Dick Wolf
Former advertising executive Dick Wolf got his start in television writing for shows like Hill Street Blues and Miami Vice. But his greatest accomplishment is Law & Order, which mastered the TV-show-as-brand concept by cornering the market on cops-and-courts procedurals. (This year it ties Gunsmoke's record for longest-running scripted television program.) L&O laid the groundwork for two successor series: Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Wolf, one of the influential television industry players interviewed for TVGuide.com's Best of the Decade section, talked with us about the germ of the idea that led to his gritty TV empire. He also told us what he watches.
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Carlton Cuse, Damon Lindelof
Lost is one of the most influential shows on television, but also one of the most influenced. Executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse (or "Darlton," as they're known to fans) have created a baffling, intensely seductive story that blends sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, romance, and more than a little comedy. You can probably guess both men are obsessive consumers of pop culture, from Star Wars to The Prisoner. But they're also well-read writers whose obsessions stretch from ancient mythology to Stephen King. Fans obsess over whether the show is rooted in Greek myth, the Old Testament, both, or something else entirely. We spoke to Lindelof and Cuse, who are among the influential television industry players interviewed for TVGuide.com's Best of the Decade section, about who inspired them, why they set an end date for the show, and how they created their own myths.
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J.J. Abrams
J.J. Abrams is a former actor (he was hilarious in Six Degrees of Separation) who also happens to direct, produce, write, and dream. We can't be too sorry he's focusing on his work behind the camera. If he hadn't, we might never have been formally introduced to Alias' Sydney Bristow, Fringe's Dr. Walter Bishop or any of Lost's fascinating ensemble of enigmas. We spoke to Abrams, who is one of the influential television industry players interviewed for TVGuide.com's Best of the Decade section, about the impact his shows have made, why he creates so many strong female characters and who inspired him.
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Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes wants her characters to feel like human beings — even if it makes them less likable. Rhimes revels in her characters' moral and ethical gray areas. In the first episode of Grey's Anatomy, the title character (Ellen Pompeo) goes binge-drinking before enjoying a one-night stand with a strange man. It didn't necessarily make her lovable, but it made her feel real. We spoke to Rhimes, who is among the influential television industry players interviewed for TVGuide.com's Best of the Decade section, about how The West Wing and Buffy inspired her, her race-blind approach to casting and what she's learned about portraying lesbians on television.
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Beau Mirchoff, Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives troubled teen Danny Bolen (the polite Canadian actor Beau Mirchoff) has seen better days. At the end of the Nov. 29 episode, Danny was hospitalized after taking a fistful of pills. He's OK, but he's insisting that the nurse call him Tyler, which is presumably his given name, from before his family went on the run. TVGuide.com spoke to Mirchoff about how Danny is involved in Sunday's plane-crash story line, who he'll befriend and/or romance and how long the Bolens will be sticking around.
TVGuide.com: How did things go so wrong for Danny?
Mirchoff: He's been on the run his whole life, he's never really had a solid friendship or long-lasting relationship...
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Glee, FlashForward
This week, television surprised and moved us. Meredith Baxter announced that she is gay. Sons of Anarchy shifted its focus abruptly from revenge to deep sorrow. And House admitted that without Wilson, he is truly alone. Also: Nathan Petrelli is dead and the ladies of Eastwick are witches. (OK, so not everything was a surprise.) Welcome to the Coolest Moments (aka Top Moments): Shock and Awwww Edition.
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Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty is moving to Wednesdays, TVGuide.com has confirmed.
The show will replace...
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Nigel Barker
Photographer and filmmaker Nigel Barker — best known for sitting on Tyra Banks' judging panel on America's Next Top Model — also donates his time to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Most recently, Barker directed Generation Free, a 45-minute documentary that chronicles the Foundation's efforts to create a generation of children free of the HIV virus in Tanzania. In commemoration of World AIDS Day, Generation Free will air on the TV Guide Network on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 7/6c (the film repeats at 10/9c, or you can watch it in its entirety here).
TVGuide.com spoke to Barker about why his film focuses on Tanzania, what is being done to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus and how working in Africa has inspired his activism.
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Desperate Housewives - Dana Delany as Katherine Mayfair
On Sunday's episode of Desperate Housewives, there was a lot of arguing going on this week on Wisteria Lane. Susan and Bree clashed over the latter's infidelity. Gaby and Lynette clashed over the latter's pregnancy. Mike and Katherine clashed over the latter's insanity. And what could possibly have made Angie Bolen consider leaving Fairview altogether?
The world is a dangerous place, Mary Alice tells us in voiceover, and we must learn to defend ourselves against those who would hurt us. Who's hurting whom? Read on:
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Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Palin
15. Worst Reveal: After five head-scratching hours of AMC's The Prisoner, we learn that The Village basically exists inside the brain of Two's wife back in the real world. After Two's son, 11-12, kills his mom and hangs himself, a distraught Two (aka Mr. Curtis) convinces Six and the rest of the villagers that Six is the new leader and 313 is the dreamer whose brain will keep the utopia alive. So Six is No. 1? Wait, he's dressed like Two? Oh, who cares really?
14. Best Reveal: How does Sons of Anarchy top Gemma's announcement that she's been raped? A guilt-ridden Tig tells Opie how and why Donna was killed. In a satisfying twist, a raging Opie shows mercy on Stahl and vows to keep the secret from the other brothers for the sake of the club.
13. Least Sincere Invitation: After vigorous prompting by Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Palin concedes that...
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