed on location in South Africa, gets a little preachy and sanctimonious. "The Philanthropist" is walking the fine line between entertaining the viewer and exploiting the poverty that surrounds Teddy and sometimes it veers on the wrong side of the line. I never felt uncomfortable watching "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" (which was shot on location in Botswana) but I did feel uncomfortable during certain sequences tonight on "The Philanthropist." Three and a half stars (out of five).
After you watch the show, let me know what you think.
Ask TV Gal
I have been reading your comments on Greek for a while, and have hesitated spending time getting into a new show. But summer's here, so now there's no risk! I doubt that ABC Family will be airing the older episodes anytime soon, but I was looking to see when the newer episodes air, and I couldn't find anything. Help! Mal
Well I'm so excited you want to catch up on the show. I checked with ABC Family and they said right now your best bet is to go to www.abcfamily.com and watch the episodes on line. All the recent episode are posted. Episodes are available on iTunes as well.
Where Have I Seen Them Before?
Kevin Chapman is playing Sean's hypochondriac brother on "Rescue Me." He's Freddie Cork on "Brotherhood" and we also saw him in the final two episodes of "Lost" this season. Tawny Cypress is the female boxer who catches Franco's eye on "Rescue Me." She was Simone Deveaux and the reporter who had the affair with Roland on "Army Wives."
Margaret Colin was the Senator's wife and the mother with a plan on "Royal Pains." She's Blair's mom Eleanor on "Gossip Girl" and Lisa on "Now and Again" (one of my most favorite cancelled dramas). The "Gossip Girl" connection continues. Dreama Walker, Hazel on "Gossip Girl," was Colin's daughter on "Royal Pains." She also just played Henry's new girlfriend Chloe on "Ugly Betty."
Guillermo Diaz was the dog walker Hank treated for free on "Royal Pains." Diaz is Guillermo, the drug dealer on "Weeds."
Kathie recognized Lynn Cohen as the wife who fed her husband chicken soup on "Nurse Jackie." Cohen is Miranda's housekeeper Magda on "Sex and the City" and Uncle Pete's wife Stefania on "Damages."
Andrew Lawrence was the teen Gabriel shot on "The Closer." We've seen him recently as Jason, the subject of Marshall's crush on "The United States of Tara." And for some reason, because he's a Lawrence brother (joining Joey and Matthew), I'll always remember him from "Brotherly Love."
Mary McDonnell, President Roslin on "Battlestar Galactica," was the internal affairs captain on "The Closer." We saw her this season as heart surgeon Dr. Virginia Dixon, a character that never quite worked, on "Grey's Anatomy." Among her many roles, she also played Carter's mom on "ER." Ed O'Ross was the neighbor who had complained about his fence being shot at on "The Closer." O'Ross was Ruth's boyfriend Nikolai on "Six Feet Under"
Michaela Watkins was the judge who Matt had left at the airport ten years ago on "Eli Stone." Watkins joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" this season and played Matthew's girlfriend Lucy on "The New Adventures of Old Christine."
Nina Siemaszko was the woman whose grandparents had owned the stolen painting on "Eli Stone." She was the President's daughter Ellie on "The West Wing" and we saw her recently on "Grey's Anatomy" as the mom whose daughter had shot her abusive father.
Diana-Maria Riva was Brandi's lawyer on "In Plain Sight." She was Vivy on the Lifetime series "Side Order of Life" and Lilly on "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip."
Dennis recognized Molly Burnett, Melanie on "Days of Our Lives," as Amanda on "True Blood."
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That's all for today. I'm back on Friday with a review of "Hung" and quotes of the week. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week or a topic for discussion? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Talk to you on Friday.
Just a reminder, Adrianna (Jessica Lowndes) on "90210" *was* on Greek prior to 90210. She was one of the *****y sorority girls who supported evil Rebecca in season 1.
Aura -- You are right! I had forgotten about that. All the more reason for her to return to Cyprus University.
*sigh* I'm going to miss the whole 'Unusuals' package, but Adam Goldberg as Eric Delahoy most of all.
You're right, Amy - he needs a new show, pronto.
I loved Now & Again, too!! It had everybody: Colin, Eric Close (when I fell in love with him), Dennis Haysbert and the actress who plays Mia's best friend in Princess Diaries. I thought the show was so good!!
I think Joss Whedon already has his own relocation program running; seems like the "Firefly" crew keeps finding their way to other shows (Nathan Fillion was Caleb(?) on the last season of "Buffy" & the superhero guy in "Dr. Horrible"; Gina Torres and Adam Baldwin did rounds on "Angel"; and now Alan Tudyk is Alpha on "Dollhouse").
I'd like to take the supporting cast of the Mentalist be put on a show that let's them develop more and become full fledged characters.
I still remember Adam Goldberg as Eddie on Friends and, going way back, as Doug on Relativity. I loved that show. I'll miss The Unusuals. It was a well made show that was cancelled too soon.
Suzie Plakson was the witness/defendant on Eli Stone, she played K'ehlyr (my fav) a half Klingon, on Star Trek Next Gen along with various other aliens in the other Star Trek series.
That's Cyprus Rhodes University on Greek.
Is it just me, or is In Plain Sight getting better and better? I enjoyed it last season, but I'm really loving it this season. And here's an obvious prediction: Mary's dad is in the Program, hence his disappearances and new lives without contact. I realize that it's pretty clear where they're going with this, but I just want to be one of the first to officially call it.