Category: Television

‘Alias’ Will Lean on Olin as Spy Mom
Lena Olin will join the cast of ABC’s “Alias,” signing on for a guaranteed 16 episodes next season. She’ll play the mother of secret agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) whose identity served as the cliffhanger of the finale of the drama’s freshman season.
The veteran Swedish actress recently wrapped the Matthew Ryan Hoge-directed “The United States of Leland,” a film that co-stars Don Cheadle, Jena Malone and Kevin Spacey.
Olin first came to notice in Hollywood for “The Unbearable Lightness of Being.” She was Oscar nominated for 1989’s “Enemies: A Love Story,” and in 2000 starred in “Chocolat,” the film directed by her husband, Lasse Hallstrom. She has been picky in choosing roles that take her away from the Gotham base of Hallstrom and their two children.
Even though “Alias” shoots in L.A., Olin jumped when asked by executive producers J.J. Abrams and Ken Olin to play a shadowy secret agent character believed to be working for the enemy of her daughter’s government employers in the Disney-produced drama.

Now Is Your Chance To Catch Up On One Of The Year’s Best Shows
NBC is giving us a Summer “Scrub- a- thon!”

JERRY’S RETURN?!?!
ABC is giving the greenlight to a new half-hour comedy based on the bestselling series of books, “Letters From a Nut,” featuring introductions by Jerry Seinfeld.
The books feature writer Ted L. Nancy (who some, myself included, believe is actually Seinfeld) sending goofy letters to corporations and entertainment companies.
Sounds like a great idea for a show!

E! Busts Out with Anna Nicole Smith Bio Series
From aging rocker to embattled Playmate: The first new cable bio series to follow MTV’s hit “The Osbournes” will center on Anna Nicole Smith.
E! Networks has greenlit a weekly half-hour reality-based series revolving around the busty model-widow for a late July or early August debut. “The Anna Nicole Smith Show” likely will air in a 10 p.m. slot on a to-be-determined night.
An E! executive said the network got the idea before “The Osbournes” became a cultural phenomenon.
After an edition of “True Hollywood Story” featuring Smith continued to generate ratings success after several repeats, E! initially considered a “THS” spinoff before opting for a project based purely on Smith’s life. “The Osbournes”‘ success gave the network more confidence in that direction.
“No one will ever believe it, but we started thinking about this project before ‘The Osbournes’ hit. Obviously when that show came in, ours became a much better idea to us,” said Mark Sonnenberg, E! executive VP of entertainment.
The series will follow Smith, her teenage son, her attorney and her assistant in their not-so-everyday Los Angeles-based life.
“Five minutes of life through the eyes of Anna Nicole is more fascinating than an entire lifetime for some people,” Sonnenberg added. “She packs a lot in.”

Why Can’t Bob Cole Retire?
NBC became the first major network to appoint a successor to its chief anchorman in nearly two decades, announcing Tuesday that Brian Williams will take over from Tom Brokaw on “Nightly News” in 2004.

My Mother Still Watches The Show Every Night
Alf is mounting a comeback.

Trekkies Bid on the Holy Grail
One rich Trekkie this summer will be able to say with confidence, “I have the conn.”
Captain Kirk’s command chair — from which he maintained “conn” (control of the bridge) — was created at Desilu Culver Studios 38 years ago. It will be sold at auction in mid-June by Beverly Hills, California, dealer Profiles In History.

Britney Spears may be joining the cast of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER next season.
Britney Spears is rerportedly set to spook fellow blonde babe Sarah Michelle Gellar in hit TV show Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
The singer is reported to be appearing in six episodes of the teen series’ next season as a nightmarish demon pitted against Gellar’s do-gooding, undead- battling Buffy. An insider is quoted in British newspaper the Daily Star as saying, “This will be an amazing sight. Britney and Sarah Michelle Gellar are two of the world’s most gorgeous girls. Millions will tune in to see the two of them fighting in their trademark figure- hugging outfits.” Britney is hoping to consolidate her acting career following her debut feature Crossroads earlier this year.

The Only 24 You’ll See This Summer Is Beer
If you were planning to watch the Keifer Sutherland show “24” in reruns, you, like me, are S.O.L. Fox will not show “24” again anytime soon.
One word: Booooo!!!

It was 10 years ago today that Johnny Carson walked away.
Even in retirement, Johnny still casts a long shadow.