Hot Off The Press: The Latest TV News and Information - Page 165

I still say, in fact I'll shout it from the rooftops, that Sorkin's best bet for another series is in the world of journalism. Crusading, idealistic journalists filled with integrity.... and incredibly witty and rapid-paced dialog.... just the way we'd hope to see them. Just like he once gave us idealized politicians we could admire, respect, and made us wonder why the real ones couldn't be that good. It's really the only topic that's worthy of his talents, IMO.

^^^ Didn't you also suggest a name for this Sorkinesque show, The Fourth State or something like that?

Close - The Fourth Estate. Or something similarly dramatic; maybe "The News Hour". Wait, that one's taken, rats. Wish I had that guy's number..... dad, you got it?

Yeah, but to be fair, S60 premiered after a two hour DoND, so those were probably three million viewers who'd spent the previous two hours watching people agonize over numbered suitcases held by Las Vegas showgirls. I don't know if that was really the best lead in for the S60 premiere, and I really don't think Heroes was ever a good match, either.


Now this I agree with completely, Fred.

And this is why, despite finding the past few episodes to be some of the most compelling and interesting TV I've seen in a long time, I'm actually glad the show was canceled. Because while I agree with nearly all of Sorkin's political points and then some, I think that by making his very weighty and serious points all in the context of a Hollywood comedy show, Sorkin's show itself - not the show within the show, mind you, but the show itself - ended up vindicating a lot of the red state attitudes Sorkin was railing against.

Now sure, I could just change the channel, like you suggested in a previous post, Fred, and as I actually did with West Wing when I got tired of the its pretentiousness. But then the show would still be out there, making points that I agree with and believe need to be made, but in an arrogant, condescending, and in my opinion, self-defeating manner. Sorry, but I'd rather not have that.

I enjoyed the show very much, and I'm also very glad it's over. R.I.P.

I actually thought that Superhero show was pretty good last year. I'm not someone who gets into reality shows, but I guess it's my inner comic book geek. I'm excited for the season 2 premiere on the 26th

I've had similar thoughts.

I think Sorkin could even have combined politics with commentary about TV and Hollywood, if he'd just used a news-type show as the show within, instead of a comedy show. Something like 60 Minutes, for instance, or almost any show on a 24-hour news network. Then he could have had a real Nancy Grace type running around as a foil, instead of just Harriet Hayes's imitation, which always suffered, imo, by comparison to Amy Pohler's superior version.

In fact, CTV in Canada had a show like this recently, called The Eleventh Hour. They did a lot of excellent, ripped-from-the-headlines stories, but it was Canadian and not well promoted, so it only lasted for three, 13-episode seasons. But combine a concept like that with Sorkin's witty dialog and style, and who knows? It just might have worked.

Ok, I know I'm a little late to the party, but I just finished watching the series finale of Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip and I can't remember a better show, a few that were just as good maybe (House season finale comes to mind), but none better. It totally left me wanting more and looking forward to another season, something I can't say about some series this year. The rythum was great, the character interaction was better than it's ever been, the politcal message was great (even though it was clear they were trying to say the opposite, but that's a topic for another thread), I finally enjoyed Harry, DL Hughley was DL Hughley, and Bradley Whitford again showed just how great he is IMHO. My only question now is where will all these fine folks end up next year or the year after?

I'm totally shocked at this news! I never liked Mr. Siegel's on-air personality or his reviews (he seemed too eager to kiss-up to the Hollywood elite) but his lengthy tenure on "GMA" shows he was a popular personality. Guess we film fans should count ourselves lucky Roger Ebert can still write great reviews despite his year-long absence from his syndicated TV show.

Um... what? Is that some kind of joke? (I'm referring to the "In a direct swipe at 'Stump the Schwab'" part.)

Dan Patrick wouldn't be the worst choice. Drew Carey is still my favorite pick.

Washington blames racism for Grey's firing

Associated Press
June 29, 2007, 10:13AM

MORE ON THE CONTROVERSY
Grey's star says they fired the wrong guy
Newsweek: Diary of an Angry Black Man
(Note: See the next post.)

LOS ANGELES - Former Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington said racism was a factor in his firing from the hit ABC series after he twice used an anti-gay slur.

Washington, who initially used the epithet during an onset clash with a co-star, told Newsweek magazine that "someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me."

Click on the following link, for the complete Associated Press story at the Houston Chronicle web site:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/4930509.html

Diary of an Angry Black Man

Isaiah Washington can’t stop talking about being fired from 'Grey’s Anatomy.' Is that a good thing for him to do?

By Allison Samuels
Newsweek
Updated: 8:35 a.m. CT June 28, 2007

June 28, 2007 - It’s a sunny afternoon in Los Angeles, and Isaiah Washington is on the set of the independent film "The Least of These.’’ Washington plays a priest in the movie, and he’s dressed in full-on black on black with a sliver of white at his collar. He greets his guests with a gentle smile and an extended hand. Sitting in his small trailer filled with the scent of myrrh incense, he seems at peace—until he starts talking. Washington can’t stop himself from doing what he’s been doing a lot lately: explaining away a situation that has already cost him a beloved job and could ultimately cost him much more.

Last fall, Washington, by his own admission, picked a fight with Patrick Dempsey, one his costars on the ABC hospital drama "Grey’s Anatomy." Fighting with a co-worker is never smart, but Washington took it even further by using an offensive term to refer to a gay cast member during the altercation. "Patrick and I had a philosophical disagreement that got out of hand and that I regret a great deal," Washington says. "I said a lot of negative things that were never reported, but there was one word that caught everyone’s attention, particularly someone who wasn’t even in the room with us. It was a fight between two men that shouldn’t have happened. But someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me. I see that now, but I didn’t then."

But that’s not the end of the tale. When the cast was celebrating backstage at the Golden Globes in January, a reporter asked about the altercation, and about Washington’s anti-gay comment. Washington took the mike to defend himself—and used the slur again. Once may have been a slip of the tongue, but saying the word twice? The public got angry. And then earlier this month, ABC fired Washington from the show.

Washington is bitter about the whole situation, especially since he did everything the network asked to atone for his mistakes. "I apologized and showed my remorse for what I said and for the pain I caused anyone,’’ says Washington. "If a black man can’t get forgiveness in this country, when so many other people like Robert Downey Jr. and the governor of California get second and third chances … I think that says a lot about race and this country where we stand." ABC asked Washington to go to rehab to deal with his alleged homophobia, which he did; he says he even paid half the fee. "I thought them sending me meant they actually wanted me to succeed and come out on the other end," he says. Yet Washington now says that his "homophobia reprogramming" wasn’t exactly what it seemed. "There is no rehab for homophobia—that was just some crap being put out by the network," he says. " I went into an executive counseling program which many people in this industry know about and go to. They knew what the program was but chose to call it what they wanted to fit their agenda. And more importantly, I volunteered for it because I wanted to understand my fight with Patrick and how it got out of hand like that. I wanted to know what I could do to avoid it happening again." ABC declined to comment.

Shortly after the second incident in January, cast member T.R. Knight appeared on "The Ellen Degeneres Show" and said that he felt he had no choice but to admit he was gay after Washington's fight on set. Washington has said in the past that Knight fueled the flames of the situation to advance his own career.

No cast member has spoken to the media since Washington's firing.

Washington is no stranger to anger. He has somewhat of a reputation in the film industry for lashing out at others while working and for also speaking his mind with no fear of consequences. A few years back, he had an angry confrontation with Tracey Edmonds, an African-American producer of the Showtime program "Soul Food.’’ Washington chalks up those previous incidents to an artist’s temperament. "I have a mind of my own and I do speak it when I feel it’s right," he says. "In this business that’s considered being difficult and hard to deal with. A lot of actors face this and it does hurt you with work and in the future jobs. It’s a price you pay though for doing the projects you want and making things turn out the way you want. I have an opinion and that should be valued by my employer."

Washington’s use of the "F" word seems surprising, given that he portrayed a gay character in Spike Lee’s 1996 "Get On the Bus"—and wrote an essay condemning homophobia in the black community a few years back. One thing that’s also been lost with so much focus on Washington is the sad reality of homophobia in the black community. From rap music to Eddie Murphy jokes, insensitivity to the homosexual community seems to be a mainstay of African-American culture.

"Growing up in the South, I wasn’t exposed to as many different lifestyles and personalities as I could have been. And that’s always a problem, because the more you’re exposed, clearly the more you know and understand," Washington says. "My mother had several cross-dressing friends who she sometimes referred to with names I’d never use, but she didn’t know any better. There was no hate, just lack of awareness."

Washington has spent untold sums of money tracing his roots back to Sierra Leone, where he is currently underwriting the building of a five-room school for village children. That sort of work might seem to contrast with his harsh comments. But if Washington is a conflicted man, he doesn’t see himself that way.

"People who know me know what’s really in my heart,’’ said Washington. "That’s what’s hurt me so much with all this. I was doing what I’m doing in Africa for years—before Angelina and Bono. But I’ve worked at homeless shelters for years and given money to make sure people knew they didn’t have to be hungry or the street. I have shared my blessings, but all that changed when this happened and it’s truly heartbreaking for me.’’

The actor, who is traveling to Ghana next week with Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker and Forest Whitaker to recognize the end of slavery there 200 years ago, also feels that race played a part in his public flogging and eventual firing. "Well, it didn’t help me on the set that I was a black man who wasn’t a mush-mouth Negro walking around with his head in his hands all the time. I didn’t speak like I’d just left the plantation and that can be a problem for people sometime," he says. "I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that 'some people' were afraid of me around the studio. I asked her why, because I’m a 6-foot-1, black man with dark skin and who doesn’t go around saying ‘Yessah, massa sir’ and ‘No sir, massa’ to everyone? It’s nuts when your presence alone can just scare people, and that made me a prime candidate to take the heat in a dysfunctional family.’’

Does Washington have any regrets now that a chapter of his life is now closed? "My mistake was believing that I would get the support from my network and all of my cast mates across the board. My mistake was believing I could correct a wrong with honesty and sincerity. My mistake was thinking black people get second chances," he says. "I was wrong on all fronts."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19466829...wsweek/page/0/

Thank you!

LOL..maybe we could move on to the Vivica A. Fox drunken tirade aimed at the CHP.

...that was a joke

I finally watched it last night. While I agree that it left me wishing there were more episodes coming, it left me completely satisfied as a finale. When Matt was walking down the stairs and the lights were slowly turning off, it was a nice way of saying good-bye. I'm one of the few who were consistently entertained by each and every episode. I'm truly sorry to see it go.

LOL ... yes a typical, feel-good, totally-Hollywoodesque series finale ... almost zero thought required.

TNT is showing both Librarian movies back to back this afternoon starting at 1:00 pm Eastern, I've never had the chance to see them in HD, looking forward to it.

Yeah, I just watched my recording too. I enjoyed it. It certainly was one of the better episodes. I hate to see the series end, even though it had a lot of flaws. As I said before, it could have gotten a lot better.

After reading some of the comments in this thread, I too realized that the preachiness/politics was a flaw, something that has really infected Boston Legal as both Kelly and Sorkin use their writing to promote their views.

Again, sad to see it go because flaws and all, it was probably better than its replacement will be.

Most of us only get two three week vacation as well. Some of us do very hard physical work eight, ten even twelve hours a day six days a week. Most athlete work a year around schedule and are seldom home in season (baseball0. So I fail to see how the entertainer work schedule cause this to happen. I think that unknown reason possible mental health or some thing similar was a major contributing factor in this tragedy.

I just don't understand the whole Drew Carey argument. He's never been anything other than a stumpy low-key comic who mumbles a lot and trails off at the ends of his sentences. His stage presence would be awful on a show like The Price is Right. He and Rosie would be exact opposites doing that show, with Rosie's overbearing, loud style just as bad.

I can't see Dan Patrick getting excited enough to host a game show, but he definitely has the voice for it.