Darren Star has been banned from the set, writing room, and his office at the new ABC dramedy, GOOD CHRISTIAN BELLES. Despite taking full credit for the show, it seems there are actual showrunners and writers and they’re the ones in the trenches doing the actual work. A rift has occurred that has escalated to “him or us” status, and bless the studio or network or whoever made the call, but the people who are doing the work won out over the “name”. Darren will still give “notes” (but relayed through a studio person) and you can imagine how seriously those notes will be considered.
THE RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES – the story of the original rally monkey.
I really enjoyed the movie, but the fifteen trailers before it sucked. Plagues, haunted houses, remakes. And Daniel Craig in all of them.
The new TV development season is already underway and so far this year, comedy is king. Usually networks buy a lot of dramas early and dole out the comedy commitments the way you feed pigeons in the park. But this season it’s just the opposite. Either it means that comedy is having a true renaissance or when you put on shows with cops who see fairy tale characters you know there are no more drama premises out there.
The FCC has removed its long-ignored political “Fairness Doctrine”, which used to require that equal time be given to opposite points of view. Equality -- what a horrible notion that is. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski justified the ruling by saying this – and I quote: “the Fairness Doctrine holds the potential to chill free speech and the free flow of ideas.” Huh??? Am I living in the bizarro world? It’s like if George Orwell ran Fox News.
Matt Holliday of the St. Louis Cardinals had to come out of last night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers because a moth flew into his right ear.
Sitting with my daughter, Annie and her writing partner Jon -- we got into an interesting discussion. Who in ten years will have the biggest career – Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, or Rhianna? I say as long as there are productions of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Lady Gaga will find work. What do you think?
Finally! There’s an iPhone App That Can Judge Watermelon Ripeness!
Wanna feel old? Robert Redford is 75. The Sundance fucking KID!!
NBC has a mid-season show called SMASH. It’s about making it on Broadway. The pilot is pretty good actually. I assume the height of “making it” is winning a Tony. But I bet SMASH won’t tell you what happens after you win a Tony. Because it’s a very tragic story. You go to Hollywood and get cast in a truly awful new fall network series. Just ask Laura Benanti (now in the laughable PLAYBOY CLUB) and Katie Finneran (co-star of the worst pilot I’ve seen so far – I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER). This is like original Monet paintings hanging in a Popeye’s Chicken. The American Theater Wing should provide some counseling for these Tony winners.
There was better attendance for three games of the Little League World Series last week than six home games for the Oakland A’s.
and finally.,..
According to Amazon, people who have recently bought my book, WHERE THE HELL AM I? TRIPS I HAVE SURVIVED ($2.99 E-book version. What are you waiting for?) also purchased DATING MY VIBRATOR, MOUSESCHAWITZ - MY SUMMER JOB OF CONCENTRATED FUN, THE SEX LIFE OF CANNIBALS, WHERE'S MY F*CKING LATTE? (AND OTHER STORIES ABOUT BEING AN ASSISTANT IN HOLLYWOOD), STOP DRESSING YOUR SIX-YEAR-OLD LIKE A SKANK, BUMFUZZLE - JUST OUT LOOKING FOR PIRATES, DO TAMPONS TAKE YOUR VIRGINITY?, SWAHILI FOR THE BROKENHEARTED, and DOUCHEBAG ROULETTE.
I'll be better tomorrow... or at least a little better.
