Jan 30 2009
Sewickley's Megan Parris came off as a classic villainess on TV even before she did not get a rose from star Jason Mesnick and departed "The Bachelor" Monday night. But in a conference call with reporters today the 25-year-old seemed less angry.
Parris is a women's lacrosse coach at a Sewickley school -- she wouldn't say which one, but did say it was her "old school" and she's a 2001 graduate of Quaker Valley High School, although she's not listed as a coach on the school's Web site -- and she played lacrosse in college at Virginia Weslyan University (Class of 2006). She also worked at a local "high end department store" over the holidays, but she wouldn't say which one. (When I suggested Macy's, she scoffed at the notion it would be considered "high end." Clearly I know nothing about fashion.)
She's a single mother to an 18-month-old son, Deacon, and she said she went on "The Bachelor" for him. (She split from Deacon's father, to whom she was not married, and says Deacon's dad has no visitation rights; she has full custody.)
"I had just come out of a custody and child support case where in one aspect I won big. I have full custody of my son, but in other aspects, financially, I was pretty much screwed," she said. "It's very hard to give him the life I know he deserves on my own. Going on a show like this, you're going for the exposure and possibly meet a great guy but it's a new opportunity and you never know what can come from it."
Parris, 25, said she'd like "some sort of career in broadcasting" -- sportscaster is at the top of her wish list -- but she's also considering getting a master's in special education. And she expects to move out of Pittsburgh in the future.
But for the time being, she is getting recognized.
"I've had to take quite a bit of cell phone pictures with people," she said. "Most people are like, 'I loved you on the show. You were the only real one!'"
But Parris' portrayal on the show was a bit, um, rough at times.
"We knew going into it that this is reality TV. Any intelligent person knows you're all going to be typecast as one type of character," she said. "They got good and bad footage of all of us. They got happy, emotional, angry footage from all of us but only use one type of that footage per each girl. Like, Nikki is the crying girl. It's inaccurate. I don't feel I was portrayed accurately at all. ... I hope people realize the circumstances are not real."
She explains her behavior in the first episode -- lots of profanity and pouting -- by saying she hadn't been social in two years.
"What people don't realize is I had spent the last two years in solitude," she said. "I left my home in Virginia Beach and came out to Pittsburgh, where my parents had a house. My mother worked in Charlotte and my dad in D.C., so I was there all by myself and knew no one. I felt going onto the show I was socially inept. So the first night was tough for me. I was so nervous and they kept handing me cocktails, and I don't go out much anymore so I don't have too much tolerance for alcohol."
Parris said alcohol was always free-flowing in the "Bachelor" house -- the better to loosen up contestants and get them to make fools of themselves, I suppose -- but the ABC publicist quickly joined the call at that point to note, "It's up to the women if they decide to drink or not."
"I think I just had my guard up that first night because of what I'd been through with my son's father and his surrounding company," Parris said. "I have a bit of an edge around me with strangers now."
As for her teary departure, Parris said she was caught off-guard because Mesnick had led her to believe -- in a conversation that wasn't televised -- that he planned to keep her.
"That's why I said I was extremely confused. I had just spoken to him and he reassured me of my spot there and he asked about what he could potentially see coming to my great little town of Sewickley [on an upcoming home visit episode]. He had kind of set me up for thinking that was coming," she said.
When given the chance, Parris wouldn't criticize Mesnick, but she didn't heap praise on him either.
"I'm kind of impartial," she said. "After all that happened, I'd really begun to question the whole process and just how real it was. I really began to question if he was there for love or something else."
Parris wasn't sure what the "something else" might be. She said Mesnick was "very nice and considerate of everyone's feelings," but she wasn't wild about conversation with him.
"I couldn't read him," she said. "I felt like every conversation he had with all of us was kind of the same."
Mesnick aside, Parris said she'll stay friends with the other women on the show.
"I know we're going to plan a vacation, like, twice a year," she said. "I absolutely adore every one of them."
***
Coming Monday: A review of the new chapter of "Heroes." Will this fallen show be able to right itself? In the meantime, if you have masochistic tendencies and want to watch the first 13 "Heroes" episodes of this season, cable network G4 will air them all Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
Jan 29 2009
If there's much to the 3-D effects on NBC's "Chuck" (8 p.m. Monday), they were not apparent on a copy of the episode NBC sent critics for review.
Without the 3-D glasses, there wasn't much in the way of shadows around the characters on screen, as we've come to expect from 3-D productions. With the glasses on, colors were just muddled. Nothing on screen really popped in any significant way.
At one point, a knife flies toward the viewer but that was one of the few 3-D tricks. If you don't have 3-D glasses, you won't miss much. It's still an enjoyable "Chuck" outing without the gimmick.
Dominic Monaghan guest stars as a rock musician -- not that different from his "Lost" character -- who's targeted by bad guys. Chuck and team have to protect him. Back at Buy More, Big Mike (Mark Christopher Lawrence) hires an old football buddy who's recently out of jail (Jerome Bettis, NBC's "Footbal Night in America").
Bettis isn't asked to do any heavy lifting with his performance but he makes a fine impression playing a big, semi-scary guy who's game to compete in contests against other Best Buy workers for a chance to go backstage at the rock star's concert.
Monday's "Chuck" also advances the relationship between Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), which was damaged after Chuck saw her kill a Fulcrum agent in the show's Christmas episode.
***
Because everyone in the media seems required to talk all-Steelers all the time this week, I'll do my part by supplying these Super Bowl stats from Nielsen:
Nielsen Local Metered Market Data
-- Over the last 10 Super Bowls, the Kansas City DMA has the highest Household (HH) rating with 49.5% of TV HHs tuning into the "Big Game" during that period.
-- Over the last 10 Super Bowls, the highest individual metered market performance was delivered in Jacksonville for Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005 (NE-PHI) with a 58.9 HH rating. The game was played in Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium.
-- In the past 10 years, the Atlanta market delivered the highest Super Bowl participant HH rating with a 58.2 in 1999 (Super Bowl XXXIII, ATL-DEN).
-- Since 1999, first time Super Bowl participants show significant local HH ratings increases from the previous year. In 2007, the Colts drove a 16% increase in Indianapolis over Super Bowl XL in 2006 (PIT-SEA). In 2001, the Ravens inspired a 42% increase in Baltimore over Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 (TEN-STL). First-timers also see large jumps in viewing from the Conference Championship to the Super Bowl. Baltimore's 2001 HH rating increased 15% game-to-game.
As for this Sunday's contestants, were you aware...
Local Market Profiles (Phoenix/Pittsburgh DMA Data)
-- As of January 2009, the Phoenix market is ranked 12th among the 56 metered markets with 1,855,930 TV HHs, while Pittsburgh is 23rd with 1,156,460 TV HHs. Super Bowl XL (SEA-PIT) in 2006 featured a similar match-up. At the time, Seattle was ranked 13th with 1,701,950 TV HHs. Pittsburgh was ranked 22nd with 1,169,800 TV HHs.
-- In 2006, Seattle and Pittsburgh accounted for 3.7% of the total metered market universe. Their Super Bowl XL performance delivered 5.0% of the total metered market HH impressions.
-- Arizona, playing in their first Super Bowl this weekend, has shown significant HH ratings increases in the Phoenix DMA over the course of their playoff run. Their NFC Championship game versus Philadelphia delivered a 40.8 HH - a 32% increase over their Divisional playoff game versus Carolina (30.8).
-- In 2006, Seattle, like Arizona participated in their first Super Bowl, and saw a 31% increase over the market's previous Super Bowl performance (54.4 in ‘06 vs. 41.7 in ‘05). In addition, Seattle delivered the highest HH share over the past 10 Super Bowls with 85% of the market with sets in use tuning to Super Bowl XL.
-- Pittsburgh, playing in their 7th Super Bowl on Sunday, are no strangers to large TV audiences. In the 2008 NFL regular season, Pittsburgh registered 9 of the top 10 highest rated telecasts among the 56 metered markets. The Steelers-Patriots match-up on CBS on November 30th was tops overall with 49.1% of Household tuning in Pittsburgh.
-- In Arizona, the Cardinals highest rated regular season game was against the New York Giants on November 23rd. The Phoenix market garnered a 23.4 HH rating, representing a 56% increase over the 2008 regular season average HH performance of the Cardinals in Phoenix (15.0).
-- In Pittsburgh's last Super Bowl in 2006, the DMA delivered a 57.4 HH rating. This was an 8% increase over the market's performance of that year's AFC Championship (53.0). This year's AFC Championship between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens delivered a 58.3 HH rating in the Pittsburgh DMA.
-- For the 2008 NFL regular season (all games across all networks), the 56 metered markets attracted an average HH audience of 10.4%. The Pittsburgh DMA over-indexed the metered market performance by 45% with a 15.1 HH rating - best of all metered markets. Phoenix under-indexed by 8% (9.6 HH rating).
-- From a home technology perspective, the Phoenix DMA has a HD receivable (a home that is equipped with an HD television and HD tuner and receives at least one HD network or station) penetration of 25.5% (13th among the 56 metered markets). 28.7% of the homes in the market have DVR (ranked 24th). In Pittsburgh, the market has a HD receivable penetration of 21.7% (29th among metered markets). 20.4% of the homes in the Pittsburgh DMA have DVR (ranked 51st).
How does the score of the game affect Super Bowl ratings?
Nielsen National Minute by Minute Viewing Data (2002-2008) (LIVE+SD unless otherwise noted)
-- Last year's thrilling Super Bowl owes a large part of its record-breaking ratings' success to a late game viewer surge. At 10:02 PM, the final minute of the game, viewership peaked at a 51.3 HH rating, 72 share and over 112 million viewers. The final 30 minutes of the broadcast delivered a 47.5 HH rating. This was a 13% increase compared to all prior minutes (42.0).
-- In 2004 (NE-CAR) and 2002 (NE-STL), games that went down to the final play, surged 13% and 9% in the last half hour compared to the average rating of all minutes prior.
-- Since 2002, every Super Bowl has had its highest rating point occur in the 4th quarter and, in all but one instance, after 10PM ET (the Bears-Colts ended at 9:57PM ET).
-- Super Bowls that went down to the wire (NE-STL in ‘02, NE-CAR in ‘04, NYG-NE in ‘08) had increases in share in the final half hour compared to all minutes prior. In comparison, games decided by the fourth quarter either remained flat or decreased.
How many viewers stay tuned for the Halftime Show?
-- From 2005-2008, the halftime show time period has averaged a 40.6 household rating. The high mark for halftime came in 2007, when Prince's performance received a 41.7 HH rating.
How does the Super Bowl perform in High Definition (HD) households nationally?
-- In February 2008 US HD Penetration was at 15.3%. As of January 2009 that number had grown to 27.9%.
-- The Super Bowl ratings are higher in HD households: last year's game received a 56.5 rating in HD capable/receivable homes (A home that is equipped with an HD television and HD tuner and receives at least one HD network or station). These homes over-indexed the composite HH rating by 31%.
-- Females 18+ also over- indexed in HD homes (by 43%) with a 46.9 rating compared to their 32.9 composite rating.
-- Males 18+ over-indexed in HD HHs (by 35%) with a 57.9 rating compared to their 42.9 composite rating.
Do Viewers DVR the Super Bowl?
-- In March of 2008, US DVR penetration was at 23.7%. As of January 2009 that number had increased to 29.6%.
-- Whether it was to replay a commercial or an amazing catch, over 3.2 million viewers contributed to the Live +SD data stream (tuning credited at the time program originally aired plus any DVR playback within the same Nielsen processing day), boosting the game's Live HH Rating from a 42.0 to 43.1.
Jan 28 2009
Last week I wrote about some of my press tour experiences, including actor John Corbett ("The United States of Tara," "Northern Exposure") acting like a bit of a jerk toward another TV critic.
I was shocked last Wednesday when the phone rang -- and it was John Corbett. My first thought: Oh, snap, he's gonna yell at me. But he didn't. Just the opposite happened: He apologized.
"I hope you'll help me out to apologize to you cohort," Corbett said sincerely. He explained that he was in a foul mood because a reporter from a New York tabloid had approached him with questions and he remembered back to when he was on "Sex and the City" and that newspaper had "slashed me every three days and wrote all this [stuff] about me. My blood pressure went through the roof."
My colleague approached him 30 seconds later and Cobertt blew him off.
"My emotions got the best of me and I couldn't control myself," he said. "It was an Amateur 101 move."
Corbett, a Wheeling native, said he wished he could get in a time machine and re-live that night.
I have to give the guy credit for admitting his mistake and trying to make things right. I don't think a lot of actors working in Hollywood would make the effort.
Jan 27 2009
Sewickley's Megan Parris got kicked off ABC's "The Bachelor" last night. It was inevitable. She came across as a foul-mouthed, unsympathetic character, not exactly the kind of person you'd expect Bachelor Jason Mesnick to choose to be a warm, loving stepmother for his toddler son.
Accepting the fact that all the women on the show seem desperate -- particularly pathetic Shannon -- Parris came off as cool and calculating in earlier episodes. Last night she showed a more vulnerable side when she got to kiss Mesnick, even if Entertainment Weekly described the smooch -- while filming a fake "General Hospital" scene -- this way: "she all but unhinges her jaw and devours the Bachelor's face, much like Diana the lizard queen from V."
Mesnick called Parris "amazing" but refused to give her a rose at the end of last night's episode. Her chin quivered and she said, "I'm definitely hurt and really confused and I'm really sad. ... It's pathetic how much I don't want to go home right now."
Waiting at home for Parris: Her one-year-old son.
Jan 27 2009
TLC debuts a new series tonight that makes me want to throw my TV out the window: "Toddlers and Tiaras" (10 p.m.) chronicles the lives of pushy parents who thrust their young daughters into the beauty pageant spotlight.
Not to be all judgy, but these parents pretty much disgust me. But I know there's an audience for this sort of programming. A review I wrote years ago about a HBO documentary about child beauty pageants continues to generate inqueries from readers who find it online. (For the record: I know nothing about what became of Swan Brooner, although contributors at Wikipedia seem to be keeping up with her.)
In "Toddlers," viewers will see parents pushing their kids to be beauty pageant stars, including a two-year-old who clearly is not ready for the spotlight. I couldn't help but feel like I was watching televised child abuse in a sample episode sent for review. (A different episode airs tonight.)
"When Marlee was born, the first thing I told my husband was, 'Yeah, we've got a pageant girl,'" says one mother.
This whole beauty pageant phenomenon seems to be largely, but not exclusively, Southern. And even fathers are powerless to stop it, although one dad expresses some misgivings about his daughter dressing up like an adult.
I suppose some parents might want to watch "Toddlers" to feel superior but the whole things strikes me as sad and potentially destructive to young lives that need nurturing -- not pressure to compete based on looks.
Jan 26 2009
UPDATED THROUGHOUT
How desperate are local TV stations to ride the coattails of the Steelers? So desperate that they'll make a locker room staring contest the top story. KDKA carried a report at 5:03 p.m. Friday that included sports anchor Bob Pompeani engaging in a staring contest with one of the players. It was an embarrassment. (I saw the staring contest story on WTAE, too, but there it aired, more appropriately, during the sports segment at 6:25 p.m.)
(KDKA also has jumped on the strike-a-deal-with-a-ski-resort band wagon that WTAE has long been a part of with its Winterfest at Seven Springs. KDKA is partnering for the first time with Hidden Valley and giving the resort plenty of time during newscasts. Ah, commercialism.)
Actually, my favorite hyperbole about the Steelers came Friday when someone at WTAE, objecting to Friday's column, claimed, with what sounded like utter sincerity, that the Steelers getting to the Super Bowl is "one of the most dramatic events on the planet."
That's a bit much, but it is a big news event locally. Not as big as local stations will make it, of course, but it is big. Here's what stations are planning:
WPXI
Channel 11 gets to carry the Super Bowl so they're sending a large the largest contingent to Tampa. Darieth Chisolm, Gordon Loesch, Alby Oxenreiter, Bill Phillips and Rich Walsh will be joined by five photographers and production support staff. It seems odd that WPXI sports director John Fedko is not going. News director Corrie Harding said Fedko will "anchor from back here and will be heavily involved in coverage throughout the weekend." Hmmm...
Expect to see live reports through the week at 6 a.m., noon, 5, 6, 10 and 11 p.m. The station's 11 p.m. newscasts will run an extra 10 minutes, pushing "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to an 11:45 p.m. start time.
Saturday at 8 p.m. Channel 11 will air "Super Showdown Primetime" with game day coverage beginning at 6:30 a.m. on PCNC and 7 a.m. on WPXI. "The Charlie Batch Show" airs at 10 a.m. on WPXI with "The Jerome Bettis Show" at 10:30 a.m.. David Johnson and Peggy Finnegan will anchor "Super Showdown Game Day" at 11 a.m. from Pittsburgh with Loesch and Chisolm in Tampa.
Post-game coverage will run until midnight, pushing NBC's one-hour episode of "The Office" 'til midnight. Set your DVR/VCR accordingly and build in extra time on either side of midnight just to be safe.
WTAE
Channel 4 has sent Andrew Stockey, Sally Wiggin, Bill Hillgrove, Guy Junker, Marcie Cipriani and Merril Hoge to Tampa and their live coverage began last night at 11. Live coverage will continue all week in every newscast except the noon.
Channel 4 assistant news director Roberta Petterson didn't respond to requests last week for details of the station's coverage plans, but it appears WTAE will blow out its 7-7:30 p.m. half hour beginning tonight and continuing through Friday for "Road to the Championship." ("Inside Edition" airs at 2:05 a.m. in place of paid programming all week.) Not sure who all is going to Tampa on behalf of the station but it sure is a bad time to be without a lead sports anchor. (WTAE dropped Jon Burton last month.)
An hour-long special will air at 7 p.m. Saturday, pre-empting "Entertainment Tonight Weekend," which will not air.
Channel 4 does plan to blow out ABC programming Sunday to tell its viewers -- who, if they cared, would be watching the Super Bowl on WPXI -- the outcome of the game, running over a Super Bowl-themed edition of the summer reality competition series "Wipeout," which pits cheerleaders against couch potatoes. No word on when "Wipeout" will air.
KDKA
Channel 2 will send Pompeani and John Shumway to cover the Super Bowl in Tampa. Their coverage begins tonight and continues through game day. (Maybe Jory Rand can watch the game at a local bar with Fedko.)
Thursday and Friday KDKA will pre-empt "The Insider" at 7:30 p.m. for Steelers specials ("Insider" will air the next day at 9 a.m. on WPCW). And hour-long special airs Saturday at 7 p.m.
WQED
"On Q" (7:30 p.m. weekdays) will offer some Steelers coverage although plans are still being developed.
WQED's Create Channel (13.2) will air what they're calling "tailgating specials" in advance of the game beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, but most of the show titles don't see to match that description ("Mexico: One Plate at a Time," "America's Test Kitchen - White Chicken Chili and Corn," etc.)
WQED-FM (89.3) airs "Symphony Bowl 2009" (8-10 p.m. Saturday), which pits the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra against the Philadelphia Orchestra.
***
It's been years since I've watched a season of MTV's "The Real World" (10 p.m. Wednesday), but I've found myself caught up in the latest edition, set in Brooklyn. Why? I think it's because I like all the characters. So far, there are no villains. It's reminiscent of the long forgotten London season cast where people in the house generally got along well.
Not much has happened on the show -- there haven't been any terrible feuds or blowout fights -- but the characters and their personal stories carry viewers through.
Jan 23 2009
I generally ignore Lifetime movies because, well, they're Lifetime movies. But every now and then one of their films catches my attention for its subject matter or a piece of casting, as in the case of "We Were the Mulvaneys."
Lifetime's "Prayers for Bobby" (9 p.m. Saturday) caught my eye because of Sigourney Weaver, who's generally a film actress, not someone we see in TV movies. Based on the 1995 book of the same title, "Prayers for Bobby" tells the true-life story of Mary Griffith (Weaver), a devout Christian mother who refuses to accept son Bobby (Ryan Kelley) after he tells her he's gay.
"There's no doubt in my mind God can handle this," Mary says. "He'll heal Bobby."
She believes that if Bobby isn't "cured" of his homosexuality, the family will not be together in the afterlife.
"I read that homosexuals have sex in public bathrooms and they recruit children," Mary says. "Do you think Bobby was recruited?"
That dialogue gives you some idea of what a rudimentary exploration of the subject "Prayers for Bobby" is. The late '70s/early '80s setting somewhat offsets situations and dialogue that will be laughable to anyone of any sort of a progressive mindset. The film seems like it's aimed more at the unenlightened. Bobby is depicted as an angelic white bread boy who isn't into anything "dirty," most likely to make the film palatable to homophobes in the heartland who can relate when Bobby's grandma declares, "If you ask me, queers should all be lined up and shot!"
If they still made "Afterschool Specials," "Prayers" would fit in perfectly. Obviously, "Prayers" is not subtle about bigotry but it does get some small details right, like showing how rigidity and an inability to see shades of gray can pass from generation-to-generation.
And Weaver's performance is surprisingly sympathetic considering that she plays a character who drives her son to commit suicide in a Christ-on-the-cross-positioned, reverse swan dive from a highway overpass that mirrors the suicide of Ellen Ripley, played by Weaver, at the end of "Alien 3."
The first half of the film chronicles Bobby's struggle and pain while the second half is all about Mary's grief, guilt and eventual understanding.
"I did not decide on brown eyes for myself and I now realize Bobby did not decide for himself to be gay," Mary says before transforming herself into an advocate for gay rights. The film doesn't quite nail that transformation. For all the obviousness of the story of Bobby's struggle, it still feels more honest than Mary's evolution.
"Prayers for Bobby" is not a great movie, but it is a worthwhile one with a purpose beyond mere entertainment. It should be required viewing for any parent who considers disowning his or her gay child.
Jan 22 2009
PASADENA, Calif. -- Before leaving the Los Angeles area Monday, I got a chance Saturday to check out the auction of props from Sci Fi Channel's "Battlestar Galactica," which returned last week with 2.1 million viewers -- up 23 percent in total viewers from its previous season premiere in early 2007 -- for the first of its final 10 episodes. The first new episode back was full of revelations, including the identity of the fifth Cylon. More on that later in this post, including an interview with executive producer Ron Moore and the actor/actress who plays the fifth Cylon. Stop reading when you see the photo of Starbuck's file if you haven't watched last week's episode yet and don't want to be spoiled.
Before we get into that first episode, I wanted to share some pics I snapped at the Pasadena Convention Center, where props from "Battlestar" were put up for auction.
The auction streamed live over the weekend at AuctionNetwork.com. Items will also be available on Ebay Friday beginning at 9 p.m. Details of the items up for auction are at Battlestarprops.com.
Items on display in Pasadena last weekend included a Mark VII Viper (pictured, above) that was expected to fetch at least $50,000.
A Raptor (pictured, left) was expected to go for at least $60,000 and a Cylon raider was priced at $30,000.
The red dress worn by the Cylon Six in the imagination of Gaius Baltar (pictured, right) was expected to go for at least $10,000. Interestingly, she's referred to as "Head Six," as in, she appears in Baltar's head.
The auction also included smaller props that appeared in individual episodes or in the whole run of the series. But even these were not expected to sell for cheap.
Karl Agathon's captain rank pins were expected to fetch $500 and Kara Thrace's dossier (pictured, above) was going for $2,000.
The office set of President Laura Roslin was set up with assorted props from her office, including her desk ($1,000), black telephone ($300) and the window frames from her ship ($600).
OK, this is weird, I'm typing this while sitting on my bed watching "American Idol" last night -- anyone else catch the photo of Alexis, the girl from Memphis, with her boyfriend that was taken on Mt. Washington with Downtown Pittsburgh in the background? -- and I'm looking at the BSG auction catalog and I see the "large silver lamp" from Roslin's desk ($400) and I realize that it's the exact same lamp as the one on my nightstand. I think I bought it at Target. Wonder where Roslin got hers? (P.S. I'll sell mine for $200.)
SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU DIDN'T SEE LAST WEEK'S EPISODE.
OK, now on with the interviews. Last week's season premiere raised a great many questions: How could the ruined Earth (nuked 2,000 years ago) have been home to skin job Cylons that were created by the Colonials just a generation ago? Why did Dualla kill herself out of the blue? How could Kara find her own dead body?
But the biggest shock was the revelation of the fifth Cylon in the closing moments: Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon), who was killed off on New Caprica by her husband, Saul (Michael Hogan).
Vernon and executive producer Ron Moore discussed the revelation in a conference call with reporters yesterday. Highlights from the call:
-- Moore said the show's writers considered making other characters the final Cylon but quickly ruled out Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) and President Roslin (Mary McDonnell). "It felt like that would take something away from the show that would hurt us. One you said Adama was a Cylon, it felt like part of the journey itself wasn't right and didn't have the same meaning I wanted it to have. We talked about Dualla and Gaeta but it didn't feel like it heightened the stakes or bumped everything up to a different level, and with Ellen it did."
-- Vernon said she's known Ellen was the fifth Cylon for about two years. "This was something I wanted to talk about desperately because this was such an honor to be given this role."
-- Moore said he chose Ellen as the last Cylon sometime during season three after deciding the identies of the final four Cylons was revealed in the third season finale. "It worked primarily because of her relationship with Tigh," he said. Moore liked the idea of a couple who had been together a long time who both turned out to be Cylons. "The idea of this eternal romance, I thought was really interesting and cool. It completed the framework of the final five and made the fact that Tigh had killed his wife on New Caprica richer and more complicated and filled with ironies." He also liked the idea of such broken people as the show's longest-lasting couple; they were seen together in flashback on Earth before its destruction 2,000 years ago. "Usually the two lovers who transcend time, they're such good and noble people, you hate them. Ellen and Tigh feel like a legitimate couple. They have to go at it periodically," Moore said. "But the bond between them literally could not be broken and I thought that was an interesting thing to say." Added Vernon, "It's the longest standing relationship in the universe: 2,000 years and going strong!"
-- Moore said the reason Tigh saw the face of Ellen in Head Six in the last batch of episodes was because he subconciously knew Ellen was a Cylon, which was news to Vernon, who sounded shocked by that.
-- Tomorrow's episode will be a smaller show, a character piece that allows for some breathing room, Moore said, before bigger events begin to take place in subsequent episodes.
-- Dualla killed herself, Moore said, precisely because she seemed like a strong character who was always more likely to cheer up other characters who would be down."There was a sense of her being the rock," Moore said. "It felt important to me that when they found Earth and it's a wasteland that the psychic damage would be profound. This was everything they hoped for. It felt like there was a price to be paid, somebody would just check out and there was something shocking with it being Dee. Just because a person is being your rock and bucking you up doesn't mean they don't have their own vulnerabilities and breaking point, and that breaking point might surprise you."
-- As for future "BSG" endeavors, there's the TV movie "The Plan," which doesn't yet have an air date. It's set in the series' past, much like the previous movie, "Razor." Production is complete and the writers, including Jane Espenson, are moving on to start writing "Caprica." But the last episode of "BSG" will mostly wrap up the story. "We tried to answer as many questions as we could," Moore said. "We didn't hold anything in reserve and say we'll deal with this on 'Caprica.' The finale is a period at the end of the sentence."
Jan 20 2009
During prime time ABC aired the "Neighborhood Inaugural Ball," which featured a few remarks from President Barack Obama and featured Barack and wife Michelle having their first dance.
Mostly the show consisted of music performances but comic Ray Romano, star of "Everybody Loves Raymond," made some good jokes relating to his now-ended CBS series (some of his other jokes bombed). Romano said he was surprised to learn Obama was a fan of "Raymond," especially considering that Barack's mother-in-law is moving into the White House. (On "Raymond," Ray's parents lived across the street.)
"You watched the show. Did you learning nothing?" Romano quipped. "Because that was like a 9-year public service announcement."
This month TNT have a green light to a new comedy-drama series starring Romano and Andre Braugher.
Jan 20 2009
7:15 a.m.: We knew television networks were plotting their inauguration coverage like a military operation, including plans for getting personnel in place. But even this morning ABC's plans were being altered by massive crowds. "Good Morning America" weathercaster Sam Champion had to report by phone because he couldn't reach the location where he was scheduled to appear on-camera.
WTAE's Andrew Stockey also reported by phone, although I think that was planned. No mention was made that it wasn't planned and I can't imagine local reporters from everywhere would all be able to get video out of D.C. today.
The networks have broken out the patriotic-tinged theme music for their morning shows. I imagine that will go on all day.
8:36 a.m.: NBC's Matt Lauer says "the president-elect is not 37 seconds late, so now we have a problem." He's not being serious but it was mentioned that president-elect Barack Obama's mother-in-law is on time. "Does anyone know a mother-in-law who isn't on time?" one of the NBC talking heads joked. That Obama's mother-in-law will live in the White House does bring to mind the short-lived ABC series "Commander In Chief" where Geena Davis, as the president, is joined at the White House by her mother, played by Polly Bergen.
Tom Brokaw predicts: "This day marks the beginning of the end of 'us' and 'them'" in the ideological cultural wars. Someone else chimes in ideological opposition is in, nasty political partisianship is out. I hope so but I'll believe it when I see it.
13 minutes late, Obama and wife Michelle leave Blair House. Anchors discuss her lemon meringue suit.
9:14 a.m.: NBC ran an ad on CNN for its upcoming drama "Kings" using the tage line "One man can make a difference. ... A hero will inspire the world." I'm sure it's not coincidence that that ad with that tag line ran during coverage of Obama's inauguration.
9:30 a.m.: When did CBS News name Suze Orman an anchor? Oh, wait, that's Katie Couric with an Orman haircut.
9:50 a.m.: The nickname for the new limousine that's ferrying Obama about is "The Beast," according to CNN. Evidently it's filled with gadgets the secret service won't discuss.
Nicely done. CNN used a live children's choir rendition of "God Bless America" as a soundtrack for Obama's drive from church to the White House. And the anchors didn't talk over it. Miracles do happen!
Wolf Blitzer: "Every word is historic right now" as the Obamas arrive at the White House.
Soledad O'Brien: "Not to be cheesy but there's a real sense of brotherhood going on down there..." describing the crowd on The Mall.
10 a.m.: Fox News Channel reports there have been terrorist threats against the inauguration ceremony but there's little specificty available.
10:15 a.m.: FNC shows actor Dustin Hoffman at the Capitol. I'm sure he won't be the last celeb we see.
10:18 a.m.: And now FNC is talking to Steven Spielberg. And then former California Gov. Jerry Brown who talks about "participatory democracy."
10:25 a.m.: Ah, euphemisms. A CNN reporter describes the arrival of former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor, saying, "she's walking with a steady gait." What is she, Seabiscuit?
10:33 a.m.: CNN's pundits discuss how this inauguration compares to those of the past. I was curious to see how the conservative pundits would play it. Bill Bennett, a conservative, said as we walked through crowds, those who recognized him and know his political beliefs said, " 'It's America, you gotta cheer,' and I said, 'I will cheer. It's a great day for America."
10:37 a.m.: ABC's Robin Roberts interviews Spike Lee who says the day means "a lot" even though it's cold and he had to walk, adding, "It's nothing compared to the years it took to get to this point in history for our country." Lee's wife refuses to take credit for Spike's bizarre New York Yankees cap with furry flaps that cover his ears. Lee also mentions MLK day yesterday and how it went back-to-back with the inauguration. Roberts kisses Spike before he leaves. I can't recall ever kissing an interview subject at the end of an interview. Seems a little inappropriate -- or at least a little Hollywood.
10:46 a.m.: Vice president Dick Cheney exits the White House in a wheel chair. He sprained his back lifting boxes yesterday, according to NBC News. Tom Brokaw mentions "no love lost" between Cheney and vice-president elect Joe Biden, particularly when it comes to foreign policy.
10:48 a.m.: Crowds cheer as President Bush and Obama emerge from the White House.
10:55 a.m.: NBC's Brian Williams explains the pre-ordained distribution of vehicles behind the motorcade from the White House to the Capitol. They're flanked out in a predetermined way for security purposes. Historian Michael Beschloss recalls the ride for Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter in 1981 and how different they were; Carter worried about the hostages, Reagan talked about movie executives, prompting Carter, at the Capitol, to ask an aide, "Who is this Jack Warner he keeps talking about?" Warner was a legendary Warner Bros. executive.
11:02 a.m.: CBS's Katie Couric allows music to play with images of the crowd without talking over it for a couple of minutes. Maybe anchors have learned lessons from the past when they've babbled on too much.
11:05 a.m.: BET, not a usual played in presidential inauguration coverage, offers a primer for its viewers on what usually happens in an inauguration. Correspondent Hill Harper: "This is our moment in so many ways."
11:31 a.m.: Wouldn't you know it: My Verizon DSL failed while trying to do this live blog from home. Came back after a few minutes. We'll see if it stays.
12:14 p.m.: Yeah, Verizon failed. Thanks, Verizon, for ruining an historic moment. I got online using my AOL dialup that I’ve held onto for just an occasion. Here’s what I’ve been typing but unable to post.
11:43 a.m.: Obama introduced as “the president-elect, Barack H. Obama.” I wonder who decided on that? I mean, there’s certainly president since we have “George W. Bush” leaving office, but it sure seems like a way to avoid what some see as the sticky issue of having “Hussein” for a middle name.
After he’s introduced there’s some sort of chanting that can be heard – the stations are all airing the same pool footage – but it quickly went away. I couldn’t make out what the chant was.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein kicks things off, saying, “Our works I not yet finished, but future generations will mark this morning as a point for real and necessary change in our nation. … This is the moment the dream of the Lincoln Memorial reached the walls of the White House.”
She introduces the controversial Pastor Rick Warren to give an invocation. He receives a decidedly light smattering of applause.
“We celebrate a hinge point in history,” Warren prays, causing the crowd to cheer mid-prayer. Bad form, folks. “When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, forgive us.”
Warren also prays, “All nations and all people will stand accountable before you…” That would include hate mongers like Warren himself, I suppose.
11:55 a.m.: Aretha Franklin’s rendition of the National Anthem accompanying images of American flags waving was truly moving, but who let her go out there with a ginormous bow on her head? Distracting.
During a Yo-Yo Ma musical performance, CNN’s Wolf Blizter blabs that it’s noon and Obama is officially. Other network anchors managed to keep their traps shut. Good for them. Boo on Blitzer.
12:05 a.m.: Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts uses Obama’s full middle name when he takes the oath of office, which is flubbed somewhat by timing issues in when and what to repeat. Was Obama nervous?
12:26 p.m.: Following Obama's speech, the pundits on FNC and CNN remained quiet, save for noting one of the Obama daughters mouthed the words "good speech" to her father. A woman in the audience is shown wearing a Steelers scarf -- you can't excape Steelers mania, even at the inauguration.
12:40 p.m.: Maybe this is why Verizon failed. Per CNN: As of 11:45a ET today, CNN.com Live has served 13.9 million live video streams globally since 6a, shattering its all time total daily streaming record set on Election Day with 5.3 million live streams. (Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst, global).
12:43 p.m.: Tom Brokaw calls President Obama's address "an eloquen speech." The quote everyone is talking about, especially on FNC, "The question is not whether government is too small or too big, the question is whether it works."
The FNC staff especially likes the foreign policy portion of his speech, Chris Wallace calls it "very muscular."
CNBC discusses the business angle. One pundit says Obama needs to ratchet down his confidence and show more humility.
12:50 p.m.: NBC's David Gregory is among those discussing Obama's cry for service from Americans, something that was expected.
Former President George W. Bush prepares to depart by helicopter. NBC's Brian Williams: "President Bush becomes first former president to only have Secret Service protection for a finite amount of time, 10 years." Williams goes on to explain that the rules were changed because former presidents now make tons of money in retirement and can afford to pay their own security. Sounds like a smart policy change to me.
ABC's Charles Gibson reveals that in private conversations Bush thought U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic nominee, not Obama.
ABC's Diane Sawyer wonders what Bush thought of Obama talking about "brushing ourselves off and remaking America."
Much discussion on ABC of Obama's speech "tying the timeless to the temporal" in his words about how national security and personal freedom are not mutually exclusive.
1:05 p.m.: As CNN shows Obama signs documents officially nominating members of his new cabinet, CNN's Wolf Blitzer turns school marm: "He is very precise when he writes. His penmanship is very excellent." Good to know? Obama quips: "I was told not to swipe the pen."
1:20 p.m.: Networks are sort of in a stall moment now while there's a luncheon in the Capitol before the parade. A good time for viewers at home to grab a bite to eat.
1:40 p.m.: On NBC, Al Roke predicts he'll try to get Obama to chat with him when he passes on the parade route but he will be ignored. Williams reminds him that Barbara Bush kissed Willard Scott during the inauguration parade and expresses concern that Obama may try to kiss Roker. Roker says, "I know that he is an attractive man and he will find me attractive." Then he goes on to hope for a kiss from Michelle Obama.
1:47 p.m.: This just in from HBO: The network came under fire for ommitting the remarks of the Rev. Gene Robinson from its concert telecast on Friday. But now the remarks will air in a rebroadcast: An updated version of the exclusive HBO special WE ARE ONE: THE OBAMA INAUGURAL CELEBRATION AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL on WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 (11:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO2. This presentation will include the invocation of the Rt. Reverend V. Gene Robinson, as well as all of the original performances of the live special, which was seen Sunday, Jan. 18. The new version will also be seen this weekend on the main HBO channel and on HBO Latino, on SATURDAY, JAN. 24 (6:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT) and SUNDAY, JAN. 25 (3:30 p.m. ET/PT). It will also be available on hbo.com starting Wednesday, Jan. 21.
2:01 p.m.: NBC checks in with a correspondent in London. Nice to see that international touch on a broadcast network. At the same time, CNN and FNC is showing former President Bush's 747 depart from Air Force One.
2:26 p.m.: CNN gives a tour of the new White House web site, which went live at noon, and explains what it will mean for his administration.
As CNN prepares to unveil its photosynth image of the swearing-in, Anderson Cooper says, "It sounds like something from 'Star Wars,' a synth." Maybe Anderson is thinking of the Sith.
2:35 p.m.: CNN pundit Jeffrey Toobin, calling himself "a skunk at a garden party," criticizes Obama's speech. "It was a speech without a memorable phrase," Toobin said, complaining about the speech is unlikely to generate anything similar to "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." "I'm afraid this will join vast majority of inaugural addresses that are quickly forgotten."
2:38 p.m.: CNN reveals its photosynth. And it looks like ... a not very clear photo. John King says the photo is actually built from 140 pictures that have been integrated together. It's not even goofy-lame like the holograms on election night. Just plain old lame. What a disappointment! (UPDATE: It's actually more impressive online.)
2:42 p.m.: CNN reports U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd collapsed inside the luncheon. Or maybe someone else.
2:44 p.m.: Now CNN is speculating it may be U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy. Why not just wait until you know? And it's weird that the luncheon is continuing. FNC was carrying the luncheon feed live and now CNN has gone to it.
2:51 p.m.: The worst sound in the world: 200 chairs being pushed back on a marble floor during the inaugural luncheon.
2:52 p.m.: Obama addresses concerns about "Teddy," so evidently it was Kennedy who collapsed. CNN throws up on screen "CNN confirms Sen. Edward Kennedy collapsed during inaugural luncheon." But Obama may have been wise to avoid beginning with "Teddy was..." followed by a long pause.
3:00 p.m.: CNN reports Byrd is also having "some sort of a medical event," says Anderson Cooper. Kennedy had a prolonged seizure and Pittsburgh's own Teresa Heinz Kennedy attempted to assist him, per CNN.
3:12 p.m.: FNC can't find White House folks to comment on Kennedy because few have been sworn in, per a Fox News reporter.
3:19 p.m.: ABC reports Sen. John Kerry said Kennedy was "fine, just tired." The Obamas and Bidens departs the Capitol. Time for the parade.
3:30 p.m.: On ABC, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson keeps referring to the new President as President Barack. The previous President was never known as President George. Why, Jesse, why?
3:50 p.m.: CBS's Katie Couric quickly corrects herself when she refers to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell as "Ed," quickly saying, "Gov. Rendell," and apologizing, saying she'd been on air too long.
4:00 p.m.: For all the talk of huge throngs, the crowds along the parade route aren't that big. In CBS's coverage, I notice only two people deep in places. That's surprising. Maybe the cold kept people away.
4:03 p.m.: Obama gets out of the limo! The crowd goes wild! The Secret Service guys are sticking close. I can hear secret service agents saying, "Stay down!" or "Get down!" to people along the parade route.
4:06 p.m.: Sounds like NBC's Tom Brokaw is breaking up talking about his boyhood hero, Jackie Robinson.
4:09 p.m.: NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports from the flatbed truck used in the pool to cover the parade up close. The Obamas return to their limo.
4:24 p.m.: The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity bought ad time on CNN during the parade that used video sound bites of Obama on the campaign stump talking about uses for clean coal. Smart strategy, I guess.
4:27 p.m.: Biden has gotten out of the car and walked the parade route and now Obama is out of the car again. The volume of screams skyrockets. Interestingly CNN seems to be on some sort of delay. I had ABC on the Picture in Picture on my TV and Obama was out of the limo a good 20 seconds on ABC before he got out on CNN.
Just noticed on my Facebook that evidently a lot of people are tweeting on Twitter for Obama to get back into his limo for safety's sake. I think it's a sad, but understandable, reaction.
4:46 p.m.: Another political spot on CNN. This one for the Employee Free Choice act or something like that. It's a union thing, I'm pretty sure.
4:55 p.m.: Obama and family walk to the reviewing stand. They better get this parade going; it's starting to get dark. It is really cute to see the Obama children at these festivities. I'm too young to remember the Kennedy kids in the White House and Amy Carter and Chelsea Clinton were older. It's somehow really refreshing to see kids as a part of this.
5:00 p.m.: FNC's Glenn Beck criticizes the second prayer at the swearing in ceremony when the minister said something about "brown sticking around, mellow being yellow, and white doing the right thing." Seemed sort of inocuous and funny to me.
Local stations have gone to local news coverage, mostly looking at local reactions to Obama's inauguration. And, of course, WTAE found a way to link the inauguration to the Steelers through a Bob Mayo interview with Steelers chairman Dan Rooney, who gave the AFC Championship game ball to Obama. How embarrassing for Mayo, an excellent reporter I admire, that he had to do the obligatory Steelers plug. I'll flip around to see if any other stations put it in the first 10 minutes of the news. Covering it is one thing, but putting it in the A block? Seems excessive, but that pretty much defines local news these days, doesn't it?
Need further proof: KDKA's John Shumway did a report on a woman with a Steelers-emblazoned car who repeatedly demonstrated her Steelers touchdown dance. At least it wasn't a top story.
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