TV Press Tour '07: Bones Up for a New Season of Romantic Osteology on Fox
Jen Godwin here, with scoop about one of my personal favorites, Bones. Read on to find out what's in store this season for the Nick and Nora of the forensic anthropology set…
Where Are They Now: According to show runner Hart Hanson, when the series premieres in the fall, we’ll pick up several months after last season’s finale, having missed "the amount of time that actually has passed." He also says this about the only thing you really care about (admit it!), the Bones and Booth romance: "We want to keep them apart as long as we can without annoying the audience, and there are a number of ways to do that. We use a number of little steam valves to release the pressure." Boreanaz snickers at this, and Hanson shoots back, "I didn’t mean masturbation, David!" Also, according to Ms. Emily Deschanel, this season the show explores "how being left at the altar affected them."
Zack’s Back: Eric Millegan (and Hanson) confirm Zack Addy will be back this season, but they won’t confirm when or how. Eric did say, "He was sent home from Iraq early, and we’re going to explore why…"
Squint Love: Michaela Conlin (Angela Montenegro) says of Angela and Jack‘s romance, "Angela is not one to be pinned down. She’s a free spirit who really fell in love. We’ve been working on finding my ex-husband. It should be pretty interesting." My man, T.J. Thyne (Dr. Jack Hodgins), meanwhile, says, "I think Jack is madly, deeply and passionately in love with her." All together now: Awww…
Shallow Impressions: I can report from here in the catbird seat that Boreanaz’s biceps are ridiculous—good ridiculous. He looks great on the show in the suits, but I think maybe a tight T-shirt now and again wouldn‘t be such a bad idea…
The Missing Episode: According to executive producer Stephen Nathan, "Player Under Pressure," the ep that was pulled in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings, will be reworked. The new version preserves the mystery elements and will bring the romantic storyline up to date. He expects it might air Dec. 7, and the old material (wherein Jack proposed to Angela) will hopefully appear on a DVD…sometime somewhere.
Extra Eps: Nathan tells me the network definitely wants the 28-episode season (because of the potential writers' strike and because reruns don‘t "work" anymore), but he’s afraid postproduction limitations may prevent that from actually happening. He expects no fewer than 24 eps but says 28 might be stretching it. Start sending your nudge letters now.
Scene Shots: Exec producer Barry Josephson says they built out the FBI set this season, so look for more focus on the federales. And as a tease, he adds that the pressure releases for the Booth-Bones sexual tension may include more "third parties."
Featurette: Emily did a DVD commentary with her real-life father, Caleb Deschanel, and Stephen Fry for "The Glowing Bones in the Old Stone House."
Ten actors who helped make General Hospital shine
In honor of General Hospital’s 45th year on the air, AOL came up with a terrific photo trivia quiz which was like a trip down memory lane for longtime fans like me. Seeing all those familiar faces made me realize that through the years there have been some wonderful actors who’ve called Port Charles home. Here’s ten that were memorable and, in my opinion, let an indelible mark on General Hospital.
Amber Tamblyn (1995-2001)
When the producers and writers of GH realized the quality of an actress they had with Amber Tamblyn, they took this 12 year old girl and made her an important part of the Quartermaines, a core family. She appeared as Emily Bowen, the daughter of Page, a woman Monica befriended while they were undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. When Page died, Monica and Alan adopted Emily and she became part of the family, and eventually the conscience of the squabbling, occasionally unscrupulous clan (along with Lila). Amber grew up on GH, going through growth spurts and the emotions of the awkward years. She never failed to convey a reality and truth in her acting. She was a shooting star, passing through GH on the way to bigger things, like Joan of Arcadia.
Emma Samms (1982-85; 1992-93; 2006)
Long before her stint on Dynasty and The Colbys, Emma Samms had captivated daytime watchers as Holly Sutton, the gorgeous, but devious, con artist who crossed paths with Luke (at a time when Laura was MIA), before finding her perfect mate in Robert Scorpio. Robert married Holly to keep her from being deported; and their marriage of convenience turned into a real love story. They were the TV equivalent of Nick and Nora Charles from the Thin Man movies, funny, loving, adventurous, playful — everything but the martinis. Emma brought class to GH and played beautifully with both Anthony Geary and Tristan Rogers. Unlike so many soap heroines, Emma stood out as lovely, lovable and frothy, a welcome presence every time she rejoined the show.
Jack Wagner (1984-88; 1989-91; 1994-95)
As Frisco Jones, Jack Wagner got to do all kinds of fun things on GH. He was a singer with Blackie Parrish’s band. He joined the Port Charles Police Department and was a rookie cop. He was recruited into the WSB (World Security Bureau) and became a spy. Along the way, he fell for Felicia — a modern day, Aztec princess. If all this sounds ridiculous, it was. But it was also fun. Jack even had a number one AC hit with the song “All I Need” in part thanks to GH promoting the song. Wagner cut his teeth on the soap, perfecting the sardonic style he brought to Melrose Place. Good looking, but not a bodybuilder hunk, Jack was at his best playing against the hero type. If he left The Bold & the Beautiful (where he’s currently Nick Marone) tomorrow to return to GH, he’d been a welcomed return.
Demi Moore (1982-83)
General Hospital was looking for an actress in the Margot Kidder/Karen Allen style (it was the era of Superman and Raiders of the Lost Ark). When 19-year-old Demi Moore showed up, the first thing they loved about her was the voice. That husky growl contrasted with her good looks and mesmerizing eyes. She was cast as Jackie Templeton, an aggressive, ambitious reporter who caught the eye of Robert Scorpio. Demi’s role on GH was short — just two years — but she made a strong impression. Within a few years she was part of Hollywood’s Brat Pack and her movie stardom took off. GH sort of caught lightning in a bottle a second them when they brought Janine Turner — pre-Northern Exposure — on the show as Jackie’s sister, Laura.
Ian Buchanan (1986-89)
Great looks, great accent, great actor…that is Ian Buchanan. He was a former model when he turned up on GH as Duke Lavery, a master criminal. For three amazing years, he was the center of a terrific love story — with Finola Hughes’ Anna — and just became a star before your eyes. When he left, he immediately reappeared in primetime on Twin Peaks (as Dick Tremayne) and It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (as Ian McFyfer). He was versatile and idiosyncratic. To this day, GH fans still wish Duke Lavery could come back just so Ian could return to the canvas. He occasionally drops into The Bold & the Beautiful still; like in the last month or so.
Jonathan Jackson (1993-99)
Like Amber Tamblyn, Jonathan Jackson grew up before our eyes on General Hospital. Unlike Amber, though, Jonathan came onto the show with huge expectations thrust upon him. He was Luke and Laura’s son, Lucas Lorenz Spencer, Jr. — Lucky. He had to be up to speed in scene with Genie Francis and Anthony Geary, a wise beyond his years ten year-old who knew how to get cross-country on his own when he parents were being pursued by mob king Frank Smith. Jonathan was perfect right out of the gate; he looked, sounded and acted like he’d be Luke’s kid. He was sensitive like Laura, too, not just a smart ass kid. In six years on the show, Jonathan made Lucky his own. He won three Daytime Emmys for his performances as Lucky, and he’s still the real Lucky to many people, even though two other actors have subsequently played the part.
Rena Sofer (1994-96)
Before 24, Heroes, Coupling, Blind Justice, Just Shoot Me, Oh, Grow Up, Ed and all the other primetime series in which she’s been involved, Rena Sofer made a Brooklyn girl named Lois Cerullo one of the most memorable characters on GH in the ’90s. Tough talking with a heart of gold, Lois was intimately involved with Ned Ashton, his family — the Quartermaines — as well as Sonny Corinthos (her old friend from Bensonhurst) and his main squeeze Brenda Barrett. These were all very colorful characters and the show really popped while they were front and center. Rena showed her flair for comedy as well as drama as Lois. The same qualities that keep getting her cast on primetime shows. For her role as Lois, she nabbed the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1995. (By the way, she’s currently, she’s pregnant with her third child.)
John Stamos (1982-84)
He was Blackie Parrish and he was a cool guy. Even the name was cool for the time. John Stamos was every bit the teen heartthrob in his tenure on General Hospital. He was a tough street kid whom Rick and Lesley Webber adopted. He started a band, Blackie and the Riff Raff, but ultimately got into trouble — involuntary manslaughter — when Lou Swenson, his girl, died accidentally. It was a convenient way to write John Stamos out of the show because he was ready for bigger challenges than daytime. So Blackie got ten years in prison, and Stamos got Full House, then Jake in Progress and now ER. GH fans are still waiting for Blackie to return, having done his time (and then some).
Finola Hughes (1991-2007 — on and off)
There was something distinct about Finola Hughes from the second she appeared on GH. Oh yeah, they stuck a big huge scar on her face (not the best makeup job), so there was that. But the clip Brit accent, the tone of the ultimate Bond girl, Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), a dash of Emma Peel (Diana Rigg) from The Avengers, Finola Hughes was the whole package. Her storylines kicked ass, too. Anna Devane was involved with WSB spy Robert Scorpio, his former partner, ex-wife and mother of his child. But she was also a double agent. She went straight, became the chief of police, had another big time love affair with Duke Lavery (Ian Buchanan), and — oh, yes, she won a Daytime Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actress. What I love about Finola is that even though she’s done lots of primetime — including hosting How Do I Look on the Style Network — she still comes back to GH to play Anna Devane. She’s coming back this week to learn that she’s going to be a grandmother. Robin is preggers. One thing for sure, she will be a very cool granny.
Lynn Herring (1987-2003)
I miss Lynn Herring on GH as Lucy Coe. She was one of those actresses that could play comedy, drama, good girl, bad girl, she was a character that was completely fun and arresting. She was so good as Lucy, who started as a prim librarian who was keeping a secret life under wraps, that when General Hospital spun off another soap, Port Charles, Lynn was the anchor. Her character was the link between the two shows — until Port Charles went all Dark Shadows and entered another reality altogether. She’s been out of the TV loop for a while — raising her kids with husband and co-star Wayne Northrup (the original Roman Brady on Days of Our Lives) — but she could easily walk into the Quartermaine mansion one day in the future and pick up right where she left off.