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.
Reba Star & Husband Have a Boy
Melissa Peterman, who plays the wacky dental hygienist Barbra Jean on the WB show Reba, and her husband, actor John Brady, became first-time parents Thursday, PEOPLE reports.
The two welcomed their new son into the world Oct. 20 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, a rep for the couple said. The boy, Riley David Brady, weighed in at 8 lbs. 5 oz.
“Mother and baby are doing well and resting at the hospital,” the rep said.
Peterman’s character is married to Reba’s ex-husband on the show. The 35-year-old actress has had roles in several films, including Fargo and Recipe for Disaster, as well as on television in Just Shoot Me and The Pitts.
Actually, Rules of Engagement is a funny show
I didn’t want to like Rules of Engagement. I like The New Adventures of Old Christine, and I thought that if I watched and liked Rules of Engagement (which has pushed Old Christine to the back burner at CBS for now) it would be like endorsing that show over Old Christine. It would almost be like cheating on Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and I did that once before years ago and she has never forgiven me.
But this past Monday I found myself wanting to watch a comedy at 9:30, so I turned it on. You know what? It’s actually a good show.
Patrick Warburton is great in whatever he does (Seinfeld, NewsRadio, The Tick, serious movies) and I’m a big David Spade fan. Yeah, he basically plays the same character in every show, but he has the character down pat and always has great lines, whether it’s in this show, Just Shoot Me, or 8 Simple Rules.
So now I’m torn. Do I keep watching Rules of Engagement, or swear off of CBS Mondays at 9:30 until Old Christine comes back (if it does - it could move to ABC). Hopefully there’s a spot for both of them on the schedule.
Funny, I just realized: it’s Puddy who is pushing Elaine out of the spotlight! High five.
Paula Marshall and CBS, trying it again
I suppose most people would lead with the fact that Jay Mohr has signed on to Ed Yeager’s untitled comedy pilot for CBS. After all, Jay does have that regular gig on Ghost Whisperer. In a nutshell, Mohr and Paula Marshall play a couple that has recently divorced, after fifteen years of marriage. The funny is scheduled to arrive as we watch Mohr’s character try to juggle his ex-wife, their two kids, and his new girlfriend, played by Jaime King.
That’s all well and good. For me though, the far more interesting bit is Paula Marshall’s involvement. I find her career fascinating. She’s been on a bunch of great shows. The Wonder Years, Seinfeld, Nash Bridges (don’t laugh, Nash was very successful), Spin City, Sports Night, Just Shoot Me, Nip/Tuck, and Veronica Mars, to name a few. Yet, for whatever reason, whenever she gets a starring gig, it all seems to go to hell. See Cupid, Snoops, Hidden Hills, and Out Of Practice. I don’t get it. I like everything she’s ever done, but it just doesn’t work. So, I don’t have high hopes for this production. However, it does offer a thought. It’s quite possible that Paula was all set to star in a great new show for Tim Minear. Unfortunately, the sheer power of their combined abilities to kill shows sent the series itself back in time, canceling itself before the idea even came to be.