John Schneider in odd new show
John Schneider could be back on our television screens soon, if someone will buy the show. The odd part about this one isn’t the content, but rather the production. Schneider is starring in twentysixmiles — a reference to Catalina Island, where the show is being shot — which is an independently funded production. Executive producer Rob Miller is spending some $5.5 million to shoot six episodes of the show that can serve as a launch to the series, or a trio of movies.
And he’s doing the whole thing with no deal in place for broadcast. Ballsy. Despite the lack of a studio deal, they have managed to land some pretty big names to join Schneider. George Segal (Just Shoot Me), Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development), and James Denton (Desperate Housewives) are all set to make cameos while Jessica Tuck (Judging Amy), Eric Lange, and Daniel Quinn will be part of the regular cast. Schneider’s character is a high powered executive who moves to Catalina Island after his wife divorces him in order to be closer to his children.
Lost director Bender assigned to Prince of Motor City
Sometimes you can tell the importance of a pilot by who the network chooses to direct it. In the case of the Hamish Linklater script, The Prince of Motor City, ABC Studios has inked Jack Bender, a Lost helmer, to direct the pilot. To me, that means action and drama, not to mention enthusiasm from the parent company.
The Prince of Motor City was written — as I said — by Hamish Linklater who plays Matthew on The New Adventures of Old Christine. He is not leaving Christine, fortunately. However, he must be thrilled that his pilot has a top director. Bender (pictured above with Jason Ritter and Laura Owens) has been directing Lost recently — winning an Emmy for directing in 2007 — but also Alias, The Sopranos, Dirty Sexy Money, Carnivale, Boomtown and Judging Amy among others.
According the ABC, The Prince of Motor City is set in Detroit and is inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Philosophy lecturer Billy Hamilton is the Hamlet character, questioning whether to take over his father’s business after his scion dad is murdered.
Coming home for the funeral, Billy is shocked to discover that his father left him everything. But Billy’s not sure if he wants it. The firm’s CFO is pissed to be passed over, and Billy’s mother and Uncle Charlie are too close for Billy’s taste. Do you see all the connections to Hamlet here? There’s even a ghost! The hour drama begins shooting in early June. The cast includes Andie MacDowell, Piper Peradbo, Aunjanue Ellis and Warren Christie thus far.
TV Obits: Allport, Truman, Stetson, Marcus
A roundup of TV people from in front of the camera and behind the scenes who have passed away.
- Christopher Allport: He was a veteran actor who most recently played Pete’s father on Mad Men. He was a regular on such shows as Felicity, Days of Our Lives, and Commander-In-Chief, and also appeared in many other shows, including Without A Trace, Shark, NCIS, ER, 7th Heaven, Judging Amy, The Practice, JAG, Chicago Hope, Party of Five, Walker, Texas Ranger, Picket Fences, The X-Files, The Pretender, Quantum Leap, Hunter, China Beach, and many others. He died in an avalanche while skiing in California. He was 60.
- Margaret Truman: Besides being the only child of President Truman, she was an accomplished writer, singer and actress. She wrote a series of mystery novels and also appeared on television, even guest hosting an episode of Edward R. Murrow’s Person To Person. She appeared on What’s My Line several times, and was a guest on such shows as The Tonight Show, Biography, The Steve Allen Show, Toast of the Town, The Jimmy Durante Show, and The Spike Jones Show. She died at age 83 after an illness.
- Len Marcus: He was a costume designer who worked on several shows, including Three’s Company, The Ropers, The Carol Burnett Show, One of the Boys, Dads, General Hospital, and No Soap, Radio. He died at age 66.
- Timothy Stetson: Stetson appeared in several British TV shows and movies, including We’ll Meet Again, The Sandbaggers, and The Benny Hill Show. He died in a fire in Los Angeles. He was 53.
Arielle Kebbel Biography
Arielle Kebbel was born and raised in Florida where she made the decision to become an actress.
Her first role was in the feature film The Bros., co-starring Shaquille O’Neal and Ludacris.
She has since worked on series such as CSI, Judging Amy, and most recently Law and Order SVU.
She can currently be seen on the WB’s Gilmore Girls, playing the young wife of Jared Padalecki.
Here is a list of movies and TV shows that Arielle has appeared in
1. Intellectual Property (2005) …. Jenny
2. Aquamarine (2005) …. Cecilia
3. American Pie: Band Camp (2005) (V) …. Elyse
4. The Kid & I (2005) …. Arielle
5. Be Cool (2005) …. Robin
6. Dirty Deeds (2004) …. Alison
7. Reeker (2004) …. Cookie
8. Soul Plane (2004) …. Heather Hunkee
9. The Bros. (2002) …. Kim
Notable TV Guest Appearances
1. “CSI: Miami” playing “Pam Carter” in episode: “Nothing to Lose” (episode # 3.16) 21 February 2005
2. “Clubhouse” playing “Kat” in episode: “Road Trip” (episode # 1.7) 27 November 2004
3. “Grounded for Life” playing “Taya” in episode: “Mystery Dance” (episode # 5.7) 12 November 2004
4. “Grounded for Life” playing “Taya” in episode: “One Is the Loneliest Number” (episode # 5.3) 1 October 2004
5. “Gilmore Girls” playing “Lindsay Lister Forester” in episode: “A Messenger, Nothing More” (episode # 5.2) 28 September 2004
6. “Grounded for Life” playing “Taya” in episode: “Part Time Lover” (episode # 5.2) 24 September 2004
7. “Gilmore Girls” playing “Lindsay Lister Forester” in episode: “Say Goodbye to Daisy Miller” (episode # 5.1) 21 September 2004
8. “Entourage” playing “Layla” in episode: “Pilot” (episode # 1.1) 18 July 2004
9. “Gilmore Girls” playing “Lindsay Lister Forester” in episode: “Luke Can See Her Face” (episode # 4.20) 4 May 2004
10. “Gilmore Girls” playing “Lindsay Lister Forester” in episode: “Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!” (episode # 4.18) 20 April 2004
11. “Gilmore Girls” playing “Lindsay Lister Forester” in episode: “Scene in a Mall” (episode # 4.15) 24 February 2004
12. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” playing “Andrea Kent” in episode: “Mean” (episode # 5.17) 24 February 2004
13. “Judging Amy” playing “Paige Lange” in episode: “The Long Goodbye” (episode # 5.8) 11 November 2003
14. “Gilmore Girls” playing “Lindsay Lister” in episode: “Chicken or Beef” (episode # 4.4) 14 October 2003
15. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” playing “Right Teen” in episode: “Forever” (episode # 3.21) 1 May 2003
16. “Gilmore Girls” playing “Lindsay Lister” in episode: “Keg! Max!” (episode # 3.19) 29 April 2003
17. “Gilmore Girls” playing “Lindsay Lister” in episode: “A Tale of Poes and Fire” (episode # 3.17) 15 April 2003
18. “Gilmore Girls” playing “Lindsay” in episode: “Face-Off” (episode # 3.15) 18 February 2003