It may be a state with an economy beleaguered from the deterioration of the US car industry, but Michigan could be bouncing back financially as the new Midwest Hollywood. Offering the much-coveted tax incentives, various film and TV productions already have several high-profile projects filming there, including HBO’s newest comedy Hung. News now breaks that HBO and exec producer Mrs. Tom Hanks (aka Rita Wilson) have optioned the rights to Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, and Oprah Book Club selection, “Middlesex” for a one-hour series.
Set in Detroit and its surrounding suburbs, “Middlesex” deals with genetics, gender identity and family politics. Beginning in the early 1960s Detroit male Cal Stephanides is born and raised — due to misidentification by the doctors and a family secret — as the female Callie. The novel tells the story of a family and the secret it carried from Greece to America in the 1920s. It sweeps through the early days of Ford, the 1967 civil rights riots and the elegant Grosse Pointe suburbs following Cal/Callie’s intellectual journey as he/she learns the truth.
Eugenides’ debut novel, “The Virgin Suicides,” was made into a feature helmed by Sophia Coppola and starred Kirsten Dunst.
Showtime continues on the path of building its roster of strong female-led series, greenlighting a new pilot, The C Word, starring too-many-to-count award nominee/winner Laura Linney who will also serve as an executive producer. Joining the ranks of Weeds, United States of Tara and Nurse Jackie (comedies treading on the darker side) The C Word centers around the emotional ups and downs of a suburban wife and mother dealing with cancer.
Dollhouse is showing more geek-love today with an official announcement that another from the Joss Whedon staple of actors will be joining his Fox show for its second season. Summer Glau, recently seen on Fox’s now-cancelled series The Sarah Connor Chronicles and most well-known for Whedon’s Firefly series and its film sequel Serenity, will have a recurring role opposite lead and Whedon darling Eliza Dushku for an as-yet unknown number of episodes. This news follows on the heels of other geekified additions in Jamie Bamber and Michael Hogan (teaming up with their old Battlestar Galactica co-star Tahmoh Pennikett) as well as Joss alum Alexis Denisof.
Being a staunch supporter of all Whedon works, I championed Dollhouse from the beginning even though it took a few episodes to completely hook me, but the show really started to find its voice midway through and provided an excellent payoff with its season finale which was one of the best hours of television this year, and if Fox had seen fit to air what was originally penned as the last episode of the season, “Epitaph One,” then I would be so bold to proclaim it one of the best season finales ever.
Referred to as the “lost” episode, I was one of the lucky attendees at Comic-Con to attend a screening of “Epitaph One” before its wide release with the season 1 DVD set last month (which has since hit number one on iTunes) and am now imploring all to move it up their viewing queue. Very much like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the first season had its share of hit-or-miss episodes but ended on a stellar note and, when folding in “EO” as a part of that end, provided an amazing amount of plot possibilities for its season(s?) to come.
Dollhouse Season 2 premieres Friday, September 25th 9pm eastern/8pm central on Fox. Season 1 DVD now available.
Actually mama really loves samba but either sexy latin flavor will do the trick, and I’m so looking forward to a bit of both this fall from dueling dance shows, Fox’s So You Think You Think You Can Dance and ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.
While ravenous for all-new episodes of SYTYCD that just ended its summer season recently, I fell behind in viewership of DWTS during its spring cycle, due mostly to a conflict of interest with other Monday and Tuesday night shows (the DVR Gods demand a sacrifice!), but with the names of this year’s “biggest cast ever” released I find myself, although somewhat confused — Tom Delay, really? Methinks he’ll be joining the ranks of Tucker Carlson as the first trainwreck to depart rather than surprise like a Warren Sapp hoofing it all the way to the finals; it’s the teddy bear appeal, the avid granny viewer eats that up — mostly intrigued and shall make an attempt to watch even though no “star” stands out for me to put my fanship behind at present. I do, however, always anticipate rooting for some gloriously incomprehensible and/or inappropriate comment from judge Bruno. It’s worth tuning in just for that Italian imp and all the agita he must give Disney censors.
Season 9 premieres September 21st.
Meanwhile Uncle Rupie’s Fox will premiere SYTYCD‘s first fall cycle on September 9th, coupled with new darling Glee (will save more giddy musings on that one for a later post). Coming on the heels of its fifth and most successful season to date SYTYCD may not be equal to American Idol in the ratings as yet, but give it time as each year continues to build huge viewer numbers as opposed to the Idol which only seems to be slipping in the ratings. SYTYCD has also never disappointed with the levels of contestant talent, and thereby makes this competition feel more legitimate rather than one that finds pleasure in so-bad-we-have-to-watch-to-see-what-they-do-next entertertainment (aka, no Sanjayas).
Showcasing not only talented dancers but also an amazing and varied group of choreographers, SYTCD garnered 5 Emmy nominations this year adding to its 6 previous noms and 3 wins, and for those of you unimpressed by such numbers I dare you not to be affected by some of the outstanding performances over the past 5 years most recently with “This Woman’s Work” from Emmy-nominated Tyce Diorio.
Other impressive routines run the gamut in flair and emotional response, from Wade Robson’s visually-arresting gothic, undead group number “Ramalama (Bang Bang),” Mia Michael’s love story on a bench “Calling You” and a heartbreaking hip-hop in Tabitha & Napoleon (or, NappyTab)’s “Bleeding Love.”
Set in Detroit and its surrounding suburbs, “Middlesex” deals with genetics, gender identity and family politics. Beginning in the early 1960s Detroit male Cal Stephanides is born and raised — due to misidentification by the doctors and a family secret — as the female Callie. The novel tells the story of a family and the secret it carried from Greece to America in the 1920s. It sweeps through the early days of Ford, the 1967 civil rights riots and the elegant Grosse Pointe suburbs following Cal/Callie’s intellectual journey as he/she learns the truth.
TV Dish with Trish 