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Miss Ya, Barton

May 19, 2006

In true “OC” style, rumors have circled for months about Mischa Barton’s aspiration to say so long to her small-screen roots and hello to the movies. Well, maybe someone should inform Ms. Barton that "Access Hollywood" isn't so much about keeping secrets. In a bizarre need to please, the starlet told the tabloid show that her character, Marissa Cooper, bites the big one in the season finale -- before it aired last night. Bring on the Fox lawyers, she's over “The O.C.” and not afraid to dish about it. –Chris Parker

The Comedy Stylings of Platoon

May 18, 2006

As networks struggle to save television comedy, they need look no further than Oliver Stone's 1986 war drama Platoon. Four actors from that film starred in sitcoms this past season: "Two and a Half Men”’s Charlie Sheen, John McGinley of "Scrubs," Kevin Dillon of "Entourage" and Mark Moses of "Desperate Housewives." (Forrest Whitaker took the more dramatic route by joining "The Shield" this year.) Can a half-hour laughfest with Willem Dafoe and a talking dog be far behind? He's already guest-starred on "Friends." –Ken Hommel

Before They Were Hits

May 16, 2006

In his engrossing new book about TV, "Desperate Networks," New York Times reporter Bill Carter tells the behind-the-scenes tales of today’s biggest hits. Amazingly, but not surprisingly, most of these projects were rejected by various networks before being developed into hits. "Desperate Housewives" began as a spec script by down-and-out writer Marc Cherry that made the rounds at various networks. Lifetime passed, saying the story of four overhelmed suburban women wouldn't fit their brand. (They have since picked up the rights to reruns of the show!) Once the show became an ABC mega-hit, NBC Chairman Bob Wright was so bewildered that his network didn't develop Housewives that he called Cherry to see if his execs were given a shot at the script. (They were, and passed!) Fans of "Survivor," "American Idol," "Lost" and "The Apprentice" will love the inside information Carter gives on their favorite shows' climb to the top. –Ken Hommel

F.O.B. – Friend of Bochco

May 15, 2006

Although "Commander in Chief" is no more, other television presidencies carry on the legacy of executive producer, Steven Bochco. Jimmy Smits (Bochco's "L.A. Law") will be sworn in as POTUS as "The West Wing" comes to a close; evil "24" prez Gregory Itzin had a role in an earlier season-long saga in Bochco's "Murder One"; and Daniel J. Travanti of "Hill Street Blues" runs the White House in "Prison Break." Sounds like a political conspiracy to me! –Ken Hommel