THE TV COLUMN : Fringe from Fox will be don’t-miss show this fall
Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2008
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — It looks grim. Jack Bauer is surrounded by 18 or 20 shiftylooking guys and I don’t see how he’s going to talk his way out of this one.
I’m not referring to the next thrill-packed offering of 24, but the press of bodies surrounding the star at a Fox function on the TV critics’ summer press tour.
For those following my annual adventure, Fox was the first broadcast network on the tour after cable outfits and PBS.
Fox always goes all out at these things, having the most fun of anybody. Even though Fox will only have a couple of new shows in the fall, it packed its one day with us with lots of goodies.
We started with a breakfast that featured the cast from Prison Break. It was a themed affair with the waiters all wearing Prison Break T-shirts. It was a — wait for it — Prison BreakFast.
After we had a little time to chow down on the scrambled eggs and bagels, the cast emerged from their holding area looking a little like the doomed entering the Coliseum.
This cast had all met with us before, but it’s got to be tense to walk out cold to chat with a bunch of folks who’ve been cooped up in a hotel and will be writing reviews about your work.
After a few moments to acclimate, they plunged ahead, spread out and were immediately surrounded by scrums.
Scrum is a rugby term used to describe the press tour scene, usually following a panel session, when the TV writers descend like a pack of vultures upon a cast and producers in an attempt to ask that burning one-on-one question that wasn’t covered during the panel.
You can gauge the status of a star by the depth of the scrum surrounding him.
For example, during a Fox coffee break with the stars of the forthcoming 24: Exile, only six or seven critics surrounded Jon Voight, Robert Carlyle and Gil Bellows. Kiefer Sutherland, however, was somewhere in a six-deep circle of extended recorders and craning necks (see photo ).
24: Exile will be a prequel for the premiere of season seven in January. It will stand alone, but allow fans to get a 24 fix since it’s been so long since the series was on the air. The special will air Nov. 23.
The nicest part of the scrum at the Prison BreakFast was seeing stars Wentworth Miller and Sarah Wayne Callies together again.
What ? You thought Callies ’ character, Dr. Sara Tancredi, was dead and decapitated ? Wrong ! This is TV. Miracles happen. Tune in Sept. 1 to see what happens and watch Michael and Lincoln seek righteous vengeance on those who’ve ruined their lives. It won’t be pretty.
What else did we learn from the day with Fox ? Entertainment president Kevin Reilly says the network will refocus on its roots, attempt to develop programs year-round and concentrate on fewer, but better programs.
Fox will have only two new shows this fall. Do Not Disturb is an uneven hotel workplace sitcom starring Jerry O’Connell and Niecy Nash (Reno 911 !). She’s a hoot; he’s not funny.
But the big news will be Fringe, a thriller from J. J. Abrams, the guy who gave us Lost and Alias. The simplified tag line for it is X-Files meets Indiana Jones. It will be the most highly anticipated show this fall on any network and debuts Sept. 9.
The 90-minute pilot, starring Joshua Jackson, Anna Torv and John Noble, was riveting, with lots of explosions, mystery, conspiracy, romance and gunplay. There was also a satisfying dose of humor along with the action.
Abrams told us this series won’t be as dense as his past efforts. You’ll actually be able to miss an episode or two and not be totally confused. He learned that lesson firsthand.
Abrams said he was at his buddy Greg Grunberg’s house (Grunberg was on Alias and is now one of the stars of Heroes ) when Grunberg put on an episode of Alias.
“I watched a few minutes,” Abrams confessed, “and I was so confused. Literally, it was impenetrable. I was, like, ‘ I know I should understand this. I read the script [but ] who the [heck ] is that guy ?’”
Abrams admitted that Alias had “the craziest story line.” Jennifer Garner’s character “was a good guy working for the bad guys, but the bad guys were pretending they were good guys. While I so loved working on that show and miss it, I can see how it was difficult.”
Fringe will be different.
“This show is going to have a different sort of paradigm,” Abrams promised. “Week to week, there will be [selfcontained ] stories. So you can tune in and just watch that, but there will be bigger arcs of stories. We’re trying very diligently to do a show that doesn’t require the kind of insane, absolute dedication to a series that, if you miss an episode, you truly have no idea what’s going on, but hopefully you want to see every episode because they’ll be exciting and fun.”
I’m sold after only seeing the pilot. And newcomer Anna Torv is the latest in a series of strong, kick-butt leading ladies (see Fox’s Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles ).
Fox finished its panels with a million-dollar panel featuring the kings of Fox animation. It included Simpsons creator Matt Groening, King of the Hill creator Mike Judge and Seth MacFarlane, creator of American Dad, Family Guy and the midseason The Cleveland Show.
Want some juicy gossip ? Fox topped off the day with an allstar party on the Santa Monica Pier. It was fun chatting with the stars while the Pacific Ocean lapped gently on the sand. David Boreanaz was shooting hoops; the gang from House was chowing down on hot dogs and trying to win stuffed animals — stars being regular folks.
But this is still Hollywood. MacFarlane, 34, arrived with a tanned, glammed-up and leggy Amanda Bynes, 22, on his arm. Guys, little Amanda is all grown up. Heads turned.
Fox’s cable cousin, FX, had a half day with the critics next, followed by a couple of days with ABC and all assorted Disney cable outfits. More on those in future columns. The TV column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
mstorey@arkansasonline. com