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In my last column I wrote about our trip over to the NBC family drama “American Dreams” (Sunday, 7:00-8-00 p.m., CST), but what I didn’t mention was while most of our members were over at the Gower Studio in Hollywood, I sent two of our board members over to the Paramount Studios. Joe Strtzewski from Milwaukee and Jon Krieger from Colorado received a great tour of the sets of “The Enterprise.” This is the second year that we had Viewers Voice members given that privilege to a set that is usually closed to visitors. One of the gentlemen will be writing their story on their adventure and it will be posted on our Viewers Voice web site in the near future. So if you’re a fan of “The Enterprise” go over to viewersvoice.org and read all about the fun their experience behind the scenes of this popular sci-fi series.
Now for the remainder of this column I’m going to take a break from writing about the rest of our trip to California and tell you about two new television shows you might be interested in watching.
“Arrested Development” revolves around Michael Bluth (Jason Batesmen), a widower who wants nothing more than be a good father to his 13-year-old son George Michael (Michael Cera). After not receiving a partnership at The Bluth Development Co, Michael decides to quit the family business and move away to spend more time with his son. Then his father George Bluth Sr. (Jeffery Tambor) is arrested for shifty accounting practices and the family assets are frozen. Michael is then forced to stay to help his wildly eccentric family pick up the pieces.
Alia Shawkat plays Michael’s 14-year-old niece, Maeby, who has the ultra-permissive parents and she loves finding unique ways to rebel against their over-indulgence. Her mother, Michael’s sister Lindsay Funke (Portia de Rossi) is known for her wine and cheese parties and fundraisers for unusual charities. Maeby’s father is, Tobias (David Cross) a doctor who lost his license after performing CPR on a sunbathing tourist who didn’t need it.
I’m not a big fan of sitcoms but this show had me laughing so hard my sides hurt. “Arrested Development” has recently been named the “Fall’s Best new Sitcom” by Time Magazine, the “Best New Comedy” by Entertainment Weekly, the “smartest and sharpest comedy of this-or last- season” by TV Guide, among others. I have to admit I agree with them, I just wish they’d move it to a better night.
I met Alia Shawkat and her mother at the Viewers Voice Awards Banquet and a couple of our Luncheons that we have for young performers; this young lady is such a sweet gal and outstanding actress she’s sure to go far in the world of entertainment.
Michael Cera is another young actor from the show that I did an interview with when he was on the Fox Family Channel comedy series “I Was a Sixth Grade Alien.” The show was done in Toronto, Canada and Viewers Voice went to Toronto to do some promotional stories on shows being produced there. I predicted then that this young man had a real future in acting and I stand by that. At that time he impressed me as being very polite and professional, yet at the same time enjoyed being a kid. Michael was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and currently divides his time between Los Angeles and Toronto.
On November 23rd award-winning singer/actress Liza Minnelli will guest star in a multi-episode story-arc on “Arrested Development.”
This two-hour made for TV movie is a cute love story about two single parents. Will (Wolf) is trying to recover from a painful divorce and reestablishes his relationship with his son. Jane (Detmer) is recently separated and wondering if she made a wise decision or if she should reunite with her husband for her daughter’s sake. Both parents struggle to come to terms with reality of being a single parent while looking for companionship and love. What neither one counts on is a familiar face at the airport when picking up/dropping off their children. Will and Jane discover that fate, family and good friends are not going to let them hide from love for very long. This is a fun family story to watch for the holiday season.
I’m a big Scott Wolf fan so maybe that’s why I’m so excited about “Picking Up and Dropping Off.” The first time I was introduced to Scott was in 1994 when he played Bailey Salinger on “Party of Five.” Viewers Voice was running a campaign to keep the show on the air and we were given credit for helping to keep “Party of Five” on for six successful seasons. I met with Scott several times after that and he was always as sweet as could be. I was hoping by now he would have been in another series, he certainly has the good looks and talent.
Just a little note of interest, Lisa Kudrow, Phoebe on “Friends” is one of the executive producers Of “Picking Up and Dropping Off.” Makes me wonder what her plans are after “Friends,” looks like she might have a desire to work behind the camera instead of in front of it.
My next column I will take you behind the scenes of the new ABC series, “10-8.”
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The
first show is a sitcom that premiered on November 2, 2003 on the FOX Network;
“Arrested Development.” The series gets lost because it airs on Sundays at
8:30-9:00 p.m., CST. I never received a preview tape on the show so I had no
idea it was even on. I happen to watch “Arrested Development” by chance because
I heard a young lady that won our Viewers Voice Award for Favorite Child
Performer in the 2001-2002 season is in the show; Alia Shawkat (“State of
Grace”).
The
next show I thought you might be interested in watching premiers on the ABC
Family channel; “Picking Up and Dropping Off.” Scott Wolf (“Party of Five”),
Amanda Detmer (“Saving Silverman”) and Kathy Baker (“Picket Fences”) star in
this romantic comedy which is set to air on Sunday, December 7 (7:00-9:00 p.m.,
CST), as part of ABC Family’s “25 Days of Christmas.”