THROUGH HIS LOOKING GLASS: GET LOST WITH J.J. ABRAMS

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Film, LOST, Television

October 16, 2007

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When
I see the name J.J. Abrams attached to any television or film project, I am on
board immediately. Very few creative minds in the industry inspire such blind
faith, but to me, his track record speaks volumes.


 


Although
Abrams only entered my personal entertainment radar with Felicity, his career really took off in the early 90’s. Though many
know him as the mastermind behind Lost,
he has had an interesting and impressive ride to the top. Let’s take a look…


 


1990: Co-wrote the film
Taking Care of Business, a Jim
Belushi/Charles Grodin comedy


 


1991: Wrote &
co-produced the film Regarding Henry,
the Harrison Ford/Annette Bening drama (Abrams appeared in the movie as a
delivery boy)


 


1992: Wrote & produced
the film Forever Young, the Mel
Gibson drama


 


1993: Had a small role
in the film Six Degrees of Separation,
the Will Smith drama


 


1996: Had a small role
in the film Diabolique, the Sharon
Stone thriller


 


1996: Produced the film
The Pallbearer, the David
Schwimmer/Gwyneth Paltrow comedy written by Felicity
writer Matt Reeves and Bionic Woman/Friday Night Lights writer Jason Katims


 


1997: Co-wrote the film
Gone Fishin’, the Danny Glover/Joe
Pesci comedy


 


1998: Co-wrote the film
Armageddon, the Bruce Willis/Ben
Affleck drama


 


1998 – 2002: Created & wrote
the television series Felicity (Abrams
also composed the main theme song)


 


1999: Produced the film
The Suburbans, a little-seen Jennifer
Love Hewitt comedy co-starring Will Ferrell


 


2001 – 2006: Created, wrote
& produced the television series Alias
(Abrams also composed the main theme song)


 


2001: Received an Emmy
nomination for writing the pilot episode of Alias


 


2001: Formed the
production company Bad Robot


 


2001: Wrote &
produced the film Joy Ride, the Paul
Walker thriller


 


2001- 2004: Wrote screenplay
for revamped Superman, was in
contention to direct; Superman Returns
debuted in 2006 with Bryan Singer at the helm and a script by Michael Dougherty
and Dan Harris


 


2004: Developed sitcom
with ex-SNL star Cheri Oteri; not
sure what ever happened to this


 


2004 – Present: Co-creator,
executive producer & writer on the television series Lost


 


2005: Created, wrote
& produced the television series The
Catch, a pilot that was not picked up starring Abrams’ go-to guy (Felicity, Alias, Lost) Greg
Grunberg from Heroes


 


2005: Won two Emmys, one
for Outstanding Drama Series and one for directing the pilot episode (Lost)


 


2005 & 2006: Won ASCAP Film
and Television Awards (for Lost, along
with composer Michael Giacchino)


 


2006: Won Television
Producer of the Year at the Producers Guild Awards (Lost)


 


2006: Won a Writers Guild
of America award for Dramatic Series (Lost)

2006: Directed an episode of the talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live
 


2006: Directed & wrote
the film Mission: Impossible III, the
third installment of the Tom Cruise franchise (Abrams also composed 2 songs for
the soundtrack)


 


2006: Inked 6-year deal
between Bad Robot and Warner Bros. TV


 


2006: Inked 5-year deal
with Paramount Pictures


 


2006: Produced the
television series What About Brian, the
Barry Watson drama


 


2006: Produced the
television series Six Degrees, the Campbell
Scott/Hope Davis drama


 


2006: Co-wrote an
episode of the animated television show Avatar:
The Last Airbender


 


2007: Directed an
episode of the television show The Office


 


2007: Currently
directing & producing an untitled new series for HBO about the lives of
cancer patients


 


2008: Producing the
film Cloverfield (a.k.a. 1-18-08 or the Untitled J.J. Abrams Project), the sci-fi thriller with a LOT of buzz, written by Drew Goddard (Lost) and directed by Matt Reeves (Felicity)


 


2008: Directing &
producing the new Star Trek film,
with a screenplay by Felicity vets
Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci (who are apparently slated to write the sequel to
Transformers)


 


2008: Will produce &
write Fringe, a new sci-fi
television series for FOX that sounds like a cross between Alias & The X-Files


 


2008: Will produce Boundaries, a new television comedy
series for ABC written by Six Feet Under
alum Jill Soloway


 


2009: Will direct &
produce the film currently labeled the Untitled
Hunter Scott Project, with a script by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Nelson
Jacobs (Chocolat)


 


Future projects/dates
unknown:

  • Will be producing
    the film Morning Glory, directed by
    Roger Michell (Notting Hill) and written
    by The Devil Wears Prada scribe Aline
    Brosh McKenna

  • Will be producing
    the film Voices, directed by Joy Ride writer Clay Tarver

  • Will be producing
    an untitled film by writer/director Josh Marston (Maria Full of Grace)

 


Hey
fan boys and girls, am I missing anything? I did my homework but let me know if
any of the above dates or facts are incorrect.

So, what is your favorite Abrams production?

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PAGING DR. FREUD: SOME ‘HEROES’ HAVE ISSUES

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Heroes, Television

October 14, 2007

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Am I the only one who thinks it is slightly creepy/odd that Claire’s new boyfriend (West) has the exact same ability as her father (Nathan Petrelli)? You’d think she would recognize West’s gift as familiar/familial, and hesitate to hook up with someone who might be related. I know, I know, Heroes wouldn’t go there. And even though I overanalyzed the moment, I did enjoy the Superman homage.

Look, many of our Heroes have major Daddy Issues…

Claire Bennet/Butler
Adopted and raised by the Bennets, she discovered that Nathan Petrelli was her absentee biological dad. To complicate matters, Mr. Bennet (a.k.a. HRG or Horn Rimmed Glasses) is working underground to help defeat/destroy the evil Heroes…but Claire doesn’t necessarily trust that he’s on her side.

Hiro Nakamura
Hiro’s main goal was always to please his father. Mr. Nakamura finally encouraged Hiro to follow his destiny and save the world, but Hiro is unaware of his dad’s role in the major scheme of things (that he forced Mr. Bennet to adopt Claire, etc.). SPOILER ALERT…at this point in Season 2, Hiro also does not know that his dad (supposedly) died.

Nathan & Peter Petrelli
Daddy Petrelli served in the Vietnam War with mob boss Mr. Linderman. The Petrelli boys think that Linderman had something to do with their father’s death, which remains unresolved.

Micah Sanders
His ex-con dad D.L. may or may not have met his demise at the end of last season. Meanwhile, Micah is dealing with his multiple/lethal personality mother, and it looks like she’s about to abandon him too.

Mohinder Suresh
After the sudden death of his father Chandra, Mohinder went on a mission to see if it was related to his dad’s genetics research. Turns out that daddy Suresh played a large role discovering the Heroes, and now Mohinder has taken on the challenge to help save them.

As for Season 2 thus far, I have mixed opinions. On one hand, I am impatient to unite the new twin Heroes with the ones we’re already familiar with. While I’m not quite ready to label them Nikki & Paulo (Lost fans will understand that reference), I am a tad bored by their individual storyline thus far. I have also lost interest in Hiro’s Japan adventures, and look forward to Takezo Kensei’s appearance in modern day NY. 

I continue to love both Claire and Peter’s sagas…except for the WORST ACCENTS EVER that totally distract from Peter’s story. Seriously, there weren’t any real Irish character actors available for those roles?

Overall, I have great faith in the show and have no plans to ever abandon the series. I feel like we were spoiled by an almost perfect first season and perhaps my expectations were far too high for this one. But it’s early, so I will try to be more patient.

Thoughts?

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THE BEST SHOW YOU’RE NOT WATCHING…

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Television

October 11, 2007

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Perhaps you’ve heard the buzz about Damages, but haven’t had time to tune in. You’re in luck – FX is airing a marathon of the entire season on Saturday, October 20 at 8am (ET). So make room on your DVR and get ready to be equally intrigued, scared and impressed. The finale airs on October 23.

The first season of Damages is a murder mystery at heart, a roller coaster ride through the life of high-stakes litigation attorney Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) as she battles corrupt corporate CEO Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson). The show is extremely well written and the cast is stellar. The series does not feature many moments of levity; I find myself astonished far more than amused, and THAT is a sure sign of a great show.

Here are the top 5 reasons why Damages is the best new series on television.



Ted Danson
This is not Sam. This is not Becker. This is Frobisher, and he is an unbelievably compelling gray fox.

Glenn Close
She is mesmerizing, spectacular and deliciously devious.



Zeljko Ivanek
You know the face but not the name (Ed Danvers on Homicide, Governor Devlin on Oz, Andre Drazen on season one of 24, Juliet’s ex-husband who got hit by a bus on Lost). Slimy or sympathetic as Frobisher’s lawyer? You decide.

The HBO influence & experience
Executive producer Todd A. Kessler wrote and produced several episodes of The Sopranos. Allen Coulter (Rome, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under) directed the pilot episode. Other Damages directors have included John David Coles (Sex and The City) and Jean de Segonzac (Oz). All of their contributions to the overall vision of this show have been obvious and appreciated.

The look, feel & sound
Fantastic opening titles and theme song (the aptly titled “When I Am Through With You” by The VLA). I love the way this entire series is filmed and edited, and that New York City itself is a character.

So what are you waiting for? There is plenty of room on this bandwagon. And because we’re still awaiting word of a sophomore season, the more the merrier.

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MY TIVO, MY WEEK: FAVORITE SHOWS, IN ORDER (UPDATED)

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Television

October 9, 2007

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In order (because I know no other way), here are the shows I look forward to watching every week now:

  1. Damages
  2. The Office
  3. Brothers & Sisters
  4. Dexter
  5. Friday Night Lights
  6. Pushing Daisies
  7. 30 Rock
  8. Heroes
  9. Dirty Sexy Money
  10. Weeds
  11. Bones
  12. House
  13. Grey’s Anatomy
  14. Ugly Betty
  15. Private Practice
  16. Mad Men
  17. Bionic Woman
  18. Chuck
  19. Curb Your Enthusiasm
  20. Life
  21. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

In my book, ABC wins for best new series. I loved the pilot episode of Pushing Daisies and I’m also really enjoying Dirty Sexy Money.

Granted, I haven’t watched Journeyman, Reaper, Samantha Who or Viva Laughlin yet, and Men in Trees doesn’t return until this Friday. My viewing card is obviously quite full, but I will make time to watch this set of shows online. And next month I have to fit Project Runway in as well.

Random Aside
There are now 2 Sarah Walkers in my (television) life: Yvonne Strzechowski from Chuck, and Rachel Griffiths from Brothers and Sisters…and they’re both Australian. The ladies from Down Under are doing quite well on American television – Rose Byrne from Damages is also an Aussie.


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RAINY DAY RENTAL: JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB

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Film, Television

September 30, 2007

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  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer
  • ER
  • Judging Amy
  • Lost
  • NYPD Blue
  • Picket Fences

What do these have in common? The primary cast of the film Jane Austen Book Club is comprised of television veterans from those beloved shows. In order from above: Marc Blucas, Maria Bello, Amy Brenneman, Maggie Grace, Jimmy Smits and Kathy Baker. The other two leads are British imports Hugh Dancy and Emily Blunt (almost unrecognizable with a brunette bob wig and miles from her scene-stealing performance in The Devil Wears Prada).

Jane Austen Book Club writer/director Robin Swicord is no stranger to literary adaptations; she also penned the screenplays for Memoirs of a Geisha and Little Women. Even though I have read almost all of Jane Austen’s work (I majored in English and studied in London for a semester; it was required reading and I loved it), I just don’t think that the material from Karen Joy Fowler’s original novel was strong enough to sustain a full-length feature. This film would have been much better suited as a television series or made-for-TV movie.

Brief but true. It wasn’t very inspiring. The end.

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REPORT CARD, WEEK 1: NEW & RETURNING SHOWS

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Television

September 28, 2007

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I watched a ridiculous amount of television this week (live, online and on TiVO). Here is my report card:

  • Bones: A
  • Cane: C
  • Chuck: B+
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm: A-
  • Dirty Sexy Money: A
  • Friday Night Lights: B-
  • Grey’s Anatomy: B
  • Heroes: B
  • House: A
  • It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: B
  • K-Ville: C
  • Life: B-
  • The Office: A
  • Private Practice: B+
  • Ugly Betty: B
  • Weeds: A-

The only show from my wish list that I missed was Reaper, and I don’t understand why The CW doesn’t show it a) as a repeat on the network, b) on their website, or c) on iTunes.

On my docket next week:

  • 30 Rock
  • Bionic Woman (will watch premiere ep. on TiVO this weekend)
  • Brothers and Sisters
  • Dexter
  • Pushing Daisies

What would you rate the new and returning shows? Leave YOUR grades in the comments section…

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