Through the Wire
by Linda Haugsted and R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 1/18/2009 7:00:00 PM
Emotional 'L Word’ Star Stirs TV Critics
It was obvious to even the most jaded critic how much Showtime’s The L Word has meant to its cast and the relationship the actresses built with their audience.
“Our fans are incredibly loyal, and judgmental, in a good way,” star Jennifer Beals said during Showtime’s presentation at the Television Critics Association tour in Los Angeles. She was moved to tears when she tried to relate just one of the letters she received during her six years on the show, which will end its run this year.
Beals received a letter from a 16-year-old who had decided, inspired by the show, to come out of the closet. “She said it was the loneliest time of her life,” said Beals, who then had to stop for several seconds to compose herself. She finally added that the show had saved the teen’s life, because she had contemplated suicide until the show made her realize she was not alone.
Another gay couple, who won walk-on roles on the show through a charity, had been together 30 years before the show gave them the courage to come out, Beales related.
But the cast won’t miss the Canadian location or pokey Canadian drivers, cast members joked.
Also at TCA last week:
-
Handling nudity on television sometimes pushes executives into verbal gymnastics in order to relate what they want, or don’t want, on the small screen. Performers on BBC America’s Mistresses said they were relieved when producers assured them nudity would be limited to “side arse” exposure. The producer of Secret Diary of a Call Girl, which is seen in the U.K. as well as on Showtime, said she was advised by network officials in England to avoid photographing “lady gardens” in the sex scenes.
-
Don’t hold your breath waiting for Jonathan Rhys Meyers to pack on the pounds as Henry VIII in The Tudors on Showtime. “I played him my way,” said the dark-haired, slim actor. Regarding the historical portraits of the rotund king, Meyers said, “I’m not that guy.”
Executive producer and writer Michael Hirst added, “It’s a drama, not a documentary.” He asserted the series has galvanized an interest in history in many of the 70 countries in which the show in telecast.
There’s a familiar face from the music world in season three: singer Joss Stone plays wife No. 4, Anne of Cleves. This will be Stone’s first acting role.
Entertainment Nets On Inaugural Trail
News networks aren’t the only ones airing presidential inauguration coverage this week. Several entertainment-based networks will air live or taped-delayed coverage of events surrounding President-elect Barack Obama’s Jan. 20 inauguration ceremony.
HBO was scheduled to kick off the coverage Sunday (Jan. 18) with taped-delayed coverage of the big concert at the Lincoln Memorial event featuring performances by Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and many others.
Disney Channel will trot out Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato for a “kids’ inaugural” concert special Jan. 19.
That day, Nickelodeon will air interstitial reports from various inaugural celebrations.
On Inauguration Day, MTV will offer primetime live coverage from the official “Youth Ball,” while Nickelodeon, The N and Nicktoons Network will feature footage of Obama’s oath of office ceremony in a primetime special.
African-American targeted BET and TV One will have wall-to-wall coverage of the ceremonies and parade, and BET will host an Inaugural Ball, allied with Colin and Alma Powell’s America’s Promise Alliance organization.
Even ESPN’s SportsCenter will present live coverage of Obama’s swearing-in ceremony starting at 11:30 a.m., supplemented with reactions from athletes.
“We think our viewers are an eclectic lot – they are obviously aware of sports but they are also aware of what’s going on in the world,” explained Vince Doria, senior vice president and director of news at ESPN.
BBC America and BBC World News coverage from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. also will air in the United Kingdom and other countries.
Kicking and Singing In 'Mad Men’ Style
Some of the cast of AMC’s Emmy-winning drama Mad Men will show off their other talents in a variety show Jan. 27 in Sin City.
They’ll perform their own version of a classic revue show in the Hollywood Theater at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, and its all for charity. The general public won’t be able to wrangle a ticket: the ducats are exclusively for attendees of the NATPE convention.
Cast members in the revue include Bryan Batt, Michael Gladis, Rich Sommer, Broadway veteran Robert Morse, Mark Moses, Maggie Siff, Alison Brie, Patrick Fischler, Melinda McGraw, Colin Hanks, Crista Flanagan, Julie McNiven, Donielle Artese, Audrey Wasilewski and Joel McMurray, who will emcee.
To give the production polish, direction, script and sets are also from Mad Men vets.
Lionsgate CEO and co-chair Jon Feltheimer heads NATPE this year. Mad Men is a Lionsgate production. Proceeds fund the NATPE Educational Foundation, which promotes educational activities including seminars, grants, workshops and other efforts.
No related content found.
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
